Australia V England , 4th Test, 25.12. 2025, 23:30

[DieselBert]

Their batting line up is average and we knew that before we went there. That’s what makes our performances all the more frustrating. Especially when they’ve missed 3/4 of their best bowling attack for most of the series.

So frustrating. In 2010/11 we put the pressure on them and they crumbled. We've relieved them of that pressure throughout the series by dropping catches,bowling filth, picking non spinners and giving them easy wickets. Yesterday does nothing for me, this has been a disastrous tour

 

[Sea to Shining Sea]

So frustrating. In 2010/11 we put the pressure on them and they crumbled. We've relieved them of that pressure throughout the series by dropping catches,bowling filth, picking non spinners and giving them easy wickets. Yesterday does nothing for me, this has been a disastrous tour

Even if we’d caught well (which comes with thorough practice, drills and sharpness), we’d likely still be in this series without having batted or bowled convincingly.

Just underprepared and ill disciplined. As Hussain and Atherton were saying, it’s such a hollow win.

 

[DieselBert]

Even if we’d caught well (which comes with thorough practice, drills and sharpness), we’d likely still be in this series without having batted or bowled convincingly.

Just underprepared and ill disciplined. As Hussain and Atherton were saying, it’s such a hollow win.

It feels like we've dragged them down to our level not the other way around

 

[rentaghost]

He fucked up massively by producing a pitch that was conducive to good bowlers and not conducive to batsmen with poor techniques and limited patience.

In days gone by, that wicket doesn’t produce 36 wickets in 1.75 days play. Not a chance. It was a classic Trent Bridge pitch

Nah I’m not having that. I know there’s stats that show deviation levels but I’ll be very surprised if any TB pitch has showed level of movement consistently over two days. Even when broad took his 8/15

 

[Sea to Shining Sea]

Nah I’m not having that. I know there’s stats that show deviation levels but I’ll be very surprised if any TB pitch has showed level of movement consistently over two days. Even when broad took his 8/15

How many batsman were genuinely got out across the game?

Off the top of my head on day one, Head played a cut too close, Smith played a big booming drive that wasn’t there, Green was run out and Carey played a ludicrous shot into a trap. That’s before I even get into the England side.

It was a difficult seaming pitch (very far from ideal), but the application, willingness and ability to negate it wasn’t there. And in years gone by, I believe it was. One side might be skittled, but then the other would learn or they’d both adjust second innings. Now, teams just tell themselves it’s unplayable and toss it off.

 

[rentaghost]

How many batsman were genuinely got out across the game?

Off the top of my head on day one, Head played a cut too close, Smith played a big booming drive that wasn’t there, Green was run out and Carey played a ludicrous shot into a trap. That’s before I even get into the England side.

It was a difficult seaming pitch (very far from ideal), but the application, willingness and ability to negate it wasn’t there. And in years gone by, I believe it was. One side might be skittled, but then the other would learn or they’d both adjust second innings. Now, teams just tell themselves it’s unplayable and toss it off.

When was the last time you saw Joe Root struggle like that at TB? Not being able to lay bat on ball, trying to shuffle down the pitch to negate excessive movement. In the first innings Crawley, Bethall, Root, Brook all of our top order bar Duckett were genuinely got out and some of the dismissals in the match that were due to more dubious shots were down to a recognition that you needed to get runs before the unplayable one got you.

 

[Sea to Shining Sea]

When was the last time you saw Joe Root struggle like that at TB? Not being able to lay bat on ball, trying to shuffle down the pitch to negate excessive movement. In the first innings Crawley, Bethall, Root, Brook all of our top order bar Duckett were genuinely got out and some of the dismissals in the match that were due to more dubious shots were down to a recognition that you needed to get runs before the unplayable one got you.

I sat directly behind Crawley for his dismissal first innings. Open stance, left arm over, pushing it away from him, hands away from body, a little bit of movement. It was the type of delivery that gets him out with regularity and nothing out of the ordinary.

It was a difficult pitch to bat on. It was not a 36 wickets in two days pitch by any stretch of the imagination. The reason why games used to go for four or five days, even on uncovered green tops, was because batsman applied themselves knowing that it was a five day game. Very few batsmen even attempted to applied themselves in this game from ball one.

