O/T:- Unofficial NCM Ashes thread

[jackal2]

So, a target of 152 would have been more than enough. The bowlers did a pretty good job in taking 20 Australian wickets for 458 runs, but our batting is just pitiful. We don't just lack technique, we lack any sort of guts, fight and application. The whole series has been men against boys, only the Sydney rain saved us from a deserved whitewash.

It's been the story for many years now. Our bowlers generally perform well and give us a chance to win games, but your description of our batsmen is spot on. They spend the vast majority of their summer playing cartoon cricket where you just swing the bat at everything looking for fours and sixes, and if you give your wicket away then it's accepted as the price of trying to get a decent score in the space of a couple of hours. The way things are going we might as well give up Test cricket and form a baseball team instead. In fact, the way our batsmen play, you would think they were already using baseball bats!

[ForeignLegion]

I feel sorry for the bowlers, for the most part, and for Wood in particular. The rest of it has been shameful stuff; Scott Boland, who I'd never heard of 2 months ago is now a national cricketing hero. I've seen some yellow bellied stuff from Pom sporting outfits down here over the years, but this mob is the stand out winner by a long way.

[Elite_Pie]

I feel sorry for the bowlers, for the most part, and for Wood in particular. The rest of it has been shameful stuff; Scott Boland, who I'd never heard of 2 months ago is now a national cricketing hero. I've seen some yellow bellied stuff from Pom sporting outfits down here over the years, but this mob is the stand out winner by a long way.

I always expected us to be soundly beaten over the five tests, it's just the manner of defeat that pisses me off. We were definite underdogs, but that should have been an inspiration to play above ourselves and at the very least make them work hard for their win. Instead, we tamely rolled over and raised the white flag. We provided such weak opposition that they never had to get out of first gear.

[lunaspie]

If it is the last thing that Boris does could he rescind the visas of this England so called cricket squad and not allow them to return into the country. I would suggest deporting them to Pitcairn Island but that would be unfair on those that already live there!

That's not very Christian of you !
I would simply put a bounty on their heads.

[ivansneck]

ECB = Exterminate Cricket in Britain - mission nearly accomplished

[queenslandpie]

I always expected us to be soundly beaten over the five tests, it's just the manner of defeat that pisses me off. We were definite underdogs, but that should have been an inspiration to play above ourselves and at the very least make them work hard for their win. Instead, we tamely rolled over and raised the white flag. We provided such weak opposition that they never had to get out of first gear.

Couldn't agree more Elite. Their batting line up especially, considering they are on home soil has looked out of sorts somewhat compared to the indestructible nature of it a few years ago when Smith seemed unbeatable and Warner was smashing it. Both have looked considerably out of form in comparison in this series.

Australia are nowhere near the kind of quality side they have been in recent ( and distant) past. England are far far far worse and the lack of options with the bat is highly concerning. It's a struggle to work out what to do and you have to come to the conclusion that in the medium term we are going to be test match whipping boys globally.

[ForeignLegion]

The Aussie batting hasn't had to be that good; their bowling attack is pretty top notch, although even they haven't had to try that hard. The other Aussie advantage/s is that at least one of their batters has dug them out of trouble at times and the tail has performed. Neither can be said about Pomgolia.

Although unfair to highlight these two in particular, but the "shots" Broad and Robinson played to get out at the end of the 1st and 2nd innings, standing 2 feet away from the stumps whilst dangling the bat in the air at arms length, typify the total lack of heart and application, and yet Broad batted like a champion to avoid defeat in the Sydney test. I don't really blame them considering the pi55 weak efforts of those further up the order.....why should we end up with crushed toes?

[queenslandpie]

The Aussie batting hasn't had to be that good; their bowling attack is pretty top notch, although even they haven't had to try that hard. The other Aussie advantage/s is that at least one of their batters has dug them out of trouble at times and the tail has performed. Neither can be said about Pomgolia.

Although unfair to highlight these two in particular, but the "shots" Broad and Robinson played to get out at the end of the 1st and 2nd innings, standing 2 feet away from the stumps whilst dangling the bat in the air at arms length, typify the total lack of heart and application, and yet Broad batted like a champion to avoid defeat in the Sydney test. I don't really blame them considering the pi55 weak efforts of those further up the order.....why should we end up with crushed toes?

I'm still struggling to get my head around Rory Burns batting stance ( a primary reason why he got out playing onto the wicket). For an opener its just weird.

[ForeignLegion]

He's clearly not an opener; he has some shots but it's not at test level. Might be better off with baseball.

[queenslandpie]

He's clearly not an opener; he has some shots but it's not at test level. Might be better off with baseball.

Yes I think I read something similar on BBC website.