Ashes Inquest

[Classic94]

My inquest…

Keep:
Duckett - thin ice, but has just enough credit in the bank. Gets the NZ series.

Bethell - stupidly talented. Back him for the foreseeable, probably at 3. Needs more cricket.

Root - obviously.

Brook - keep, but someone please have a word. So much skill, so little brains.

Stokes - as captain for now, but at a crossroads in his career.

Smith - similar to Duckett. Looked class before this series and deserves more time

Atkinson - faded, but still one of our best options. Build our attack around him and Tongue if fit.

Carse - keeps going. Decent 3rd/4th seamer. Never give him the new ball again.

Archer - pray he stays fit.

Tongue - ditto on fitness. Good enough to lead our attack. A real find this series.

Get rid:
Crawley - averages 31 after 60 tests. Not good enough. If we want to win, bin him off.

Pope - deeply flawed at this level. May return to bat 6 or lower in the future.

Jacks - bits and pieces. Not his fault, just a a joke selection.

Potts - looks a shadow of what he was. Has to go and rediscover some form.

Wood - 36 and made of paper. Time to move on.

Bashir - 2 years wasted. More nonsense from this setup.

McCullum and Key - shambolic preparation, ill-discipline and a total lack of application did for us. Baz treated the whole thing as a glorified jolly. The culture is lax and unserious. Not elite in the slightest. Get serious and appoint people to take this team forward. Doubt they will though...

Then blood the likes of Cox, Rew, Tribe, Rehan etc… Maybe use Dawson as a stopgap spinner. I’d get Robinson back in the fold too, assuming he's not a lost cause. Our attack isn’t good enough to just discard him.

 

[Beau Peep]

He seems to forget that he’s an employee of the ECB and therefore should either do what they tell him or go.

By the sounds of it he’s so arrogant that he doesn’t want to be told what to do

I think it's a come and sack me plea.

He won't resign but I reckon he's sick of this shit too and would happily pocket the payoff.

 

[Aidan11]

This isn't exactly promising but I can hardly say I'm surprised. I don't see how we can expect a change in culture.

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First time Ive seen this. What an arrogant ****.

 

[Voice of fair play]

I'd agree with this. It has to be the end for Crawley and Pope but it's very harsh to be calling for Duckett or Smith to be dropped even given how poor a serious they've both had.

The approach however, 100% needs changing. And that is both on and off field as how they prepared themselves for this series was a joke.

IMO they need to start by getting the players actually playing red ball cricket outside of test matches but sadly I can't see that happening.

Yep I agree it’s a balance, it’s right to have a attacking mindset, it’s right to make players feel at home in a side and not be frightened to play shots in case of repercussions of been dropped.

But the balance has gone far too much one way, thus meaning no accountability, no application, and no or it appears fight to win the game.

As for the preparation there is nobody who could even begin to defend that.

But I genuinely think this is not the time to panic and react in anger, as bar possibly 3/4 players this squad imo easily the best players in this country.

People talk about dropping the openers and certainly can see that especially Crawley.

But there really isn’t any other viable options to do any better imo which is concern.

Any top international side should not drop players as a punishment you should drop them if you think the replacements are better.

It was the approach/preparation that was wrong not the players selected.

Of all the players out there struggle to see anyone would want in the side apart from maybe James Rew.

 

[Parkside]

It’s not the personnel on the player side that needs changing one or two perhaps it’s more the approach and application.

It would be a mistake dropping half the team imo for replacements who are not as good as the players currently in the side.

Can’t remember mass changes working before when been stuffed in the ashes.

It’s time for clear heads not to make changes on anger.

Pick the best side for next test match and think at least 8 possibly 9 should come from this squad of players.

That’s not to say a lot of soul searching should be done because absolutely it should and change the approach.

I

I'd agree with this. It has to be the end for Crawley and Pope but it's very harsh to be calling for Duckett or Smith to be dropped even given how poor a serious they've both had.

The approach however, 100% needs changing. And that is both on and off field as how they prepared themselves for this series was a joke.

IMO they need to start by getting the players actually playing red ball cricket outside of test matches but sadly I can't see that happening.

