O/T:- The Ashes 2023

[laddo]

It was the part time spinner with the uninjured fingers. Was it a mistake to select a retired Mo, hindsight suggests it was, because of the hand injury. I doubt the alternative would have suffered the same.

However, we shouldn't down play the missed catches and stumpings. Mistakes do indeed happen in games due to pressure, fatigue etc. Both sides were under pressure for long periods, both will have been fatigued now how many simple chances did the Australians put down or miss over the 5 days? And how did that compare to England?

The costliness of those mistakes in a game of fine lines between two great , talented sides dwarfs the runs given away by avoidable ill discipline.

It was indeed a great game of cricket, I thoroughly enjoyed the bits I saw, listened to.

[The_Don_ORiordan]

It was the part time spinner with the uninjured fingers. Was it a mistake to select a retired Mo, hindsight suggests it was, because of the hand injury. I doubt the alternative would have suffered the same.

However, we shouldn't down play the missed catches and stumpings. Mistakes do indeed happen in games due to pressure, fatigue etc. Both sides were under pressure for long periods, both will have been fatigued now how many simple chances did the Australians put down or miss over the 5 days? And how did that compare to England?

The costliness of those mistakes in a game of fine lines between two great , talented sides dwarfs the runs given away by avoidable ill discipline.

It was indeed a great game of cricket, I thoroughly enjoyed the bits I saw, listened to.

Thing is, this isn’t hindsight. It was a crazy decision before the start.

Taking 23 wickets @ 65 doesn’t suggest at his peak he is going to be our frontline spinner against Oz.

He went for the highest runs per over of any of our frontline bowlers. So provided no control or pressure either.

I like Moeen, he’s a good cricketer. I don’t blame him.

But the decision looked stupid well before the game, and was proven to be idiotic following the injury caused by him bowling more than 3 times the number of overs he’s bowled in a day in over 3 years.

Now we will probably pick a younger spinner in a game we need to win at the worst test ground in the world for spinners.

Great work selectors.

For me you drop Anderson, and Ali and bring in Foakes and Wood.

But they won’t, because that highlights their other error in dropping Foakes.

I’m a big fan of Bazzball.

We have the talent to beat this poorer than expected Australia side. We just need to play our best side.

[laddo]

I hear ya, they took a decision they got it wrong. Well done for predicting it would backfire, as it has done.

However that does not take away from a huge reason why we lost this close game. Dropped catches, missed stumpings. Compare and contrast with the opponents. Both sides under pressure at times, both sides fatigued at times. The difference in the number of big mistakes was evident.

Plus I don't think they are poorer than expected. Best bowling attack in the world right now is what the experts say. As for the batting, they have holes in it no doubt about it and nowhere near as fearsome as past squads but none too shabby. Their world test ranking tells you all you need to know. 3nd versus 3rd, bookies favourites were the tourists. Had a bet, hope I lose. Call it an insurance bet.

I don't mind those suggested changes at all and certainly would be happy to see Wood in. What's Jimmy's record like at Lord's?

[Notts78]

Thing is, this isn’t hindsight. It was a crazy decision before the start.

Taking 23 wickets @ 65 doesn’t suggest at his peak he is going to be our frontline spinner against Oz.

He went for the highest runs per over of any of our frontline bowlers. So provided no control or pressure either.

I like Moeen, he’s a good cricketer. I don’t blame him.

But the decision looked stupid well before the game, and was proven to be idiotic following the injury caused by him bowling more than 3 times the number of overs he’s bowled in a day in over 3 years.

Now we will probably pick a younger spinner in a game we need to win at the worst test ground in the world for spinners.

Great work selectors.

For me you drop Anderson, and Ali and bring in Foakes and Wood.

But they won’t, because that highlights their other error in dropping Foakes.

I’m a big fan of Bazzball.

We have the talent to beat this poorer than expected Australia side. We just need to play our best side.

So you replace 2 bowlers with one bowler who at his best can bowl 3/4 over bursts and a wicket keeper? Did you watch the last test? As well as Root did you don’t want him as your main spin option. Stokes hardly bowled. Broad and Robinson were bowled in to the dirt. Dropping the best swing bowler ever to play cricket is nuts. Anderson wasn’t as effective in this test given the lack of anything in the deck but is ranked 2nd in the world for a reason.
As for ‘poorer than expected Australia’ - you know they are the test world champions and boast 4 batters in the top 10 with 2 bowlers. They are a good side but as we have all seen in recent times, most teams don’t do well away from home. This is down to a massive lack of preparation.

[Notts78]

I hear ya, they took a decision they got it wrong. Well done for predicting it would backfire, as it has done.

