Ashes 25/26

[Altum Volantes]

Lol they aren't dropping Green now. Far out.

McSweeney's 'in' is at the expense of Marnus but considering his recall they obviously prefer Marnus in the team, rather than out of it. Maybe another look-in if Weatherald finishes the series poorly I guess, but they are probably more concerned how they handle Kwaj's now obvious exit.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Would we potentially rest Starc for the Adelaide road?

No we wouldn’t and don’t be silly there’s 10 days off between tests that’s enough. Then a long break before Melbourne (well about a week). It’s the Mel-Sydney that’s the back to back you might but doubt it

 

[Altum Volantes]

Starc isn't sitting down with Cummins playing his first Test of the summer, no Haze AND having 18 wickets under his belt in 2 Tests.

More likely rest Boland and play Neser and then swap them for Melbourne.

Starc
Cummins
Neser/Boland
Lyon

Lock it in - the rest as-is from the Gabba.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Starc isn't sitting down with Cummins playing his first Test of the summer, no Haze AND having 18 wickets under his belt in 2 Tests.

More likely rest Boland and play Neser and then swap them for Melbourne.

Starc
Cummins
Neser/Boland
Lyon

Lock it in - the rest as-is from the Gabba.

Agree, I'd be surprised if it's not Boland but fine either way. Boland bowled just as well as Neser despite the rewards

 

[Altum Volantes]

Agree, I'd be surprised if it's not Boland but fine either way. Boland bowled just as well as Neser despite the rewards

He did bowl well...but Neser with those 2 key c&b - that's all on him - had the better outing in the end.

They are both great first change options either way, we are blessed in that regard.

 

[the_interloper]

Starc isn't sitting down with Cummins playing his first Test of the summer, no Haze AND having 18 wickets under his belt in 2 Tests.

More likely rest Boland and play Neser and then swap them for Melbourne.

Starc
Cummins
Neser/Boland
Lyon

Lock it in - the rest as-is from the Gabba.

I'm assuming Boland plays, not disappointed if they pick Neser though, he's deserved to play more Test cricket than he has.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

He did bowl well...but Neser with those 2 key c&b - that's all on him - had the better outing in the end.

They are both great first change options either way, we are blessed in that regard.

Think Boland is a better first change, Neser despite this test does need the new ball and I'd rather Pat take the new ball.

 

[Black Diamond]

Inglis should be the only one in any danger from the top 7. Largely because he batted at 7 instead of 6. That tells us a lot what the leadership thinks of his batting.

 

[Shifty1]

Inglis should be the only one in any danger from the top 7. Largely because he batted at 7 instead of 6. That tells us a lot what the leadership thinks of his batting.

A few of us also don't rate his batting at this level. Legitimately feel he is going to get out every ball.

 

[western royboy]

Gentlemen, as I just explained on the Saints forum, we are playing rope-a-dope. It's a tactical retreat in preparation for the decisive counter strike. We allow Australia to burn themselves out early on, then we hit back, taking advantage of Aussie complacency. It's the tortoise and the hare, or rather, the kangaroo. The trap is laid in preparation for the next three tests.

Prepare to be astonished

Correct me if I am wrong but Muhammad Ali went to the rope a dope because he realised that he could not beat Foreman using his traditional “I am gonna dance ” technique or play Foreman at his own game of brutal power punching.

So having said that, what is the mystery tactic?, because they’ve tried Bazball and they’ve tried the tall fast bowling option and both have proven to be as effective as Ali’s right hand leads in the first round.

Arguably the greatest fight of all time…thus series looks like going in the opposite direction

 

[Rabish Binney]

A few of us also don't rate his batting at this level. Legitimately feel he is going to get out every ball.

Not to knock your comment but it was West Australians not so long ago who were shit canning Carey and basically were demanding that Inglis replace him......

 

[Pistol Night]

Correct me if I am wrong but Muhammad Ali went to the rope a dope because he realised that he could not beat Foreman using his traditional “I am gonna dance ” technique or play Foreman at his own game of brutal power punching.

So having said that, what is the mystery tactic?, because they’ve tried Bazball and they’ve tried the tall fast bowling option and both have proven to be as effective as Ali’s right hand leads in the first round.