Agree largely with both summaries but the lack of discipline both on and off the field has to be addressed. McCullum either condoned it or was unaware of it ( off the field).Either way,it makes his position untenable.
Duckett,obviously aware of the sanction and final warning given to Brook, still chose to abuse his position by getting drunk. Difficult to think of a clearer manner of sticking up 2 fingers to authority, he himself having also been given a final warning in the past. His selection must also therefore be. untenable.

 

[Beau Peep]

My inquest…

Keep:
Duckett - thin ice, but has just enough credit in the bank. Gets the NZ series.

Bethell - stupidly talented. Back him for the foreseeable, probably at 3. Needs more cricket.

Root - obviously.

Brook - keep, but someone please have a word. So much skill, so little brains.

Stokes - as captain for now, but at a crossroads in his career.

Smith - similar to Duckett. Looked class before this series and deserves more time

Atkinson - faded, but still one of our best options. Build our attack around him and Tongue if fit.

Carse - keeps going. Decent 3rd/4th seamer. Never give him the new ball again.

Archer - pray he stays fit.

Tongue - ditto on fitness. Good enough to lead our attack. A real find this series.

Get rid:
Crawley - averages 31 after 60 tests. Not good enough. If we want to win, bin him off.

Pope - deeply flawed at this level. May return to bat 6 or lower in the future.

Jacks - bits and pieces. Not his fault, just a a joke selection.

Potts - looks a shadow of what he was. Has to go and rediscover some form.

Wood - 36 and made of paper. Time to move on.

Bashir - 2 years wasted. More nonsense from this setup.

McCullum and Key - shambolic preparation, ill-discipline and a total lack of application did for us. Baz treated the whole thing as a glorified jolly. The culture is lax and unserious. Not elite in the slightest. Get serious and appoint people to take this team forward. Doubt they will though...

Then blood the likes of Cox, Rew, Tribe, Rehan etc… Maybe use Dawson as a stopgap spinner. I’d get Robinson back in the fold too, assuming he's not a lost cause. Our attack isn’t good enough to just discard him.

Agree with all your keeps.

Sibley (so much better than last time)
Duckett (by the skin of his teeth)
Bethell (on the basis of one innings, admittedly)
Root
Brook (even though I hate his stupid careless attitude, he's undroppable)
Smith (showed lots of promise last summer)
Stokes (for now)
Ahmed
Archer (not his biggest fan, he's hot and cold, but he is talented)
Atkinson
Tongue (though I'm not as convinced as you)

There you go, this is why england don't bother with selectors, they can just read this board. The Board of Selectors.

 

[Parkside]

Any top international side should not drop players as a punishment you should drop them if you think the replacements are better.

That is quite frankly ridiculous. Basically you'd be giving certain players carte blanche to behave as they please

 

[chopsfc007]

That is quite frankly ridiculous. Basically you'd be giving certain players carte blanche to behave as they please

Op is spot on

 

[Waverley]

I think it's a come and sack me plea.

He won't resign but I reckon he's sick of this shit too and would happily pocket the payoff.

I think so too now.

I can't imagine how unbelievably tone deaf and stupid you would have to be to say this stuff at this juncture otherwise.

There ll be a ton of easy money gigging the T20 franchise league circuit. Do that. I would.

 

[Voice of fair play]

That is quite frankly ridiculous. Basically you'd be giving certain players carte blanche to behave as they please

I think you misinterpreted what I was saying I meant should not be getting dropped as punishment and anger for bad performances purely on the field, if replacements you don’t think are better

Of course if somebody’s behaviour unacceptable they could be dropped on that basis.

You have to have standards of behavior in any organization and relevant punishments should they be breached

 

[Provider]

I think you misinterpreted what I was saying I meant should not be getting dropped as punishment and anger for bad performances purely on the field.

Of course if somebody’s behaviour unacceptable they could be dropped on that basis.

You have to have standards of behavior in any organization and relevant punishments should they be breached

I get the approach of backing players so they feel comfortable about not being dropped for the slightest mistake but players absolutely have to be dropped if continued performances on the pitch show they aren't good enough. Zak Crawley has had 60 tests, averages 30 and has shown no signs of improvement (another shocking indictment of this regime). He should be dropped for performances on the pitch.

