Rather underwhelming England performance in Ireland's second innings. The bowling isn't very threatening, and sloppy fielding with a number of overthrows.
England squad: Ben Stokes (Durham captain), James Anderson (Lancashire), Jonny Bairstow (Yorkshire), Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire), Harry Brook (Yorkshire), Zak Crawley (Kent), Ben Duckett (Nottinghamshire), Dan Lawrence (Essex), Jack Leach (Somerset), Ollie Pope (Surrey), Matthew Potts (Durham), Ollie Robinson (Sussex), Joe Root (Yorkshire), Josh Tongue (Worcestershire), Chris Woakes (Warwickshire), Mark Wood (Durham).
Not buying the Stokes fitness propaganda they were putting out before this match. He's clearly struggling. It's gonna affect his batting as well as his bowling. I know there is an aura about the man and what he is capable of but I'm really starting to question whether he should be in the side if he is struggling this much.
Sam Curran to come in and balance the side? He's never actually played for England as the 4th seamer which is his ideal role. If Stokes is good to bat he could open?
I just don't think we can go up against the Aussies with three quicks plus Leach.
Not buying the Stokes fitness propaganda they were putting out before this match. He's clearly struggling. It's gonna affect his batting as well as his bowling. I know there is an aura about the man and what he is capable of but I'm really starting to question whether he should be in the side if he is struggling this much.
Sam Curran to come in and balance the side? He's never actually played for England as the 4th seamer which is his ideal role. If Stokes is good to bat he could open?
I just don't think we can go up against the Aussies with three quicks plus Leach.
I think Leach might have bowled himself out the team. If Stokes can't bowl he almost does have to open.
Not buying the Stokes fitness propaganda they were putting out before this match. He's clearly struggling. It's gonna affect his batting as well as his bowling. I know there is an aura about the man and what he is capable of but I'm really starting to question whether he should be in the side if he is struggling this much.
Sam Curran to come in and balance the side? He's never actually played for England as the 4th seamer which is his ideal role. If Stokes is good to bat he could open?
I just don't think we can go up against the Aussies with three quicks plus Leach.
Leach is not a test match class spinner, he offers no control or wicket taking threat against good players, the Aussies will target him immediately we should play Wood instead of him and use Root as our spinner…. as we don’t actually have a test standard spinner to call on
We are probably have to do so but can we go into an Ashes Series relying on three seamers and four frontline bowlers because it is obvious that Stokes, with his knee issue, is unable to bowl to any degree - just 2 overs of the 162 delivered by England in this match and 17 in total from the last 8 innings. If the Aussies successfully target Leach then the work load on the three seamers is going to be rather heavy.
I posted this on 27th February and not much has changed since then. Stokes went to the IPL and he bowled one over and he assured us this week that he has found a way of managing the situation. Even after this game, despite the grimaces of pain, he has insisted that he is on course to bowl in the Ashes. Would love to believe him.
When we add the close proximity of the five Tests, with that workload, I can't see Anderson, Broad or Robinson playing more than four of them and quite possibly only three. The irony is that the Aussies have more readily available replacements for their quicks than we have and we are at home. And they have a genuine and fit all rounder option too.
As much as Bazball will win us games I predict a drawn series. Even with home advantage there will be nothing between the sides in my opinion.
3-1 to the Aussies is the best result I can see England getting
What makes you think that? It would be the first time we've lost an home Ashes series in almost a generation and some people would say our squad is better than many over the last few series.
3-1 to the Aussies is the best result I can see England getting
What makes you think that? It would be the first time we've lost an home Ashes series in almost a generation and some people would say our squad is better than many over the last few series.
The fitness of our bowlers in such a condensed series.
The fitness of our captain whose grit will get him through one or two tests but fear will be a passenger for the majority
The Bazball batting style against a better attack than what we have previously faced
Our lack of a decent spinner who can tie up one end
Our lack of red ball preparation
the fact we have to win the series to get the ashes back rather than trying to hold on to the ashes meaning we will have to take more chances to force a result and giving Aussies more of a chance to sneak a game that would usually be a draw
I'm very worried to be honest, yes we've looked better in the last year or so, but there are still several issues, and I can see Smith and Labuschagne being in the middle for a long time.
However, British conditions, swing etc still favour Anderson and Broad over the Aussie attack.
Comments
England squad: Ben Stokes (Durham captain), James Anderson (Lancashire), Jonny Bairstow (Yorkshire), Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire), Harry Brook (Yorkshire), Zak Crawley (Kent), Ben Duckett (Nottinghamshire), Dan Lawrence (Essex), Jack Leach (Somerset), Ollie Pope (Surrey), Matthew Potts (Durham), Ollie Robinson (Sussex), Joe Root (Yorkshire), Josh Tongue (Worcestershire), Chris Woakes (Warwickshire), Mark Wood (Durham).
we should play Wood instead of him and use Root as our spinner…. as we don’t actually have a test standard spinner to call on
I posted this on 27th February and not much has changed since then. Stokes went to the IPL and he bowled one over and he assured us this week that he has found a way of managing the situation. Even after this game, despite the grimaces of pain, he has insisted that he is on course to bowl in the Ashes. Would love to believe him.
When we add the close proximity of the five Tests, with that workload, I can't see Anderson, Broad or Robinson playing more than four of them and quite possibly only three. The irony is that the Aussies have more readily available replacements for their quicks than we have and we are at home. And they have a genuine and fit all rounder option too.
As much as Bazball will win us games I predict a drawn series. Even with home advantage there will be nothing between the sides in my opinion.
The Bazball batting style against a better attack than what we have previously faced
Our lack of a decent spinner who can tie up one end
Our lack of red ball preparation
the fact we have to win the series to get the ashes back rather than trying to hold on to the ashes meaning we will have to take more chances to force a result and giving Aussies more of a chance to sneak a game that would usually be a draw
However, British conditions, swing etc still favour Anderson and Broad over the Aussie attack.
I'll say 2-2 (again).
4 seamers, Root to hold an end?
Really though I am gutted for the lad.