The Ashes 2023

[jazzy]

I think England played some great cricket but

1. The declaration was Bazball gone too far

2. Foakes has to be wicket keeper. Jonny's mistakes were costly

3. Moeen being unable to bowl properly was a major problem

4.The balance of the team is wrong if Stokes can't / won't bowl.

 

[Mozza1987]

Baffled England asked for that pitch to be honest. Had nothing in it at all

 

[klingklang]

Maybe if we didn't have Edward Scissorhands keeping wicket and the coach & captain not trying to be like Pep and Jose me might have won that.

 

[alwaysblue]

not a hope.

I think this has broken the back of the series, given the manner of the defeat..

We'll see mate. I'm hopeful however.

 

[jazzy]

If it comes off Stokes is a maverick genius who's single handedly dragging test cricket into the modern age to compete with other forms of the game.

If it doesn't come off, he should never have tried playing like that against the Aussies.

At the elite level it is a game of small margins.
If Stokes hangs onto the Lyon chance and they bag Hazelwood then Stokes declaration ( which I think was patently wrong) looks like a genius move

 

[alwaysblue]

They won't win it batting recklessly and making declarations to make a point.

I didn't think it was reckless and thought they were really unlucky. Without the declaration etc we get a draw. Great match and drama.

 

[summerisle]

Bunch of moaning minnies in here, it's like people have forgotten the transformation of England in little over a year. More power to Ben Stokes I say.

 

[Hinchcliffe's Corner]

One captain won the game
One captain lost the game

Hopefully stokes recognises it and doesn't just say thats how we play because Australia are too tough to give help to.

If England don't play that way they don't get close to Australia. Look at India last week. You've got to take the rough with the smooth.

I think Aus, like NZ in Wellington earlier this year, have worked out that to beat Bazball you need to rope a dope. One of the biggest enemies in test cricket is time, England eliminate that issue so staying competitive until day 5 when we've burned ourselves out gives you a great chance at winning.

 

[Hinchcliffe's Corner]

Bunch of moaning minnies in here, it's like people have forgotten the transformation of England in little over a year. More power to Ben Stokes I say.

Worse than an Everton match day thread in here. Enjoy the sensational cricket.

 

[Lapeno77]

Struggling to think of an Aussie error in that match compared with a number from England not including the declaration.
Think Australia will struggle to remain perfect throughout.

 

[spence03]

No one is moaning about the style of play. That's great. Every fan will be amazed at the transformation. In fairness in New Zealand i thought England were unlucky. At some point there will be a collapse but for years England have trundled to 30/3 so may as well go for it. No one has an issue with bazball.

England may not have got another run on Friday anyway but that declaration isn't bazball, its just nonsensical. You could see in Root's face he didn't agree with it. Australia are desperate to win in England after 22 years and we need to play on that more. Tough from here now.

 

[Milk]

Is Jimmy done? On the evidence of this match (albeit a strange wicket) ine would say yes.

 

[Hinchcliffe's Corner]

No one is moaning about the style of play. That's great. Every fan will be amazed at the transformation. In fairness in New Zealand i thought England were unlucky. At some point there will be a collapse but for years England have trundled to 30/3 so may as well go for it. No one has an issue with bazball.

England may not have got another run on Friday anyway but that declaration isn't bazball, its just nonsensical. You could see in Root's face he didn't agree with it. Australia are desperate to win in England after 22 years and we need to play on that more. Tough from here now.

I mean, if England could catch this game was done half a day ago.

 

[spence03]

I mean, if England could catch this game was done half a day ago.

I do think the declaration decision may take the vocal point away from some decisions that need to be looked at.

Jimmy? Spinner options?
Can we afford Bairstow as keeper?

Or do they think 95% of this went to plan and then Cummins played the knock of his life.

 

[steven]

I do think the declaration decision may take the vocal point away from some decisions that need to be looked at.

Jimmy? Spinner options?
Can we afford Bairstow as keeper?

Or do they think 95% of this went to plan and then Cummins played the knock of his life.

Yeah. Ultimately with 72 left to knock off and cummins/Lyon/hazelwood left - you’d take that most days.