Ashes 2025/6

[Slogger]

I think the late Mr Clough got it right about cricket and football "cricket's a far better game".

As for England, maybe they should have stuck to golf rather than boozing.

Happy Christmas everyone.

[Oldhasbeen]

Some Xmas food for thought from Andrew Strauss:
"since 2000, England have spent 12 months as the No. 1 team in the world. In the same time, Australia has spent a grand total of 166 months as the World?s best test team.
If we are genuinely serious about changing this depressingly one sided story, then we need to look beyond sacking England coaches and captains and ask whether we are genuinely willing to make the changes necessary to break the trend."

Reply from Paul Nixon included this:

"the Hundred in August with little or no first team cricket was sacrosanct, and everything in the county schedule - and indeed the England test team schedule had to revolve around that. So arguably the best / warmest month of the year to play first team 4 day cricket on good and wearing pitches with fast outfields was blocked off. I note the current Ashes series in Australia has no problem overlapping with the Big Bash League. Denying yourself perhaps the best 4 weeks weather-wise of an at best 24 weeks season made no sense."

Lord Brockett has yet to reply to PN's point.

[Andy]

Frankly I can understand why they are seen rich people with time and money to follow a losing team.

On the other hand they do give good support to their team as well as giving credit to opponents where deserving. Ask Mitchell Johnson what he thinks when he has had both sides or Pat Cummins when his dying mother was saluted by Billy the trumpeter.

There is a case for saying that some county cricket fans are a bit cult like with their over exaggerated expectations and claims about a county game that has been over taken by other sports and other countries who have a much wider fan base.

I do not get the anti football narrative on here.  Not so long ago it was possible to see the same person performing in both sports sometimes on the same day.

There is no anti-football narrative. Take me for example, I'm an ESTC member and follow England home and away. We give the England football team great support at games abroad. The big difference though between us and the Barmy Army, is that we actually hold the team to account. If they've been crap, they'll get booed and if they aren't fit to wear the shirt, they'll get told. Not to mention that 95% of us actually care about the domestic game in our country, unlike England cricket fans.

They seem to want to enjoy their cricket but that is hardly a crime. Besides the Aussie fans certainly do hold the team to account.

[Andy]

Was Andrew Strauss the one who said that The hundred was better for women as it was easier to understand?

[essexfan548]

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/dec/21/england-cricket-machine-collapses-like-castle-of-dust-in-11-days-ashes-australia-cricket

"Arrogant England?s cricket machine collapses like a castle of dust in 11 days.

So this is Christmas. And what have we done? The Ashes is over. With two Tests still to come .... "

Worth a read.

[vim]

In revisionist history. It is now thought that, Field Marshall Haig, learnt from the mistakes at the Battle of the Somme. And the situation was never repeated.

Is the England management, capable of learning. I think not.

[bwildered]

 Pace bowler Jofra Archer has been ruled out of the remainder of the Ashes series in another huge blow to England on a wretched tour of Australia.
The 30-year-old, who returned to Test cricket after a four-year absence in July, has suffered a side strain.

 We told you so tour just keeps giving.

[nat]

Pace bowler Jofra Archer has been ruled out of the remainder of the Ashes series in another huge blow to England on a wretched tour of Australia.
The 30-year-old, who returned to Test cricket after a four-year absence in July, has suffered a side strain.

 We told you so tour just keeps giving.

Er....I told you so.

[Oldhasbeen]

Pace bowler Jofra Archer has been ruled out of the remainder of the Ashes series in another huge blow to England on a wretched tour of Australia.
The 30-year-old, who returned to Test cricket after a four-year absence in July, has suffered a side strain.

 We told you so tour just keeps giving.

Playing him three tests in a row was always rather optimistic.
I'm disappointed that Potts hasn't been given a go.

[Andy]

In revisionist history. It is now thought that, Field Marshall Haig, learnt from the mistakes at the Battle of the Somme. And the situation was never repeated.

Is the England management, capable of learning. I think not.

Your understanding of military history and tactics clearly informed by that scholar and gentlemen Allan Clarke. Haig was very popular with the public and had more people line the route of his coffin than Princess Diana. Plenty more WW1 generals could be given the sobriquet Donkeys.

Unlike the Thatcher funeral those lining the route for the Haig coffin we?re not there to make sure he was dead.

[Andy]

Pace bowler Jofra Archer has been ruled out of the remainder of the Ashes series in another huge blow to England on a wretched tour of Australia.
The 30-year-old, who returned to Test cricket after a four-year absence in July, has suffered a side strain.

 We told you so tour just keeps giving.

Er....I told you so.

Your prescience on this matter has surpassed every prediction made on here. Needs little Chef to be flown out immediately as Rob Key is running out of pies.

[bwildered]

 
Excellent first day, everyone got a bat !
Throw it down and take wickets test.  Ten quick wickets on the second day and have this done and dusted with. Just need to reverse the batting order and see how we go .

[vim]

Today shows that the saying, do not comment on a 1st class game, until both sides have completed their first innings.

[Andy]

Where is Paul Collingwood?  Clearly he has the stamina to last two hours with multiple partners. Why not bring him out of retirement?

[bwildered]

But the fact still is Ashes 3 Bazball 1.

Credit where credit is due though, finally got over the line and can only play and perform on what you have been given. With another of the front line bowlers in Atkinson now injured, Tongue now nailed a bowling spot for the future after his MOTM effort. Can I be greedy and expect a London bus effect for the last test and get back to back wins. A win in two days is reward for those who travelled, and watched what was served up before.
It?s been too long, but not overdue given the recent performances, so  it must not paper over the cracks with those who have been making bad decisions constantly.