The Ashes 2021-22

Richard Hillman · 08-01-2022 2:01am

Sam Billings is on his way to the test match to be WK and is in line to play the 5th test.

Literally anyone but Ben Foakes

08-01-2022 2:04am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118437423#Comment_118437423

Logistics the only reason there. Billings there for the BBL. Foakes and the Lions squad strangely brought out to Aus, play a game or two, then sent home.

Richard Hillman · 08-01-2022 2:06am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118437427#Comment_118437427

Ah right, cheers for clearing that up. You'd think they would want the Lions for the backend of the tour, not the start of the tour.

08-01-2022 2:16am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118437431#Comment_118437431

Don’t know what their thinking was bringing them at all if they weren’t going to be a backup squad. Suppose you’re not gonna think you’re two keepers will both get hand injuries on the same day

Billings another one day specialist keeper batsman. They’ll never learn! The end of Buttler in red ball you’d think too.

Gillespy · 08-01-2022 3:21am

I read before the series Langer say Headingley still keeps him awake at night. Wonder will that influence their declaration here in any way. Rain forecast they can't bat too long if they want the win.

Strumms · 08-01-2022 3:57am

86/4 with Khawaja and Green at the crease… a few out of form batsmen to come so this partnership broken quickly who knows 280 probably getable if Australia favourites but 300 lead, forget it..

Strumms · 08-01-2022 5:21am

Leach bowling well and the only attacking help is a short leg… everyone else is practically positioned to save runs…

then Root bowls with two slips for himself….boggles the mind what goes through Roots brain…it’s bewilderingly bizarre..

Australia to go 4-0 up, you can’t win with idiocy like that from your leadership…

MFPM · 08-01-2022 1:20pm

An interesting fifth day ahead. England, if they have anything about them should be able to see this out for a draw particularly if the weather intervenes in their favour. Hopefully, we get as full a day's play as possible, Australia going for the win and England trying to hang on will be a good spectacle. If there's a lot of play lost to rain they'll just play out a drab draw. The injuries to Bairstow and Buttler and Stokes make it even more interesting. Given that Leech bowled well and finally got some wickets, interesting if Lyon can bring much to the day's proceedings.

Strumms · 08-01-2022 3:34pm

Looks like rain and thunder / lightening on and off all day…

was a clever declaration by Australia in term of the time left in the test, runs needed, weather forecast and a lineup of English out of form and or and injured batsmen and an out and out dithering clueless captain in Root.

draw has to be the favourite result considering the forecast… England won’t chase that total…

StringerBell · 08-01-2022 3:50pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118383120#Comment_118383120

Tbf Boland is one of a handful of indigenous Australians to ever play international cricket for them. Uzzie?

There is some diversity in there :D

Gillespy · 08-01-2022 4:14pm

Pat Cummins as a bowler himself wouldn't be too happy if a team declares when he's on a hattrick. Would have been five wickets for Leach as well. Nice to see him do well after all his troubles.

Start of the series England would have bitten your hand off if you told them Warner, Labuschagne and Smith would score the runs they have and Hazelwood would miss four of the matches. It's been the less fancied names and replacements that made the difference. Even Harris contributed in Melbourne. Khawaja was always way too talented to be out of the team. What a player he is in form. Shows the scale of the challenge Root faced, squad depth like that.

A shade under 3.5 runs needed then. Dreamland. Saying that Hameed and Crawley looked comfortable enough. But the weather is likely to win it.

09-01-2022 12:37am

Bad Carey drop. Wicket keeping being poor all round this series.

Makes up for it then. Hameed is a woeful international opener. Let’s pressure build to the point he has to get out.

Royale with Cheese · 09-01-2022 12:43am

Opening partnership of 46. Must be the best of the series?

09-01-2022 12:47am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118442027#Comment_118442027

Think so. I know before the 3rd test the opening partnership had averaged under 10.

Crawley looks to be playing well. Positive intent. Hameed just invited pressure. Burns & Crawley probably their best bet short term unless they drastically change something.