Arguably the greatest fight of all time…thus series looks like going in the opposite direction

Yep. Watching footage of George hitting the heavy bag and putting dents in the campaigner convinced Ali going toe toe with him straight away might not be wise

 

[Jascave]

If I thought the 1990/91 England team under Graham Gooch was bad, the current version under Ben Stokes is a thousand times worse. They throw away wickets when two or three big partnerships is more important, the bowling is below standard and the catching is about Under 9 level. Brendan McCullum and Stokes won't last much longer as England coach and captain respectively if the results continue go the way they are at the moment, and the powerbrokers at Lord's will swing the axe straight after the tour.

 

[Matrix10]

So far we've just subbed in their non-injured contemporaries

Not sure who the 24-28 year old crew of quicks are who will make up our next test quality trio

Ferguson .. absolute gun bowler who makes the ball sing

 

[western royboy]

If I thought the 1990/91 England team under Graham Gooch was bad, the current version under Ben Stokes is a thousand times worse. They throw away wickets when two or three big partnerships is more important, the bowling is below standard and the catching is about Under 9 level. Brendan McCullum and Stokes won't last much longer as England coach and captain respectively if the results continue go the way they are at the moment, and the powerbrokers at Lord's will swing the axe straight after the tour.

Stokes will stay, Key & McCullum sayonara Buckenara

 

[Black Diamond]

A few of us also don't rate his batting at this level. Legitimately feel he is going to get out every ball.

I don't particularly rate him either.

 

[RookiePick]

Not to knock your comment but it was West Australians not so long ago who were shit canning Carey and basically were demanding that Inglis replace him......

Carey has improved. A shit tonne. I feel like he turned a corner in the WTC final vs India. He got a bit rattled after Bairstow-gate but it's made him a stronger player in the washup.

 

[the_interloper]

Not to knock your comment but it was West Australians not so long ago who were shit canning Carey and basically were demanding that Inglis replace him......

My brother lives in South Australia and he reckoned a lot of talkback callers on 5AA were worried about Carey getting the arse for Neser. He's one of the automatics, set and forget him for 5 years hopefully, so reliable and really elite with the gloves now too.

 

[MUFKilda]

Correct me if I am wrong but Muhammad Ali went to the rope a dope because he realised that he could not beat Foreman using his traditional “I am gonna dance ” technique or play Foreman at his own game of brutal power punching.

So having said that, what is the mystery tactic?, because they’ve tried Bazball and they’ve tried the tall fast bowling option and both have proven to be as effective as Ali’s right hand leads in the first round.

Arguably the greatest fight of all time…thus series looks like going in the opposite direction

Bugger, the bluff has been called, the mind games defeated. Plan B is to give the Aussie team food poisoning for the third test. Literally play the raw prawn.

 

[cricketnut14]

Would we potentially rest Starc for the Adelaide road?

he can have 8 months rest in 4 weeks time

 

[Jim Prideaux]

The best thing about the series so far for England fans aside from Root's hundred drought being over is Henry Blofeld returning to do reviews on youtube. I forgot he was still alive but for an 86 year old he is on good form!

Ernst Stavro’s real life son. I adore Blowers, thanks for posting that.

 

[Black Diamond]

Blofeld is a broadcasting legend. Loved him back when we could stream TMS easily.

 

[Jim Prideaux]

Blofeld is a broadcasting legend. Loved him back when we could stream TMS easily.

Dirigibles!

 

[Gough]

Bloers is good value as a writer too even if he's inclined to be a bit plummy for my tastes but that's his thing I suppose.

 

[cricketnut14]

Inglis should be the only one in any danger from the top 7. Largely because he batted at 7 instead of 6. That tells us a lot what the leadership thinks of his batting.

yeah apparently it'll be a 15 man squad for adelaide (the same 14 plus cummins).

inglis batted at 5 in sri lanka, batted at 4 when smith missed a test and now at 7 in the last test.

for me, he is a number 6 at best.

not sure why we go down the road of a second wicketkeeper playing as a batsman in a test match.
i don't have an issue with him in the squad as cover for carey, but surely he ain't in the best 6 bats in the country.


the batting options they have with the current squad is:
-they could keep him in the XI
-replace him with webster
OR:
-replace him with usman and he opens and head goes back to 5
-replace him with usman and he plays at 5/6 (which seems a little silly) and head remains as the opener
(either way usman needs to finish up in sydney at the latest).