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England Cricket 2025
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There are many, including me, that take issue with that. They weren't that good.killerandflash said:Agnew saying what most of us feel. Head's innings was way different from how England batted. He does also say some more positive things, but this comment was damning. Especially as Brook is now the vice captain.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/articles/cq604ngrengo
The shots Brook was playing were from the third XI of a village team. He needs to grow up. Compare Brook with the wonderful innings of Travis Head. There is a huge difference between recklessness and controlled aggression.4 -
There's an argument that taking a four-hour flight to play in a two innings first class match might not be the best preparation, especially if those two innings prove to be short.cantersaddick said:
All the batters from the first test could potentially see a greater benefit by going straight to Brisbane and facing many, many more balls in Brisbane nets, against better bowlers than the Prime Minister's XI, by facing England's seven pace bowlers, all of whom using pink balls.
Can England's batters genuinely be expected to iron out technical flaws in one pink ball match, away from coaches? Isn't there an argument that playing in Brisbane's climate (it's due to be 37C (and night-time 24C) on Friday) is a better preparation for a match in Brisbane, than playing in Canberra (due to be as low as 8C on Thursday night)?
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There's time to do both though. There's still a week and a half to the second Test, you're not going to spend 10 days in the nets.Chizz said:
There's an argument that taking a four-hour flight to play in a two innings first class match might not be the best preparation, especially if those two innings prove to be short.cantersaddick said:
All the batters from the first test could potentially see a greater benefit by going straight to Brisbane and facing many, many more balls in Brisbane nets, against better bowlers than the Prime Minister's XI, by facing England's seven pace bowlers, all of whom using pink balls.
Can England's batters genuinely be expected to iron out technical flaws in one pink ball match, away from coaches? Isn't there an argument that playing in Brisbane's climate (it's due to be 37C (and night-time 24C) on Friday) is a better preparation for a match in Brisbane, than playing in Canberra (due to be as low as 8C on Thursday night)?3 -
You simply cannot replicate time in the middle but, in any case, they have plenty of time to do both. The PM's XI game isn't until the 29th & 30th. Fly to Brisbane, work for three or four days there and then on to to have time in the middle in Canberra to be back in time for a couple more days in Brisbane prior to the Test. That's a maximum of eight hours travel over the course of 12 days. Australians do a lot more than that playing Sheffield Shield.Chizz said:
There's an argument that taking a four-hour flight to play in a two innings first class match might not be the best preparation, especially if those two innings prove to be short.cantersaddick said:
All the batters from the first test could potentially see a greater benefit by going straight to Brisbane and facing many, many more balls in Brisbane nets, against better bowlers than the Prime Minister's XI, by facing England's seven pace bowlers, all of whom using pink balls.
Can England's batters genuinely be expected to iron out technical flaws in one pink ball match, away from coaches? Isn't there an argument that playing in Brisbane's climate (it's due to be 37C (and night-time 24C) on Friday) is a better preparation for a match in Brisbane, than playing in Canberra (due to be as low as 8C on Thursday night)?
It won't be seven seamers in any case in the nets. The fittest of them, Potts and Tongue, are flying to the PM's XI game leaving Stokes, Archer, Wood, Atkinson and Carse. They will not be flogging themselves in the nets to help the England batters. Invariably, net bowlers are used from the vicinity to do a fair amount of the work. When they get to the Adelaide Test it will be members of the Darren Lehmann Cricket Academy doing the hard yards.2 -
Very good point! They could do both.killerandflash said:
There's time to do both though. There's still a week and a half to the second Test, you're not going to spend 10 days in the nets.Chizz said:
There's an argument that taking a four-hour flight to play in a two innings first class match might not be the best preparation, especially if those two innings prove to be short.cantersaddick said:
All the batters from the first test could potentially see a greater benefit by going straight to Brisbane and facing many, many more balls in Brisbane nets, against better bowlers than the Prime Minister's XI, by facing England's seven pace bowlers, all of whom using pink balls.
