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England Cricket 2025
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I liked what Nasser had to say in his post day 5 comments on Sky Sports YouTube.
He liked that they ripped everything up a few years ago and said they were trying something new and it was going to be different next time we toured Australia. He's disappointed that, despite all that intent, it ended up basically the exact same lame performance as the last two tours.1 -
Only if the Aussies take their foot off the throat which I'm not sure they will. Hazlewood has missed all three, Cummins was injured for the first two, Lyon was left out of the second Test and Khawaja was injured too for that one and Smith was ill for the third, The only person we've had missing is Wood who hasn't taken a Test wicket for 16 months.Lincsaddick said:We've got chance in Melbourne, Lyon and probably Cummins won't be playing
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We definitely have a chance of winning a game, as after 3 Tests, some of our players are finally looking like they understand the local conditions, and how to play Test cricket in Australia. The last 2 days in Adelaide, we were genuinely competitive.Addick Addict said:
Only if the Aussies take their foot off the throat which I'm not sure they will. Hazlewood has missed all three, Cummins was injured for the first two, Lyon was left out of the second Test and Khawaja was injured too for that one and Smith was ill for the third, The only person we've had missing is Wood who hasn't taken a Test wicket for 16 months.Lincsaddick said:We've got chance in Melbourne, Lyon and probably Cummins won't be playing
Hazlewood wasn't a big miss for the Aussies, as Boland is so good. Not having Cummins and Lyon at Melbourne will be a big loss for them, as someone like Neser, who's a bit of a pink ball specialist, is unlikely to be anywhere near as effective.
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All of that is very true on paper except for the fact that at crucial times in the game our batting is likely to implode and it also assumes that our bowling attack will out perform theirs. Australia might opt to bring in Jhye Richardson who took 5-42 in the second innings of the Adelaide Ashes Test in 2021.killerandflash said:
We definitely have a chance of winning a game, as after 3 Tests, some of our players are finally looking like they understand the local conditions, and how to play Test cricket in Australia. The last 2 days in Adelaide, we were genuinely competitive.Addick Addict said:
Only if the Aussies take their foot off the throat which I'm not sure they will. Hazlewood has missed all three, Cummins was injured for the first two, Lyon was left out of the second Test and Khawaja was injured too for that one and Smith was ill for the third, The only person we've had missing is Wood who hasn't taken a Test wicket for 16 months.Lincsaddick said:We've got chance in Melbourne, Lyon and probably Cummins won't be playing
Hazlewood wasn't a big miss for the Aussies, as Boland is so good. Not having Cummins and Lyon at Melbourne will be a big loss for them, as someone like Neser, who's a bit of a pink ball specialist, is unlikely to be anywhere near as effective.
On the subject of selection, our management have the issue as to whether they opt to play "our number one spinner", Bashir and drop Jacks or promote him up the order in place of Pope. Jacks had a gritty innings lasting 137 balls in the second innings but it is clear that he is not going to offer any respite for our quicks with the ball (4 wickets at 61.50 and an economy rate of 4.87).
Archer hasn't played four cricket matches so close together for six years but he will have to be risked if we are to have a chance of winning and then it will be Stokes and probably Tongue plus one from Carse, Atkinson and Potts.
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Australia have named their 15-man squad for the MCG - doesn’t include Pat Cummins and they’ve confirmed he will play no further part in the series.
Two changes are Cummins and Lyon out, Richardson and Murphy in.
Full squad:
Steve Smith (c)
Scott Boland
Alex Carey
Brendan Doggett
Cameron Green
Travis Head
Josh Inglis
Usman Khawaja
Marnus Labuschagne
Todd Murphy
Michael Neser
Jhye Richardson
Mitchell Starc
Jake Weatherald
Beau Webster0 -
I’m sure this video will be taken down soon enough but absolutely embarrassing from Duckett in Noosa
https://x.com/jameshannan_/status/2003300581046358459?s=46&t=MojDVxh_AjG5taAWPQn6Tw
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Grass behaviour filming him
In the grander scheme of things I don't give a shit about Duckett getting drunk or any of them for that matter. I care about the glaringly obvious failure to prepare to play in the conditions and with the pink ball under floodlights1 -
I don’t care about them letting off some steam either but what’s come out in the last few days is beyond that and there’s never an excuse for arrogance like he shows in that video. Ultimately he’s very lucky to be in the position he is and he shouldn’t use it to put down members of the publicCarter said:Grass behaviour filming him
In the grander scheme of things I don't give a shit about Duckett getting drunk or any of them for that matter. I care about the glaringly obvious failure to prepare to play in the conditions and with the pink ball under floodlights0 -
I do. And I'm sure those that spent big money on going out there feel even more stronglyCarter said:Grass behaviour filming him
In the grander scheme of things I don't give a shit about Duckett getting drunk or any of them for that matter. I care about the glaringly obvious failure to prepare to play in the conditions and with the pink ball under floodlights
The arrogance of this outfit have been there to see for a good while now. The 'has beens' comment for example. It just screams of ' we know best so you can all just zip it.
