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Ashes Inquest


Was at first 4 tests had to get back to new job before Sydney.

Found the reaction insane myself. We made some big mistakes for sure, they deserve criticism and changes need to be made, but the idea we lost it because of “Bazball” is just Canny funny. It’s a media term and now any dismissal we have gets labeled in that context rather than just players with technical problems gettjnt out, they scored at a much quicker rate than us, look at those Aussies playing irresponsibility!

Felt no different to 17/18 to me

People quoting tosser like Agnew man.

Actually think Theres a lot of potential in this team, didbt think stoke captained that well tho, I reckon McCullum will probs be only to go myself but lets see how the World Cup goes.

It’s very interesting the difference in those out on tour, who while disappointed, were not like some online I think who were almost waiting for them to fail.

Also Nesser and Bolland would be our 2 best bowlers in those conditions

I thought the main difference was head tho, he won the series.

I also do not get people calling England arrogant, the view in the grounds was the exact opposite, theyre timid, quiet, almost to a point mute. I wish they were more arrogant, theyre too nice and stokes was left alone really as the only one offering anything

It’s why I would drop smith, he can’t be wicket keeper in these huge series, he just hides and is completely silent. He can only play as a top order batsman for me, but he needs to go back and work on his game and comeback in a year or so.

Probs move on Crawley, I think, he did ok at times but I was Always happy to look at other options after this. There is absolutely no way he should be dropped for likes of hameed or Sibley mind. Go for someone with a high ceiling and talent.

Go back to a reliable spinner who can hold an end. The rest should stay.

Anyway never mind, amazing tour and country, didn’t even mind the two, 2 day tests as got to see more places, and looking forward to South Africa this winter!
 
smoker said:
Shocked we haven't got a fielding coach because 'we can't pay enough'. Was this part of Colly's role?
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I think it was part of it. But we had Carl Hopkinson who was a specialist fielding coach for 6 years before being binned at the end of 2024. McCullum himself was a very good fielder, so you’d assume he knew the importance of that part of the game, but it seems he was happy to sack it off.
 
MustardAndOnions said:
Was at first 4 tests had to get back to new job before Sydney.

Found the reaction insane myself. We made some big mistakes for sure, they deserve criticism and changes need to be made, but the idea we lost it because of “Bazball” is just Canny funny. It’s a media term and now any dismissal we have gets labeled in that context rather than just players with technical problems gettjnt out, they scored at a much quicker rate than us, look at those Aussies playing irresponsibility!

Felt no different to 17/18 to me

People quoting tosser like Agnew man.

Actually think Theres a lot of potential in this team, didbt think stoke captained that well tho, I reckon McCullum will probs be only to go myself but lets see how the World Cup goes.

It’s very interesting the difference in those out on tour, who while disappointed, were not like some online I think who were almost waiting for them to fail.

Also Nesser and Bolland would be our 2 best bowlers in those conditions

I thought the main difference was head tho, he won the series.

I also do not get people calling England arrogant, the view in the grounds was the exact opposite, theyre timid, quiet, almost to a point mute. I wish they were more arrogant, theyre too nice and stokes was left alone really as the only one offering anything

It’s why I would drop smith, he can’t be wicket keeper in these huge series, he just hides and is completely silent. He can only play as a top order batsman for me, but he needs to go back and work on his game and comeback in a year or so.

Probs move on Crawley, I think, he did ok at times but I was Always happy to look at other options after this. There is absolutely no way he should be dropped for likes of hameed or Sibley mind. Go for someone with a high ceiling and talent.

Go back to a reliable spinner who can hold an end. The rest should stay.

Anyway never mind, amazing tour and country, didn’t even mind the two, 2 day tests as got to see more places, and looking forward to South Africa this winter!
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I'm of the opinion that many players have lost/ neglected basic defensive techniques as a consequence of the I dimensional batting approach, labelled bazball, so it was a major factor.
General indiscipline in most areas also contributed,of course.
And that was a consequence of the do as you please gospel of bazball
 
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Gem of a podcast, Haydos made an excellent point the Aussies are blue collar and scrap for everything. England rocked up with a disrespectful attitude towards the Ashes and rightfully got punished. The Bumble and Athers ones are a good laugh :lol:
 
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Waverley said:
This is interesting background as well

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The Aussies prioritize hard work and discipline and it doesn't matter if you were brought up in the farm in Dubbo you can't graft for your side, Cricket is elitist here and most people in your work place has no idea the Ashes are even on :lol: and this is someone whose favourite sport is test cricket,
 
Waverley said:
This is interesting background as well

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Cricket used to be massively popular in the summer months. If there was good weather our primary school teacher would cancel the lesson and have a game of cricket. Summer holidays would involve lazily watching the test on free to air BBC or having a game round the garages or up the playing field with your mates. If we went to the beach, we'd take the bat, ball and some stumps and have a laugh at our mam attempting to bat.