 

[Voice of fair play]

I get the approach of backing players so they feel comfortable about not being dropped for the slightest mistake but players absolutely have to be dropped if continued performances on the pitch show they aren't good enough. Zak Crawley has had 60 tests, averages 30 and has shown no signs of improvement (another shocking indictment of this regime). He should be dropped for performances on the pitch.

Yeah with Crawley have to agree as many many chances.

However it’s still worth noting

imo one of the reasons for that many chances is lack of alternatives.

Imo he would have been dropped well before now if we had better players waiting in the wings as opening batsman which has been a factor particularly with him

That said like I say I agree with you in enough is enough with him

But we should not panic and drop several players

 

[Provider]

Yeah with Crawley have to agree as many many chances.

However it’s still worth noting

imo one of the reasons for that many chances is lack of alternatives.

Imo would have been dropped well before now if we had better players waiting in the wings as opening batsman.

That said like I say I agree with you in enough is enough with him

But they haven't tried any alternatives for a long time despite his ongoing failures.

When one of the established openers got injured they decided to open with Dan Lawrence who is not an opener.

What you're saying is exactly the same as what your arguing against in terms of putting faith in players but just at the opposite end of the scale.

 

[Parkside]

Op is spot on

I think you misinterpreted what I was saying I meant should not be getting dropped as punishment and anger for bad performances purely on the field, if replacements you don’t think are better

Of course if somebody’s behaviour unacceptable they could be dropped on that basis.

You have to have standards of behavior in any organization and relevant punishments should they be breached

That's a first.

 

[Voice of fair play]

But they haven't tried any alternatives for a long time despite his ongoing failures.

When one of the established openers got injured they decided to open with Dan Lawrence who is not an opener.

What you're saying is exactly the same as what your arguing against in terms of putting faith in players but just at the opposite end of the scale.

Not really as think the best options available to open in county cricket are two players who imo have proved not good to make the step up to international cricket.


Of course they is argument they Hameed and Sibley have improved.

However the fact they the top openers in county cricket shows the step up to International cricket imo from county cricket especially for openers is massive.

I think if they had been other younger openers with potential knocking about Crawley would have been dropped well before now.

In fact they may have been looking at McKinney to do just that if he had kicked on a bit more.
I think the fact Crawley has been given soo long and Larwence given the opportunity to open is a very worrying indication of the opening options we have

 

[Parkside]

Not really as think the best options available to open in county cricket are two players who imo have proved not good to make the step up to international cricket.

Of course they is argument they Hameed and Sibley have improved.

However the fact they the top openers in county cricket shows the step up to International cricket imo from county cricket especially for openers is massive.

I think if they had been other younger openers with potential knocking about Crawley would have been dropped well before now.

In fact they may have been looking at McKinney to do just that if he had kicked on a bit more.

You have to use some criteria to select newcomers and whilst the CC is far from ideal can you suggest a better criteria?.Or do we select on "hunches"?- of whom Crawley was one.
There are countless examples of youngsters failing initially at test level but then returning later after recognising and working on their weaknesses.
Is refusing to grant second chances compatible with a "Voice of fair play?"

 

[Aidan11]

I wonder if Stokes has anything left in the tank.

Always gives 100% but regularly knacks up his body doing it.

 

[Doogie Hauser]

Where to start with this absolute shower of shite?

1 - Whoever signed off the itinerary needs to be sacked, 1 "warm up" game which we all know was half arsed vs England Lions was a shambolic way to prepare.

2 - The constant "resting" of England players during the County Championship season is now looking hideous. For example I remember last year Durham needed a concussion replacement, the ECB wouldn't allow Carse to play despite him being at the ground, he was in the bar watching Sunderland in the play off final. The way they messed Potts about resting him as well last year clearly bothered the lad and obviously Bethell as well was messed about.

3 - The management of our fast bowlers, I have banged on about this for years but again shambolic. Archer, Wood, Atkinson, knackered on this trip and it raises questions yet again why this is happening all the time with English fast bowlers? The way they have managed Mark Wood was absolutely astoundingly bad. "Don't play any games mate for Durham, we'll just throw you straight into an Ashes Series"

4 - We were told this series was several years in the planning. Therefore what was the reasoning behind preparing Bashir for the last 2-3 years then not bother selecting him, and even worse selecting a spin bowler (Jacks) ahead of him who was clearly never part of this "several years in the planning".

