FIRST ASHES TEST: Edgbaston

[Mr Redknapp]

How much you get headset and stuff for looks fun like even though id be useless

The one I bought was expensive (HTC vive)

you can get a rift for £400

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And yes it is bloody difficult but has a good realistic feel to it.

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[Sharpshooter]

I'll be honest, I'm glad we won the world cup for the 1st time and would take this ashes loss (potential series hammering) as the cost of it

Australia on the other hand would probably be the opposite.

Already won 5 CWC's, including 4 out of the past 5 before this years WC.

But they haven't won in England in 18 years and haven't won back to back Ashes in 16 years. Australian fans I spoke to were happy to lose the ODI WC so long as they were to win the Ashes in England.

 

[sonson]

Leach would still bat at 11.

Archer averages 30 odd in red ball.

Were seeing cricketers across the world failing to adapt to red and white ball cricket. Seen this on twitter the other week.

"Since the start of 2018 wickets are falling at a rate of one every 53 deliveries in Test cricket. In the 17 years prior to that wickets fell every 64 balls bowled. Batting in Test cricket is exceptionally difficult at the moment."

We have had plenty of time to prepare for the Ashes and yet we've picked players based on white ball performance.

Roy shouldn't have been picked that's the selectors fault. Him dancing down the pitch is exactly what I expected.

I wouldn't say it's difficult. I'd just say batsmen are worse. I dont think there's one bowler at present or in the past five years who will go down in the annals among the greats. When I started to get into Test cricket you had Ambrose Mcgrath Lee Warne Murali Pollock all playing at the same time. Imagine the majority of today's batsmen up against any of them. You had to be exceptional to keep your wicket back then for any length of time.

 

[Voice of fair play]

On the one hand, you identify the ECB as being responsible (along with other boards in other countries) but then say they're not to blame. That's illogical given they're the ones who take decisions in this country.

Not entirely to blame as they has been a world shift from all contries towards white ball cricket resulting in less old fashioned test batsman, that is pretty clear to me.

It was always going to happen the way modern cricket is and has been going, not saying it’s right but was and is happening in every country,

Indeed the proliferation of T20 across the globe is the major cause but it shouldn't be an insurmountable problem -nothing wrong with the powers of concentration of the Aussie batsmen, even the tailenders. Shoehorning the CC into the beginning of the season when most of the better English players are at IPL is also a contributory factor,however, which is within ECB remit. This season's schedule has been perfect imo- pity that it can't be maintained.
I fully understand bitterness to ECB lingering, after all Durham are still suffering because of sanctions. The fact is they're a shambles of an organisation.
Won't blame them for SAFC's demise but I suspect both organisations qualified from the same management school

Tbf mate there is plenty wrong with the concentration of the Aussie batsman, they were a real terrible team with Smith and Warner out of the side.

There is plenty of time for this series to turn around, I would not be surprised if the Aussie batting line up is getting criticised in a few weeks time, that’s the way test cricket goes.

My point been just because the ECB were unfair on Durham, does not mean they responsible for everything that has changed in world cricket.

There is no doubt in my mind ( probably understandably) that because of the Durham treatment posters on here on looking to criticise them at every opportunity with it’s their fault or not.

 

[Mainze]

Archer might get a game I reckon

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[Voice of fair play]

We've lost a test series in WI who aren't very good. Granted we beat Ireland, bowled out for less than 100 wasn't great. Australia have just hammered us. We done well against India, fair play. 2017 we did lose a test match to the WI at home. We've won 2 out of 5 test matches in 2019. Fyi I never mentioned anything about our home record either

Point I'm making is where is the talent pool coming through in red ball cricket. If you're totally honest, a lot of those who featured in this first test, are what I would deem "one day specialists". Red ball cricket has been neglected in this country. Talent pool is very dry now.

Red ball cricket has been neglected in every country to a certain extent, it’s not exclusive to this country.

For example there very few what I would call quality opening test batsman in the traditional sense in all test cricket, which is the way cricket is going rightly or wrongly it’s the way cricket has evolved.

 

[Parkside]

[QUOTE="Voice of fair play, post: 30199169, member: 3514


Tbf mate there is plenty wrong with the concentration of the Aussie batsman, they were a real terrible team with Smith and Warner out of the side.

There is plenty of time for this series to turn around, I would not be surprised if the Aussie batting line up is getting criticised in a few weeks time, that’s the way test cricket goes.

My point been just because the ECB were unfair on Durham, does not mean they responsible for everything that has changed in world cricket.

There is no doubt in my mind ( probably understandably) that because of the Durham treatment posters on here on looking to criticise them at every opportunity with it’s their fault or not.
[/QUOTE]
Wholly disagree with all the points you make,I'm afraid. Obviously the absence of two of their best players will affect Aussie performances but I wouldn't describe them as abject.
With justification,most posters have utter contempt for ECB but I haven't read of any criticism of them which hasn't been warrented..
Ludicrous to lay the blame for declining test match standards on them but I haven't read of anyone making that accusation.

 

[mackembhoy]

I wouldn't say it's difficult. I'd just say batsmen are worse. I dont think there's one bowler at present or in the past five years who will go down in the annals among the greats. When I started to get into Test cricket you had Ambrose Mcgrath Lee Warne Murali Pollock all playing at the same time. Imagine the majority of today's batsmen up against any of them. You had to be exceptional to keep your wicket back then for any length of time.

That was exactly my point. Worse due to the fact the white ball game is completely different to 15 years ago.

Batsman are unable to change their batting to the different formats. The batsman of yesteryear probably wouldn't keep up in odi cricket now.

 

[Voice of fair play]

That was exactly my point. Worse due to the fact the white ball game is completely different to 15 years ago.

Batsman are unable to change their batting to the different formats. The batsman of yesteryear probably wouldn't keep up in odi cricket now.

I suppose the true test of a international batsman is to be able to adapt their style and approach to each format.

That why Kohli is the best batsman in the world for me, however others defintely do struggle from the change from white ball cricket to test cricket totally agree.

 

[Fats]

For me it isn't just a matter of the concentration needed to play test cricket, it's also the mindset required. Totally obvious many will say, and not something we haven't all heard before.

However, the simple fact is that we continually fold in this manner when we have no chance of winning.