Just been announced that Josh Hazlewood will miss the first test due to start in Perth next Friday. This is a big blow to the Australians as they will already be without their captain and no.1 pace bowler Pat Cummins.
Englands preparations for the tour has been questioned by many as they have opted to play no warm up games aside from a one off against the English lions.
Many are saying that its crucial that we get of to a good start in Perth which basically means we cant afford to lose seeing as the 2nd test in Brisbane is a day/night game ( fucking ridiculous) where the Aussies are strongly fancied.
Looking forward to this now but really unsure of how it will play out, I guess I'd still make them slight favourites due to home advantage. Going to be a few all nighters in the coming weeks for me, let's hope it'll be worth it.
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The Ashes.
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Whilst 'off-topic' means all non-football topics can be discussed. This is not a free for all. Rights to this area of the forum aren't implicit, and illegal, defamator, spammy or absuive topics will be removed, with the protagonist's sanctioned.
Whilst 'off-topic' means all non-football topics can be discussed. This is not a free for all. Rights to this area of the forum aren't implicit, and illegal, defamator, spammy or absuive topics will be removed, with the protagonist's sanctioned.
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only1billybonds
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Fauxstralian
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Re: The Ashes.
There was a lot of talk about Ahmed towards the end of the season and as a leg spinner and a good batsman I was surprised he wasn’t in the squad
Jacks is a solid individual & decent white ball player but picking a part time spinner because you are worried about your number 8 batsman is negative
Had to go out so didn’t see him bowl … 2 overs 0/18 … but Hobart didn’t make enough & Melbourne strolled home by 8 wickets
Wanted to see Campbell Kellaway (41no off 27) bat, 23yo & a likely Test player when Dads Army move on
Jacks is a solid individual & decent white ball player but picking a part time spinner because you are worried about your number 8 batsman is negative
Had to go out so didn’t see him bowl … 2 overs 0/18 … but Hobart didn’t make enough & Melbourne strolled home by 8 wickets
Wanted to see Campbell Kellaway (41no off 27) bat, 23yo & a likely Test player when Dads Army move on
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Eerie Decent
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Re: The Ashes.
Fauxstralian wrote: ↑18 Dec 2025, 08:27 Am at home today so just watching a bit of Big Bash
Rehan Ahmed playing for Hobart at the MCG
Surely as a specialist spinner would have been a better Test pick
Attacking bowler & good batsman
That said came in at 3 & out for 1 off 3 balls
If you look back, I had Ahmed as one of my personal picks for this side, he averaged over 50 with the bat this summer in the CC, him and/or Jacks should have been the spinners they really concentrated on for this Ashes, given they have as much (if not more) talent with the ball than Bashir, but they can also both bat and field. I reckon Ahmed will get into the side on his batting alone before long.
The selection process, along with no one being in fear of their place in the side, and the RUN TOWARDS DANAGER mantra, has been an absolute disaster. Forget the BAZBALL approach (the theory behind what it should be is ok in principal) some of the players picked and that lack of jeopardy regardless of form has done for us.
None of this is revisionary, all said previously, the talented players who can also give it a whack are Duckett, Brook & Smith, if they are giving license (when the time is right) alongside Root and a couple of other proper batsmen instead of the appalling Crawley & Pope, it would have made a world of difference. We should also have been aware that Aussies pitches are no longer just crash bang wallop - at least 1 line & length bowler was needed. Ironically, Anderson would've been our best bowler had he been taken.
If your opening bat averages 30, and your number 3 has a false average because of the occasional massive score sandwiched in between numerous failures and never looks 'in', and you give them license to sling their bat about regardless of consequences, you are destined to failure when the pressure is really on. It would be a bit more palatable were it not so obvious before a ball was bowled.
The selection process, along with no one being in fear of their place in the side, and the RUN TOWARDS DANAGER mantra, has been an absolute disaster. Forget the BAZBALL approach (the theory behind what it should be is ok in principal) some of the players picked and that lack of jeopardy regardless of form has done for us.
None of this is revisionary, all said previously, the talented players who can also give it a whack are Duckett, Brook & Smith, if they are giving license (when the time is right) alongside Root and a couple of other proper batsmen instead of the appalling Crawley & Pope, it would have made a world of difference. We should also have been aware that Aussies pitches are no longer just crash bang wallop - at least 1 line & length bowler was needed. Ironically, Anderson would've been our best bowler had he been taken.
If your opening bat averages 30, and your number 3 has a false average because of the occasional massive score sandwiched in between numerous failures and never looks 'in', and you give them license to sling their bat about regardless of consequences, you are destined to failure when the pressure is really on. It would be a bit more palatable were it not so obvious before a ball was bowled.
Re: The Ashes.
Massive Attack" wrote: ↑18 Dec 2025, 06:37 As an aside, it is good to see Archer step it up in this 3rd Test with both ball and bat and Stokes toughing it out as best he can with the bat.
Jofra Archer has been our best bowler by a country mile.
Given all his time out that is a some achievement.
I hope that the management don't break him yet again.
Given all his time out that is a some achievement.
I hope that the management don't break him yet again.
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Fauxstralian
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Re: The Ashes.
Am at home today so just watching a bit of Big Bash
Rehan Ahmed playing for Hobart at the MCG
Surely as a specialist spinner would have been a better Test pick
Attacking bowler & good batsman
That said came in at 3 & out for 1 off 3 balls
Rehan Ahmed playing for Hobart at the MCG
Surely as a specialist spinner would have been a better Test pick
Attacking bowler & good batsman
That said came in at 3 & out for 1 off 3 balls
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Beef&Tomato
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southbankbornnbred
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Re: The Ashes.
