Ashes 25/26

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

The selectors have done a very good job recently, but if they drop someone to fit in Khawaja and we lose the Test due to batting, it will have been one of the worst selection moves in years and should destroy any good will they've generated.

Khawaja has been an excellent cricketer in the past but it's getting silly now. We can't have this dance going on every year where a senior player is clearly past it but we have to fit in a farewell series for them.

This is the problem with what we did for Warner, now it feels like we're playing favourites if we don't give others a goodbye match and this is probably why the selectors are being coy. We need to just rip the bandaid off with this one and embrace that sport doesn't end with fairytale farewells.

There does seem to be a bit of a concerted effort not to give in to outside noise.

They obviously want to have a tight knit team, a feeling that coaches have player's backs, unity etc.

Maybe a bit of an us (Australian squad) vs them (media, public) mindset

I don't think they'll just cast Khawaja and Lyon aside completely given that they've helped build the current team's culture and have contributed towards success.

It's a fine line and I know Lyon has been squeezed out a couple of times recently.

 

[010203]

England's players were fined 20% of their match fees and were docked 4 WTC points due to slow overrates.

 

[whattagun07]

Watching Highlights from a Pink ball test at Adelaide Oval against Emgland.

Side is
Harris
Warner
Lab
Smith
Head
Green
Carey
Starc
Neser
Richardson
Lyon

Cummins and Haz both missing. Richo with a fiver.

just looking at that scorecard (I love dissecting old scorecards)

Some interesting details;

• England went from 2/150 to all out for 236 in reply to our 479.
• Root bowled 20 overs in the 1st innings.
• Woakes and Stokes bled runs, both well over 4 per over.
• A nice tail wag with Carey 51, starc 39 and neser 35
• Starc with a wicket in the first ball of his second over.
• Jos Buttler with a 15 ball duck in the 1st innings
• James Anderson with 1/8 off 10 overs in the 2nd innings (0.80 economy)
• Steve Smith with 6 catches for the match (no wonder he is nearly the greatest catcher of all time)
• Jos Buttler out 'hit wicket' bowled Richardson in the 2nd innings
• Aus declared and Eng were 1/20 at tea, and 4/82 at stumps on Day 4
• Somehow they made it to tea on Day 5 where they were 8/180.
• Eng made 192 off 113.1 overs at a rate of 1.69 in the second innings chasing 468. What a grind that would have been!
• Labuschagne MOTM with his treacle slow 103 (305) the sole century for the match. Warner and Smith were probably kicking themselves with their 95 and 93 respectively.

 

[MC Bad Genius]

England's players were fined 20% of their match fees and were docked 4 WTC points due to slow overrates.

And we weren't because of Bazball?

 

[eth-dog]

Yeah and when Lyon retires I think you will find Rocco will be the first called up ..no way Kuna and Murphy are above Rocco in Aussie conditions thats the point....subcontinent yeah

as I said previously Rocco is similar to Lyon with his bounce and over the top Murph cuts the ball better suited for the subcontinent

Look at that. You were wrong.

 

[Tugga27]

Look at that. You were wrong.

Lyon hasn't retired yet though.

 

[Jacks Seething Rage]

Rough on Neser if he misses. Deserves to.come in with the confidence of a 5 for in his back pocket.

 

[eth-dog]

Lyon hasn't retired yet though.

The implication that Rocchiccioli would be the next up spinner in Aussie conditions. He said it with certainty.

 

[eth-dog]

Rough on Neser if he misses. Deserves to.come in with the confidence of a 5 for in his back pocket.

He doesn't have a great record at the G, even with the recent developments of a much better deck for quicks.

 

[Black Diamond]

The same selectors who left out Roccochelli managed to retain Green and Inglis, and bring in Richardson.

 

[Black Diamond]

Rough on Neser if he misses. Deserves to.come in with the confidence of a 5 for in his back pocket.

I really don't understand why Doggett is favoured at the moment. Irrespective of their MCG performances.

 

[Ohitsthatguy]

I really don't understand why Doggett is favoured at the moment. Irrespective of their MCG performances.

