O/T:- The Ashes 2023

[Bushwacka]

What Englishman would find Stuart Broad bowling an Aussie out with a no ball, in the Ashes, in any way funny. I assume you are an Englishman marky.

Nobody died, mate.

[laddo]

I was en route to pick up a fish and chips feast for the family on the south coast and was listening when legend Broad got that key wicket.... moments later gutted.

Still the haddock was sensational as it should be in that location.

[Magpies1959]

Bushwacka, not a cricket fan then.

[laddo]

Squeezing every drop our of world class talent. The impending cliff edge is a concern but tbh it just speaks volumes of how special these groups are.

[Magpies1959]

I think in England's case. when you have two of the greatest seam bowlers the game has ever seen, you have to keep playing them regardless of age. I think there are others who could step in that are younger, but doubtful if any will go on to reach the heights of Anderson and Broad. The batting has a more youthful look to it, with Crawley, Pope and Brook coming through.

[countygump]

I think in England's case. when you have two of the greatest seam bowlers the game has ever seen, you have to keep playing them regardless of age. I think there are others who could step in that are younger, but doubtful if any will go on to reach the heights of Anderson and Broad. The batting has a more youthful look to it, with Crawley, Pope and Brook coming through.

I think, if it were up to me, that I'd be inclined to drop Jimmy and keep Broad. Simply because I feel that even at 36, Broady has a lot more to offer. But as jackal sez, there's a distinct dearth of talent for both teams.

[The_Don_ORiordan]

What strikes me about both sides is how relatively little young talent is coming through. Our two leading pace bowlers will need zimmer frames before much longer, and Australia are relying on a similar bunch of golden oldies, including players who only made their Test debuts in their thirties.

This is best shown by them overlooking a young talented spinner who got a 5 fer in his last England game, to bring back a guy who hasn’t played red ball cricket for over 2 years.

What a surprise, he’s already injured, and got targeted, the reason they supposedly overlooked Rehan.

I’m a fan of Bazzball, but surely England need to commit to it.

The picking of Ali is not committing to Bazzball, it’s coping out and sending the wrong message to young spinners.

That’s why we have an old side, we do not let young talent prove itself and support it.

I like Moeen, but this was the wrong call for English test crickets future regardless of the result of this test match, and very disappointing. .

[The_Don_ORiordan]

I think in England's case. when you have two of the greatest seam bowlers the game has ever seen, you have to keep playing them regardless of age. I think there are others who could step in that are younger, but doubtful if any will go on to reach the heights of Anderson and Broad. The batting has a more youthful look to it, with Crawley, Pope and Brook coming through.

For some reason we give young batters a decent chance. But bowlers are regularly swapped and dropped, and young bowlers are rarely given any sort of run.

That said. I agree that Broad and Anderson are irreplaceable atm.

[laddo]

Plus the results have been very impressive during the Bazball era. We say on football if it ain't broke don't fix it, don't change a winning side etc. Add in that they are two genuine greats it's a no brainer if potentially a little short-sighted.
I doubt Jimmy will play every test, Wood will get his change but thought they should go with JA and SB for the opener.

[The_Don_ORiordan]

It's a fair point!

For instance, have we not got a single spinner who could be called up? Instead we bring somebody who hasn't played any long-form cricket out of retirement.

We do. We have an 18 year old, born in Nottingham, who took 7 wickets on his test debut against Pakistan @ 19 runs. Less than half of Ali’s average against Australia.

But the all guns blazing Bazzball risk takers thought he was a risk, so we’ll bring a guy out of retirement instead.

Why is that? Current form? Ali hasn’t played long form for over 2 years.

It can only be cronyism I’m afraid.