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Save the Ashes

  • Thread starter Thread starter Billy Rocket
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Billy Rocket

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Dunno about you lot, but to me that was the most meh Ashes series in recent memory.

Nobody wins if the home team always wins.

And I don't like to see sportsmen having to perform in 57c.

So what to do?

How about making the Ashes a 6 game biannual series held as 3 tests in September (in England) and 3 in November (in Australia)?

That's our best weather, and before their utterly stupid midsummer. Nobody would have an advantage in conditions. Every series would be competitive.

Might be a bit radical but imho something has to change to preserve the pinnacle of a dying form of a great sport.

Anyone got any better ideas ?
 

I think this Ashes was ruined by generally shit pitches and a very poor England team. I don't think watching a team bat for 3 days with the ball doing nothing is ever going to be enjoyable cricket.

I don't have a problem with the format nor do I think it was a contributing factor to the series being so poor. On top of being a team made up of mainly solid county players, England are the most bland, uninspiring team I've seen.

The games have rarely been competitive and only sporadically has there been a really good spell of bowling and the batsmen have dug in. I think this is what makes test cricket. England's bowling hasn't been at all challenging and when Australia's has, in the most England haven't been up to it.

The current SA vs India test I have enjoyed more than this complete series. There is more in the pitch, the batsmen need to apply themselves and that innings by Pandya was something else. Perhaps Stokes would have made a difference but I just think England have nothing about them and have seemed in constant depression on the full tour.
 
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The Ashes are fine imo, they just seem to play them too often these days (including those random ODI's in England too)
 
HarrogateMackem said:
I think was only shit because we lost. Get it on terrestrial tv and England winning and suddenly everything would be alright with the ashes
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Lot of truth about this but not completely, but we didn't even compete. I've seen good cricket matches when my team fought it out and made the opposition have to work hard for their win - there's satisfaction to be had from that. This, though, has been nothing like that.
 
Mr Redknapp said:
The Ashes are fine imo, they just seem to play them too often these days (including those random ODI's in England too)
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We’ve only played a lot in last 3 years cos of the World Cup in oz and the champions trophy in England.

Otherwise would have been down under in 14/15 and at home in 2017 and wouldn’t have been away until 18/19.

13/14 would have never happened and neither would have 15.

So we wouldn’t have got spanked in 13/14 but could have lost in 2017
 
Someone on BT last night made a pretty good point - because of the ludicrous amount of white ball cricket after the end of the series these days, the Test tour becomes much shorter. Instead of a couple of days before and after a Test, to play a tour game or explore the City, players literally have a days break, jet off to the next city, have a net, play a Test then fly on to the next.

I believe we've had one Tour game during the Series, between the 2nd and 3rd Tests. How the Hell do we expect Moeen and Broad, say, to find form (unless they produce an absolute golden spell from nowhere during a Test and kick on) - older days you'd at least have a couple of 3 day, competitive Tour games thrown in so anyone out of form can play themselves back in, get some overs in their legs or time in the middle, or players in form can keep their rhythm going.

Have five ODIs before the Series starts a la 05 - we all know they set the tone for that series - and if you must have a couple of token T20s, fine, do so at the end. But for Christ sake don't just shove every Test into the next available slot, do the Tour properly.
 
Lack of preparation didn't help. Couple of warm-up games (incl a 2 day game) against grade cricketers is nee where good enough.
 
Not a bad idea actually, although potentially the home side would still just seek to win all 3, and sneak a draw away to win the series. 2 washouts in England and none in Aus would make it very lop sided too.
 
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