However that does not take away from a huge reason why we lost this close game. Dropped catches, missed stumpings. Compare and contrast with the opponents. Both sides under pressure at times, both sides fatigued at times. The difference in the number of big mistakes was evident.

Plus I don't think they are poorer than expected. Best bowling attack in the world right now is what the experts say. As for the batting, they have holes in it no doubt about it and nowhere near as fearsome as past squads but none too shabby. Their world test ranking tells you all you need to know. 3nd versus 3rd, bookies favourites were the tourists. Had a bet, hope I lose. Call it an insurance bet.

I don't mind those suggested changes at all and certainly would be happy to see Wood in. What's Jimmy's record like at Lord's?

Jimmy has 117 wickets at Lords!

I’m all up for Wood coming in but should be at the expense of a batter if Stokes can’t fulfil his role. That said, Wood won’t be much good if they prepare slow, low wickets.

[The_Don_ORiordan]

So you replace 2 bowlers with one bowler who at his best can bowl 3/4 over bursts and a wicket keeper? Did you watch the last test? As well as Root did you don’t want him as your main spin option. Stokes hardly bowled. Broad and Robinson were bowled in to the dirt. Dropping the best swing bowler ever to play cricket is nuts. Anderson wasn’t as effective in this test given the lack of anything in the deck but is ranked 2nd in the world for a reason.
As for ‘poorer than expected Australia’ - you know they are the test world champions and boast 4 batters in the top 10 with 2 bowlers. They are a good side but as we have all seen in recent times, most teams don’t do well away from home. This is down to a massive lack of preparation.

Yes. I did watch it all. I watch every test and still play occasionally.

Lords is the graveyard of spinners Warne never took a 5 fer there. It’s the ECB’s cash cow. So they make pitches to last 5 days.

So which spinner do we bring in then? Do we play Broad and Anderson every test? Even though Anderson clearly isn’t fit either.

It’s easy to criticise without putting your own suggestions forwards. Unless you are serious about dropping another batter and adding Wood but leaving the rest the same including Ali. If so, you clearly weren’t watching the test either.

[Mark_Ross]

(1) {?Promising young spinner} in for Moeen.

(2) Wood in for Jimmy.

(3) Foakes in for Jonny.

That's what I'd do. Ain't gonna happen is it? Well, perhaps in a thousand years...

[ncfcog]

Watched the highlights of the women’s Ashes this evening, very enjoyable.

[Notts78]

Yes. I did watch it all. I watch every test and still play occasionally.

Lords is the graveyard of spinners Warne never took a 5 fer there. It’s the ECB’s cash cow. So they make pitches to last 5 days.

So which spinner do we bring in then? Do we play Broad and Anderson every test? Even though Anderson clearly isn’t fit either.

It’s easy to criticise without putting your own suggestions forwards. Unless you are serious about dropping another batter and adding Wood but leaving the rest the same including Ali. If so, you clearly weren’t watching the test either.

What has playing cricket got to do with watching it? Unless you mean you play occasional test cricket?
Broad and Anderson won’t play every game. They will play the next one, as they both have time to recover. I also wouldn’t make my decision now if I was Stokes given we have no idea what deck will be prepared and what the forecast will be.
You are making assumptions about Jimmys fitness. I will put it down to the fact the pitch not overheads were remotely in his favour. If the ball is going to swing or seam, he is our best bowler.
Mo is the best of a completely inept group of spin bowlers. The lad from Leicestershire got a chance and may well be decent in a few years but hardly pulled up trees when in spin friendly conditions against Pakistan. If Mo’s finger recovers I fully expect him to star.
The likelihood is that we go unchanged unless of course the wicket will offer pace and bounce.

[The_Don_ORiordan]

What has playing cricket got to do with watching it? Unless you mean you play occasional test cricket?
Broad and Anderson won’t play every game. They will play the next one, as they both have time to recover. I also wouldn’t make my decision now if I was Stokes given we have no idea what deck will be prepared and what the forecast will be.
You are making assumptions about Jimmys fitness. I will put it down to the fact the pitch not overheads were remotely in his favour. If the ball is going to swing or seam, he is our best bowler.
Mo is the best of a completely inept group of spin bowlers. The lad from Leicestershire got a chance and may well be decent in a few years but hardly pulled up trees when in spin friendly conditions against Pakistan. If Mo’s finger recovers I fully expect him to star.
The likelihood is that we go unchanged unless of course the wicket will offer pace and bounce.

So the fact Anderson played for Lancs a few times then got injured and didn’t play again until he turned out in the test and bowled poorly isn’t reason to doubt his fitness? Jimmy has bowled well in none swinging conditions before.

It affected his preparations….

https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/crick...ashes-29981363

Reading the above suggests you think even with hindsight Ali was the best choice?