 

[rentaghost]

I sat directly behind Crawley for his dismissal first innings. Open stance, left arm over, pushing it away from him, hands away from body, a little bit of movement. It was the type of delivery that gets him out with regularity and nothing out of the ordinary.

It was a difficult pitch to bat on. It was not a 36 wickets in two days pitch by any stretch of the imagination. The reason why games used to go for four or five days, even on uncovered green tops, was because batsman applied themselves knowing that it was a five day game. Very few batsmen even attempted to applied themselves in this game from ball one.

Root did for his 15 ball duck, Labaschagne did in both innings and both could have been out umpteen times before managing 30 runs out 4 times between them. These are two of the best defensive players in world cricket. I think your rightful despair at the current set up is colouring your judgement on this.

 

[Sea to Shining Sea]

Root did for his 15 ball duck, Labaschagne did in both innings and both could have been out umpteen times before managing 30 runs out 4 times between them. These are two of the best defensive players in world cricket. I think your rightful despair at the current set up is colouring your judgement on this.

I disagree. It wasn’t a good pitch. But it absolutely wasn’t a 36 wickets in two days pitch. Root was got out, absolutely. One of the few. Labuschagne lost patience for batting and had a big lunging drive, as did Smith. Both their openers got off to solid starts against the new ball before both playing ill thought out shots (a cut from a ball too close to cut on any pitch and trying to whip the ball for four).

What we saw was two teams with real batting deficiencies batting poorly on a challenging surface. We all knew Australia had those issues before this test series and we all knew England’s too. This test demonstrated those very clearly.

 

[Aidan11]

3-1.

The comeback is on.

 

[rentaghost]

I disagree. It wasn’t a good pitch. But it absolutely wasn’t a 36 wickets in two days pitch. Root was got out, absolutely. One of the few. Labuschagne lost patience for batting and had a big lunging drive, as did Smith. Both their openers got off to solid starts against the new ball before both playing ill thought out shots (a cut from a ball too close to cut on any pitch and trying to whip the ball for four).

What we saw was two teams with real batting deficiencies batting poorly on a challenging surface. We all knew Australia had those issues before this test series and we all knew England’s too. This test demonstrated those very clearly.

Australia much more than England in this match. We didn’t get to 16/4 in the first innings by playing dumb attacking shots (Duckett accepted) and it was only Brooks run a ball knock that kept us in contention. Second time around our approach knocked off the runs and won us the game and Crawley, Root, Brook and Bethall were all quite measured in their batting.

 

[Sea to Shining Sea]

Australia much more than England in this match. We didn’t get to 16/4 in the first innings by playing dumb attacking shots (Duckett accepted) and it was only Brooks run a ball knock that kept us in contention. Second time around our approach knocked off the runs and won us the game and Crawley, Root, Brook and Bethall were all quite measured in their batting.

That’s pretty much my point. Australia batted impatiently and gave it away first innings. England’s technique is nowhere near the level to be able to negotiate a tricky seaming wicket and they couldn’t cope with it (that’s what I was referring to earlier with my description of Crawley’s dismissal for example).

This then created the impression it was a total minefield and has led to a groundsman having to justify himself to the media. I don’t think that’s right or fair

 

[Parkside]

That’s pretty much my point. Australia batted impatiently and gave it away first innings. England’s technique is nowhere near the level to be able to negotiate a tricky seaming wicket and they couldn’t cope with it (that’s what I was referring to earlier with my description of Crawley’s dismissal for example).

This then created the impression it was a total minefield and has led to a groundsman having to justify himself to the media. I don’t think that’s right or fair

ICC have ruled that the pitch was unsatisfactory but the groundsman(curator), who was of such proven pedigree to have been headhunted by MCG, fronted up to explain the reasoning behind his pitch preparation. He clearly acted in good faith so no criticism of him. It was clearly exacerbated by poor technique by both sets of batsmen.
Aussies team,to their credit,put themselves around the Melbourne suburbs to mix with supporters who had been deprived of the following days cricket
England team were likewise available for those who cared to visit the local golf clubs or pubs

 

[Aidan11]

Is there any punishment for this?

Would have thought a few points deducted in relation to the World Test Championship at least.