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

[Binxy]

We'll skittle them out with about a 80 run lead then Zac and Ben will put on a 150 run stand for the first wicket.

 

[hank evans]

We'll skittle them out with about a 80 run lead then Zac and Ben will put on a 150 run stand for the first wicket.

You missed a bit, in 70 overs to bring Will into the game on the last day

 

[Mr Redknapp]

You missed a bit, in 70 overs to bring Will into the game on the last day

Ferrell?

 

[hank evans]

Ferrell?

I’m in, did you see his arm in elf? He’ll be slinging bouncers down at 120mph

 

[mackembhoy]

The fascination with Crawley is mind blowing, he's saved himself this test as he seems to have a habit of doing, but he just isn't good enough.

Really good post but will pick out this part.

As for me that innings further illustrated he's not good enough.

A pretty 50 once in a bluemoon is what he does with loads of single digit scores along the way. If you can rarely convert the starts and rely on others to win the match, that's not good enough frankly as an opening bat.

Compare to Cook as an opener so many times he got us in the positions to set us up to win games.

Crawley was the same in India our best batsman in fact and credit to him for that. But he couldn't convert once while Jaiswal did and put India in the position to win games.

 

[Voice of fair play]

Hold on a minute here, that "golf craic" is clearly aimed at me so I'll reply.

This team deserve criticism. The whole setup deserves criticism. Have this team really improved things, results aren't particularly great with the stand out NZ away as only the "big team series win".

We were embarrassed in the first test, we declined a pink ball warm up game and the batting and bowling have been absolutely shite. As I said earlier the bowling in the 2nd innings in the 1st test and the bowling today is about as bad as I have ever seen, the short bowling under the lights today especially was absolutely wild. The manner of some of the wickets we've gifted has been absolutely appalling and embarrassing at times, for example Brook yesterday it was school kid cricket, even the bowler looked embarrassed by it and Starc just keeps pissing himself as he doesn't even have to try, just lays the bait and we take it 95% of the time.

We have prepared for this series for around 4 years (correct me if I'm wrong). We've prepared a spinner who isn't county championship standard for several years and all of a sudden he's nowhere to be seen, what does that tell you? The fascination back home resting these players is questionable as it was in September, and the "warm up game" against the Lions was half arsed at best when you watch the highlights. It was an arrogant prep for such an important series against a side who for me aren't great and are missing two (3 this test) key bowlers who would absolutely destroy us.

As I said earlier Kookaburra test when a test series was on, meaning no test players benfited from it, a totally pointless exercise.

There is no defending this and I'm not just saying that about those on the field either, the whole setup is rotten, which is something I have been consistent about for many years.

The fascination with Crawley is mind blowing, he's saved himself this test as he seems to have a habit of doing, but he just isn't good enough.

The preparation has been abysmal, the application so far this series has been absymal, the game management has been school kid stuff and performances in general have been unacceptable.

Yes they're exciting for a neutral but that is in no way a compliment, buffet bowling today will be exciting for some as batters just smash it out the ground but that shouldn't be a positive endorsement of "bazball", because to any cricket fan, it's just rank bad cricket.

They deserve every ounce of criticism at the moment because it's absolutely shite what they are serving up and the setup comes across as a very very arrogant group/setup on and off the field.

Also worth noting the body language at times today was rotten.

They need to get their fingers out & start applying themselves maturely towards test cricket, this isn't T20/One Day Cricket.

Some more than fair and well constructed coments there mate, much better than constant immature digs about golf

 

[essex boy]

Really good post but will pick out this part.

As for me that innings further illustrated he's not good enough.

A pretty 50 once in a bluemoon is what he does with loads of single digit scores along the way. If you can rarely convert the starts and rely on others to win the match, that's not good enough frankly as an opening bat.

Compare to Cook as an opener so many times he got us in the positions to set us up to win games.

Crawley was the same in India our best batsman in fact and credit to him for that. But he couldn't convert once while Jaiswal did and put India in the position to win games.

Great post.

To add to this, what may count against Crawley is Pope batting ar 3 with both being relatively lightweight.

 

[Tin Man]

Things could change quickly in this test.We have the players to make it happen.Surely three or four of our lads come good this time with bat+ ball.

 

[Safc98]

Him

I’ve watched every ball of this game and all the flaws we have shown are absolutely nowt to do with not being prepared for playing against a pink ball but they have just been ill equipped against fast pitches with bounce. Which is worse really. Mind you the golf stuff is just puerile immature arguments imo

The golf thing is relevant as they seem unbelievably ill prepared.

 

[Binxy]

People are quite rightly singling out Crawley but Duckett as been just as bad if not worse.
49 runs in three knocks.