Has anyone ever seen kids playing a street game in the last ten years ? It's all controlled by private schools amd cricket clubs which, based on personal experience, are elitist and full of nepotism.
Lumley End said:
I think it was part of it. But we had Carl Hopkinson who was a specialist fielding coach for 6 years before being binned at the end of 2024. McCullum himself was a very good fielder, so you’d assume he knew the importance of that part of the game, but it seems he was happy to sack it off.
Click to expand...
So what is Carl doing these days? Maybe they shouldn't have paddled him if good ones are so hard to obtain due to 'franchise cricket'.
 
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smoker said:
Cricket used to be massively popular in the summer months. If there was good weather our primary school teacher would cancel the lesson and have a game of cricket. Summer holidays would involve lazily watching the test on free to air BBC or having a game round the garages or up the playing field with your mates. If we went to the beach, we'd take the bat, ball and some stumps and have a laugh at our mam attempting to bat.

Has anyone ever seen kids playing a street game in the last ten years ? It's all controlled by private schools amd cricket clubs which, based on personal experience, are elitist and full of nepotism.

So what is Carl doing these days? Maybe they shouldn't have paddled him if good ones are so hard to obtain due to 'franchise cricket'.
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Yes remember those days well :D
Waverley said:
This is interesting background as well

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Click to expand...
Yeah very interesting and telling read that mate
As a kid used to be a clear distinction between the football and cricket season.

And the summer belonged to cricket.

Now football dominates the whole calendar with kids now even playing ridiculous summer football leagues.

Never thought I would say this a kid but football now too big in this country and cricket suffering because of it
 
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MustardAndOnions said:
Found the reaction insane myself. We made some big mistakes for sure, they deserve criticism and changes need to be made, but the idea we lost it because of “Bazball” is just Canny funny. It’s a media term and now any dismissal we have gets labeled in that context rather than just players with technical problems gettjnt out, they scored at a much quicker rate than us, look at those Aussies playing irresponsibility!
Click to expand...
The big difference, at least from what I watched, was that the Aussies chose the moments to attack better. Players generally looking to play themselves in and then up the aggression.

The type of dismissals seemed to be a big point of difference too. More often than not the Aussies were getting out either to a good delivery or because they made a mistake. Far too often our players were getting out playing a dumb shot.

The difference in bowling attacks is stark too. We'd made it very clear for the last couple of years that we were going to go to Australia with the fastest attack we could. Pace was the only thing that mattered. The Aussies though brought a mixed bag of outright pace and fast-mediums who could hit a good length and move the ball around. Throughout the series they looked more threatening than we did more often than not.

We could have done the same. We have a county cricket system that has players in that mould putting up excellent figures, but not one of them ever even got a chance because they didn't fit the extreme pace plan.


Personal story time! My nephew is in the Somerset academy, he's currently 16.

I was talking to my brother about about the Ashes the other day, and I brought up Potts. I think that Potts has been ruined as a bowler because he's being encouraged to try and bowl faster. He's quicker than he was last year but with less control, and looked less threatening.

My brother chuckled at this. His son is a bowler. He's not quick, a good 10mph down on the fastest kids in his age group, but he's got good control, can swing it both ways and gets seam movement. I actually faced him in a net session last year and he's a bloody nightmare to face. I've played against guys 20+ mph quicker than him and found them far easier to bat against.

Last season in his age group he had the most wickets, best average, and nearly the best economy. In short, he's a very good bowler.

He's already had coaches telling him that he needs to focus on pace, that pace is more important than movement.

So it seems like this absurd priority for pace over everything else has even reached the youth system at county level.
 
mackinbristol said:
The big difference, at least from what I watched, was that the Aussies chose the moments to attack better. Players generally looking to play themselves in and then up the aggression.

