OFFICIAL 2025/26 ASHES THREAD
Re: OFFICIAL 2025/26 ASHES THREAD
Disappointing that Tribe and Kellaway aren't playing, but understand England's needs to get the whole Ashes squad some game time. Hopefully, they'll get their chance in the other matches.
Re: OFFICIAL 2025/26 ASHES THREAD
Encouraging figures for Stokes. As for Wood, I’ll be amazed if he’s fit for all five tests.
Re: OFFICIAL 2025/26 ASHES THREAD
Quote:
Originally Posted by
the other bob wilson
Encouraging figures for Stokes. As for Wood, I’ll be amazed if he’s fit for all five tests.
Or even 1 of them!
Well done for starting an official ashes thread. Will anyone be posting to it by the end of the 3rd test?!
Re: OFFICIAL 2025/26 ASHES THREAD
England with a fit and firing Wood and Archer will be a pretty formidable attack and I think Smith is going to be really targeted with short bowling.
Id be suprised if they played more than 1 test together and maybe that will turn out to be zero.
They have stuck with Crawley for this series as they think the conditions will suit. If he flops this series he needs to be axed.
Bazball is going to be judged on this series and Bethell possibly at 3 I think takes it too far.
I think Hameed should have been recalled to be an opener option or no.3.
But he doesn't in with Bazball.
Stokes Wood Archer Root all playing and at the top of their game and I think England win comfortably.
Even though they wont all stay fit I still pick England to win an entertaining series 3-2.
I hope what doesn't clinch it is the pink ball day nighter in Brisbane.
Re: OFFICIAL 2025/26 ASHES THREAD
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Hilts
England with a fit and firing Wood and Archer will be a pretty formidable attack and I think Smith is going to be really targeted with short bowling.
Id be suprised if they played more than 1 test together and maybe that will turn out to be zero.
They have stuck with Crawley for this series as they think the conditions will suit. If he flops this series he needs to be axed.
Bazball is going to be judged on this series and Bethell possibly at 3 I think takes it too far.
I think Hameed should have been recalled to be an opener option or no.3.
But he doesn't in with Bazball.
Stokes Wood Archer Root all playing and at the top of their game and I think England win comfortably.
Even though they wont all stay fit I still pick England to win an entertaining series 3-2.
I hope what doesn't clinch it is the pink ball day nighter in Brisbane.
Have England ever won a day nighter other than the noddy one in England v WI when it wasn’t even dark for most of it!!
Re: OFFICIAL 2025/26 ASHES THREAD
Quote:
Originally Posted by
the other bob wilson
Encouraging figures for Stokes. As for Wood, I’ll be amazed if he’s fit for all five tests.
I’ve just seen a reel of Ben Stokes wickets today. 5 of them were caught on the boundary. Fair play to him, he looked suitably embarrassed!
Re: OFFICIAL 2025/26 ASHES THREAD
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Lord Worcester
Have England ever won a day nighter other than the noddy one in England v WI when it wasn’t even dark for most of it!!
They have an away win v New Zealand as well out of 7 matches.
Australia have played 13 matches the most of any country with 12 wins.
They will be huge favs for that test.
Re: OFFICIAL 2025/26 ASHES THREAD
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Hot Shot Hamish.
I’ve just seen a reel of Ben Stokes wickets today. 5 of them were caught on the boundary. Fair play to him, he looked suitably embarrassed!
When I read the scorecard and saw caught Atkinson, Wood, Archer I thought they're not nicks to the slip cordon 😊
Re: OFFICIAL 2025/26 ASHES THREAD
Think there's a few things working in England's favour. For instance, the first test not being at the Gabba removes one of England's most traditional psychological barriers, and Cummins' fitness issues will undoubtedly impact Australia. If England can win that first test, I think we'll have a series.
For those that partake, 8/1 for a drawn series looks worth a punt.
Re: OFFICIAL 2025/26 ASHES THREAD
Quote:
Originally Posted by
FormerlyJohnnyBreadhead
Think there's a few things working in England's favour. For instance, the first test not being at the Gabba removes one of England's most traditional psychological barriers, and Cummins' fitness issues will undoubtedly impact Australia. If England can win that first test, I think we'll have a series.
For those that partake, 8/1 for a drawn series looks worth a punt.
