Surely though it had to be put into context?
It has also led us to 3 0 victories over two other top nations and completely transformed our test fortunes from where we were before it.
I do agree at times during this series mistakes have been made because of it.
But putting everything into context it has been a big success surely?
It’s a gambler’s strategy. That’s the context. Someone who only bets on hands that can’t lose isn’t going to play a game. Which is kind of the old philosophy. That avoids defeat at all costs. The one that wouldn’t chase 260 in 70 overs because “what happens if we lose mummy?”
But equally recklessness has to have an expectation of return. Someone who bets too often on hands that are likely to lose isn’t going to play for long. Or keep hold of their house.
A good gambler accepts the losses if the strategy is right and the test is when the wins outweigh the losses. They do so far especially last year. Even this, I am personally convinced that the gambles that were taken at Edgbaston were right because probabilistically they increased our chance of winning more than losing. We just buggered up the execution. At Lords, not so much perhaps. At Headingley we got it right again.
Three or four of the Aussies sprinted after him to shake his hand too, as much as they’ve shown their ‘true colours’ on occasion in this series it was indeed a touch of class the way they responded to Crawley today.
Reluctant to resurrect this but your true colours comment is unfair for me. Spirit of cricket says hard but fair. They congratulated an achievement enthusiastically. They ran some gormless bloke out in circumstances where everyone who’s ever kept wicket has tried but most of us (except the England coach of course) always missed.
Fits hard but fair to me.
Massive false equivalence unfortunately.
Can you substantiate because it looks quite a good analogy to me?
This strategic approach has turned a side that only eighteen months ago was glad to avoid an innings defeat to the West Indies (remember them? They lose to Scotland) into one that is great to watch. One that clinched a series win last year against both the world champions and the world no 1. One that won 3-0 away in Pakistan when no previous England side had won more than one.
Just now it might be losing (not lost, merely losing) to the opponent you think matters most. Your “Newcastle“ if you like. Mine too as it goes. But even so, it’s not time to throw it all out surely?
Why does this system default to editing your last post? Those three would be better separate.