Strumms · 09-01-2022 1:22am

Malan talking 29 deliveries to score 4 runs. Wonder what his average of 29.48 has declined to now ?

how did he miss that ball ? Zero foot movement… swings his bat like a drunk swinging a hurly after a few pints on Paddy’s day…Devon Malcolm would have made a better fist of keeping that out.

Strumms · 09-01-2022 4:47am

England despite having lost the series, despite this match being a dead rubber, are treating day 5 of the 4th test at the Gabba as a glorified net session. Between Stokes and Root… 50 runs off 129 deliveries. Run rate between them of 2.58…

Root has scored 20 from 66…. Stokes 34 from 65 and injured but has played the odd attacking shot.

why don’t they back themselves, their ability and try to win ? A scandal that all that’s gone on, people crying out for some entertainment, a distraction, a sporting classic to enjoy…. 54 from 131,

Now Buttler and Bairstow, 36 from 101 deliveries…. What’s the point, seriously, I’m beyond…. Aghhhhh , paying to watch this shîte

Royale with Cheese · 09-01-2022 8:53am

Got up to watch the final hour or so. England hang on for the heroic draw 😂

I said during the second test the only was this wasn't ending 5-0 would be the weather, well it did its job here.

Gillespy · 09-01-2022 5:37pm

It was a well earned draw in fairness given everything. A lot of the rain overs were made up by the earlier starts, so not as many lost as you think. Australia were fortunate to get as many overs as they did based on the forecast if anything so they might look at the overs lost to the faffing around the declaration.

Should be it now for Buttler the test cricketer. He's leaving for home with a broken finger. A worthwhile experiment given his talent. It dragged on a year or two too long and hindered the careers of Moeen Ali and Bairstow to accommodate him. And Foakes lost out too of course.

Strumms · 09-01-2022 8:06pm

Here is a damming stat that sums up how dreadful this English side are…

in not one single batting innings have they managed to score 300 runs, not once.

high score 297, low score 68.

lowest combined innings totals in one test…253

highest combined innings totals in one test…428 :o

thats just abysmal….

A busy few months with both tests and one dayers away to West Indies and home to New Zealand…

I doubt very much either set of fixtures won’t leave them feeling apprehensive….

they could loose both sets of series..

Root.. “ I’m proud of the teams character “ … Jos Buttler could have committed mass murder at breakfast… “well yes, but, I’m very proud at the way after that he held a door open for an old lady”

Strumms · 14-01-2022 6:12am

So England bowling well… Aussies should be three down with Crawley dropping a hard chance that would have been a sitter for Root if he’d left it.. Australians being very conservative… poor captaincy…

9 overs bowled and 7/2

Gillespy · 14-01-2022 7:40am

Very watchable first session. Labuschagne's dismissal was a big bonus for England the way it came. He had made use of the life he got after Crawley dropped him to put on a great fight back with Travis Head.

Royale with Cheese · 14-01-2022 9:34am

They've dropped Anderson for the pink ball test?

MFPM · 14-01-2022 11:17am

Interesting day's play. Good start for England getting Warner and Smith cheaply, then they got lucky with Labuschange. Great fightback by Head and Geeen, would've been nice to see Green get his maiden century. Looks set for low scoring game. Interesting to see England's batting with the changes, places up for grabs, Butter likely finished with red ball cricket and Bairstow his recent century aside is hasn't done enough to keep his place going forward.

Gillespy · 14-01-2022 2:13pm

12-3 to 240-6 is a golden opportunity lost by England. I think it was 80-4 at lunch so all to play for still. Robinson's back issue was very costly in the second session. Wood was shockingly expensive and Woakes too.

Excellent by the Australians however.

Strumms · 14-01-2022 2:13pm

Australia at 83/4 in just the 23rd over England held all the cards… you have thought 220 might just have been within Australian reach but 241/6… a good chance of reaching just under par of about 270, but if they can get 290/300.. they’ll be delighted

Mark Wood 11.3 overs bowled…going for just under 7 runs an over.. he conceded 79 runs off those 11.3…. Not good

MFPM · 15-01-2022 5:57am

Australia reach 300, Seems like a good score given the way the match has developed though we await to see how England bat. Wood has done well taking those wickets but he's gone for a few, Lyon smacked him for a few sixes.