Fine if you've put in a commanding show in the first two tests. But for the utter drivel they served up, it's really a terrible look going out on the piss with seemingly not a care in the world.
Far too many bang average cricketers in this outfit that seem to think, or have been lead to believe that they are far far better than they actually are.
Rob Key making a kind of past gasp plea for his ,Stokes and McCullums future this morning by saying if the ECB want to rip everything up yet again then that's up to them.
Whilst I appreciate the need for consistency, I think I've seen more than enough to tell me that this latest 'new test cricket' philosophy should be consigned to the bin along with the charachters that dreamed it up and signed it off.5 -
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In isolation its a shit look, I don't think anyone appreciates any of them behaving like that. I did say in the grander scheme of things though. In reality they have to let off steam and decompress most cricketers are shiny faced posh boys and they all have napoleon complexes. We forgive it when they score hundreds and perform, this lot haven't.carly burn said:
I do. And I'm sure those that spent big money on going out there feel even more stronglyCarter said:Grass behaviour filming him
In the grander scheme of things I don't give a shit about Duckett getting drunk or any of them for that matter. I care about the glaringly obvious failure to prepare to play in the conditions and with the pink ball under floodlights
The arrogance of this outfit have been there to see for a good while now. The 'has beens' comment for example. It just screams of ' we know best so you can all just zip it.
Fine if you've put in a commanding show in the first two tests. But for the utter drivel they served up, it's really a terrible look going out on the piss with seemingly not a care in the world.
Far too many bang average cricketers in this outfit that seem to think, or have been lead to believe that they are far far better than they actually are.
Rob Key making a kind of past gasp plea for his ,Stokes and McCullums future this morning by saying if the ECB want to rip everything up yet again then that's up to them.
Whilst I appreciate the need for consistency, I think I've seen more than enough to tell me that this latest 'new test cricket' philosophy should be consigned to the bin along with the charachters that dreamed it up and signed it off.
What I'm saying is Duckett doing that doesnt affect my opinion of him. If I were to guess I'd have landed on him being a dick especially after a drink. Most of the people I played cricket with when I played were similar characters, spoilt, entitled inadequate men and boys.
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Slightly surprised that Duckett seemed to be by himself in the video.0
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Duckett does have previous after the incident with Jimmy in 17-18 when he poured a drink over him.0
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Strauss reminding us that his review recommendations were refused by the counties.Callumcafc said:0 -
Keys comments are interesting - Harry Brook will only be at home for 6 days this winter.0
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Carter said:Grass behaviour filming him
In the grander scheme of things I don't give a shit about Duckett getting drunk or any of them for that matter. I care about the glaringly obvious failure to prepare to play in the conditions and with the pink ball under floodlights
You are absolutely right but there is a line. It is absolutely fit and proper that players get to relax. However, under this regime, it has always been too far the other way. At times, the cricket has actually got in the way.
It's more than that though. Where's the assistant coach, Collingwood? They've mucked about with fast bowling coaches left round and centre - when Otis Gibson and David Saker were in charge there was an ongoing conversation and measure of progress. Look how influential they were with Anderson and Broad. Yes they brought in Saker for this tour but how much work had he done with the likes of Atkinson, Carse, Tongue and Potts previously? Why were we constantly bowling the wrong line and length?
The spin bowling coach is going to struggle to do much when he doesn't have a spinner to work with who actually does that for a living. It's not difficult to imagine Jeetan Patel having the same conversation with Jacks and Dawson or Leach in terms of where and what to bowl to each batter and to know which one of those would actually execute that even if only to keep the run rate below five an over - Jacks went for 212 in 39 overs (ER 5.44) in the last Test whereas Dawson's ER in Test cricket is 2.92 and Leach's is 3.05 so that's a potential differential of 96 and 93 runs respectively. We lost by 82 runs. Yes Jacks got 53 runs in the match but who is to say that Dawson couldn't do that? He actually has a better FC average than Jacks with the bat.
