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

[Randy Ostrich]

If we took the catches people wouldn't mention test of bowling

Disagree.

Vaughan just made the point that in 100 overs to Australia they've scored 590-8. The bowling has been very poor in the last two innings. It's a bigger picture than just dropping catches. Even if they'd taken them, we'd be saying they'd got out of jail.

 

[Inside Forward]

Oh well. There's always 2027
Hopefully with a new coach and a players who can play properly.

There will be no Root.

Maybe we should just scrap the Ashes and let Australia keep them for good. I get zero enjoyment from it.

 

[Randy Ostrich]

The Aussies would probably be all out if we'd held the catches. Head, Carey and Neser have added 85 extra runs and 2 of them are still in! That's only 3 of the 5 drops.

Absolute shambles dropping 3 very easy catches. We've let them get away from us because of the drops.

Partly agree but sometimes catches will go down. Match prep might have helped with that and that was in our control. Bowling in the right areas is also in our control.

 

[rentaghost]

Worked well?
We're going to lose by a huge margin on day 3.

Worked well for Australia scoring loads of runs at 6 an over? There’s no version of Bazball that tells you to bowl utter filth for a full day, drop 5 catches and expect to win. Thats just shit cricket.

 

[YorkshireLad92]

The West Indies came here and bowled better then we did

 

[sonson]

In under 4 days

Efficient

 

[smoker]

Amazing to think winning this series was Key and McCullum's north star for the England set-up.

 

[rentaghost]

Of course we're underprepared, we could have played a pink ball warm up match but were to arrogant to.

I guess this will always be an issue if you perform like we did today. Personally I don’t see how playing on the slowest, lowest pitch in Australia against weaker bowlers including a 42 year old Peter Siddle is going to prepare you for facing Starc on a fast bouncy track. The bowlers woukd be bowling different lengths also. However if you turn the opportunity down and then perform like that then you are always going to get criticised.

 

[NodsNeph]

where is he for this tour, or have they ditched him? Heard a few rumours that the ladies distract him whilst on tour

Doing a Warney

 

[Inside Forward]

That and four ducks and some brain fart batting.

The sad thing is the Aussies are constantly offering us every opportunity to win the ashes.

It’s mental how many times you look at an England scorecard and there are 4/5/6 players with ducks or single figure scores and someone like Root has managed to get a big hundred to dig us out of the shit.

If he’d been caught by Smith early yesterday this Test would probably be over already.

Maybe McCullum should encourage the players to start taking responsibility and handing a few bollockings out.

 

[JackL]

The dropped catches are the main difference between the 2 sides, simple as that.

Not having someone as good as Mitchel Starc bowling also

 

[Parkside]

If we took the catches people wouldn't mention test of bowling

Your comment should be posted in the 1st person

Not really. Disciplined batting, actual bowling plans, catching and fielding are the difference. England have lost 5/6 sessions and that's not down to dropped catches

More common and balanced comment is the above.
However,bask in contented mediocrity if you please.

 

[GingerNick]

Second best in every way I am afraid....

 

[Keith S30S]

Not having someone as good as Mitchel Starc bowling also

They should have 85 runs less and be at least 8 down. They'd be all out, their 10 and 11 are hopeless. It's fair enough to drop the odd catch but 3 dollies is totally unacceptable.

 

[Binxy]

It’s mental how many times you look at an England scorecard and there are 4/5/6 players with ducks or single figure scores and someone like Root has managed to get a big hundred to dig us out of the shit.

If he’d been caught by Smith early yesterday this Test would probably be over already.

Maybe McCullum should encourage the players to start taking responsibility and handing a few bollockings out.

Only four of our players went past 20.
7 of their 8 have went past 20.(the other being 15 not out)

 

[gavlarsafc89]

This is worse than the last two tours as we should have been very competitive against what is the worst aussie test side I’ve seen while also missing 3 of their best bowlers.

Embarrassing and I’d be quite happy to see there good mate “ baz “ peddled

 

[GingerNick]

Wtf is this bowling man
Just delving into the scorecard....it looks wasteful

 

[Randy Ostrich]

Amazing to think winning this series was Key and McCullum's north star for the England set-up.

It's not too late to turn around but there would have to be evidence of learning, which we haven't really seen, other than Duckett in Pakistan.

 

[PitYacker]

It’s mental how many times you look at an England scorecard and there are 4/5/6 players with ducks or single figure scores and someone like Root has managed to get a big hundred to dig us out of the shit.

If he’d been caught by Smith early yesterday this Test would probably be over already.

Maybe McCullum should encourage the players to start taking responsibility and handing a few bollockings out.

We always have to rely on heroics rather than any sort of coherent team performance. Seems to have been that way for years.

 

[Randy Ostrich]

I guess this will always be an issue if you perform like we did today. Personally I don’t see how playing on the slowest, lowest pitch in Australia against weaker bowlers including a 42 year old Peter Siddle is going to prepare you for facing Starc on a fast bouncy track. The bowlers woukd be bowling different lengths also. However if you turn the opportunity down and then perform like that then you are always going to get criticised.

Vaughan's point was you can't replicate a match situation in the nets.