OT Ashes 2025-26

[ramAnag]

Apparently, lots of eyes already are...

I suppose this is a good time for you to be Dutch.

[Ramshank72]

Fancy us putting a parks team against professionals, only one outcome!
Another pathetic Ashes performance sees the Urn remain down under.
Forget the last two tests, save us further embarrassment and send the wimps home.... not that we really want them!

Everything this team and management have been saying, has been about preparing for this Ashes series, and they've failed beyond comprehension. It'll be easy to change the management, but I don't know how they find a new captain. Nobody looks too good to drop, and the obvious choices have either already dome it (Root), or are in the same poor mindset (Brookes). I don't see English cricket recovering for a good few years, maybe a generation.
The Aussies aren't even that good man for man, they're just better applied.
How I miss Cook and Strauss boring us by scoring lots of runs over long periods.

[Geoff Parkstone]

Bring back Mike Brearley - could out strategies the opposition albeit nothing else (even 50 years ago)

[macstheman]

Everything this team and management have been saying, has been about preparing for this Ashes series, and they've failed beyond comprehension. It'll be easy to change the management, but I don't know how they find a new captain. Nobody looks too good to drop, and the obvious choices have either already dome it (Root), or are in the same poor mindset (Brookes). I don't see English cricket recovering for a good few years, maybe a generation.
The Aussies aren't even that good man for man, they're just better applied.
How I miss Cook and Strauss boring us by scoring lots of runs over long periods.

I agree it'll take years to recover to the standard needed to win the Ashes and the dominance of the one day game in England makes it more difficult. Yes, under home conditions where a plethora of run of the mill seam bowlers ply their trade it's possible to cover up the lack of simple batting technique so easily exposed by Starc and Co. Tbh I see little changing, too much brass in the 100, 20/20 etc.

[ramAnag]

I agree it'll take years to recover to the standard needed to win the Ashes and the dominance of the one day game in England makes it more difficult. Yes, under home conditions where a plethora of run of the mill seam bowlers ply their trade it's possible to cover up the lack of simple batting technique so easily exposed by Starc and Co. Tbh I see little changing, too much brass in the 100, 20/20 etc.

Looking on the bright side. We regularly get thumped over there but I don’t think we’ve lost a home series against the Aussies since 2001. Okay the last two have both been drawn and I honestly expected this series to be closer, but we can come back in time for 2027. Darkest before the dawn. As Derby fans we should all know that.

[macstheman]

Looking on the bright side. We regularly get thumped over there but I don't think we've lost a home series against the Aussies since 2001.

Anderson and Broad might have helped with that record!

[Ramshank72]

I don't see where the next class of '05 come from. Joe Root only has a couple more years in him, Stokes keeps breaking, I don't see a future test capable team.

[macstheman]

I don't see where the next class of '05 come from. Joe Root only has a couple more years in him, Stokes keeps breaking, I don't see a future test capable team.

Depressing but true RS!

[ramAnag]

Too little too late and an all too predictable outcome.
Interesting article by Stephen Shemilt for the BBC today about aspects of the tour. Surprising and seriously disappointing attitudes apparently.
Don’t read it mac, you’ll implode. Sounds more like an amateur rugby club tour than professionals playing for the Ashes.

[macstheman]

I have read but it doesn't annoy me any more than I am because it's what has and is bloody obvious about the England set up.
For me the ECB should be the first to be over hauled, then Key and McCullum should go followed by Stokes. Yes, Stokesy is a great cricketer but his influence will continue to affect any meaningful changes that are necessary. I don't see him just being a player under a new Captain and Manager so sometimes the head has to be totally removed to kill the beast.
I don't profess to have a golden key (small k) to sort the mess out but change must start now if a team of PROFESSIONALS not circus clowns are lined up by the next Ashes!