The Ashes 2023

[PITA]

100% this, they are playing the best team in the world and making classic test matches. Not good enough for giant forehead tory weapons like Vaughan though

I can’t believe that we are not 110/2 at the close. Shocked I am.

 

[Walken]

That series in the West Indies was awful. No wonder stokes’ knees are knackered after sending down over after over for 2 drawn test matches putting no pressure on the opposition.

These guys want to see cricket played the way they remember. All back slapping old boys. Dinosaurs.

The good ol' days, when you played for draws and lost and could abuse young asian cricketers as you saw fit.

Annoying thing is even some of the more innovative cricketers (like Vaughan) are lining up to have a pop at this England team. Complete nonsense.

 

[ToffeeTim]

You can play an attacking style with the bat but also not throw wickets away going after the short ball with 3 men in the deep.

Its not either ultra aggression or blocking everything at 1.5 an over. There's other ways to play and its about a balance. England were scoring at 4 and a half without taking huge risks. 3 batsmen went for low percentage shots to clear fielders on the boundary and it wasn't smart. In fact Stokes played it completely right by making sure he made it to the close.

Australia's quicks can't bowl sharp bouncers all day and if you stay patient you will get opportunities later to really go for it and score. Especially when they have to turn to their back up spin bowlers.

 

[Hinchcliffe's Corner]

You can play an attacking style with the bat but also not throw wickets away going after the short ball with 3 men in the deep.

Can they though? Do you think they're actually good enough to be able to do that? I think they're on a roll with what's working and sometimes there will be chaos along the way. That WI scorecard should be pumped in front of people on a regular basis to show them what England used to be.

 

[ToffeeTim]

Can they though? Do you think they're actually good enough to be able to do that? I think they're on a roll with what's working and sometimes there will be chaos along the way. That WI scorecard should be pumped in front of people on a regular basis to show them what England used to be.

I think there is a balance between attacking intent and being reckless. Trying to hook the ball for 6 over 3 men in the deep is going to fail more often that it will work in test matches.

But those tactics won't last that long and you can still score without trying to hit boundaries and sixes.

The run rate is really good for the day at like 4 and a half and you can definitely score at 4s without taking too many risks with the way Pat Cummins is setting the field.

Anyway, game is right in the balance. Australia very slightly ahead but I thought they could have the game won by now.

 

[Hinchcliffe's Corner]

I think there is a balance between attacking intent and being reckless. Trying to hook the ball for 6 over 3 men in the deep is going to fail more often that it will work in test matches.

But those tactics won't last that long and you can still score without trying to hit boundaries and sixes.

The run rate is really good for the day at like 4 and a half and you can definitely score at 4s without taking too many risks with the way Pat Cummins is setting the field.

Anyway, game is right in the balance. Australia very slightly ahead but I thought they could have the game won by now.

There is a balance but I don't think these players are capable of that, otherwise they would be the #1 team in the world. They might learn over the course of a couple of years to temper that, but to attack like England do, and show reservation when needed, would require them to be of the ilk of the Australians in the late 90s-2000s, which is not going to happen.

 

[ToffeeTim]

There is a balance but I don't think these players are capable of that, otherwise they would be the #1 team in the world. They might learn over the course of a couple of years to temper that, but to attack like England do, and show reservation when needed, would require them to be of the ilk of the Australians in the late 90s-2000s, which is not going to happen.

It depends on the batsman as well. Taking on the short ball with the men back is probably ok for someone like Bairstow because he is able to regularly hit it over or wide of the fielders. For other batsmen I think its a high risk shot.

Their are lots of easy singles available with the field placings. Taking 4 or 5 singles an over is absolutely fine.

 

[Hinchcliffe's Corner]

It depends on the batsman as well. Taking on the short ball with the men back is probably ok for someone like Bairstow because he is able to regularly hit it over or wide of the fielders. For other batsmen I think its a high risk shot.

Their are lots of easy singles available with the field placings. Taking 4 or 5 singles an over is absolutely fine.

Again though Tim, it's easy to say sitting here, I don't think it's easy for these batsman to go through this thought process, their confidence has been on edge for years and they're living on bravado currently.

edit: I do agree with what you're saying by the way, that would be the perfect way to play test cricket. I just don't think, deep down, they're very good.

 

[Hinchcliffe's Corner]

“Baz, I know your intentions are good, but isn't scoring at 6 an over and ultimately ending up at the same total we would have if we had gone at 3 an over putting us at a disadvantage over the series as our ancient medium pacers bowl considerably more overs than the Australians? Wouldn't it be smarter to just bat normally?”
“Look Joe, it's Rampy, the reverse ramp!”
“Hello Joe! Help me hit a six off good channel bowling!"


Stolen off social media

 

[Rita_Poon]

“Baz, I know your intentions are good, but isn't scoring at 6 an over and ultimately ending up at the same total we would have if we had gone at 3 an over putting us at a disadvantage over the series as our ancient medium pacers bowl considerably more overs than the Australians? Wouldn't it be smarter to just bat normally?”
“Look Joe, it's Rampy, the reverse ramp!”
“Hello Joe! Help me hit a six off good channel bowling!"
View attachment 215766

Stolen off social media

for context...

"help me bite crime"

 

[PITA]

You can play an attacking style with the bat but also not throw wickets away going after the short ball with 3 men in the deep.

Its not either ultra aggression or blocking everything at 1.5 an over. There's other ways to play and its about a balance. England were scoring at 4 and a half without taking huge risks. 3 batsmen went for low percentage shots to clear fielders on the boundary and it wasn't smart. In fact Stokes played it completely right by making sure he made it to the close.

Australia's quicks can't bowl sharp bouncers all day and if you stay patient you will get opportunities later to really go for it and score. Especially when they have to turn to their back up spin bowlers.

Do you mind if I ask what international team you played for or captained?

 

[ToffeeTim]

Do you mind if I ask what international team you played for or captained?

Club third team lol

I dont think that really matters though. I just dont see amy way of not losing wickets in a test match by going for the hook with 3 men in the deep. Not for every player anyway. For some players it's a higher percentage shot because they can clear the boundary regularly

 

[jazzy]

Club third team lol

I dont think that really matters though. I just dont see amy way of not losing wickets in a test match by going for the hook with 3 men in the deep. Not for every player anyway. For some players it's a higher percentage shot because they can clear the boundary regularly

I make you right fella.

I don't think people realise how tiring it is for the bowlers bowling short pitched all the time.

With Lyon unable to bowl a smart team would have let Australia bowl themselves into the ground and left the ball.

They would have given up the tactic and hour later and / or be so knackered that we could take advantage later in the day and today.
Sorry but it was brain dead cricket.

Fortunately the captain showed some sense when he came in.

 

[Milk]

I make you right fella.

I don't think people realise how tiring it is for the bowlers bowling short pitched all the time.

With Lyon unable to bowl a smart team would have let Australia bowl themselves into the ground and left the ball.

They would have given up the tactic and hour later and / or be so knackered that we could take advantage later in the day and today.
Sorry but it was brain dead cricket.

Fortunately the captain showed some sense when he came in.

True to an extent but Duckett is physiologically incapable of the “leave” shot.

Whats more, he said he wasn’t bothered getting out on 98 and would’ve played the shot again.

Brook eventually calmed down but he looked dead meat until Stokes partnered him and Australia brought on Head

 

[jazzy]

With Lyon potentially out for the series this has now become a must not lose game.
Hopefully Australia will now struggle to take 20 wickets in a match and gives us a great opportunity to win the series