Ashes 2023

Without doubt we made errors in the first 2 that cost us, but had the weather remained fair, those errors would have made the series the classic it could have been. A 3-2 win after being 0-2 down probably better than a 5-0 whitewash ?? Close call .

 

You're assuming we would have won/will win this current Test of course. Far from certain...

 

Disappointing to not come away with a result (absent a stunning turnaround here) in the series. Losing 2-1 or 3-1 doesn’t tell the full story. But this is a strong Australian side, not invincible like the team at the turn of the century, but pretty strong indeed.

I think next series down under is the strongest chance an England side will have to win a series down under since 2011-12. Let’s bed in our meeting bowlers now, batting line up is well set and BazBall will be not a new strategy but a key part of the team’s legacy. Australia will be without Khawaja, Smith, Warner, likely Lyon, Starc, Hazelwood too. Will have a lot more churn than us. We’re replacing Broad and Anderson only pretty much, probably Bairstow too, at least as a keeper. Will be hard to win the series to regain the Ashes, but I like how things will look for that series.

 

I like to think the last few overs of our last innings would have been less frenetic if we'd known we'd have a full Sunday/Monday of cricket. Those last few wickets were sacrificed as I'm assuming they didn't want to bat too far into Sunday if at all. On Saturday they could have planned to batted out that first session of Sunday if they knew 5 further sessions would be playable.

 

Yeah, maybe that's true, although with Bazball who knows?

 

We've lost this

 

Certainly more likely than a win now. Looks like weather will be ok for rest of the day.

 

Go for it and switch to safety first if they lose a couple of wickets.

 

Certainly should have won the first test and the declaration at the end of day 1 was ridiculous at best. They probably deserved to win second test and we won the third and would have won the fourth. Should be 3-1 up before this test.
Why is half fit Ali bowling? First over after rain swung and seamed

 

Yeah, the most frustrating thing for me is that we are looking at losing a series 3-1 where we've been, in my opinion, by far the better team.

We threw away the first two tests and then the rain cost us a certain win, but we have ourselves to blame first and foremost.

 

I'm on a roll now!
Things that we should have done differently
Don't arrogantly declare on day 1 of first test. It's not Bazzball, it's not doing something differently, it's a stupid decision
Not playing Foakes. Bairstow gets in the team for batting alone but his keeping is not good enough and never has been. It's Stokes and Baz being stubborn
Moeen Ali. Retired from test cricket to chase the 20/20 money. Not looked dangerous with the ball. One half century with the bat. He's now fielding and bowling despite not be able to run. Costing us in the field every time it goes near him.
I love how and England play cricket at the moment and despite despite all of that we have still been the better team and just some sensible decision making could have made the difference

 

England certainly haven’t been “by far the better team”. There’s an argument that they have been slightly better but you do have to factor in the mistakes in the early matches when assessing who has been better. Otherwise it’s like saying in football that we were the better team in all aspects except scoring goals.

 

Ali hasn't been great but I'm not convinced there was a real alternative. We have missed Leach.

I would have played Tongue instead of Jimmy at Old Trafford and the Oval.

 

Too late ?

 

Who needs a new ball ?

 

Smith gone now as well. Makes it interesting

 

3 in 3 overs. Will the light hold ?

 

Cracking finish, just hope the light holds.

 

Ali and Bairstow making me look like an idiot!

 

Yes, Moeen and Bairstow tsk tsk tsk

 

you just beat me !

 

Another. They couldn't .....could they ??

 

Ali has now got Head out after having Smith dropped, so not too shabby. He’s struggling with a groin strain that happened during this match whilst batting…Leach and Lyon have already been ruled out of the series so injuries happen… and as I type, Bairstow takes a stunning catch off Ali to dismiss Marsh. Fine margins? Difficult decisions to make?
I think the initial (almost) total success of Bazball did blind us at the start of the series and we got caught out as the Aussies won the key points in the first 2 tests…they are a seasoned side and World Champions after all. However I can see signs of a more flexible approach…eg knocking the short balls away for singles unless it’s totally in the right area for the big shot.
The tour to India will be interesting…performance and selection wise.

 

Wtf just happened. I thought it was still raining. Nuts.

 

I mean, exciting as this is, I still feel a bit 'meh' now the Ashes have gone.

 

Yes agreed .....and the Aussies could still win this game too !
8th wicket as I type !
5 wickets for 30 runs.

 

I don’t like this retaining the Ashes thing. If it’s 2-2 it’s a draw and should be shared.

 

Incredible turnaround

 

Wonderful session in a great match in a great series

It’s got to be Broad now to win it, hasn’t it!

 

I don't disagree, although I would do if I were an Aussie!

 

Or Carey for the Aussies?

 

Or Bairstow to catch Carey (or stump him) to win the match lol