Cannot see a thing other than a comfortable Australian series win.
England may be competitive but a 3-1 win for the hosts is where my fiver would be.
Would be more than happy to be wrong about this.
Re: OFFICIAL 2025/26 ASHES THREAD
Quote:
Originally Posted by
FormerlyJohnnyBreadhead
Think there's a few things working in England's favour. For instance, the first test not being at the Gabba removes one of England's most traditional psychological barriers, and Cummins' fitness issues will undoubtedly impact Australia. If England can win that first test, I think we'll have a series.
For those that partake, 8/1 for a drawn series looks worth a punt.
Cannot see anything other than a comfortable Australian series win.
England may be competitive but a 3-1 win for the hosts is where my fiver would be.
Would be more than happy to be wrong about this.
Re: OFFICIAL 2025/26 ASHES THREAD
I’ve just come back from Oz. Their main talking point (in QLD) is that the 1st test is not in Brisbane, for the first time since 1982. It’s in Perth, at the new stadium.
Re: OFFICIAL 2025/26 ASHES THREAD
Latest score
https://live.nvplay.com/ecb/?tab=m_s...7-08dded5af61d
Steve Smith saying that England may have picked the wrong type of bowlers because the character of Australian wickets has changed in recent years - he may have a point.
Re: OFFICIAL 2025/26 ASHES THREAD
Quote:
Originally Posted by
the other bob wilson
I think the pitches aren't as fast as they were but im sure Smith would still prefer a low to mid 80s bowler to face rather than Archer or Wood bowling 90 plus at his head.
Archer and Wood are accurate enough anyway.
Tongue is the only one id say who falls into the category of maybe a traditional English seamer may be more effective.
Re: OFFICIAL 2025/26 ASHES THREAD
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Hilts
I think the pitches aren't as fast as they were but im sure Smith would still prefer a low to mid 80s bowler to face rather than Archer or Wood bowling 90 plus at his head.
Archer and Wood are accurate enough anyway.
Tongue is the only one id say who falls into the category of maybe a traditional English seamer may be more effective.
Steve Waugh on facing the scatter gun Devon Malcom
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J0fgeUCnE2o
Re: OFFICIAL 2025/26 ASHES THREAD
Re: OFFICIAL 2025/26 ASHES THREAD
I believe the day nighter is the 2nd Test so England really cant be fancied in that so its vital they win the 1st Test.
Unless there's rain I don't see draws in this series and the day nighter may not see day 4.
Re: OFFICIAL 2025/26 ASHES THREAD
Looks like it’s bashir v 5th seamer. If wood doesn’t make it guess they’ll go the bashir route. If he does then we could see a 5 seam attack.
Re: OFFICIAL 2025/26 ASHES THREAD
No matter how badly the Tests go, England can at least say they won a game in Australia. Looks like Pope has seen off the challenge of Bethell.
https://live.nvplay.com/ecb/?tab=m_s...7-08dded5af61d
Re: OFFICIAL 2025/26 ASHES THREAD
Quote:
Originally Posted by
the other bob wilson
Bashir got tonked in both innings. He wasn’t worth a place in Glamorgans side let alone an Ashes series.
Re: OFFICIAL 2025/26 ASHES THREAD
Anyone seen the trailer of the series on TNT Sport with the frighteningly imposing figure of Alistair Cook baiting the Aussies?
I bet they're absolutely quaking in their boots...... NOT!!!!!
Re: OFFICIAL 2025/26 ASHES THREAD
Quote:
Originally Posted by
MacAdder
Anyone seen the trailer of the series on TNT Sport with the frighteningly imposing figure of Alistair Cook baiting the Aussies?
I bet they're absolutely quaking in their boots...... NOT!!!!!
5 Ashes centuries I think....
Re: OFFICIAL 2025/26 ASHES THREAD
Now if i was a mod* this thread would be immediately banned...Grown men running about with balls and rubbing their balls! Disgusting.
*Ready to hop in at any time Mike.
Re: OFFICIAL 2025/26 ASHES THREAD
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Hilts
5 Ashes centuries I think....
Not disputing the man's career as a batsman and captain, he's up there with the best, it's the actual content itself and his delivery (no pun intended).
You need to see it to understand what I mean.
I thought it was funny anyway.