MFPM · 15-01-2022 11:02am

So England capitulate once more, different batters but broadly the same outcome. Lots of starts but no one making a big score. Root has one more innings to score an elusive century in Australia, could be his last chance as no guarantee he'll be back in 4 years.

England need to get a few quick wickets in the remaining overs to have any chance.

Gillespy · 15-01-2022 1:54pm

Billings did ok. Seems to get on very well with Root and Stokes which is probably half the battle to getting a run in the team.

Can't be no complaints about the five pitches we've seen. Could have been a classic series if the teams were more evenly matched ie if England batted and caught better. Overall their bowling has been fine.

Strumms · 16-01-2022 6:27am

Wokes called up on a wicket taking delivery which was called a no ball by the third umpire.

the guy has about 6 angles, none of which were absolutely conclusive but ‘looked’ like a few millimetres of Wokes’s heel was behind the line… either way if not conclusive… the on field decision should remain…but no, overturned…

standard of umpiring on the field is in decline but if a fella with about 6 angles , slow motion, 10 minutes, 87 replays, and the rule book sitting in front of him and still gets it wrong ?!

Trampas · 16-01-2022 7:19am

I thought no ball calling was decided by 3rd umpire completely now so onfield isn’t watching unless technology fails.

England bowlers doing well but nothing to bowl with

MFPM · 16-01-2022 7:54am

England have bowled well obviously Wood in particular...some of the celebration though, lads you're three nil down and in all likelihood will be 4 nil! The fragility in some of the Aussies batting has been exposed once more. Interesting too that Smith hasn't got a century in 5 test matches quite a contrast to his display in England last time out.

MFPM · 16-01-2022 8:13am

So 271 to chase to put a modicum of respectability on the series, it's certainly doable but if any of the Aussie bowlers replicate Wood you'd imagine England will fall short.

MFPM · 16-01-2022 9:03am

Runs flowing for England, scoring over 5 an over.

MFPM · 16-01-2022 9:38am

Well bowled Green, bad luck for Burns.

MFPM · 16-01-2022 10:57am

Stokes holes out to Starc, caught Lyon. That feels like a big wicket notwithstanding Stokes isn't in great form.

Royale with Cheese · 16-01-2022 11:21am

There goes Root, 4-0 beckons.

MFPM · 16-01-2022 11:38am

I actually thought England were going to get these runs, this capitulation could end up being the most demoralising for them if they lose from here.

Mr. Guappa · 16-01-2022 11:56am

It's no surprise, and only appropriate, that the series ends with an England batting collapse.

MFPM · 16-01-2022 11:56am

Well that was dismal...9 wickets for 56 runs!! England have big issues going forward.

Richard Hillman · 16-01-2022 1:14pm

They packed it in there. No fight. The plane home beckoned.

I see Dawid Malans missus had a premature baby overnight. Everything all good according to reports. His first born, so his head must have been all over the shop.

Gillespy · 16-01-2022 3:29pm

One wicket away from another five nil whitewash. To be fairer to Australia it was really one shower of rain away from it. Only Broad and Wood can leave with their head held high. Anderson and Robinson were fine too. Bairstow the only hundred in ten innings. No score over 300. Such a contrast to India last year.

VillaMad · 16-01-2022 9:34pm

Predictable series in many ways in that Australia won easily and England's batting was trash, but the surprise to me was the way Australia won it.

Going into the series, the expectation was of Laubaschange and Smith to share huge partnerships but that never happened at all as a mixture of the pitches favouring the bowlers and their dips in form. Both had their good moments at times but were fairly muted by their high standards. Smith averaging just 30 in a series is almost unbelievable considering how teams debated for years how to bowl to him. Australia though, had run scorers somewhere when they needed it. Travis Head in particular was terrific.

