Howzat

[davebirch]

Just thought I'd post this link.
Interesting comparison and from someone well credentialed.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-12-...mparisons-keep-coming-for-steve-smith/9264858

 

[OnlyOneTugay]

500 - 4

England have been “ Smithed “ - again

Thanks for posting this Dave looks a fascinating article , I’ll read it after coming back from the Rovers tonight , when hopefully I’ll be in a better frame of mind

 

[Wilpshire Blue]

549-4 at the close.
The Aussies doing what we couldn’t on a cracking batting track, building a big score.
Could be an innings defeat if we aren’t careful.
Fed up of sounding like a doom merchant every time I post on this thread but there’s precious little to get enthusiastic about.

 

[Drog]

Cue a second innings collapse by England which will at least allow them two nights on the piss in downtown Perth instead of one.

I've said earlier that I don't see Joe Root as Captain material and it's looking like my judgement albeit from afar and formed with little knowledge of cricket itself might be being borne out.

 

[ABBEY]

Absolutely embarrassing!!!!!
Pathetic bowling and batting by middle order .
Seems to me they see it as glorified piss up with ashes as a mere inconvenience.

 

[Drog]

Absolutely embarrassing!!!!!
Pathetic bowling and batting by middle order .
Seems to me they see it as glorified piss up with ashes as a mere inconvenience.

Much like myself these days I'd have to say. Why spoil a good session with that cricket malarky? Shove another prawn on the barbie and chuck us another tin of Swannie.

 

[ABBEY]

You ain't being well paid to represent your country tho

 

[davebirch]

Broad looked as though he didn't want to be there at times.

Totally disinterested.

 

[davebirch]

Weather here says it's going to rain tomorrow.

 

[Wilpshire Blue]

I was wondering where the promised rain had gone to
To be honest though, even if it prevents us losing the third test, the ashes are gone.
England aren’t going to win both of the last two tests.

 

[OnlyOneTugay]

England it appears , will need a huge slice of luck to come home not having lost 5-0 again and what makes it worse is this Australian team is distinctively average

Once back the ECB needs to prioritise avoiding any more diabolical Ashes performances down under . Let’s face it the Ashes is the only Test Series that really , really matters to England supporters . Yes it’s great to win away in India & South Africa but if truth be told ,I’d gladly lose to them for a decade if we could avoid any more debacles in Australia . Losing 5-0 again will be a disgrace for English cricket .

So ECB put a strategy into place so the next time we go down under, England are at least competitive .

 

[Drog]

I think the only bet to be had is will the Aussies have to bat again this match?

Lots of bollox about Smith being the best Aussie batsman since Bradman and no doubt he's top drawer but he's hardly facing Harold Larwood's bodyline bowling is he? Nor might I add is he having to go out to face the likes of Holding, Roberts, Croft and Marshall either these days. Those fella's were usually able to find out if a batsman had any weaknesses weren't they?
Truth is that any team with the worlds 2/3 best bowlers will beat any team with the worlds best 2/3 batsmen.

 

[davebirch]

After watching a bit of Broad bowling and batting, I've decided he's a wuss.
A bit of a mouth, but a wuss

 

[Wilpshire Blue]

So, the innings defeat did happen, despite three hours lost to rain.
Not even got to the Boxing Day test and all we have to play for is avoiding a 5-0
Ben Stokes must think he dodged a bullet by missing this tour

 

[Drog]

His agent will be rubbing his hands that's for sure!

Lot's being said about Root as Captain, Cooke's failure at the crease, the tail enders, the bowlers etc but imo the England selectors started the rot and sent out a dreadful message to the team by finding Stokes guilty of assault without a trial. That message must have been greeted with delight by the Aussies.

 

[OnlyOneTugay]

Ashes lost and English cricketing pride in tatters . Depressing

 

[davebirch]

Two things
1. Underestimating the Aussies, especially on their own turf
2. Picking a few that are, maybe, past it.
Jimmy's on the way out, Broad, the wuss, Cook must wonder why he faces a hard rock being hurled at him.
Why don't the ECB send up and comers down under for a season or two, just to get used to fast pacy wickets?

 

[Drog]

I think the greatest difference (apart from not developing genuine world class fast bowlers) is the correct attitude and mental toughness. Improving that in the younger players would bring the greatest reward's.

 

[OnlyOneTugay]

I don't know what the answer is to be honest . We had similar debates / discussions when Lillee and Thomson were blowing us away.I read an article yesterday about young up and coming quicks in England. There are quite a few , one or two clocked at 93/94 mph, but I think we need a conveyor belt like they seem to have in Australia , to have any hope that a few might make it to Test level.

Tymal Mills is a good example. The only really genuine quick bowler I've seen in English cricket in the last 10 years , but his body is wrecked.

Mental toughness is probably more important in cricket than most other sports . It's a character building sport. Does our liberal , everyone wins a prize no one loses education system, prepare our young sportsman to front up to the mouthy , full of confidence , in your face Aussies ?

 

[Drog]

Does it hell. Life is competitive for most except of course for those in the public sector and educationalists in particular. Teachers foir example think they are killed when Ofsted turns up to test their abilities. In the private sector every day is a test.