Not a single England player with a 50, on that pitch, is criminal. Every one of them should hang their heads in shame. Some, like Root, will come back, sure. Others belong in the dustbin of Zimbabwean t20s.
Fair play to the Aussies. An average side, by their standards, has at least exposed Baaazbrand for what it is: utter drivel.
Fair play to the Aussies. An average side, by their standards, has at least exposed Baaazbrand for what it is: utter drivel.
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southbankbornnbred
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Re: The Ashes.
Genuinely struggling to think of a worse England touring side anywhere, at any time. This might be the very worst of the lot since I watched England, at least in terms of preparation.
That pitch is a batter’s paradise for anybody who actually wants to play test cricket. The fact that Australia played poorly and still almost got 400 tells you everything.
It’s all over. And, thankfully, so are Baaazball and its lazy, arrogant, corner-cutting creators. Men of straw condemned to the arsehole of history.
That pitch is a batter’s paradise for anybody who actually wants to play test cricket. The fact that Australia played poorly and still almost got 400 tells you everything.
It’s all over. And, thankfully, so are Baaazball and its lazy, arrogant, corner-cutting creators. Men of straw condemned to the arsehole of history.
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Massive Attack
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Re: The Ashes.
As an aside, it is good to see Archer step it up in this 3rd Test with both ball and bat and Stokes toughing it out as best he can with the bat.
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Massive Attack
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Re: The Ashes.
Doesn't matter now when they allow Carey to remain but not the same treatment for Smith. We have been dogshit but that unnecessary bollocks stinks and spoilt a finely poised 3rd test and series as a whole. Enjoy the win-at-all-cost urn, Champions. 
*nods head in Carey stylee*
Like VAR, Snicko can get to absolute fuck with the persistent controveries.
*nods head in Carey stylee*
Like VAR, Snicko can get to absolute fuck with the persistent controveries.
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Fauxstralian
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Re: The Ashes.
Stokes playing for the red ink
The other lemmings furious that he isn’t forced to play Bazball
Joe Root has just taken a shit in Stokes kit bag
The other lemmings furious that he isn’t forced to play Bazball
Joe Root has just taken a shit in Stokes kit bag
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Sydney_Iron
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Re: The Ashes.
7 down 
limped to 168
edit, make that 8
limped to 168edit, make that 8
Last edited by Sydney_Iron on 18 Dec 2025, 05:57, edited 1 time in total.
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Sydney_Iron
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Re: The Ashes.
6 down, England trying to limp to stumps by sending Jacks out!
I don't reckon this will get through another day, this time tomorrow and it will be 3-0...
I don't reckon this will get through another day, this time tomorrow and it will be 3-0...
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Massive Attack
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Re: The Ashes.
No not having it, that only reaffirms my suspicion of bias with 1 rule for one and not for the other. Not a fucking chance! 
If it means that much to them to keep cheating, the Aussies can have it.
If it means that much to them to keep cheating, the Aussies can have it.
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Sydney_Iron
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only1billybonds
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Re: The Ashes.
Brook gone. 127-5.
Apart from the score, we are giving our bowlers no chance with these 60 over innings. On this wicket,the bowlers had every right to expect not to be working again today. We really do need to still be battingcat stumps.
Apart from the score, we are giving our bowlers no chance with these 60 over innings. On this wicket,the bowlers had every right to expect not to be working again today. We really do need to still be battingcat stumps.
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Massive Attack
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Re: The Ashes.
Root and Brook have got to somehow battle and hold on longing this out, otherwise it's goodnight Vienna.
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only1billybonds
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Re: The Ashes.
There are no words left to describe Pope, fucking shocking. Not much Duckett could do with a brilliant ball from Lyon. We are in a hole, Brook and Root have got some digging to do.
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Massive Attack
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Re: The Ashes.
The Broad situation is totally different. They had used their reviews, so you’re relying on an umpires decision. Their fault for using reviews poorly. If that were the case here, I’d have no complaints. Instead it was reviewed, showed a clear noise, everyone could tell there had been some error with the tech, yet he still didn’t walk and nobody thought to ask questions of what the fuck that noise and spike was then.
A manual operator selecting the wrong stump mic isn’t really acceptable as an excuse is it? Integrity surely has to be called into question.
You’d think these cunts would want to be squeaky clean after their sandpaper incident. Instead they court controversy.
A manual operator selecting the wrong stump mic isn’t really acceptable as an excuse is it? Integrity surely has to be called into question.
You’d think these cunts would want to be squeaky clean after their sandpaper incident. Instead they court controversy.
Re: The Ashes.
The aussies have had wicket keepers who could bat as their all rounder.
Adam Gilchrist was a game changer but they have decent ones since I can remember (Rod Marsh).
I also remember many forlorn years of searching for the next Botham - Derek Pringle anyone?
Adam Gilchrist was a game changer but they have decent ones since I can remember (Rod Marsh).
I also remember many forlorn years of searching for the next Botham - Derek Pringle anyone?
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Takashi Miike
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Re: The Ashes.
fraser wrote: ↑17 Dec 2025, 13:11Fauxstralian wrote: ↑17 Dec 2025, 12:56 In terms of all rounders Botham is Englands no1 with Stokes & Flintoff further back
Having a decent all rounder is like having 12 players
Australia haven’t had one of quality since the likes of Richie Benaud & Keith Miller
Havent seen the incident where Carey supposedly nicked a ball.
Was the pinhead Stuart Broad on commentary?
the cսnt's middle name is Disingenuous
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Far Cough UKunt
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Re: The Ashes.
Yep I saw the snick which didn't match up to where the bat was.
As Blackadder would say, something is fishy going on here and I don't mean the contents of Baldrick's trousers.
As Blackadder would say, something is fishy going on here and I don't mean the contents of Baldrick's trousers.