The type of dismissals seemed to be a big point of difference too. More often than not the Aussies were getting out either to a good delivery or because they made a mistake. Far too often our players were getting out playing a dumb shot.

The difference in bowling attacks is stark too. We'd made it very clear for the last couple of years that we were going to go to Australia with the fastest attack we could. Pace was the only thing that mattered. The Aussies though brought a mixed bag of outright pace and fast-mediums who could hit a good length and move the ball around. Throughout the series they looked more threatening than we did more often than not.

We could have done the same. We have a county cricket system that has players in that mould putting up excellent figures, but not one of them ever even got a chance because they didn't fit the extreme pace plan.


Personal story time! My nephew is in the Somerset academy, he's currently 16.

I was talking to my brother about about the Ashes the other day, and I brought up Potts. I think that Potts has been ruined as a bowler because he's being encouraged to try and bowl faster. He's quicker than he was last year but with less control, and looked less threatening.

My brother chuckled at this. His son is a bowler. He's not quick, a good 10mph down on the fastest kids in his age group, but he's got good control, can swing it both ways and gets seam movement. I actually faced him in a net session last year and he's a bloody nightmare to face. I've played against guys 20+ mph quicker than him and found them far easier to bat against.

Last season in his age group he had the most wickets, best average, and nearly the best economy. In short, he's a very good bowler.

He's already had coaches telling him that he needs to focus on pace, that pace is more important than movement.

So it seems like this absurd priority for pace over everything else has even reached the youth system at county level.
Click to expand...

I don’t agree with first bit and I think people have selective memories

Put a comp of some of the Aussie dismisalls, they are shocking

Sorry like but Theres absolutely no bowlers in the CC bowljng low 80s good enough for test cricket

None

Ollie Robinson only one if he was fitter

These were the best bowlers
 
MustardAndOnions said:
I don’t agree with first bit and I think people have selective memories

Put a comp of some of the Aussie dismisalls, they are shocking

Sorry like but Theres absolutely no bowlers in the CC bowljng low 80s good enough for test cricket

None

Ollie Robinson only one if he was fitter

These were the best bowlers
Click to expand...
There is no doubt we played some daft shots and deserved criticism a lot of it for them.

But the Aussies played very attacking throughout the series with a high scoring rate, and their approach was to attack exampled by promoting their number 5 and most attacking player in their side to open.

They played some bad shots as well just not as many as us.

Played attacking cricket better
 
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Surely the end of Baz. His position is completely untenable. Maybe Key too. Sounds like one big lads jolly.
 
Classic94 said:
Apologies if this has already been shared.

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Surely the end of Baz. His position is completely untenable. Maybe Key too. Sounds like one big lads jolly.
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You could tell by Ben being increasingly frustrated as the defeats piled up in the series.
 
Classic94 said:
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Surely the end of Baz. His position is completely untenable. Maybe Key too. Sounds like one big lads jolly.
Click to expand...

All this is just colour like

No why we lost

This is stokes team mind, hes probably most at fault for me but would still let him correct mistakes
Voice of fair play said:
There is no doubt we played some daft shots and deserved criticism a lot of it for them.

But the Aussies played very attacking throughout the series with a high scoring rate, and their approach was to attack exampled by promoting their number 5 and most attacking player in their side to open.

They played some bad shots as well just not as many as us.

Played attacking cricket better
Click to expand...

I don’t think we did play attacking myself

Couple of horror shots in there for sure but at Adelaide for example we f***ing bottled it and went in our shell

I watched every ball of this series, am not saying to show off, just that isn’t why we lost.
 
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MustardAndOnions said:
I don’t agree with first bit and I think people have selective memories

Put a comp of some of the Aussie dismisalls, they are shocking

Sorry like but Theres absolutely no bowlers in the CC bowljng low 80s good enough for test cricket

None

Ollie Robinson only one if he was fitter

These were the best bowlers
Click to expand...

I could name ten seamers in better form than Potts and better fitness than Wood who could have played.

Jacks and Bashir are nowhere near the best spinners in the CC.
 
smoker said:
I could name ten seamers in better form than Potts and better fitness than Wood who could have played.

Jacks and Bashir are nowhere near the best spinners in the CC.
Click to expand...

Go on then.

You couldnt name one

You think Ben Compton snd Sibley should play test cricket

I don’t mean to be personal, I mean tgis honestly, I don’t respect the cricket opinions of someone who thinks that
 
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