Ashes 2025-26 Fantasy League.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Bad news for those with S.Smith as starred pick.

[Durhamfootman]

Green continues to underwhelm. Why did he go for so much IPL money?

[andy]

Another player who seems too good for the shield but flatters to device at the next step up

[alfie]

Another player who seems too good for the shield but flatters to device at the next step up

Fortunately for him , Australia can afford to carry at least one passenger at the moment

Bit hard on Webster though.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Can't see England saving this, no matter how hard I squint.

Should they go 3-0 down, I hope they give the rest of the squad a run out in the last two. Little reason to keep faith with about 8 of this 11.

[alfie]

Can't see England saving this, no matter how hard I squint.

Should they go 3-0 down, I hope they give the rest of the squad a run out in the last two. Little reason to keep faith with about 8 of this 11.

Maybe. Though can think of an example or two of squad players who got that "opportunity" in past Ashes defeats ... and whose careers vanished overnight as a result.

I have serious fear Bethell might be totally destroyed if he were tossed in at three against this Aussie attack. Bashir is surely going back to the CC after this so shouldn't matter. And Potts might be fine. But I think I would still prefer them to keep trying to avoid another 5-0. Certainly a few who look mentally shot but not sure there are any likely replacements handy ! Conversation after this one is finished...

[Durhamfootman]

Bashir won't be going back to the CC, because he no longer has a county

He may have to try the Northern Premier league. If he likes, I can try and put a word in for him at Chester-le-Street cricket club, but he might be better off trying to get a gig at Burnopfield CC .... might be a bit cold for him, though. Still... there's always the red kites to compensate if he's a bit of a twitcher

[Arthur Crabtree]

Bad news for those with S.Smith as starred pick.

But Root and Starc haven't done much. Stokes will pick up a few points.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Starc getting a few at the end.

Probably do this on Tuesday.

[Durhamfootman]

if snivelling Steve doesn't make it back for the 4th test, then I'm down to 4 players and a certain wooden spoon

oh the ignominy

[Arthur Crabtree]

As promised...

Starc*...318

Carey...288
Stokes*...248
Archer...228
Head...216

Cummins...163
Starc...159
Lyon...141
Khawaja...132
J.Smith...132
Brook...125
Stokes...124
Boland...117
Root*...116

Labuschagne...82
Root...58
Green...33
Duckett...33
Weatherald...29

DNP: S.Smith/S.Smith*/Atkinson

[Durhamfootman]

I'm surprised I haven't had to take any of the blame for the ashes debacle, tbh. After all, had I not picked Head as 2nd replacement and put him in my top 5 instead, he would not have won 2 tests for Australia. On the one occasion he made it into my team, he did nowt. England could have been 2-1 up in the series had I prepared my team properly for the ashes series. Still.... at least I didn't go on a 6 day bender between tests, so the papers might not notice my culpability

[Arthur Crabtree]

But I'll do the rest tomorrow when missus is back at work.

As bfl has Starc* and Head and mike has Starc* and Archer, they should hold on to top two spots.

Let me know any corrections before I post after the next test. But not afterwards.

[Arthur Crabtree]

I'm surprised I haven't had to take any of the blame for the ashes debacle

Though you did manage to curse Lyon-o.

And none of your Aussies has played every game.

[Durhamfootman]

on the flip side, Head will certainly make my team for the BDT, so will immediately become invisible for the length of time that England spin the test out for.