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The Ashes 2017/18

Thank you and goodnight, that's it done. After an early success in removing Steve Marsh, Mitchell Marsh makes his first Test 100, Steve Smith is nearing 200 and with over 2 days to go you can only see this going one way. Still, at least Joe Root thinks we're still well in it........... :mad:
 
It’s a flat wicket which needs bowlers with pace - we don’t have the kind of pace the Aussies have so it was always going to be like this. Even Wood whilst quick is more a skiddy bowler - Expect it to die out as a draw

The one big disappointment is Ali - must be struggling with that finger , bowling and batting been shocking.

Really glad that Overton has shown some fight though and hopefully a good start to a good career

England miss the fight of Stokes with both bat and bowl and also don’t see Root as the ideal captain
 
Captainron said:
You’ve got the weather on your side. Meant to rain tonight and tomorrow.
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We can only hope.

I've heard comments about Ali's finger from a few places. Why is he being picked if he can't spin the ball. How stupid a decision is that?

In Australia you need tall, bouncy, fast bowlers. We just don't have that at the moment. All very grim.
 
Dear ECB,

Please can you inform us how English cricket can move forward from this debacle despite scheduling most of the county championship in April and September whilst administering a domestic game which fails to produce pace or spin bowlers.
 
The current difficulties are nothing new. Just how many times in the last 40 years have we won an Ashes series in Australia.

Our domestic game produces bowlers who rely upon swing rather than pace and spinners that are more about economy than wickets.

Our batsmen struggle against genuine pace, particularly if it's accompanied by bounce. Not surprising when they never experience it on English green tops.

These factors coupled with the lop-sided schedule referred to above means we must sadly expect to continue to struggle in Australia for the foreseeable future.
 
MetalMickie said:
The current difficulties are nothing new. Just how many times in the last 40 years have we won an Ashes series in Australia.

Our domestic game produces bowlers who rely upon swing rather than pace and spinners that are more about economy than wickets.

Our batsmen struggle against genuine pace, particularly if it's accompanied by bounce. Not surprising when they never experience it on English green tops.

These factors coupled with the lop-sided schedule referred to above means we must sadly expect to continue to struggle in Australia for the foreseeable future.
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Spot on. I think this tour highlights the issues we have at county level and the gulf between the quality we have in that area and being able to step up and play against the best in the world on any wicket that isn't green or turns and even when we do play on turning wickets abroad we still can't cope.
 
MetalMickie said:
The current difficulties are nothing new. Just how many times in the last 40 years have we won an Ashes series in Australia.

Our domestic game produces bowlers who rely upon swing rather than pace and spinners that are more about economy than wickets.

Our batsmen struggle against genuine pace, particularly if it's accompanied by bounce. Not surprising when they never experience it on English green tops.

These factors coupled with the lop-sided schedule referred to above means we must sadly expect to continue to struggle in Australia for the foreseeable future.
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It’s part and parcel of the game - not many teams lose home series

Each country atmospheric conditions will determine the wickets that each country produces - all the rest teams are balanced for their home conditions. Young players need to go away and play in different conditions and hopefully the Lions Tours will help develop the players.

I suspect we will have a period now where the Ashes will constantly change hands
 
Liverpoolphil said:
It’s part and parcel of the game - not many teams lose home series

Each country atmospheric conditions will determine the wickets that each country produces - all the rest teams are balanced for their home conditions. Young players need to go away and play in different conditions and hopefully the Lions Tours will help develop the players.

I suspect we will have a period now where the Ashes will constantly change hands
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Australia have at least competed on their last 4 trips over to England when they have lost the series. Even in 2013 when it ended 3-0 to England the Aussies still made England work very hard for it. 3 of the last 4 trips down under England have been blown away and not even in the contest. Plenty will blame the county game but they should be blaming the ECB. They are in charge of the game in this country, and therefore the county game, so those at the top should be held accountable. Instead they will probably distance themselves from the county game whilst focusing on the new T20 folly.
 
Tongo said:
Australia have at least competed on their last 4 trips over to England when they have lost the series. Even in 2013 when it ended 3-0 to England the Aussies still made England work very hard for it. 3 of the last 4 trips down under England have been blown away and not even in the contest. Plenty will blame the county game but they should be blaming the ECB. They are in charge of the game in this country, and therefore the county game, so those at the top should be held accountable. Instead they will probably distance themselves from the county game whilst focusing on the new T20 folly.
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Correct. Funny how other countries can go abroad and at least be competitive whereas we were slaughtered in India and struggling again now. We struggled to beat a West Indies side in transition and internal turmoil with rows with their board. Unless the ECB focus on the longer formats, we're end up a mediocre average if we haven't hit that point already
 
Liverpoolphil said:
It’s part and parcel of the game - not many teams lose home series

Each country atmospheric conditions will determine the wickets that each country produces - all the rest teams are balanced for their home conditions. Young players need to go away and play in different conditions and hopefully the Lions Tours will help develop the players.

I suspect we will have a period now where the Ashes will constantly change hands
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Fully aware of the woldwide home series advantage. That was the point of my post as people are, to an extent, over reacting.

However, as Tongo said, we could be a little more competitive if the ECB took steps to develop the right sort of player.

I am afraid it will take much more than Lions tours as the domestic game doesn't seem designed to help identify the right young talent.
 
Tongo said:
Australia have at least competed on their last 4 trips over to England when they have lost the series. Even in 2013 when it ended 3-0 to England the Aussies still made England work very hard for it. 3 of the last 4 trips down under England have been blown away and not even in the contest. Plenty will blame the county game but they should be blaming the ECB. They are in charge of the game in this country, and therefore the county game, so those at the top should be held accountable. Instead they will probably distance themselves from the county game whilst focusing on the new T20 folly.
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I think right now England are 3rd or maybe 2nd in the test rankings - each countries domestic game isn’t much different with most of the focus in those countries going towards the T20 events - but then other countries embrace that format and use it to develop their players.

What exactly should the ECB change about the County Champs
 
Liverpoolphil said:
I think right now England are 3rd or maybe 2nd in the test rankings - each countries domestic game isn’t much different with most of the focus in those countries going towards the T20 events - but then other countries embrace that format and use it to develop their players.

What exactly should the ECB change about the County Champs
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Play some of it in summer for a start!

Other countries' domestic game may be similar but how many other countries have a series to rival the Ashes? Only Pakistan v India could rival the Ashes and that doesnt happen for various reasons. So the ECB should be focusing more on the CC than other boards as they have a series which likely provides a massive source of income. (And we all know its the dollars and pounds that count these days) A competitive Ashes has surely got to be good for stakeholders or whatever it is they are called.
 
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Tongo said:
Play some of it in summer for a start!
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They do but unfortunately County games don’t keep counties running - the ODI and T20 do and we have seen over the last couple of years that even in the summer the weather isn’t that great
 
Liverpoolphil said:
They do but unfortunately County games don’t keep counties running - the ODI and T20 do and we have seen over the last couple of years that even in the summer the weather isn’t that great
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With the emphasis on pub-cricket, sorry I meant T20, there is little opportunity for emerging players to develop in the same way as previous generations.

And as the CC is largely condensed into the beginning and end of the season even more games are played on green tops.
 
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