Australia v England, 2nd Test, 4th December 0400

[chunkyshanhawk53]

He was a good captain of NZ and I always thought he came across as a decent bloke. The longer he's our coach the more of a tit he looks.

I’m starting to believe it’s bluff masquerading as genius

 

[Doogie Hauser]

I haven’t seen any evidence of preparation.

So he’s either lying or deranged.

 

[The Breen Machine]

I don't think he's an arrogant idiot, just a bit pig-headed maybe.

I think he's been flying on Stokes' coattails and he's been found out. No one has improved under his "coaching", there's only one way he wants to play which gets nowhere against better teams and to be honest, we'd won 1 test in 17 before he took over so it could only get better from there.

 

[Inside Forward]

Unfortunately you are right, and look at how that's going.

Key should be relieved of his duties for that decision alone.

 

[Mr Redknapp]

I think he's been flying on Stokes' coattails and he's been found out. No one has improved under his "coaching", there's only one way he wants to play which gets nowhere against better teams and to be honest, we'd won 1 test in 17 before he took over so it could only get better from there.

I reckon it's the fact he came in and was a breath of fresh air and did make a good impact, but in this sport you must have more strings to your bow.

Key should be relieved of his duties for that decision alone.

Neser has made him look a bit foolish.

 

[Stormo]

I rate Duckett like, he's one of the best openers the lads have.

Yeah I like Duckett, very good player. You stuck with Crawley for the rest of the series I suppose, but Pope needs to go. Stokes also needs to have a go at Brook as it’s as if he treated his innings as a joke.

 

[The Breen Machine]

I reckon it's the fact he came in and was a breath of fresh air and did make a good impact, but in this sport you must have more strings to your bow.

It was a welcome shift at the time and you can't argue we improved, but it's a bit of a false narrative for me as we'd spent the previous two years playing in COVID bubbles etc.

 

[Mr Redknapp]

It was a welcome shift at the time and you can't argue we improved, but it's a bit of a false narrative for me as we'd spent the previous two years playing in COVID bubbles etc.

I know Smith was an easy target for the SMB when he chirped back but he was spot on for me, Where was that Joffra for the 1st hour of day 2 when they bowled garbage?.. so disappointing.

330 was a decent score with a disciplined seam attack.

 

[YorkshireLad92]

I'm staggered Baz came out and said that, surely he's on the wind up

 

[SuperSub]

I think he's been flying on Stokes' coattails and he's been found out. No one has improved under his "coaching", there's only one way he wants to play which gets nowhere against better teams and to be honest, we'd won 1 test in 17 before he took over so it could only get better from there.

He even admits in interviews that he doesn't sit down with players to discuss ways to improve techniques and skills or gets down to work with them in the nets, which really should be a key part of a head coach.

 

[The Breen Machine]

I know Smith was an easy target for the SMB when he chirped back but he was spot on for me, Where was that Joffra for the 1st hour of day 2 when they bowled garbage?.. so disappointing.

Even before his 25 year lay off with injuries, Archer was never someone who could bowl constantly high pace spells. He was down in the low 80's at points in SA and NZ before his injuries.

He even admits in interviews that he doesn't sit down with players to discuss ways to improve techniques and skills or gets down to work with them in the nets, which really should be a key part of a head coach.

Which is what absolutely riles me the most, what is he actually doing if he's not coaching them?

 

[Mr Redknapp]

Even before his 25 year lay off with injuries, Archer was never someone who could bowl constantly high pace spells. He was down in the low 80's at points in SA and NZ before his injuries.


Which is what absolutely riles me the most, what is he actually doing if he's not coaching them?

Fair point, but the intensity could still be there .. the whole attack lost the game in that hour for me (much like the batsmen did in the 1st test)

 

[The Breen Machine]

Fair point, but the intensity could still be there

I agree, what I meant was this isn't a new problem with Archer.

 

[Lagger]

Shite but really predictable, unfortunately

 

[Mr Redknapp]

I agree, what I meant was this isn't a new problem with Archer.

You know mate, think you're on to something there.

Smith is the pantomime villain but he was bang on there like. It's not the Aussies fault this team don't appear to have the stomach for it... again 3 to go and it could turned around

 

[mackembhoy]

I’ve starting to think “Baz” the emperor is wearing no clothes

He was a good captain of NZ and I always thought he came across as a decent bloke. The longer he's our coach the more of a tit he looks.

Compare and contrast Ben and Baz interviews.

Ben was absolutely brilliant in both ones with TNT and TMS. He was honest, humble and you really felt for him. I just wish we'd seen this for the last 2 and a half years.

As we might not be in the position we're in right now. As the cracks began with NZ away conspiring to draw 1-1. We saw it after 2-0 at home in the Ashes, we've seen it loads since.

But he's kept remaining bullish and it's bitten him on the backside. So appreciate him fronting up and admitting flaws. The fans and media have been shouting it for long enough!!!

Whereas Baz just has continued to be a clown and quadrupled down now. After doubling down in Perth he's done the same again here.

I honestly hope those blokes fight for their captain in these final 3. As he showed them today with the bat and his words how to do just that.

 

[Parkside]

Duckett has credit in the bank and got a shooter this innings. And you can’t drop them all.

And at least the first team managed to avoid the innings defeat. That’s looking odds on for the A Team tomorrow. Where are these marvellous replacements who are clearly good enough coming from? It’s a very depressing time to be in England fan.

Duckett did get a shooter but his recent form has been abysmal The obvious replacements clearly aren't in the selected Lions squad-there are more experienced players available in the county championship.
It's the technique and shot selection of the selected test squad which requires working on correctly and improving.
No point in having 5 net sessions if you're not identifying and correcting weaknesses.

 

[SAFC11]

Most Tests in an away country without a win
Joe Root - 16 Tests in Australia (14 X defeats, 2 X draws)

Kapil Dev - 15 Tests in Pakistan (5 X defeats, 10 X draws)

In the pre-Bazball era, Root had 25 hundreds of which only one came in a defeat. Since June 2022, five of his 15 centuries have come in losing causes.

Player of the Match in each of the first two Tests in an Ashes series
Ricky Ponting in 2006/07
Mitchell Johnson in 2013/14
Mitchell Starc in 2025/26
Each of the first two instances ended in 5-0 series wins for Australia.

England becomes the first team to lose a D/N Test after scoring 300+ batting first. Previous highest: 259/9 dec. by SA vs Aus in Adelaide in 2016

Only once in the previous 22 attempts have England lost the Gabba Test and went on to win the Ashes: 3-1 in 1954/55.

This is the 15th instance of England being 0-2 down after first two Tests of an Ashes series Down Under. They ended up losing each of the previous 14 occasions, with the closest scoreline being 1-2 in the three-Test rubber in 1891/92.

 

[Inside Forward]

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- Broad is having none of it, his face says it all

Is this bloke for real?

 

[yorkyexile]

Is this bloke for real?

Stuart Broad looked like he wanted to stamp on him