McCullum got rid of all the analysts because he doesn't believe in using data but basis his opinion on "hunches" and "feel". Well that's worked well in picking our only spare batter on this tour and our so called number one spinner. They didn't play enough games before and in between because he says that wouldn't work. Our players, especially the rookies, aren't playing in the CC but are on the golf course instead when Aussies would be playing club cricket because they aren't afraid to do so and humiliate themselves despite their first Grade cricket being much stronger than Premier League cricket here. Why should our boys be doing that in August when they're being paid £450,000 for a month's work and only having to bowl or bat for 20 balls a game? Some do even manage to get a round of golf in on the morning of the Hundred games.
Make no mistake there will be times when the Aussies get absolutely battered off the pitch. But they will do that at the right time. The likes of Smith will be relentlessly working at his game. We had three players turn up for a morning run and only one of those had actually played in the Ashes at that time. It's a culture, so much so that that you have to fit into that way of doing things otherwise you are out.5 -
billysboots said:
Strauss reminding us that his review recommendations were refused by the counties.Callumcafc said:Sorry, this is the bloke who backed the Hundred when working for the ECB and through his own company, TTB Sport Capital later tried to buy into a franchise. The hypocrisy of the man is tantamount to those politicians that are linked to private health companies and promote the nationalisation of the NHS. But if Strauss wants to blame the system he's helped to create then so be it.
How have “those sorts of “changes” he implemented benefited our players in the CC and 50 over game? The changes that decided that spinners had a maximum of half a dozen games a season in optimum conditions?
Seriously, what on earth would reducing the CC in terms of numbers do for someone like Brook when he has a central contract worth say £700k, is paid another £450k to play in the Hundred and told that he can go off and play golf with Root et al rather than in the CC when he doesn't get paid any extra to do so? The number of teams will make zero difference to that.
The fundamental difference is that the Aussies play and train harder. Ask any young player or seasoned pro from the UK when they go over and play club cricket. So many of them can't even get into First Grade. Yet our internationals are encouraged to go on six-day benders between Tests whilst the likes of Smith and Labuschagne are honing their skills. We are fundamentally soft on ours who have absolutely everything put on a plate for them with some of those having proven nothing in the game. Even at the so-called uncompetitive level of the current CC.
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We all know why Collingwood is absent it just can’t legally be said. Not replacing him is awful though0
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What’s the story there?fenaddick said:We all know why Collingwood is absent it just can’t legally be said. Not replacing him is awful though
Can you give a hint without posting anything you shouldn’t?0 -
Brook can take lots of time off in the summer though - he had 8 weeks off in February and March last year and played a total of 27 matches in an 8 month period of which a third would have been in games of 16.4 overs a side duration (which he doesn't have to play but at £450K it's difficult for him to turn ECB's carrot down). And he can go boozing for 6 days solid between Tests if he wants to in the winter. Not many people get to do that and get paid millions to do so.billysboots said:Keys comments are interesting - Harry Brook will only be at home for 6 days this winter.
Edit - Key has highlighted the work load of Brook but I'll throw two names that were selected to play in this Ashes. Bethell, was only 22 in October, is a batter who has pretensions of being a spinner too and played one CC match last summer. Jimmy Anderson, the seamer, who by his own admission, would love to be part of this series, is twice Bethell's age and made his England debut before the youngster was even born, took part in six CC matches. Bashir, our number one spinner, played seven matches all last summer in all forms of the game. How the hell is he meant to learn the game?
But we are a meant to be serious about beating a team of hardened internationals Down Under!!!2 -
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Don’t worry. Just found it on Twitter0
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I’m sure if you google “ex england cricket player investigated” you might get a hintkinveachyaddick said:
What’s the story there?fenaddick said:We all know why Collingwood is absent it just can’t legally be said. Not replacing him is awful though
Can you give a hint without posting anything you shouldn’t?0 -
I think the point that Key was making was that they are away from home for so long , they are entitled to some down time.Addick Addict said:
Brook can take lots of time off in the summer though - he had 8 weeks off in February and March last year and played a total of 27 matches in an 8 month period of which a third would have been in games of 16.4 overs a side duration (which he doesn't have to play but at £450K it's difficult for him to turn ECB's carrot down). And he can go boozing for 6 days solid between Tests if he wants to in the winter. Not many people get to do that and get paid millions to do so.billysboots said:Keys comments are interesting - Harry Brook will only be at home for 6 days this winter.
