The Ashes: Australia in England 16th Jun - 31 July

[Durhamfootman]

and Pope would still remain vice captain. If Stokes had to go off, Root would take over and if Stokes was ruled out of a test, then Pope would come back in as captain and there is no further argument over how to fit YJB and Foakes into the same side

[Arthur Crabtree]

I thought Pope had done ok over the past year or so.

[Arthur Crabtree]

https://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engin ... pe=batting

Averages since the beginning of last year.

[Durhamfootman]

I thought Pope had done ok over the past year or so.

so has Crawley by those stats, but everyone wants him out

it's just puzzled me. I haven't heard a single voice questioning his place and yet he has 40 runs more than Crawley whose place is questioned constantly

[bigfluffylemon]

I thought Pope had done ok over the past year or so.

so has Crawley by those stats, but everyone wants him out

it's just puzzled me. I haven't heard a single voice questioning his place and yet he has 40 runs more than Crawley whose place is questioned constantly

40 more runs in 10 fewer innings - higher average, more hundreds, more fifties.

I read an opinion that Duckett is one of those who is likely to prosper more overseas than in England - when the new ball was doing naff all in Pakistan he scored a bucket-load, the moment it starts to seam his technique isn't up to it.

Bairstow opens in the white ball game, but I still think he's much better lower down the order in red-ball. I don't think you'll get his best shoehorning him in to open.

[bigfluffylemon]

So yeah.... I am not really going to town on the concept of Bazball, I just think at stages England need to be a little more street-wize and less ideologically committed to their ultra-aggressive tactical blueprint. In general, their attacking intent has worked and they have proven to have the ability to make it pay.... but maybe it could work even better with a few tweaks.

Yep, agree entirely.

[alfie]

So yeah.... I am not really going to town on the concept of Bazball, I just think at stages England need to be a little more street-wize and less ideologically committed to their ultra-aggressive tactical blueprint. In general, their attacking intent has worked and they have proven to have the ability to make it pay.... but maybe it could work even better with a few tweaks.

Yep, agree entirely.

Me too. Keep a bit of flexibility , eh ?

Always going to go overboard sometimes playing in this manner. But there were a couple of moments when they rather let Australia off the hook by overdoing it . Root running down the wicket to Lyon at a time when he and Brook were right on top and scoring at will comes to mind as a bit of unnecessary risk. Thought they actually mixed their game to advantage better in the first innings so hopefully the balance will be better at Lord's.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Always end up in a paradox. Get on top by playing big shots, which means you don't have to play big shots.

[Slipstream]

https://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/stats/index.html?class=1;spanmin1=01+jan+2022;spanval1=span;team=1;template=results;type=batting

Averages since the beginning of last year.

Since Stokes became captain
https://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engin ... pe=batting

[alfie]

I don't mind a bit of lip - though I think a smart cricketer knows when and who to give it to ; but I reckon Ollie Robinson needs to pull his head in .
He's gone again with some war talk apparently to try and get under the Aussies' skin : I think it's all more likely to just harden their resolve to put him in his box.

Sledging Khawaja seems pointless to me. He is perhaps the batsman least likely to be provoked into rashness : have a go at Warner , maybe ... or possibly Green or Head. But wasted on Usman. And anyway , it falls flat when you aren't having an impact with your own bowling.

Combativeness is fine. But words are a bit empty without wickets ... Think Robinson should concentrate more on the latter for now.

[Durhamfootman]

I've never liked it. Seems futile to me

I don't mind a bit of the humerous stuff.... it is meant to be fun, after all

[sussexpob]

I don't mind a bit of lip - though I think a smart cricketer knows when and who to give it to ; but I reckon Ollie Robinson needs to pull his head in

Indeed, I agree. All he has really achieved is making himself look like a total plank.... but then his Twitter output did that already for us. Maybe someone in the England team needs to have a word, and inform him to maybe shut his trap for the rest of the series.

[Gingerfinch]

I don't mind a bit of lip - though I think a smart cricketer knows when and who to give it to ; but I reckon Ollie Robinson needs to pull his head in

Indeed, I agree. All he has really achieved is making himself look like a total plank.... but then his Twitter output did that already for us. Maybe someone in the England team needs to have a word, and inform him to maybe shut his trap for the rest of the series.

I reckon Stokes would prefer Robinson to be 'himself' but I agree with you and Alfie. Let the ball do the talking!

[Arthur Crabtree]

I'm turned off by sledging. But the Aussies are the last team I'll take a lesson on it from.

[Gingerfinch]

Atherton and Donald was gripping but then you have scenes like McGrath and Sarwan, when it turns nasty.