The Cricket Thread

[ajwffc]

BBC reporting Root is on his way to the ground but is unlikely to start

[peasy23]

Root spent hardly any time off the field yesterday, batting for almost 3 hours and being in the field all morning and for the spell after lunch. On the field temperature was in the high 50s, it does raise questions about player safety as the only dispensation given was an extra drinks break per session.

[Eednud]

He's at the ground.

[peasy23]

For a fairly accomplished batsman who has played some terrific innings, Moeen looks absolutely petrified facing Lyon.

[peasy23]

Moeen out lbw to Lyon, who has got him out 7  times on this tour. Root comes out to resume his innings.

[peasy23]

Root gets his 50 and got a warm ovation from all round the ground. Reports that he was hit by a gastroenteritis bug rather than anything to do with the heat.

[ajwffc]

Root does not return after lunch

[ajwffc]

Bairstow out England now 144-6

[ajwffc]

Broad gone for 4 now 148-7

[ajwffc]

Crane gone England now 156-8

[ajwffc]

Root might return if the two that are batting the now last a while.

[ajwffc]

Anderson gone Australia win by an innings and 123 runs

[btb]

With Root unable to give a post match interview vice-Captain Jinny Anderson said "we weren't blown away" advocating a steady as she goes policy and while it's not entirely unfair there is a lot of problems England have to address.

• Stoneman & Vince - Test standard? Compare their performance to the Marsh brothers who had pretty mediocre records going into the series but have come out with credit and bought themselves a bit of time to establish themselves. Even weak links have to be averaging 30+.
• Root - Can he handle captaincy & batting, his two centuries since taking charge have been when England batted first. Unfortunately the phrase that springs to mind is TINA!
• 20 wickets abroad - develop a bowling attack that will do this in hot dry conditions (i.e. NZ not included).

What's really disappointing from an England perspective is that with the exception of Steven Smith there was no exceptional performances this time and even his record falls short of what Mitchell Johnson did in 2013/14. Despite managing a draw on a lifeless Melbourne pitch all of the doubts raised before the tour materialized.

 

 

[peasy23]

With Root unable to give a post match interview vice-Captain Jinny Anderson said "we weren't blown away" advocating a steady as she goes policy and while it's not entirely unfair there is a lot of problems England have to address.

• Stoneman & Vince - Test standard? Compare their performance to the Marsh brothers who had pretty mediocre records going into the series but have come out with credit and bought themselves a bit of time to establish themselves. Even weak links have to be averaging 30+.
• Root - Can he handle captaincy & batting, his two centuries since taking charge have been when England batted first. Unfortunately the phrase that springs to mind is TINA!
• 20 wickets abroad - develop a bowling attack that will do this in hot dry conditions (i.e. NZ not included).

What's really disappointing from an England perspective is that with the exception of Steven Smith there was no exceptional performances this time and even his record falls short of what Mitchell Johnson did in 2013/14. Despite managing a draw on a lifeless Melbourne pitch all of the doubts raised before the tour materialized.

 

 

I had hoped that England would have been competitive, but apart from the odd day or session they were well beaten. Malan is about the only English player to come out of the Ashes with his reputation enhanced. Anderson bowled his heart out, while although Bairstow didn't score that well he was excellent behind the stumps.

 

On the one hand I do think the 4-0 flatters the Aussies a bit, but ultimately they had more players perform than England did. On the other, it looks like England learned nothing from the last whitewash in terms of the mentality and players required to get a result. Ultimately, very few sides wins a test series away from home these days, so although there is obvious problems for England there is no need to hit the panic button quite yet.

 

[Uncle Psychosis]

52 minutes ago, peasy23 said:

 Malan is about the only English player to come out of the Ashes with his reputation enhanced.

Don't forget Stokes. He bowls like McGrath and bats like Bradman and England would have won 5-0 if he'd been there.

 

[Mr. Brightside]

I think it was James Anderson that said 4-0 flattered the Aussies, when in actual fact 4-0 flattered England.

[topcat(The most tip top)]

I reckon 4-0 was about right.

England had about enough good days to win one test if all their good days had fallen together.  Unlike previous tourists they deserved to avoid a whitewash but didn't deserve more than that

Andy Zaltzman (@Zaltzcricket)  Sums it up nicely
"Well, on the positive side, that was England's 2nd best away Ashes series in the last 14 years."

 

Edited January 8, 2018 by topcat(The most tip top)

[topcat(The most tip top)]

The big problem with Test Cricket at the moment is that home advantage is so big a factor

England are really jolly good in English conditions but are shown up abroad.

India are practically invincible in the subcontinent but distinctly average away from home

Australia likewise are a very different proposition away from home

The solution is obvious

The next Ashes should be played in India

 

 

[topcat(The most tip top)]

To make things more unpredictable

Australia could play India at Chester Le Street in March 

 

[Jmothecat2]

Just had a quick glance on my phone so might have got this wrong, but it looks like Australia have only lost 3 test matches in Australia since England won the Ashes down there in 2010/11. All three against South Africa across 2 series.

 

 

Edit: 4. They lost to New Zealand in Hobart, which means two of those losses have been in Hobart.