Edit - Key has highlighted the work load of Brook but I'll throw two names that were selected to play in this Ashes. Bethell, was only 22 in October, is a batter who has pretensions of being a spinner too and played one CC match last summer. Jimmy Anderson, the seamer, who by his own admission, would love to be part of this series, is twice Bethell's age and made his England debut before the youngster was even born, took part in six CC matches. Bashir, our number one spinner, played seven matches all last summer in all forms of the game. How the hell is he meant to learn the game?
But we are a meant to be serious about beating a team of hardened internationals Down Under!!!0 -
Felt Rob Key in his interview came across as making the piss up more than it should be. Investigations.
Maybe deflecting some of the blame away from himself.1 -
Bashir signing for Derbyshire apparently0
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I think he was reading the room. If we were 2-0 up it would be fine the fact that we are 2-0 down means they will be slaughtered on social media.Karim_myBagheri said:Felt Rob Key in his interview came across as making the piss up more than it should be. Investigations.
Maybe deflecting some of the blame away from himself.Personally speaking I don’t have an issue with it , but there will be a lot that do….1 -
Suits him and everyone else to blame it on culture around the squad rather than systemic issues. Clearly they went OTT in Noosa but that isn’t why we haven’t produced enough spinners or why our batters play little red ball cricketKarim_myBagheri said:Felt Rob Key in his interview came across as making the piss up more than it should be. Investigations.
Maybe deflecting some of the blame away from himself.3 -
I am going against the grain here. The squad are away from home for a long time, including being away for Christmas. I’m assuming that wags and kids are likely to be with them but how about parents, siblings, grandparents, cousins, friends. It must be a difficult time of year to be away and as a result, I have no issue with some down time.
the problem is that should more practice games have been arranged pre 1st test and also between tests. If the tour was extended by a couple of weeks to ensure a suitable number of competitive games were played, down time would be less of an issue.
disclaimer: if I’m talking rubbish, it’s because I’ve had a work Christmas lunch washed down with a few pints2 -
billysboots said:
I think the point that Key was making was that they are away from home for so long , they are entitled to some down time.Addick Addict said:
Brook can take lots of time off in the summer though - he had 8 weeks off in February and March last year and played a total of 27 matches in an 8 month period of which a third would have been in games of 16.4 overs a side duration (which he doesn't have to play but at £450K it's difficult for him to turn ECB's carrot down). And he can go boozing for 6 days solid between Tests if he wants to in the winter. Not many people get to do that and get paid millions to do so.billysboots said:Keys comments are interesting - Harry Brook will only be at home for 6 days this winter.
Edit - Key has highlighted the work load of Brook but I'll throw two names that were selected to play in this Ashes. Bethell, was only 22 in October, is a batter who has pretensions of being a spinner too and played one CC match last summer. Jimmy Anderson, the seamer, who by his own admission, would love to be part of this series, is twice Bethell's age and made his England debut before the youngster was even born, took part in six CC matches. Bashir, our number one spinner, played seven matches all last summer in all forms of the game. How the hell is he meant to learn the game?
But we are a meant to be serious about beating a team of hardened internationals Down Under!!!
Undoubtedly and I've said that they need that. Not to excess though and being away from home should not be used an excuse for the lack of purposeful practice or application. When you've played a total of just 13 days of cricket (that includes the warm up game) out of 44 in Australia, the majority of the trip has been "down time". They haven't been training for the other 31 days that's for sure and even when they do so, it won't be from 9-5 either for all of those days.
These are meant to be professional athletes and Smith being the only player in the team to turn up for a morning run says it all. It's an attitude thing that applies to the summer too when it comes to them playing for their counties. There is no onus on them to do so. They pick and choose. Why else would Bethell play one out of 14 CC games? Because the standard isn't good enough? That's utter rubbish when one thinks that he's never scored a red ball ton, averages 28.27 in FC cricket and has 13 wickets at 70.00 with the ball. Try telling the likes of Head, Labuschagne and Smith that it's below them.
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As AA says all the time
Our players don't play enough of this format to be consistently good1
