Australia vs England - The Ashes 2021/22

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Ritchie said:
Harris fails miserably in general but when the axe looms he pulls off a miracle and we're stuck with his mediocrity.

Yes this where our selectors have their priorites skewiff. They hang onto mediocre guys like Harris and Head etc in the hope that they will eventually show consistency which you must have at this level. Starc, another, has been less than mediocre past two years, has never been consistent, yet, what he has done this series, specially the pink ball games, will keep him in our attack at the expense of more skillful bowlers.
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Harris guaranteed himself a spot until the end of the series with his first innings knock. I'd like he'll likely be on the next tour they'll go on as well, I think that's the Pakistan tour in a few months' time. I personally don't rate him at all and feel he isn't up to it at this level. Travis Head is another that is also questionable but made runs in the opening test so will be given some time in the side.

Ritchie said:
How do you think Root will play it. He knows he is on a hiding to nothing if they just try to block. He may play it safe but I think he'll tell the other three to take the attack to the Aussies or die trying. Even a draw means the series is lost so it is go for broke, give them a reasonable score to defend as they know we have to bat last on this lively track. This may yet pan out to an exciting finish.
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I had thought England would try to grind out the first hour or so and then try to assert themselves on the contest to at least provide something to defend with the ball. Even if it wasn't going to be a match-winning lead, I would have expected some sort of fight.

Today was the complete opposite of that, they capitulated in the end to a very heavy defeat. I had thought that things might be over quickly on day three and that proved to be the case.
 
Sharkman84 said:
Yep. One wonders if Joe Root will still be England captain for Sydney.

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Hard to see who else would take over. The only other options would be Stokes or Buttler, neither of whom are in great form. Stokes clearly isn't 100% fit either.

I wouldn't be surprised though if he isn't captain for their next series given what has transpired but there doesn't seem to be many options available. It would be tough for an all-rounder in Stokes to do the job given his workload with bat and ball plus form issues while Buttler also has form issues of his own, particularly if Bairstow starts scoring consistent runs.
 
I don't think it's a skipper issue or a coach issue.
I think the selectors need to go. The teams they've selected have been terrible.
 
Renegadesfan said:
Saw a youtube video of michael vaughan getting the same treatment as joe root did today.
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Sooz you are a sick girl. :p All this preoccupation with blokes getting whacked by a hard red ball in the gonads. It is not a fun thing to happen I can tell you from experience.
 
Ljp86 said:
Hard to see who else would take over. The only other options would be Stokes or Buttler, neither of whom are in great form. Stokes clearly isn't 100% fit either.

I wouldn't be surprised though if he isn't captain for their next series given what has transpired but there doesn't seem to be many options available. It would be tough for an all-rounder in Stokes to do the job given his workload with bat and ball plus form issues while Buttler also has form issues of his own, particularly if Bairstow starts scoring consistent runs.
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I think Joe is the only option too. He was tactically fair given the team the ECB selectors handed him. Overcame the enormous pressure of having to carry the batting again by being their top scorer. Looks a class above the rest technically.

Stokes has had a shocker.. lets not sugar coat it. As the so called X factor and vice captain the onus was on him to back up his skipper in lean times. He has been found wanting on every occasion. If he is carrying a niggle then rest him.. better than carrying him.
 
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What a bummer. We should still be watching the Ashes. Replay on the box. Suppose we have to be thankful for that at least.
 
Ritchie said:
Mate no offense re your age. I did delete that part of my post but you were a touch too quick for me. I used to have VHS tapes of Test cricket too. Useless now with new technology.
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Guys I own a dvd/VHS combi, it's years old but works brilliantly, I have a stack of VHS tapes too that I pick up from markets and charity shops 🤗
 
Ritchie said:
I think Joe is the only option too. He was tactically fair given the team the ECB selectors handed him. Overcame the enormous pressure of having to carry the batting again by being their top scorer. Looks a class above the rest technically.
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He's been okay tactically I feel and he hasn't had much to work with. He's certainly carrying the side from a batting perspective, Malan the only other batter to really contribute much of substance.

