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The Ashes 2017/18

Dont quite follow why they have to play all 5 tests in a best of 5 situation. Let the guys come home for Christmas with their families. All about ticket sales and money generation I suppose. However if I was an Ozzie with tickets to the 4th or 5th test I'd be looking to get a refund and do something else with my time. Totally uncompetitive now no matter what anyone trys to sell, all real pressures are off the players now, pressure is what makes great ashes matches. 3-0, 4-0, 5-0, 4-1, 3-2, doesn't matter, Ashes are over.
 
Dont quite follow why they have to play all 5 tests in a best of 5 situation. Let the guys come home for Christmas with their families. All about ticket sales and money generation I suppose. However if I was an Ozzie with tickets to the 4th or 5th test I'd be looking to get a refund and do something else with my time. Totally uncompetitive now no matter what anyone trys to sell, all real pressures are off the players now, pressure is what makes great ashes matches. 3-0, 4-0, 5-0, 4-1, 3-2, doesn't matter, Ashes are over.

I went in 2006, got on the plane knowing it was already over - I'm still glad there was cricket, and we had a cracking time.
 
Root says, "I am proud of the way we battled, but we were outskilled. We have been in every game but not managed to drive it forwards. We haven't been completely outplayed we just haven't performed at that level for long periods of time."

Results say...

1st Test - lost by 10 wickets
2nd Test - lost by 120 runs
3rd Test - lost by an innings and 41 runs.

In my book that is completely outplayed. :whistle:
 
Root says, "I am proud of the way we battled, but we were outskilled. We have been in every game but not managed to drive it forwards. We haven't been completely outplayed we just haven't performed at that level for long periods of time."

Results say...

1st Test - lost by 10 wickets
2nd Test - lost by 120 runs
3rd Test - lost by an innings and 41 runs.

In my book that is completely outplayed. :whistle:

Usual banal media guff from the England camp. One partnership saved England from complete annihilation in that match.
 
Root says, "I am proud of the way we battled, but we were outskilled. We have been in every game but not managed to drive it forwards. We haven't been completely outplayed we just haven't performed at that level for long periods of time."

Results say...

1st Test - lost by 10 wickets
2nd Test - lost by 120 runs
3rd Test - lost by an innings and 41 runs.

In my book that is completely outplayed. :whistle:

Wrap it up anyway like Joe, but your boys have taken a right good pasting and simply haven't been good enough and outplayed in all areas. Can't see beyond 5-0 now
 
So should Cook jack it all in? Should Broad be dropped? Should Moeen be left out and given time to heal his finger so he can actually turn a ball?

Yes to all 3 for me

Jennings for Cook
Garton for Broad
Crane for Ali


Could even look to play Bairstow as an opening batsman and give Foakes a go behind the sticks and bat 6? Might be radical but something needs to change?
 
Re: The Ashes 2<script src=

So should Cook jack it all in? Should Broad be dropped? Should Moeen be left out and given time to heal his finger so he can actually turn a ball?

Yes to all 3 for me

Jennings for Cook
Garton for Broad
Crane for Ali


Could even look to play Bairstow as an opening batsman and give Foakes a go behind the sticks and bat 6? Might be radical but something needs to change?

Who's Garton?
 
So should Cook jack it all in? Should Broad be dropped? Should Moeen be left out and given time to heal his finger so he can actually turn a ball?

Yes to all 3 for me

Jennings for Cook
Garton for Broad
Crane for Ali


Could even look to play Bairstow as an opening batsman and give Foakes a go behind the sticks and bat 6? Might be radical but something needs to change?

Would very much like to see Foakes given a go in the last two tests. Very good keeper by all accounts with a not too shabby batting average either.
 
So should Cook jack it all in? Should Broad be dropped? Should Moeen be left out?

Cook, not sure, really poor form saved by that big 200 against an awful Windies team.
Maybe he’ll retire after the ashes anyway.

Broad, definitely, worst of all the bowlers.

Moeen, another definitely, 2nd worse of all the bowlers.
 
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/42401032

Pretty good summary

Lot of focus on Cook having a poor tour but Ali , Root and Broad are equally culpable but I don’t see them going yet - don’t see too many knocking on the door. Should have taken a better spin option than Crane - England aren’t blessed with bowlers that are going to sling it down at over 88mph and from a height so not sure what other bowler should have gone.

Root has also been poor as a skipper - but the worst thing is they have had chances to stay in the Ashes in all the tests - they just haven’t taken them
 
So should Cook jack it all in? Should Broad be dropped? Should Moeen be left out and given time to heal his finger so he can actually turn a ball?

Yes to all 3 for me

Jennings for Cook
Garton for Broad
Crane for Ali


Could even look to play Bairstow as an opening batsman and give Foakes a go behind the sticks and bat 6? Might be radical but something needs to change?

I'd go with that especially Foakes. Nothing to lose now and blood them against a good side and see if they have what it takes (but don't throw them on the scrapheap after two games if they do struggle). I've said for a while now Cook is done. Broad ineffective and Ali a shadow of what he can produce so drop them all and let's begin to look forward
 
And choke!

Selectors have bottled it big time.

According to a report by Cricket Network there is only 1 change. Curran for Overton.

Urinary Poor!

Selectors protecting their own derrieres; change 3 or 4, actually make a game or 2 of it & then the question will be asked as to why they weren't selected in the first place, thus highlighting the selectors' ineptitude. Change 1 & make a game of it and they have a defendable position as they were nearly there......
 
i get the clamour for changes, but who are these world beaters that are going to turn it round that we havent selected for the first 3 tests? Cant see making changes or not having much effect. would like to see crane get a go (albeit its most liklely too soon for him) other than that hard to see anyone feeling too hard done by imo
 
i get the clamour for changes, but who are these world beaters that are going to turn it round that we havent selected for the first 3 tests? Cant see making changes or not having much effect. would like to see crane get a go (albeit its most liklely too soon for him) other than that hard to see anyone feeling too hard done by imo

I agree, we don’t have the depth in the squad. Remember the last hiding we took in Oz and we ended up using lots of different players. Even Borthwick was called in and he was playing club cricket in oz. It was embarrassing, I don’t think any wholesale changes would make a difference.

Sometimes you just have to admit that they are streets ahead of us and we didnt have the firepower to compete in the first three games. I like the fact the players are now being told to step up , be accountable and fight.
 
So now is the time to drop the elderly and blood the youngsters.

No bottle or planning. The English seems to live series to series at the moment and they’re going backwards
 
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