Ashes 25/26

[Scotland]

If my maths is correct so far:

• England have won 2/2 tosses
• Khawaja has played one test and got injured and couldn't open in either innings
• Cummins has played 0 tests
• Hazlewood has played 0 tests
• Lyon has played 1 test (not forced, but for a while was looking like an error)
• The weather in Perth and Brisbane has been pretty mild

 

[Scotland]

To be fair a wheelie bin would be as much value as most spinners the Poms send out here

A decent Sulo bin will stop a few boundaries straight. Probably a better slipper than Ben Duckett also.

 

[Freo Big Fella]

They've got two key issues they need to resolve before Adelaide for mine;

• Pope looks increasingly untenable at 3. They'll probably look to Bethell given he seems to be the wunderkind designate, but after the way Jacks batted yesterday (and looking at their comparative first class stats) they could do worse than throwing him in there.
• I'm not sure they can continue to carry both Atkinson and Carse, who've both been fairly underwhelming. Tongue (or even Bashir) surely has to get an opportunity?

 

[TasSixer]

Is Smith normally that shite with the gloves or was it because he's never seen a pink ball before? If it's the first then they could give Pope the gloves and move him down the order.

 

[cats_09]

They've got two key issues they need to resolve before Adelaide for mine;

• Pope looks increasingly untenable at 3. They'll probably look to Bethell given he seems to be the wunderkind designate, but after the way Jacks batted yesterday (and looking at their comparative first class stats) they could do worse than throwing him in there.
• I'm not sure they can continue to carry both Atkinson and Carse, who've both been fairly underwhelming. Tongue (or even Bashir) surely has to get an opportunity?

The commentary team on Fox was discussing potential changes for England ahead of the Adelaide test

• Jacks to replace Duckett as opener
• Root moves up to 3
• Bethell into the 11, but for Smith with Pope to take over as keeper

 

[Permission Capable]

They've got two key issues they need to resolve before Adelaide for mine;

• Pope looks increasingly untenable at 3. They'll probably look to Bethell given he seems to be the wunderkind designate, but after the way Jacks batted yesterday (and looking at their comparative first class stats) they could do worse than throwing him in there.
• I'm not sure they can continue to carry both Atkinson and Carse, who've both been fairly underwhelming. Tongue (or even Bashir) surely has to get an opportunity?

I was shocked Tongue wasn't selected for Brisbane.

 

[Permission Capable]

Is Smith normally that shite with the gloves or was it because he's never seen a pink ball before? If it's the first then they could give Pope the gloves and move him down the order.

To think this is the sort of conundrum they have caused themselves is farcical (and hilarious at the same time for Aus fans).

 

[MisterMarcus]

They've got two key issues they need to resolve before Adelaide for mine;

• Pope looks increasingly untenable at 3. They'll probably look to Bethell given he seems to be the wunderkind designate, but after the way Jacks batted yesterday (and looking at their comparative first class stats) they could do worse than throwing him in there.
• I'm not sure they can continue to carry both Atkinson and Carse, who've both been fairly underwhelming. Tongue (or even Bashir) surely has to get an opportunity?

Stuart Broad was saying that Tongue at least offers a point of difference in that he pitches the ball up more, in contrast to the other three who are all "bang it in back of a length" types.

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

Stuart Broad was saying that Tongue at least offers a point of difference in that he pitches the ball up more, in contrast to the other three who are all "bang it in back of a length" types.

Will be nice to have a mix of half volleys and half trackers next test

 

[kickazz]

McCullum branching out into comedy

View attachment 2492628

He only said this because many pundits were questioning their lack of preparation.
The performance of the team is less important to him than telling everyone else that they are wrong.

 

[sabso]

Stuart Broad was saying that Tongue at least offers a point of difference in that he pitches the ball up more, in contrast to the other three who are all "bang it in back of a length" types.

Broad himself bowled too short in half his tests, but he was a smart bowler who was poorly captained. He’s saying these pacers are thick campaigners. As a professional bowler you must be able to use a bit of variation.

 

[Rabish Binney]

Is Smith normally that shite with the gloves or was it because he's never seen a pink ball before? If it's the first then they could give Pope the gloves and move him down the order.

Michael Vaughan prior to the test said on TV that this would be his first game with a pink ball.

Hence why Vaughan was so adamant that some of the players needed to play in the pink ball game vs Aust XI.