Can England's batters genuinely be expected to iron out technical flaws in one pink ball match, away from coaches? Isn't there an argument that playing in Brisbane's climate (it's due to be 37C (and night-time 24C) on Friday) is a better preparation for a match in Brisbane, than playing in Canberra (due to be as low as 8C on Thursday night)?
I was just putting an argument that supports the notion that keeping the team together, avoiding unnecessary travel, avoiding the risk of a long trip (comparatively) for two short innings, avoiding the associated injury risks of additional matches and travel present and allowing all the players properly to acclimatise in the city where the next Test will be played might have some advantages.
There's a constant opposition to whatever the England team management do - whether it's team bonding on the golf course, or practising together in nets - sometimes it's worth attempting to redress the balance.
We don't have a great history over the last decade and a half of winning Tests in Australia after playing "warm up" games. Maybe there's madness in repeating previous mistakes in the hope they'll result in a different outcome..?0 -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=llwZMbK8VR0
An interesting post match interview between Broad and Mark Wood on Broad and Buttler's podcast0 -
Just looked him up - this clown still managed more centuries (6) than CrawleyAddick Addict said:Chris_from_Sidcup said:
Who is 127th?Addick Addict said:
I actually feel very sorry for him right now. I've criticised his technique for years but it's not his fault that he has been so favoured. For whatever reason (and this might be just because he fits the profile of what this regime are looking for), by no measure can he be considered an England batsman deserving of 109 innings.Bedsaddick said:
We need to ditch Crawley . He’s a liabilityblackpool72 said:We need a completely different mindset when batting.
In the recent 50 over competition we kept getting bowled out in around 30-35 overs.
This has continued in the Test match.
Swinging wildly at balls you should be leaving is something I expect to see in a Sunday league game.
It's not something I expect to see in an Ashes Test match.
No excuse for some of these shots from experienced batsmen.
In terms of averages, of the 127 batsmen in the history of Test cricket that have batted more than 100 times between positions 1-5, he is 126th. McCullum counters that by saying that we should not be looking at averages but match winning innings but I have to take issue with the England coach there too.
Crawley has the lowest number of hundreds (5) to have batted 100 times between 1-5 and has only one MOM in his 60 matches to his name - and that was over five years ago and was down to his 267 on the Southampton "road" against Pakistan in what turned out to be a draw. If we then consider last summer's 124 against the worst Test playing nation in the world, Zimbabwe, there really isn't much meat on the bone. His overseas average of 25.54 from 59 innings says it all.
Crawley will be under unbelievable pressure now. He really should not be in this position but he almost, inadvertently, became the poster boy for Bazball with that drive off the first ball of the last Ashes Series. He has shown, on a few occasions, that he is capable of playing sensibly when he has stopped himself from going so hard at the ball from the very first over. Modern day analysts set plans for batters but you don't have to be one to know that feeding that addiction is one way of getting him out. My other real concern, though, is that he doesn't have the basic technique when the ball is moving and facing Starc with a pink ball will be an all mighty test for him even if he does opt to treat each ball on its merit.
McCullum has intimated that Crawley will play in the next Test. So, for his sake, I really do hope that he makes a proper and meaningful contribution there. If, however, he does bag another couple of low scores then I do fear for his mental well being. He doesn't look at social media but no sports person worth their salt doesn't recognise failure and it will probably not matter, in his head, a jot if and when McCullum backs him privately or publicly. McCullum and Stokes have to do the right thing, in those circumstances and take him out of the firing line. It would be cruel to do anything else.
Mohammad Ashraful of Bangladesh but, then, given his admission to match fixing, that might not be just down to his inability to bat.1 -
S Africa are on the verge of winning 2-0 in India. With NZ winning 3-0 a year ago, it really show how pathetic England have been in recent series there.1
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Another interesting thing to come out of that series is how much Jaiswal has struggled against left arm pace, it's basically his only weakness at this stagekillerandflash said:S Africa are on the verge of winning 2-0 in India. With NZ winning 3-0 a year ago, it really show how pathetic England have been in recent series there.2 -
Stokes really escapes criticism for his batting, been god awful for about 4 years at this point.cantersaddick said:0 -
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Got allowed access to buy Day 3 tickets for the New Zealand test at the Oval next June, but seeing the prices I don't think I'll bother. £135 most expensive and £90 the cheapest.0
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And clashes with the World Cup.OhMyGodden said:Got allowed access to buy Day 3 tickets for the New Zealand test at the Oval next June, but seeing the prices I don't think I'll bother. £135 most expensive and £90 the cheapest.0 -
Personally don't think £90 is that bad for a day of test cricket. Far better value than a football ticket for the amount of time you get watching.OhMyGodden said:Got allowed access to buy Day 3 tickets for the New Zealand test at the Oval next June, but seeing the prices I don't think I'll bother. £135 most expensive and £90 the cheapest.
