Ashes 2025/6

[nat]

Problem seems to me that the idea of playing without fear is coming from a place of fear.

It's coming from a place of arrogance. Thinking that playing 2020 cricket and a couple of nets is adequate preparation for playing Test match cricket in Australia. As a consequence the bowlers are undercooked, the batsmen are undercooked, the fielding is undercooked and the captaincy is undercooked.

[vim]

The preparation, is the same as someone who smokes and drinks throughout the week. Then does not smoke and only have a half pint, in the morning. And then thinks everything will be alright on the pitch.

[Andy]

Problem seems to me that the idea of playing without fear is coming from a place of fear.

It's coming from a place of arrogance. Thinking that playing 2020 cricket and a couple of nets is adequate preparation for playing Test match cricket in Australia. As a consequence the bowlers are undercooked, the batsmen are undercooked, the fielding is undercooked and the captaincy is undercooked.

I think you mean raw.  I suspect the Root regime was undermined by Stokes and his ego. He had some success but this is going to be embarrassing.

I wonder if there will be an open top bus ride around London next year?

[Slogger]

England don't pick bowlers out of the championship. They want tall, quick, bowlers. The Aussies are using Doggett  Neser and Boland and are almost two ahead. Would any of them be picked by England?

[nat]

England don't pick bowlers out of the championship. They want tall, quick, bowlers. The Aussies are using Doggett  Neser and Boland and are almost two ahead. Would any of them be picked by England?

No...and that is the point.

[bwildered]

Never have so many contributed so less for the Battle of the Ashes .

[bobw]

Looking at the last two tests it seems Bazball is up, running and perfected by the Aussies.

[essexfan548]

"Coach Brendon McCullum said England trained "too much" while captain Ben Stokes raised questions about his side's mentality after their crushing defeat by Australia in the second Test."

What a joke - trained 'too much' - he needs to go now.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/articles/c9qeyn3x4elo

[dazedpenguin]

Baz has a contract until after the 2027 World Cup. It would cost the ECB too much to get rid of him. I think Rob Key will be the one to go.

Apparently they don't have a dedicated fielding coach, or a wicket keeping one (that's Baz) and only recruited David Saker at the last minute. Their fabled preparation seems to have been anything but. Add that to the lack of warm up games and someone has to take the fall for this shambles.

[essexfan548]

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/dec/07/england-to-seek-better-warmup-preparations-ahead-of-next-ashes-series-cricket

The England & Wales Cricket Board is ready to offer Australia their pick of warm-up facilities before the next Ashes series in 2027, in an attempt to secure similar treatment when England return in 2029-30 and avoid being forced into the kind of buildup that preceded the current series and has become the focus of intense criticism.

England's preparations are under the microscope given their dismal start to this series, with the first Test lost inside two days and the second lost in four, with Australia's winning margins eight wickets both times. "If I was an England supporter and had paid the money to come here, I'd be asking the ECB for a refund," Ian Botham said on Sunday. "Because this team, for me, is not prepared."

[bwildered]

Never going to be prepared if you are prepared to play several one day games within a five day test.
Aussies still to play test match cricket in the five days, we seem not.

[vim]

As regards the lack of facilities. When England lost 5-0 in The West Indies. A critique, of the tour. Responding to the excuse of limited facilities that were available. Stated, that the management were unable to try and make something out of what little there was.

[Andy]

England don't pick bowlers out of the championship. They want tall, quick, bowlers. The Aussies are using Doggett  Neser and Boland and are almost two ahead. Would any of them be picked by England?

No...and that is the point.

To be fair those you have named are not great bowlers compared to McGrath and the currently injured bowlers.  But they like the batsmen simply bowl to a coherent plan and are prepared to adjust for the conditions.

I suspect that if they were playing under the England regime they would do almost as badly.

Also to be fair Cook performed really poorly in the one chance he was given. Although if the Aussies had called him up as a replacement he would do much better. There are no convicts in your line by any chance Nat?

[nat]

England don't pick bowlers out of the championship. They want tall, quick, bowlers. The Aussies are using Doggett  Neser and Boland and are almost two ahead. Would any of them be picked by England?

No...and that is the point.

To be fair those you have named are not great bowlers compared to McGrath and the currently injured bowlers.  But they like the batsmen simply bowl to a coherent plan and are prepared to adjust for the conditions.

I suspect that if they were playing under the England regime they would do almost as badly.

Also to be fair Cook performed really poorly in the one chance he was given. Although if the Aussies had called him up as a replacement he would do much better. There are no convicts in your line by any chance Nat?

Funnily enough there are...but not cricketers.

If there was any justice/sense my boy (and me) would be in Oz right now giving it large to those convicts. Instead we have a bunch of pie chuckers that have no bottle.

[Oldhasbeen]

"If I was an England supporter and had paid the money to come here, I'd be asking the ECB for a refund," Ian Botham said on Sunday. "Because this team, for me, is not prepared."

For once, I agree with Botham.
Heads MUST roll after this fiasco.