 

[Daka]

Never for one second brought the hype from the England media that were saying they have the better team in this Ashes series.
I think there is honestly only 3 players from their squad would make our XI

Brook, Stokes & Root.

Their attack is crap & overrated, our 2nd tier attack is stronger.

 

[eth-dog]

Never for one second brought the hype from the England media that were saying they have the better team in this Ashes series.
I think there is honestly only 3 players from their squad would make our XI

Brook, Stokes & Root.

Their attack is crap & overrated, our 2nd tier attack is stronger.

Atkinson would play with Cummins and Haze out. Duckett and/or Crawley too.

 

[Art Vandelay_]

Never for one second brought the hype from the England media that were saying they have the better team in this Ashes series.
I think there is honestly only 3 players from their squad would make our XI

Brook, Stokes & Root.

Their attack is crap & overrated, our 2nd tier attack is stronger.

Stokes and one of Brook/Root.
if we keep Head as an opener, the no.5 spot goes to Root/Brook as neither gets 4 off Smith or 3 off Marnus.

 

[Blackhawk42]

Still wary on going the full early crow on Weatherald, because Bancroft, Harris amd Konstas all made solid half centuries very early on only to fall out of favour pretty quickly.

The one difference Jake has is that he's already 31, much older than those others were when given their first opportunities. He's played like a veteran so far. Hopefully he can continue to do so and lock that position down for a couple of years minimum.

 

[Scotland]

Stuart Broad was saying that Tongue at least offers a point of difference in that he pitches the ball up more, in contrast to the other three who are all "bang it in back of a length" types.

Tongue has played 6 tests, all in England. It's a big ask to come in mid Ashes tour and immediately adjust to the conditions.

Whether he comes in or they stick with Atkinson/Carse or Wood can come back Adelaide can be pretty unforgiving for quicks.

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

He only said this because many pundits were questioning their lack of preparation.
The performance of the team is less important to him than telling everyone else that they are wrong.

Yep
Was a very defensive comment I thought, trying to head off criticism that he knew was coming and knew had an element of validity

 

[Scotland]

Imagine telling the media you "over prepared" when your wicket keeper hasn't played a pink ball game.

If Australia landed in England the week before an Ashes tour and said "nah we practiced a few weeks ago with a Kookaburra, it'll be fine" they would be rightly torn to shreds.

 

[Linda Lovelace]

Never for one second brought the hype from the England media that were saying they have the better team in this Ashes series.
I think there is honestly only 3 players from their squad would make our XI

Brook, Stokes & Root.

Their attack is crap & overrated, our 2nd tier attack is stronger.

One of their openers would have been named in a pre-series combined 11 and arguably both. That's more about our own weakness than England's strength.

Also, England's attack is very underwhelming but saying our '2nd tier attack is stronger' is hyperbolic. If we took a touring bowling lineup to England missing even two of Starc, Cummins or Hazelwood for the series, let alone all three, we'd get smashed.

 

[Freezin]

Can't see anyway Doggett plays next test TBH.

So true......not sure he will be seen again....atleast in this series.....

 

[ams4crows]

Adelaide Test
In - Cummins Lyon
Out - Doggett Boland

Melbourne Test
In Hazelwood Boland
Out Lyon ????

SCG Test
In Lyon
Out Boland

Horses for Courses. Lyon can play Adelaide and SCG. Other than that go with 4 quicks plus Webster/Green

Hazelwood is done mate, he ain't playing at all, Achilles is stuffed as well as the hammy

 

[toml]

Asa Tribe seems a positive for the Poms. 129no against Aus A today and 53no against the PM's XI. Plenty of runs for Glamorgan during the county season. Not sure I can see Rob Key acknowledging Div 2 county though, he'd sooner play Bethell so he can say "I told you so" when/if he ever lives up to expectations.

 

[Pistol Night]

Imagine telling the media you "over prepared" when your wicket keeper hasn't played a pink ball game.

If Australia landed in England the week before an Ashes tour and said "nah we practiced a few weeks ago with a Kookaburra, it'll be fine" they would be rightly torn to shreds.

Im convinced Baz is trolling now

 

[Gough]

Asa Tribe seems a positive for the Poms. 129no against Aus A today and 53no against the PM's XI. Plenty of runs for Glamorgan during the county season. Not sure I can see Rob Key acknowledging Div 2 county though, he'd sooner play Bethell so he can say "I told you so" when/if he ever lives up to expectations.

He looks like an engineering undergrad.