OFFICIAL 2025/26 ASHES THREAD

[Mr Ducie]

Re: OFFICIAL 2025/26 ASHES THREAD

Hameed should have been on this tour.

Really should open alongside Duckett this summer if he starts the Championship in good form.

I would be inclined to go for Dom Sibley as he has improved his game. He has a limited shot selection which is fine for burning overs when the new ball is most potent.

The Aussie bowlers were hardly overworked and I think the highest partnership before this test was a paltry 35 for the first wicket

[Lord Worcester]

Re: OFFICIAL 2025/26 ASHES THREAD

Centrally contracted players tend not to play many county games these days.

I agree about Rew although Jordan Cox seems to be the next in line at the moment. Emilio Gay close too, along with Asa Tribe of course. Id also be tempted to recall Dom Sibley as he's a better player now than when he last played test cricket.
Id play Rehan Ahmed as first choice spinner. Id also consider playing Smith as just a batter with Foakes taking the gloves. Its been noticed how quiet Jamie Smith is behind the stumps.
First choice pace bowlers should be Archer, Atkinson and Tongue with Carse in the mix aswell. A 4th seamer without Stokes in the team will be a problem unless there's another Woakes or Stokes waiting to be unearthed.

After the way smith has batted and kept wicket I would not have him near the test side. And can you really start the next test with Atkinson and carse after some of the garbage they have bowled in Australia. I do like carse - but he does bowl short and wide so often!

[MacAdder]

Re: OFFICIAL 2025/26 ASHES THREAD

Bethell just reached 150.
Eng 136 ahead.
Starc takes the new ball.
Probably the most interested I've been in the series.
If Potts can hang around for the session, well you never know...

Edit: Bethell just survives an LBW after being given out and a successful England review. They couldn't could they?

[MacAdder]

Re: OFFICIAL 2025/26 ASHES THREAD

Starc gets Bethell caught behind, game over.

Excellent innings showing guts and determination, traits lacking in much of the rest of this team.
My interest has gone, early night it is.

[Elwood Blues]

Re: OFFICIAL 2025/26 ASHES THREAD

121-5 now.

A bit more common sense from the English batsman and this could have been very interesting.

160 is too small a target. 240 or more would have been very challenging

[the other bob wilson]

Re: OFFICIAL 2025/26 ASHES THREAD

121-5 now.

A bit more common sense from the English batsman and this could have been very interesting.

160 is too small a target. 240 or more would have been very challenging

A bit more common sense from the England team full stop and the series could have been very interesting - England beat themselves as much as Australia beat them.

[Elwood Blues]

Re: OFFICIAL 2025/26 ASHES THREAD

A bit more common sense from the England team full stop and the series could have been very interesting - England beat themselves as much as Australia beat them.

Yes that is very true.

[the other bob wilson]

Re: OFFICIAL 2025/26 ASHES THREAD

“Boozeball” - pretty hard hitting stuff that’s hard to argue with.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/articles/c33874p4xg3o

[Hilts]

Re: OFFICIAL 2025/26 ASHES THREAD

I think this has been the most annoying and pathetic attempt by the England Team in my lifetime in touring Australia.

Sides in the past have generally gone down to great or very good sides.

This was an Australian side missing key bowlers and a batting line up as poor as I can remember. A world class performer in Head , a still good but nowhere near his best Smith and a world class wicketkeeper batsmen in Carey. There really wasn't much in this Australian side.

Terrible and arrogant preparation. Poor selection (no back up opener or wicket keeper). Shocking batting strokes and failure of bowlers to bowl a line on off stump.

[Lord Worcester]

Re: OFFICIAL 2025/26 ASHES THREAD

I think this has been the most annoying and pathetic attempt by the England Team in my lifetime in touring Australia.

Sides in the past have generally gone down to great or very good sides.

This was an Australian side missing key bowlers and a batting line up as poor as I can remember. A world class performer in Head , a still good but nowhere near his best Smith and a world class wicketkeeper batsmen in Carey. There really wasn't much in this Australian side.

Terrible and arrogant preparation. Poor selection (no back up opener or wicket keeper). Shocking batting strokes and failure of bowlers to bowl a line on off stump.

Add to that shocking schoolboy fielding. Surely in the cold light of day there is no way coach and captain can survive. It was their plan, their team, their method, their rhetoric. It categorically failed. They must go.