Ashes 2025-26.

[Durhamfootman]

At least there is still time for the Barmy Army (those still able to stand without falling over in a heap) to pop over to the WACA and watch some T20 cricket

[bigfluffylemon]

Utterly incapable of toughing it out.

Same again.

I really don't know why we even get our hopes up.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Wonder where it leaves their plans for the series. I guess they won't adapt their tactics. There's not really much by way of alternatives in the squad. Apart from bringing in the spinner which they probably won't do do a D/N game and wouldn't have conceivably helped in this loss.

[from_the_stands]

G'day chaps. I trust everyone is well. I'm still kicking. I must admit, I do love the Ashes. Many fond memories over the years. I can't believe that Harmlesson first ball was nearly 20 years ago. Anyway, the First Test didn't last long. I was hoping for at least a three day game. How good is Travis Head? Looking forward to the rest of the series. I'll be sure to stick my nose in here over the next couple of months. I am a little worried about the Oz batting giving how thin our ranks are at domestic level. I'd love another sweep, but I'll settle for a series win one way or the other.

[bigfluffylemon]

Good to see you FTS.

As I said earlier, I'd settle for a competitive series, but looks like we won't even get that.

[sussexpob]

G'day chaps. I trust everyone is well. I'm still kicking. I must admit, I do love the Ashes. Many fond memories over the years. I can't believe that Harmlesson first ball was nearly 20 years ago. Anyway, the First Test didn't last long. I was hoping for at least a three day game. How good is Travis Head? Looking forward to the rest of the series. I'll be sure to stick my nose in here over the next couple of months. I am a little worried about the Oz batting giving how thin our ranks are at domestic level. I'd love another sweep, but I'll settle for a series win one way or the other.

Enjoy the victory FTS, hope all is well.

[GarlicJam]

and the hope dies

the really disheartening thing about it is that the Aussies were really worried this time yesterday

Yes, at least their fans were.

As a matter of fact, earlyish in the middle session today, when Pope and Duckett were going along so well (sensibly, even), I had a comment I had typed out saying that only a batting collapse very soon would stand in the way of an England victory.

I was about to post it, and though "hang on, that's defeatist talk. Australians don't do that.", and deleted the comment.

Cue an instant, and massive, batting collapse...

[budgetmeansbudget]

That test match was another example of why I have little interest in cricket these days.

4 t20 innings and over in 2 days, barnacle bailey will be turning in his grave!

And how the hell has Zach Crawley played 59 tests, has to be the worst batsman in history to have played more than 50 tests. Two first over ducks just about sums up how cr@p he is. No doubt he'll score a 186 at some point and earn himself another 20 tests. It should be also borne in mind he had one of the worst first class averages when he was first picked for England. How he's had this run in the team I do not know, must be a few other openers that were worth a punt, surely.

[meninblue]

2 days test

[sussexpob]

And how the hell has Zach Crawley played 59 tests, has to be the worst batsman in history to have played more than 50 tests. Two first over ducks just about sums up how cr@p he is. No doubt he'll score a 186 at some point and earn himself another 20 tests. It should be also borne in mind he had one of the worst first class averages when he was first picked for England. How he's had this run in the team I do not know, must be a few other openers that were worth a punt, surely.

The only person in the team to replace him has no FC hundred either. Sound selection from England....

[Arthur Crabtree]

Hi Stands, Budget.

I don't suppose England will be thinking this can't be turned around. They are by nature inconsistent.

But they are also not as good as the hype indicated before the toss. What this does is restate just how good, and well prepared, the 10-11 side was.

And they still lost in Perth!

[sussexpob]

In the end, the game really turned due to some really basic batting errors from England. I lost count of how many batters flashed outside off with feet planted on the spot. Harry Brook's dismissal was the perfect example, if he'd stepped into the shot with his weight forwarded he'd have probably creamed it through the covers to the boundary, but instead he reaches for it and edges it..... he'd done the same thing a couple of balls before and got away with the edge not carrying, so it was just idiotic. Scott Boland just kept on throwing it down wide outside off, and England kept on trying to hit the leather off it. Basic stuff this.

The dismissal that most enraged me was Carse. He ended up trying to ramp a ball well outside offstump.... your team mate at the other end has a test hundred and is on 30 odd playing some nice shot.... what in gods name are you doing? Just tie up the end and let him put the pressure on...what possessed you to play that holocaust of a shot?

[backfootpunch]

Wow

Well im very glad i fell asleep between innings and missed the carnage

Not sure i can bring myself to watch the highlights. How exactly did head do that on this wicket? Did the bowlers miss their line and length?

[sussexpob]

In many ways, yesterday was the perfect scenario for England's attack also. Quick pitch, tennis ball bounce.... when England steamed in and whipped up a storm, they made it hard for Australia, and the Aussie's less than world class batting line up crumpled.

I think the most worrying thing about today was how England really couldn't conjure up another counter attack at all. First test, Day 2, Archer by his second spell was bowling between 83-86mph, Carse and Atkinson low 80s mostly, Wood was shelved after 3 overs never to return, seemingly 11 overs in 2 days being far too much for him (England put Root on rather than hand him the ball again).

And this is the problem isn't it? We were 30 hours into the series and England much vaunted fireball bowlers were already cooked.

[budgetmeansbudget]

And how the hell has Zach Crawley played 59 tests, has to be the worst batsman in history to have played more than 50 tests. Two first over ducks just about sums up how cr@p he is. No doubt he'll score a 186 at some point and earn himself another 20 tests. It should be also borne in mind he had one of the worst first class averages when he was first picked for England. How he's had this run in the team I do not know, must be a few other openers that were worth a punt, surely.

The only person in the team to replace him has no FC hundred either. Sound selection from England....

I was really referring to the 7 year period hes been in the England team, maybe there hasn't been anyone obvious out there, but is he fortunate that England has gone through a dearth of quality openers in the county game, I don't know. As I said haven't been feeling the game for a long time so I'm a bit clueless with who's been out there in the past 5 or so years

Wasn't he a number 6 when he was first selected and somehow found his way to the top of the order, All I know is is his technique doesn't suit an openers, zero fiot movement when the ball is new. But I guess maybe he suits the way test cricket is now played under McCullum, smash it if you feel comfortable.