OT Ashes 2025-26

[Andy_Faber]

Not at all proud that my predictions of doom are all coming true in broad terms (Archer lasted a bit longer than I expected). I might put a bet on one of the team buzzing the MCG in a biplane - what year was that, 1991?

[ramAnag]

Unbelievable! How inept can our batting get? Along with the Ashes, plot completely lost.

Maybe the master plan is to bankrupt Aussie cricket by reducing their Test revenue to no more than 3, or even 2, days.

How does that old song go? ‘Let’s call the whole thing off’.

[macstheman]

Unbelievable! How inept can our batting get? Along with the Ashes, plot completely lost.

Maybe the master plan is to bankrupt Aussie cricket by reducing their Test revenue to no more than 3, or even 2, days.

How does that old song go? ‘Let’s call the whole thing off’.

Inept batting rA, come on be fair Root got his ton and even over his other 6 innings he's managing to average 13.5!

I mean 13.5 what more do you want from our star batter! I don't know, one decent knock out of seven what do some people except??������

[macstheman]

Inept batting rA, come on be fair Root got his ton and even over his other 6 innings he's managing to average 13.5!

I mean 13.5 what more do you want from our star batter! I don't know, one decent knock out of seven what do some people except??������

That's 'expect'!

[ramAnag]

Well there’s a turn up. Shows what I know. All too late but at least there’s some semblance of respectability.

[macstheman]

Well there’s a turn up. Shows what I know. All too late but at least there’s some semblance of respectability.

Egg on our faces rA lol!

Being serious what sort of pitch was that?? It certainly helped our bowlers with Tongue and Carse loving it, in truth it was the bowlers who won the match though Bethel showed signs of great promise for the future and for once the openers got the ball rolling.

At least it's not a whitewash.

[ramAnag]

Egg on our faces rA lol!

Being serious what sort of pitch was that?? It certainly helped our bowlers with Tongue and Carse loving it, in truth it was the bowlers who won the match though Bethel showed signs of great promise for the future and for once the openers got the ball rolling.

At least it's not a whitewash.

Indeed, but I don’t mind a bit of ‘egg’ in such circumstances. Hoping for some more after the Leicester match where I think defeat is nailed on. Love to be wrong again.

Tbf I predicted 3-1 before the series started and I suppose that might still be how it finishes.
Bethel is a strange one. Back in the summer I was at Old Trafford for a Test against India. We watched the nets about an hour before play started. Root - on the day he broke the record if memory serves - monopolised the session and it showed.
Pope and Woakes had short sessions too and Bethel was there throughout, but largely doing some throw downs. He seems to have been part of the squad forever but had little opportunity to bat. I think he’d be better off getting some county cricket in when he’s not playing for England but it seems to no longer be the way.

[Ram Pant]

5th test, normal service will be resumed I presume

[macstheman]

All one can say is if this lot are our best then god help us. I've seen better bowlers in schools cricket and as for the 'batters' ( I use the term loosely) time they took up knitting!

Time for all existing Administrators and coaches involved in our test set up as well as Stokes to be shot!

Gggrrrrr��������������

[Geoff Parkstone]

Let's not over react. Duckett and Pope have been found out, Crawley has again lived down to expectation. Brook needs more application and focus, but he and Root can be a core for a couple more years as Bethel and new openers bed in. Stokes seems a shadow of himself with bat, Smith is learning and has a future and Jacks is only playing as pitches aren't spinner friendly and we don't need 5 seamers.

Bowlers - Archer did well in injury limited exposure, Wood is I fear history. Atkinson will bowl well in English conditions and Tongue looks worth a place. Carse? Has taken wickets but I'm not convinced, Potts - no real chance to assert his value. Stokes bowled better than he batted - no coincidence? Bashir is only bowler coming out of tour with no negatives?!!

But where are the replacements? This team seem competent enough at home, but in Indian. Australian or (probably) South African conditions will struggle imposing Bazball.