As for their bowling, we expected the same four of Hazlewood, Cummins, Starc and Lyon to dominate and once Hazlewood dropped out, it seemed like England had an opening but the find of the veteran Boland (who will have many a county team lining up trying to sign him) was a revelation. Lyon in my eyes had a fairly quiet series and yet ended up with 16 wickets for an average of 23. Lyon remarkably didn't even bowl a ball in Hobart. Starc and Cummins were excellent as expected but Cameron Green is the future of this side. Seen as more of a batting all-rounder coming into the series, he made sure that Australia never let up on England and taking the first 3 wickets today summed up his series.

As for England, they really are at rock bottom now. Hard to see many if any at all will be in Australia again in 4 years time and this side should really be ripped up. Lots of firings ahead and many structural changes are now needed. They seem to do well at Test cricket and then struggle in limited overs cricket and so all resources go into the short form and then the test side crumbles. Why? I don't know. New Zealand with much less resources seem to compete very well in all formats.

Gillespy · 16-01-2022 10:43pm

Root will be 35. He should make it. It would be an awful shame if he isn't playing then. It's a long time four years. I remember when Cook had Tendulkar's records in his sights. Kohli hasn't made a hundred in two years and captains nothing now. Smith's been quiet. Changes fast.

Others in the squad? Crawley has age on his side. Robinson maybe? Doubt Hameed will play again. Bess might mature into a good off spinner by then. That's it I think.

VillaMad · 16-01-2022 11:23pm

All about desire with Root and he has a bit of a dodgy back which won't help in the coming years.

Everyone else is a question mark at best. Having the likes of Archer back would be a huge help but there has to be a lot of surgery done and things may get even worse before they improve if that is even possible.

Richard Hillman · 17-01-2022 11:30pm

https://www.foxsports.com.au/cricket/the-ashes/trying-to-fat-shame-him-poms-ashes-mess-laid-bare-as-culture-problems-exposed/news-story/d4f456a607f7f84eecc69af8174f846e

Absolute shambles. The "fat shaming" stuff is hilarious.

Gillespy · 18-01-2022 1:54am

A complete circus.

I want to know who said the fat shaming line. Classic from a professional athlete. Best guess is Robinson. Bairstow can appear chunky but that's his build. His fitness can't be questioned. Robinson needs an attitude change if he is going to fulfil his talent. He's not 21 where that stuff can be understandable.

George Dobell had said the management and senior players weren't happy with Dan Lawrence's attitude, maybe that's the drinking one solved. Drinking culture is hardly breaking news though. All this stuff is only an issue when you lose so badly.

Strumms · 18-01-2022 2:37am

Fat shaming ? If a professional sports person turns up for duty and are not in shape… I’d be surprised if the team doctor wouldn’t say it to them but I’d be also surprised if they did not convey their views professionally….same with the captain…. But no surprise that somebody in this day and age gets upset when something is queried about their performance either on or off the field….

18-01-2022 11:32am

I thought the newspaper pieces hinted at it not being Robinson as they were fairly critical of his fitness anyway and named him. Bairstow maybe, Burns I thought too, but apparently part of the reason he was dropped was because he doesn't speak up in meetings. So maybe not.

More coming out now, the assistant manager filmed and leaked a video of Root, Anderson and some Aussies being told to stop drinking at 6am. Why would you film that, and second send it around?

Royale with Cheese · 18-01-2022 12:15pm

Lol, fat shaming. I thought Robinson looked a bit overweight in the 5th test alright. I also thought Bairstow looked like he had a little bit of a belly on him but he's not a fast bowler and I wouldn't fault his running between the wickets or fielding really.

"More coming out now, the assistant manager filmed and leaked a video of Root, Anderson and some Aussies being told to stop drinking at 6am. Why would you film that, and second send it around?"

I'm guessing the management team think the players had too much power and weren't doing what was asked of them (if the fat shaming story is true then you can see where they're coming from) and wanted them taken down a peg. Though drinking with the opposition til 6am after a long tour and then going to bed when you're told to is hardly a news story.

Richard Hillman · 18-01-2022 12:27pm

https://twitter.com/TheInsiderPaper/status/1483290941981143040?t=1OYzvJGMIM32JRomwOMZWA&s=19

Graham Thorpe the cameraman. What was he thinking 😂

ECB will love it. A couple of scapegoats

The Ashes 2021-22

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