Although my tickets for boxing day at the MCG were £17 and SCG £55 so significantly cheaper in Oz!1 -
Might need to check with Golfie, for the exact calculation of pounds-per-over.Pelling1993 said:
Personally don't think £90 is that bad for a day of test cricket. Far better value than a football ticket for the amount of time you get watching.OhMyGodden said:Got allowed access to buy Day 3 tickets for the New Zealand test at the Oval next June, but seeing the prices I don't think I'll bother. £135 most expensive and £90 the cheapest.
Although my tickets for boxing day at the MCG were £17 and SCG £55 so significantly cheaper in Oz!4 -
India have suffered their heaviest ever defeat, in terms of runs, by 408 of them. Harmer took 6-37 in the second innings and no one has now taken more wickets at a better average than him in a series in India than his 17 wickets at 8.94.
Two other stats from the above game - Sai Sudharsan, someone who averages 43.67 at 138.05 in T20s, scored 14 runs off 139 balls and Aiden Markram took a remarkable and world record breaking, for a fielder, 9 catches in the match. That is one that might never be beaten.
The catch that Jansen took to seal the victory would have been worth the admission fee alone.2 -
It's interesting to read Atherton's article in The Times where he mentions the stat that England have now been bowled out inside 40 overs an incredible seven times since the start of 2024. That's as many as the total number as in the 1980s and 1990s combined and something that the England team avoided in the 55 years between 1921 and 1976.
Two assumptions really haven't helped England in Australia - that the Australian tracks will be "hard and bouncy" that suit the likes of Crawley, Duckett, Brook and Smith when they have become more spicy in the last few years; and that utilisation of the Kookaburra in the CC will help us when, ironically, the specific ball now used in Australia is closer to the Dukes ball and which, in order to stop it going soft so quickly, is now made with a double layer of lacquer and a plastic layer under the seam of the ball which encourages the seam to stay prouder for longer.
That said, there are two things will absolutely define whether our entrenched attitude has succeeded or failed. The ones that say "this is how we prepare and this is how we bat". I fear even if, as we haven't, opted to play another warm-up game, if we don't change to earning the right to have time in the middle, then we will become a victim of our stubbornness.6 -
The way England are playing at the moment I would think twice about paying for a day 3 ticket.Chizz said:
Might need to check with Golfie, for the exact calculation of pounds-per-over.Pelling1993 said:
Personally don't think £90 is that bad for a day of test cricket. Far better value than a football ticket for the amount of time you get watching.OhMyGodden said:Got allowed access to buy Day 3 tickets for the New Zealand test at the Oval next June, but seeing the prices I don't think I'll bother. £135 most expensive and £90 the cheapest.
Although my tickets for boxing day at the MCG were £17 and SCG £55 so significantly cheaper in Oz!1 -
Australia name an unchanged 14-man squad so have resisted the urge to bring Cummins back yet. Being 1-0 up and a pink ball Test, of which they've won 13/14, were probably major considerations in coming to that conclusion.
Only two questions remain about their side - whether they leave Khawaja or Weatherald out in retaining Head up top to then allow Webster to come in or, if they don't do that, they omit Lyon to bring that extra seamer in - possibly again Webster which would also strengthen their batting.
One suspects that we will probably retain the same side because this regime tend to stick to their plans whether they are successful or not. The fact that we have taken just two openers does not promote change but that is, perhaps, overdone. The opposite of that is our Ashes squad of 2021-22 when we took five batters that have now opened in Tests plus another two who were white ball openers with the incumbents probably having to look over their shoulders the whole time for fear of being dropped.1 -
Not taking a third opening batsman was stupid.