Probably just air speed

Neser has lost a yard as he has gotten older

 

[ioppolo]

just looking at that scorecard (I love dissecting old scorecards)

Some interesting details;

• England went from 2/150 to all out for 236 in reply to our 479.
• Root bowled 20 overs in the 1st innings.
• Woakes and Stokes bled runs, both well over 4 per over.
• A nice tail wag with Carey 51, starc 39 and neser 35
• Starc with a wicket in the first ball of his second over.
• Jos Buttler with a 15 ball duck in the 1st innings
• James Anderson with 1/8 off 10 overs in the 2nd innings (0.80 economy)
• Steve Smith with 6 catches for the match (no wonder he is nearly the greatest catcher of all time)
• Jos Buttler out 'hit wicket' bowled Richardson in the 2nd innings
• Aus declared and Eng were 1/20 at tea, and 4/82 at stumps on Day 4
• Somehow they made it to tea on Day 5 where they were 8/180.
• Eng made 192 off 113.1 overs at a rate of 1.69 in the second innings chasing 468. What a grind that would have been!
• Labuschagne MOTM with his treacle slow 103 (305) the sole century for the match. Warner and Smith were probably kicking themselves with their 95 and 93 respectively.

Buttler getting out hit wicket after grinding his way to 26 off 207 balls too!

 

[Gough]

Looks like they prepared for the third Test by going on a bender.

Rob Key to investigate England’s ‘stag do’ drinking habits on Noosa mid-Ashes break

Rob Key has defended England’s mid-tour break in Noosa but confirmed he will look into reports of excessive drinking by players in between the second and third Ashes Tests

www.theguardian.com

Rob Key has defended England’s mid-tour break in Noosa but confirmed he will look into reports that excessive drinking by players in between the second and third Ashes Tests turned it into a “glorified stag do”.

 

[icyflakes]

Looks like they prepared for the third Test by going on a bender.

Rob Key to investigate England’s ‘stag do’ drinking habits on Noosa mid-Ashes break

Rob Key has defended England’s mid-tour break in Noosa but confirmed he will look into reports of excessive drinking by players in between the second and third Ashes Tests

www.theguardian.com

I read that just after watching Ron's press conference where they asked him about the partying after the Adelaide Test - his response was "they're adults, they know we have a test coming, they will make sure they're ready to go."

I think it's a solid reflection on age difference between the squads. The Aussies are mostly in their mid-30s, it's clear they aren't going to be a problem with the occasional partying.

 

[Gough]

I read that just after watching Ron's press conference where they asked him about the partying after the Adelaide Test - his response was "they're adults, they know we have a test coming, they will make sure they're ready to go."

I think it's a solid reflection on age difference between the squads. The Aussies are mostly in their mid-30s, it's clear they aren't going to be a problem with the occasional partying.

Carey reminds me of Gilchrist, boy next door type who you can take home to meet mum but can party like Olly Reed.

 

[Tugga27]

The same selectors who left out Roccochelli managed to retain Green and Inglis, and bring in Richardson.

You've seen the side then have you?

 

[Black Diamond]

So I guess we're ei

You've seen the side then have you?

I’ve seen the squad.

 

[Tugga27]

I’ve seen the squad.

Why on earth do you think they'd drop anyone from the squad?

 

[Black Diamond]

Why on earth do you think they'd drop anyone from the squad?

Because two of those West Australians aren’t playing very well and the third is injury prone. Selected anyway though, despite the vast conspiracy.

 

[whattagun07]

Buttler getting out hit wicket after grinding his way to 26 off 207 balls too!

haha jeez, I didn't spot that it was off 207! 2 boundaries off his 207 balls is craaazy

 

[Tugga27]

Because two of those West Australians aren’t playing very well and the third is injury prone. Selected anyway though, despite the vast conspiracy.

You don't usually drop players from the squad.
The team maybe but not the squad.

Try not to worry where players are from.
The conspiracy is in your head.

 

[Crowked]

Got to love those poms.
Twice today I’ve heard comments from their touring party saying they’ve played at about 20% of their ability. I’d say 3 tests is enough of a sample to suggest that they are more likely only 20% as good as they thought they were. Happy they’re still underrating the Aussies and over rating themselves though. Bodes well for a 5 nil whitewash.

 

[MarcMaverick]

Poms are acting like the older brother in that "I wasn't even trying" type of way.

 

[Jascave]

Probably the most disorgainised England touring party I've ever seen. This current squad makes the 1990/91 England side under Graham Gooch looks well run by comparision.