OFFICIAL 2025/26 ASHES THREAD

[the other bob wilson]

Re: OFFICIAL 2025/26 ASHES THREAD

Genuinely pathetic.

Crawley has had more chances than many before him and they refuse to drop him thinking he will be suited to the bounce in Australia. Hasn't scored a feckin run.🤣

No back up opener and Bethell as back up.

12/13 day nighters won by Australia. It would be typical of this England side to turn this form on its head and make it 1-1.

I’d say the batters who got to 20 and beyond are more to blame than the likes of Crowley, Root and Stokes who didn’t get into double figures between them in this game. They got in and then gave it away in true modern day England style. Test match cricket is more switchback than it’s been in any time in my life, but it’s hard to see a way back for England after this thrashing where they went from being quite well on top to surrender in about half a days play.

[The Bloop]

Re: OFFICIAL 2025/26 ASHES THREAD

Could Ollie Pope move up the order to accommodate either Bethell or Jacks? Think they'll also rest Mark Wood to make space for Bashir.

[Hilts]

Re: OFFICIAL 2025/26 ASHES THREAD

Switched the radio on when I woke up and England were 99 ahead with one wicket down at lunch. Switched it on again less than two hours later and the first thing I hear is Atkinson getting caught to signal the end of the England second innings and Australia need 205 to win! I can't go off on one about England's batting because I've not seen any of the second innings yet, but if I could choose one word at the moment to describe this England ream, it would be exasperating.

I dont disagree.

I just don't understand how Crawley with such a poor average after so many Tests still keeps his place plus there is no back up opener in the squad.

[the other bob wilson]

Re: OFFICIAL 2025/26 ASHES THREAD

I dont disagree.

I just don't understand how Crawley with such a poor average after so many Tests still keeps his place plus there is no back up opener in the squad.

Although I like watching him when he’s in full flight, Crawley would have been out of the team years ago if I had been picking it. However, I don’t think like McCullum and Stokes do and I’ll be amazed if he doesn’t play in Brisbane - mind you, if this tour goes the way of so many recent trips to Australia, I can see Bazball being consigned to the dustbin.

[Delbert]

Re: OFFICIAL 2025/26 ASHES THREAD

England lasted less than 68 overs in 2 innings against an Australian attack missing Cummins and Hazlewood. Time for Brendan McCullum and Rob Key to move on having ruined English cricket. There’s a place in the side for a maverick genius to play their shots but when so many of your players treat a test match in Australia like a T20 this is what you get. A shameful performance from all involved, no doubt they will use the spare 3 days bonding with the lads on the golf course instead of grafting in the nets.

[the other bob wilson]

Re: OFFICIAL 2025/26 ASHES THREAD

Jonathan Agnew is annoyed that England have turned down the chance to play a two day pink ball game against an Australian team before the next test under lights at Brisbane, apparently because they don’t think they would provide serious enough opposition. Agnew’s predicting ructions within the ECB if England lose the second test. On the face of it, turning this offer of a practice match down seems bonkers.

[The Bloop]

Re: OFFICIAL 2025/26 ASHES THREAD

Jonathan Agnew is annoyed that England have turned down the chance to play a two day pink ball game against an Australian team before the next test under lights at Brisbane, apparently because they don’t think they would provide serious enough opposition. Agnew’s predicting ructions within the ECB if England lose the second test. On the face of it, turning this offer of a practice match down seems bonkers.

Can't they see that anytime the players spend in the field or at the crease will be of benefit? Even if its sighting a pink ball under the lights, that will help, let alone batting in those conditions.

[poc]

Re: OFFICIAL 2025/26 ASHES THREAD

Can't they see that anytime the players spend in the field or at the crease will be of benefit? Even if its sighting a pink ball under the lights, that will help, let alone batting in those conditions.

the attitude stinks the answers given by stokes sums them up

[Hilts]

Re: OFFICIAL 2025/26 ASHES THREAD

Jonathan Agnew is annoyed that England have turned down the chance to play a two day pink ball game against an Australian team before the next test under lights at Brisbane, apparently because they don’t think they would provide serious enough opposition. Agnew’s predicting ructions within the ECB if England lose the second test. On the face of it, turning this offer of a practice match down seems bonkers.

Crazy.

[Delbert]

Re: OFFICIAL 2025/26 ASHES THREAD

Michael Vaughan agrees it would be ‘amateurish’ for Baz and his ballers to turn down the offer of an extra practice game. It’s obvious they’re hopelessly underprepared, who do they think they are? The English media will be watching closely to see how wisely they use their time before the next test.

[Lord Worcester]

Re: OFFICIAL 2025/26 ASHES THREAD

Agree with lots of above. The level of arrogance of coach and captain is staggering. Stokes’ interview with Agnew was petulant and immature. If Agnew had not specifically asked about England batters stokes wouldn’t have mentioned it - just hid behind travis head’s innings as the reason England lost!

[the other bob wilson]

Re: OFFICIAL 2025/26 ASHES THREAD

Meanwhile in India, the home side look well on their way to another defeat by South Africa which I reckon would be their fifth straight home loss.

[the other bob wilson]

Re: OFFICIAL 2025/26 ASHES THREAD

Hard hitting stuff from Jonathan Agnew in which he seems to be using the Royal we.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/articles/cq604ngrengo

[poc]

Re: OFFICIAL 2025/26 ASHES THREAD

rightly so ,just listened to another interview regarding who they are sending to the warm up game nothing will change crawley keeps getting picked i think because of his links with rob key ,he should have been dropped a while back

[The Bloop]

Re: OFFICIAL 2025/26 ASHES THREAD

Hopefully it'll mean that Asa Tribe gets to play in the Lions game. I noticed Ben Kellaway got a 50 in the 2nd innings of the last Lions match.