Ashes 2021-22.

[Durhamfootman]

Marsh should be very excited if his call up is confirmed. He was a key part of Australia's WC win to cement his place in the white ball set up and playing against a low quality and shell shocked opposition is probably the best chance he'll ever have of cementing his place in the test side as well

[sussexpob]

Yes I totally share your frustration with the readiness of the ECB to accept these ridiculous tour schedules. Is it symptomatic of a general disregard for the red ball game , despite their protestations that the Ashes is something they've been planning for for two years ? Or just because they haven't the stomach for rigorous horse trading with other boards - particularly in this crazy world of bubbles and quarantine regulations ?

I think each board is so fearful of their bottom line being hit in revenge, they all agree to ridiculous tour schedules in order to guarantee their own revenue streams for home games. More than anything, the English game finds itself where it is because of the constant importance that revenue generation is given over anything else.... all the other major problems not down to individual accountability seem to flow from this fact.

To me, the ever consuming quest for money is such a zero-sum game for sport in general. Its most applicable in football where teams generate yearly revenues in the billions, only to p*ss every penny (and more) away on trying to buy or pay players; in the end, prices of transfers spiral, wages spiral, and the person who pays is the guy who's season ticket goes up 300% a year. Transfers and wages go up proportionally, and the vast majority of clubs actually make the same money regardless of their revenue streams, because all excess generated is spent. More money just equals higher prices ... so why want more money in the first place?

Its the same with cricket. We have this bizarre situation where the ECB are obsessed that money solves everything. Money allows resources, equipment, the finest of the fine facilities.... and these things win matches, so its absolutely necessary to make as much money as possible. Each board is engaged in a sort of arms race to stockpile as much cash to burn, because burning cash magically makes things better. Only problem is, it doesnt.

So the ECB will force its players through torture of endless pressure and matches to be able to afford a world leading fitness guru, who will subsequently tell them the players need to rest. They will be able to afford world leading mental health experts who tell them their players are burnt out. World leading coaching schools elite players never get to use, because they never have any free time. Rafts of coaches who get 5 minutes with a player before a game. Fast bowling camps in South Africa to prepare players who are then sent 6 months later into test matches having landed off a plane 2 hours before. And so on, and so on. Hell, the ECB even need to make money to pay people how to tell them to make money.... and those people tell counties to bankrupt themselves so they can make more money hosting these matches too.... whoopie.

What has all this nonsense bells and whistles got us? Nothing. All the money seems to have done no good. We put TV behind the pay wall, made domestic cricket unwatchable trash, and saturated the calendar to be so full of cricket, even the mere sight of it makes you sick.

I have a feeling you could burn half the ECB facilties, sack all the data analysts, health gurus, mind gurus and what not, and you;d be in a much better place.... because for once, the trust would be put back into the county system to get it right, and not the guy who owns Costcutter deciding on whatas best for cricket.

[GarlicJam]

Yes, just need ten sessions and some cloud.

Smith says he's surprised Broad hasn't been playing, which means he wants to bat against him in Sydney. An old Steve Waugh trick, though back in those days it was to get someone called up for a debut from the CC.

I don't think Steve Smith would be a patch on S Waugh in regards to mind games.

[GarlicJam]

well, one of the 3 players called up as cover for Head, NIc Maddinson, played for the Renegades today, so I'm guessing he ain't the replacement.... perhaps they weren't sure if he was Mitchell Marsh or not and eventually realised he wasn't

During the game last night, they made mention of Madison's chances, and suggested that him playing last night meant nothing in that regard.

Who knows? I think becoming selector involves being able to keep your plans secret from even yourself and fellow selectors.

[Durhamfootman]

except that Marsh wasn't allowed to play for Perth the day before

[GarlicJam]

except that Marsh wasn't allowed to play for Perth the day before

I think the two decisions/differences was location based.

[sussexpob]

Marsh should be very excited if his call up is confirmed. He was a key part of Australia's WC win to cement his place in the white ball set up and playing against a low quality and shell shocked opposition is probably the best chance he'll ever have of cementing his place in the test side as well

Didn't he smashes us about in the last ashes in Oz? Scored 2 100s at the end by memory, and did his long term chances no good.

Think since then he's been a bit of a problem child too. Missed matches because he punched through a wall, and I think he got banned for letting loose on the field too in SA

Over 30 now, got to think they have other options

[alfie]

Reckon Marsh was only called up as a reserve in case Green were to catch Covid at the last minute , as they need a fifth bowler : well they think they do , although given recent England batting efforts...

Official anyway just Khawaja in for Head , rest the same. And England it is just Broad for Robinson. I am reasonably happy with the bowling choices (though I fear given the likely conditions the continued inclusion of Leach is akin to installing an ashtray on a motorcycle) ; but slightly bemused that the batting is left untouched despite what might charitably be described as "underperformance". One might say it is actually even further weakened with a last four now reading Wood Broad Leach Anderson ...shades of Caddick Mullaly Tufnell Giddins ! Though Broad does have a century on his CV
But seriously , that Diplodocus tail is one reason I'd have had Bess rather than Leach as at least he has some batting credentials . Or even an extra batsman ; with the intention of getting Root and Malan - and conceivably Lawrence - to bowl some spin. (Stokes seems up for a decent share of the pace bowling at present) Not that they ever take my advice

Bit of rain about but I'd still expect a result. And I think I know which way the bookies are leaning...

[bigfluffylemon]

Geez, at this stage which bowlers can bat is the least of our worries. Gotta take 20 wickets and the top 7 have to give the bowlers something to work with.

Mitch Marsh needs to remain a limited overs player.

[bigfluffylemon]

What has all this nonsense bells and whistles got us? Nothing. All the money seems to have done no good. We put TV behind the pay wall, made domestic cricket unwatchable trash, and saturated the calendar to be so full of cricket, even the mere sight of it makes you sick.

I wholeheartedly agree. It seems the ECB is so obsessed with making money they gave forgotten that the money should be in service of the English game, not the other way around.

[sussexpob]

England once again jiggle the bowlers around, but their abortion of a batting unit remains intact.

[Durhamfootman]

not sure what the alternatives are in the batting. Doomed no matter who they pick

[Arthur Crabtree]

Aussies win the toss and bat. Remember the old days when the Aussies used to go into a Sydney Test with two pace bowlers and two spinners...

Used to give the series extra variety.

Rain.

[alfie]

Very stop-start so far. Losing count of interruptions... Warner played very well but fell to Broad for 30 just before the rain returned again at 56/1.

Couple of near things but generally the Aussie openers negotiated the early stages quite convincingly. Bowlers probably didn't make them play enough early on and there hasn't been a lot of swing. Looks a decent batting strip so Cummins will be comfortable about choosing to bat , I think.

Coming back out again now...or they were. But more rain

[bigfluffylemon]

Australia win three tosses in a row, but it doesn't really matter as England stuffed up the only toss they won. And I doubt it would affect the result in any event.