Ritchie said:
Stokes has had a shocker.. lets not sugar coat it. As the so called X factor and vice captain the onus was on him to back up his skipper in lean times. He has been found wanting on every occasion. If he is carrying a niggle then rest him.. better than carrying him.
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I agree although I do feel his fitness has hampered his output. Personally I feel he should be rested if he isn't 100% fit, even more so now with the series out of reach. If he is rested, it's a question of who comes into the side, do they opt for say Dan Lawrence in the middle order or does Burns return with Crawley to drop down the order? Or do they opt for Woakes and put him in at seven? Woakes can bat but is more of a bowling all-rounder with Stokes being a pure all-rounder.
 
Ritchie said:
Nail on the head Sooz. Joe said the selectors picked the "best 18 players in English county cricket". Not so.. a bald faced lie. Here is the proof.
https://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/records/batting/most_runs_career.html?id=13821;type=tournament
Only one of the top 20 made the Ashes squad.. Ollie Pope.
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Just looking at that list and while there are some impressive records in there for the most recent county season, the overall career records are not too great as per below.

Code: 
Player         FC Career Avg    Age      Notes

TJ  Haines         34.03         23      Top order batter
JD  Libby          35.09         28      Top order batter
SD  Robson         37.58         32      Opening batter
DG  Bedingham      46.60         27      South African - ineligible
MJJ Critchley      32.21         25      All-rounder
HM  Amla           48.96         38      South African - ineligible
BC  Brown          40.41         33      Wicketkeeper
LJ  Hill           28.95         31      Wicketkeeper
KS  Carlson        31.55         23      Middle order batter
OJ  Pope           51.23         23      Middle order batter
JJ  Bohannon       43.97         24      Middle order batter
RS  Vasconcelos    36.32         24      South African - ineligible
BT  Slater         33.52         30      Opening batter
DL  Lloyd          29.42         29      Batting all-rounder
MD  Stoneman       34.31         34      Top order batter
SR  Hain           35.94         26      Middle order batter
A   Lyth           37.78         34      Top order batter
JM  Vince          39.06         30      Middle order batter
CB  Cooke          37.75         35      Wicketkeeper
HC  Brook          27.63         22      Middle order batter

From that list, you can rule out Bedingham, Amla and Vasconcelos as they are all South African so are ineligible for selection. Stoneman and Lyth are also unlikely to be considered, both have played test cricket before and didn't cut it at the level, mostly against Australia in the last series here (2017/18 - Stoneman) or in the home series during 2015 (Lyth).

After those eliminations, there are 15 others to consider, one of whom is Pope who has the best record and is touring here. Some of these players are in the early stages of their career but there are not too many decent records there anyway, Bohannon played in the England Lions side against Australia "A" earlier in the season while one wonders why Ben Brown (averaging 40.41 as a wicketkeeper) hasn't got more of an opportunity. Sam Robson played test cricket seven years ago but hasn't received an opportunity since while James Vince has been in and out of the side for some time.

After this test series has been completed, the England selectors will have some decisions to make regarding the batting order and how many of this side will continue for their next series against West Indies in March before their home summer then begins. The coming county season could provide crucial as there may be some spots up for grabs, particularly for their home summer.
 
Not going to comment on any of the English players as they have tried to play competitively in this test.

Time for the selectors to be sacked.
Had enough of seeing the english team go out with the wrong combinations.
 
Ljp86 said:
He's been okay tactically I feel and he hasn't had much to work with. He's certainly carrying the side from a batting perspective, Malan the only other batter to really contribute much of substance.



I agree although I do feel his fitness has hampered his output. Personally I feel he should be rested if he isn't 100% fit, even more so now with the series out of reach. If he is rested, it's a question of who comes into the side, do they opt for say Dan Lawrence in the middle order or does Burns return with Crawley to drop down the order? Or do they opt for Woakes and put him in at seven? Woakes can bat but is more of a bowling all-rounder with Stokes being a pure all-rounder.
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That is only a case of shifting the deck chairs on the Titanic mate. They erred in sending home better performing Lions players. Now they are left with demoralised under performers. The ECB has a lot to answer for but they will cop no blame as they sit up in their Lords ivory tower, polishing their knighthood plaques and puffing on their havana cigars while their underlings cop all the flack.
 
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