 

[dangermows]

By the end of day 1 people saying we have done well, anything above 300 you're in the test, asking if we are ahead of the game etc. Aussies then bat and suddenly our batting was absolutely shite

People are quite rightly singling out Crawley but Duckett as been just as bad if not worse.
49 runs in three knocks.

He got a beauty this test.

 

[Voice of fair play]

It is just soo soo disappointing really really gutted actually the way it as gone

There has been soo soo much focus on this for such a long time.

And ultimately if they fail badly which they look like doing there is no escaping the constructive criticism that will come their way.

They will have to hold their hands up be mature and take full responsibility

 

[Binxy]

By the end of day 1 people saying we have done well, anything above 300 you're in the test, asking if we are ahead of the game etc. Aussies then bat and suddenly our batting was absolutely shite

He got a beauty this test.

Our batting was shite, Root and Archers 10th wicket stand doesn't gloss over the fact.

 

[dangermows]

It is just soo soo disappointing really really gutted actually the way it as gone

There has been soo soo much focus on this for such a long time.

And ultimately if they fail badly which they look like doing there is no escaping the constructive criticism that will come their way.

They will have to hold their hands up be mature and take full responsibility

Depends how you define take full responsibility. If that means change their approach I don't think they will.

 

[Voice of fair play]

Depends how you define take full responsibility. If that means change their approach I don't think they will.

I think they will have too if we get beat badly which looks like happening,

Rightly or wrongly massive series like this define management and their approach.

Always been like that at top level sport

 

[dangermows]

Really good post but will pick out this part.

As for me that innings further illustrated he's not good enough.

A pretty 50 once in a bluemoon is what he does with loads of single digit scores along the way. If you can rarely convert the starts and rely on others to win the match, that's not good enough frankly as an opening bat.

Compare to Cook as an opener so many times he got us in the positions to set us up to win games.

Crawley was the same in India our best batsman in fact and credit to him for that. But he couldn't convert once while Jaiswal did and put India in the position to win games.

I'd agree there. However, seeing recent interviews the suggestion is he does knock match winners "three innings out of ten". Perhaps they class 70 odds as such.

I think they will have too if we get beat badly which looks like happening,

Rightly or wrongly massive series like this define management and their approach.

Always been like that at top level sport

I don't think they will. Might mean change of personnel but if they stick with the current set up they'll likely say they need to improve on their execution as they still clearly feel the players at their disposal have the best chance of success with bazball cricket.

Our batting was shite, Root and Archers 10th wicket stand doesn't gloss over the fact.

So Day 1 being England's day is shite batting? Interesting.

 

[Parkside]

Problem is when they have performed badly which has to be accepted and no getting away from it.

It opens it up for the immature golf craic.

The only way it will stop is if they perform better.

The "golf craic" is clearly throwaway trivial comment not intended to be serious but to provoke bites. Is the immaturity not coming from those who allow themselves to get upset by it?
Concern has been expressed about the limitations of the "one size fits all" approach of bazball and the consequential irresponsible shot selection.Invariably those expressing those views are labelled, negative or whingers. Again,is castigating a concern which has now been shown to be completely valid not in itself immature?
Invariably contrasting and conflicting views are expressed in a thread. Can that not be accepted without reporting to insulting rhetoric?
I look forward to your response.

 

[Voice of fair play]

I'd agree there. However, seeing recent interviews the suggestion is he does knock match winners "three innings out of ten". Perhaps they class 70 odds as such.

I don't think they will. Might mean change of personnel but if they stick with the current set up they'll likely say they need to improve on their execution as they still clearly feel the players at their disposal have the best chance of success with bazball cricket.

It’s a real difficult one, as they strongly believe in their philosophy, but their stubbornness to adapt even slightly will mean the pressure will be immense to change their style after this series especially if they lose badly

 

[gavlarsafc89]

By the end of day 1 people saying we have done well, anything above 300 you're in the test, asking if we are ahead of the game etc. Aussies then bat and suddenly our batting was absolutely shite

He got a beauty well it’s canny

By the end of day 1 people saying we have done well, anything above 300 you're in the test, asking if we are ahead of the game etc. Aussies then bat and suddenly our batting was absolutely shite

He got a beauty this test.

Well it’s hard to argue it wasnt shite when 4 of them got ducks

 

[dangermows]

It’s a real difficult one, as they strongly believe in their philosophy, but their stubbornness to adapt even slightly will mean the pressure will be immense to change their style after this series especially if they lose badly

Time will tell sir. Be interesting how they go about it, especially if they don't think they have players capable of more traditional rest cricket. I reckon they'll need a change of captain and coach personally.