The Ashes 2025

Wouldn’t be surprised if Australia don’t need to bat a 2nd innings

Every Australian has contributed with the bat, we had 4 ducks….

Ashes has gone after 5 combined days play…at least England weren‘t building up to this specific series :roll_eyes:

McCullum’s position should be under serious pressure if this series doesn’t quickly change in direction. Staring down the barrel of 4/5-0.

Brookes and Root to the rescue again or is that asking too much?

Clearly far too much!

Thanks !!

Well they got it into a third day this time, but honestly how did Starc score 77?

Amazingly it’s not even his test best

The Aussies proved in their first innings that you can score quickly yet sensibly - Bazball was fun, but it feels like our batsmen have just got a bit too empowered to play brainless shots. And now the series is gone.

With a little bit of application & sensible shot picking it should be relatively easy to build a decent score on this pitch against a fairly average Aussie attack other than Starc. Boland, Dogget & Neser are pretty average test bowlers & really shouldn’t be bothering the likes of our top order; except our batsmen just seem to love throwing their wickets away.

Stokes & Jacks have seen it out to the close meaning we get a Day 4 ….

It’s been long overdue to dispense with McCullum, this is a very average ageing Aussie team who are missing 4 keys players, we have talent in the squad, but its the tactics and captaining of the team that has let them down. Yesterday’s fielding placings and bowling tactics were horrific. Harry Brook at vice captain, with his lack of discipline is a poor choice.

Never been overly impressed with Stokes, tactical ability but with the exception of re appointing Joe Root, there are no stand out candidates.

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I can’t think of many national teams in any sport over the years who have had to go back to the drawing board quite as often as England’s cricketers…

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More times than an art teacher!

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Wycombe just got a mention on the cricket commentary - and then England got a wicket. Must be a good omen. Mustn’t it???

Although it was only in the context of us playing Luton (Sir Alistair’s team) so it may also be a good omen for them.

I could be overthinking this.

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I’m confused by the omen implications. Nothing new in that!

What a farce Day One has been. One online report is headed “almost farcical”. Not sure how much crazier the events of the first day would need to have been to qualify for an unqualified “farcical”. I think I heard a comment on the wireless or television that Ben Duckett was slurring his words. Never having heard him speak, I wouldn’t know whether or not he was slurring.

Any puns on offer?

“England require 21 runs to win with6 wickets remaining”. Can they still snatch defeat from the jaws of victory?!

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