Ashes -2019

[Bath Hammer]

It’s incredible that whilst we haven’t got one test batsman Australia lose Smith only to find another one equally effective to take his place

[nat]

It’s incredible that whilst we haven’t got one test batsman Australia lose Smith only to find another one equally effective to take his place

Effective if you drop him 4 times.

[Bath Hammer]

It’s incredible that whilst we haven’t got one test batsman Australia lose Smith only to find another one equally effective to take his place

Effective if you drop him 4 times.

Yes, that certainly helps. Anyway, despite that bit of resistance far to late I expect us to collapse like a pack of cards today.

[LeedsExile]

Yesterday on TMS Agnew and Vaughan went on at great length about how the ECB had prioritised one day stuff at the expense of the test team. They repeated a lot of the points frequently made by message boarders on here. It was refreshing to hear "our" views given some airtime. Therefore I hope England do not pull off a miraculous win because the powers that be will just sit back and say all is well when we all no it clearly is not.

[Bath Hammer]

Absolutely. The same was said by both Bob Willis & Jonathan Trott on The Debate. The trouble is that the main driver is money, but to what end?  Is it to develop young cricketers or players of a cross between rounders & baseball, an entirely different game. Vast numbers enjoy &  watch test cricket.
IT MUST NOT BE SIDELINED.

[essexfan548]

Why have these 'experts' just woken up?

We've been saying this for years on here

[mawallace]

Yea, the likes of Vaughan has been trumpeting the one day studf for so long.  Won't be better next year.  This from the Telegraph

The system under the Take a look at workforce is rotten and can solely change into worse because the ECB places its assets into the Hundred. A draft schedule for subsequent summer season seen by Telegraph Sport exhibits county championship cricket once more shoehorned into April and September when pitches are juicy early season and drained on the finish. The odd championship sport dropped into June and July solely makes issues extra complicated.

[Bath Hammer]

Collapse was delayed but is now underway!

[Andy]

Too many ‘vested interests’ in the media coverage of the game nowadays. The likes of Vaughan have complained about the lack of home grown coaches for The Hundred - hardly surprising given that most of our retired ‘talent’ takes the easy way out instead of coaching counties.

Get rid of the ex-players - their ‘insights’ are usually obvious, and we know that this is something anyone can do, even those on this BB. Apparently.

[neil]

Collapse was delayed but is now underway!

Made it much more interesting though!

Jeez - what a finish. Stokes unbelievable  but huge plaudits to Leach for hanging on in there with him.

[Bath Hammer]

 I am SO SO SO pleased to be proved wrong. An unbelievable win. Massive congrats to Ben Stokes!

[Andy]

The win was never in doubt. Now excuse me, but Myleen Klass keeps pestering me with texts protestating of undying affection, which is getting slightly irritating.

Well done Jack Leach. Proves that the 92 wasn’t a one off. Can’t understand why the selectors preferred Ali for the first test, who was mentally shot. Thought Ed Smith is meant to be an ‘intellectual’???

[IlfordEagle]

Wow what a finish very much against the odds, huge congrats to Stokes for his innings & also to Leach for showing some of his so called betters up the order how to bat. For those who think red ball cricket is dying just watch the highlights of this Test for your answer. Strange how the Aussies manage to adapt to different formats far more easily than we do.

[Slogger]

Tremendous stuff. My worry is that with Roy having been exposed by the Aussie attack that England try to persuade a highly experienced test opener out of retirement for the next two games.

[Andy]

Tremendous stuff. My worry is that with Roy having been exposed by the Aussie attack that England try to persuade a highly experienced test opener out of retirement for the next two games.

Doubt it personally, Chef's not pulling out great performances.  Sibley would be next in line - the Aussies having worked out Chef some time ago.