The Ashes 2025

[summerisle]

Shocking.

 

[Obes]

 

[Swartzy]

Shocking.

We all see this, and have been watching this for so long now.

What are they expecting to happen with him, he's an utter fraud of a national team opener/player.

None of those lads honestly walk out with faith in Crawley.

 

[NathDogg]

Anyone else getting sick to the back teeth of bleeding Bazball?

Total shambles that, how about trying to play a proper test match instead of acting like it’s a one day international, and trying to bladder every single delivery.

 

[Norlye]

“History doesn’t repeat itself but it often rhymes”-Mark Twain

 

[ToffeeTim]

The comparison with how Head played isn't really a defence of England's style either.

The top order got out mainly through loose drives away from the body at wide length balls. Head waited for the short ball then climbed into it - England's bowling approach helped him a lot tbf.

You can't play loose drives at wide length balls when there is pace and bounce. It's not about not being aggressive. It's the way you try to be aggressive and the shot selection by the main batters was abysmal.

 

[summerisle]

We all see this, and have been watching this for so long now.

What are they expecting to happen with him, he's an utter fraud of a national team opener/player.

None of those lads honestly walk out with faith in Crawley.

One of the reasons for retaining Crawley as an opener was his supposed ability for batting on Australian wickets.

 

[PhilM]

The maddening thing is they didn't even need to block. I don't think any of the (caught) dismissals were fending off balls that would have actually hit the stumps. The middle order collapse today was purely by them chasing at wide balls. It's almost like teams have gotten wise to the absurdity of our batting, that they're given free rein to play stupidly and all you need is to throw enough temptation out there and they will inevitable chase it.

I get that, however it's part of our wider inability to be savvy. We don't need to chase those wide balls all the time, and that is where we can frustrate.

You don't have to try to play every ball.

 

[f.t.r.s]

Its all well and good playing aggressive and positive, but a big part of test cricket is managing the game...

At times players need to take time, stay in the game and ride out spells,
starc can't bowl infinitely so if he's on fire, play safe....

Not enough intelligence on display, Crawley is a walking wicket, and far too often we're relying on the bowlers to pull magic out of a hat for a rescue mission

 

[ToffeeTim]

There is an argument that Jacks would offer you as many runs as Crawley and offers you a few overs of spin bowling

 

[MisterJ]

I’m already sick to the back teeth of them

Agree, which is a shame as should be excited for an ashes series, but we all know how this story goes

 

[Norlye]

The England team have an extra 3 days off. They haven’t booked any matches, between the tests so will probably spend the time in the nets or playing football.

Instead why don’t they get them to sit down and watch, it might challenge their attention spans, Cook, Strauss and Trott batting in the 2010-11 series.
Just a thought.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

There is an argument that Jacks would offer you as many runs as Crawley and offers you a few overs of spin bowling

You could say the same about Bashir tbh.

 

[PITA]

He certainly wasn't reckless though was he, aggressive doesn't need to be reckless and he played brilliantly although the bowling was very predictable.

Do you mean that he wasn't reckless because he didn't get out?

 

[Exeter_Gently]

Anyone else getting sick to the back teeth of bleeding Bazball?

Total shambles that, how about trying to play a proper test match instead of acting like it’s a one day international, and trying to bladder every single delivery.

Can't bare it mate.

It's akin to a one dimensional philosophy manager constantly reminding everyone "This is how we play" "this is our identity".....yeah but it's crap,so can we stop please.