Should Crawley continue to fail i have no idea where we go.
Possibly open with Pope and play Bethell at 3.
That would be very unfair on Pope.
Like I say madness not taking a third opener.3 -
That's not going to be much of an issue because of the time difference. Kick off times (in the UK) are expected to be 5pm, 8pm, 11pm and 2am which is similar to the Club World Cup.Covered End said:
And clashes with the World Cup.OhMyGodden said:Got allowed access to buy Day 3 tickets for the New Zealand test at the Oval next June, but seeing the prices I don't think I'll bother. £135 most expensive and £90 the cheapest.
So unless we have a 5pm game you'll be fine.0 -
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It would be Bethell to open I thinkblackpool72 said:Not taking a third opening batsman was stupid.
Should Crawley continue to fail i have no idea where we go.
Possibly open with Pope and play Bethell at 3.
That would be very unfair on Pope.
Like I say madness not taking a third opener.0 -
I think it'll be Webster for Khawaja, Head opening.
Khawaja wasn't just out of form, his back played up, that's not going away and Head has proven he can open.0 -
That's what they should do. The question is whether the selectors are prepared to make that big call which would, effectively, signal the end of his international and quite possibly his playing career as he seems to have a less than great relationship with his State, Queensland especially as he is 39 in three weeks time. He might retire come what may at the end of this Ashes but, if he isn't dropped, then he would be going on his terms.North Lower Neil said:I think it'll be Webster for Khawaja, Head opening.
Khawaja wasn't just out of form, his back played up, that's not going away and Head has proven he can open.
The irony is that we are debating the demise of one opener who has averaged almost 44 in his career but who is out of form whereas another who manages barely 30 is a certainty for his place and who similarly can't buy a run.0 -
I'd rather they kept uzzie but don't think the change is the worst thing for England. It will over a series nullify heads counter attacking a bit. And whilst Wevster and Green are capable of good innings with the bat I think neither of them are consistent. Does strengthen their bowling tho.0
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Head opening in a pink ball game is one of those things that will either go fantastically well or cause chaos. If England can get him and one or two more early then the Aussie get out of jail free card is gone3
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Inglis and Webster for Khawaja and Lyon imo. If Head gets out early, Inglis walks in0
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I agree with what you say because, the way he bats, that is what one would expect. However, his average as an opener of 55.50 isn't skewed by one massive innings, is based on innings against some of the best sides in the world and mostly on the opposition's turf - India (away - 5 innings), Sri Lanka (away - 3 innings) and England (home - 1 innings).fenaddick said:Head opening in a pink ball game is one of those things that will either go fantastically well or cause chaos. If England can get him and one or two more early then the Aussie get out of jail free card is gone
List of innings in chronological order (score following dismissal):
43 (65-2)
9 (12-1)
49* (78-1*)
32 (61-1)
90 (153-2)
57 (92-1)
21 (32-1)
20 (38-1)
123 (192-2)
Australia might prefer Head to come in at 5 and once the pink ball has gone softer but we would do anything to have someone of his ilk available to step into the role of opening with that record.1 -
Brooke and Archer amongst those close to signing £400k plus deals for their hundred sides.0
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So, so predictable. Wood was out for 9 months, bowls 8 overs in the one and only warm-up game and England think he'd be spot on to start the Ashes. The signs were there in the First Test when he bowled just 3 overs in the second innings.
England fast bowler Mark Wood is set to miss the crucial second Ashes Test in Brisbane because of concerns over his left knee.
Wood only returned from a nine-month absence following surgery on the same left knee in England's first-Test defeat in Perth last week.
The 35-year-old bowled 11 overs in the match as England were beaten by Australia inside two days - the first two-day Ashes Test in 104 years.
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Mark Wood is out of the second test. Lions couldn’t bowl out the PM’s XI who declared 308/8. Potts got 2 wickets to Tongues 0 and at a better economy rate. Would make sense if those two are battling it out for Wood’s spot1