5 - Bethell - Similar to point 4, granted he's done well this week, they basically threw the lad in at the deep end, he was never part of the plan. They may well have stumbled on a Pope replacement.

6 - Crawley/Duckett - Not good enough. Said on here to @smoker that Crawley has a way of blagging his place by getting a decent score when he needs to and he did it during this series, ultimately though not good enough 27.30 average is poor. Likewise Duckett, I was prepared to give him a chance this series after a poor start........ on the piss, pissed and averaging 20.02, not good enough. Both need replacing.

7 - County Cricket "too much cricket" - Can we stop with this bullshit? Again repeating myself, but this series was several years planning and some of this lot hardly played any red ball cricket between the end of the India series in July, to then rocking up in October/November in Australia. That is appalling. Ironically the player who has impressed me the most, was playing red ball cricket in September..... Josh Tongue.

8 - County Cricket merit - Can we get rid of this "face fits club" that is clearly the case with this lot? I am a strong believer in "performance over reputation" and this series has highlighted the need for that in my opinion. Hameed averaged 66 in the CC in 2025, Sibley 60.66, Simpson 60.33, Cox 59.09, Lawrence 54.23. There are other examples but you get the idea, reward CC performances because this current selection criteria just isn't working.

9 - Get rid of BM and RK, beyond arrogant and that is breeding throughout this team

10 - Given what I have seen this tour, Carse, Potts, Smith, Pope, Duckett, Crawley and Jacks aren't good enough for this level. Carse and Potts need a full season with Durham, Smith may come good. The 2 opening batsman I am struggling with. Bethell needs managing properly. What is the purpose of Bashir, he isn't even our best spinner.

11 - If we intend to experiment with the Kookaburra ball in the future, I'd suggest it's not a good idea to test it during a test series where the only players testing the ball are County players who are never ever playing for England.... seems a bit pointless having George Drissell testing a ball for an Ashes series..... ECB logic!!!

12 - Reduction of CC - Mr Bostock said it would improve performance/we would see more high level performances...... Can we stop with this shit now please?

13 - Stokes - made mistakes but is the best leader we have, the alternative is Brook who I wouldn't want captaining England, shit for brains that lad.

Really struggling to find any positives from this series, only 1 player scored 400 runs which is piss poor and only 2 players scored centuries for England, again piss poor.

An absolute disaster of a series, riddled with arrogance, weak minded players and against a very average Australia side, it's absolutely unforgiveable and some heads need to roll for this shambolic outcome.

Hope they enjoyed the golf and booze though.

This is a very good, wide-ranging look at the nonsense and issues of the last few years. Your point about Tongue (7) and the ball (11) are such basic fuck ups that it’s astonishing that noone at the top has joined the dots. This golfing piss-up bubble of unaccountability, which is almost a closed shop, has rendered cricket pointless for players wanting to crack into the national team. BM’s latest verbal fart suggests that he’ll double down on his shitshow in many ways.

 

[Voice of fair play]

You have to use some criteria to select newcomers and whilst the CC is far from ideal can you suggest a better criteria?.Or do we select on "hunches"?- of whom Crawley was one.
There are countless examples of youngsters failing initially at test level but then returning later after recognising and working on their weaknesses.
Is refusing to grant second chances compatible with a "Voice of fair play?"

I guess it’s all about opinions and think the two players I mentioned are below international standard in probably the hardest batting position.

Problem is so is Crawley

Maybe worth given Haines a go, somebody has to replace Crawley

 

[Parkside]

I guess it’s all about opinions and think the two players I mentioned are below international standard in probably the hardest batting position.

Problem is so is Crawley

Maybe worth given Haines a go, somebody has to replace Crawley

The board is about opinions but they're purely subjective. You're condemning Hameed from a 2nd chance on a personal subjective opinion. I reiterate that 's not a voice of fair play.
I'm certainly not against Haynes but both He and Hameed are probably of similar standard,Hameed has had the experience of test cricket with the advantage of limitations being recognised but remedial work done on them to hopefully eradicate.
I take it you don't accept that Duckett should be dropped?
I'd retain Crawley purely because Duckett 's place is untenable