O/T:- The Ashes 2023

[magpie_mania]

55-4, 3 of the wickets were really good deliveries though. The only thing I can see England getting out of this match is a round of boos when they leave the field.

Hope not if Stokes and Duckett are still there.

They deserve and need encouragement, not boos. How will that help?

[countygump]

They deserve and need encouragement, not boos. How will that help?

It won't, but if merited that never stops it happening? Fortunately a little bit of redemption for England, 114-4. That Starc catch was never out BTW, he purposely grounded the ball to keep control of it, IMHAHO.

[SwalePie]

Stokes is on fire now...can they stay together?

[Notts78]

Stokes is on fire now...can they stay together?

Hopefully.

[drillerpie]

Apart from the result and the questionable efficacy of England's tactics, the biggest thing for me today was trying to find a pub showing cricket with commentary on.

Everywhere was showing Formula 1 on the big screen with commentary. Some even showing cycling rather than cricket. Most had cricket on a side TV with no sound.

Finally found one at the sixth attempt and there were exactly 6 people watching it including me. 7 if you included my Italian girlfriend who got bored after about 30 mins and went shopping (to be fair I had promised her crowded pubs and a great atmosphere, which is how I remember 2005).

I told the barman his pub was the only one I could find showing cricket as the main event and even he said he had to be careful to judge what his customers want, and generally they don't want cricket. He said he only had it on today cause it was the final day.

Average age of those watching was about 45. Nobody under the age of 30 watching it in any of the pubs I went in. I wonder what percentage of 25 year olds in this country have ever seen a test match?

God damn the suits who sold cricket out to SKY, and goodness knows how you get it back to being the national summer sport with all the options available to young people today.

[durhampie]

Apart from the result and the questionable efficacy of England's tactics, the biggest thing for me today was trying to find a pub showing cricket with commentary on.

Everywhere was showing Formula 1 on the big screen with commentary. Some even showing cycling rather than cricket. Most had cricket on a side TV with no sound.

Finally found one at the sixth attempt and there were exactly 6 people watching it including me. 7 if you included my Italian girlfriend who got bored after about 30 mins and went shopping (to be fair I had promised her crowded pubs and a great atmosphere, which is how I remember 2005).

I told the barman his pub was the only one I could find showing cricket as the main event and even he said he had to be careful to judge what his customers want, and generally they don't want cricket. He said he only had it on today cause it was the final day.

Average age of those watching was about 45. Nobody under the age of 30 watching it in any of the pubs I went in. I wonder what percentage of 25 year olds in this country have ever seen a test match?

God damn the suits who sold cricket out to SKY, and goodness knows how you get it back to being the national summer sport with all the options available to young people today.

Its a boring game, thats why you see so many people sleeping during the game..

[countygump]

The questionable efficacy of England's tactics.

Agreed. Which is a shame really, as there doesn't seem to be a massive gulf in ability between the 2 sides?

[Notts78]

Agreed. Which is a shame really, as there doesn't seem to be a massive gulf in ability between the 2 sides?

Hence 2 tight games.

That said, if I was choosing a joint Oz/England side, there aren’t many England players that get in.
I think the way we play has made the games close. If we played ‘proper’ cricket, we’d still be 2 down, but would be getting hammered.