FTECB to blame.

AUS managed a touring match to get a bit of red ball practice before the series/ after the world cup and they even managed a game v Derbyshire in between the 3rd and 4th test...so why couldn't England?

As the op said it was tiredness and too much cricket that effected the players, last thing they needed was more games.

the best performers in the series the likes of Stokes, Smith, Cummins and Hazelwood hardly played any practices games, where the Aussies who played the practice games were probably their worst performers!

So really don’t get the point!
 
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But oh no !!!! the FTECB decide to have an Ashes series straight after the World Cup because Sky TV wanted one and offer a deal that the FTECB won't turn down. To hell with the players we want the money !!!!

...... they played 11 World Cup games in 46 days. That's not a lot really.

The reason they briefly went away from the 4 year cycle of Ashes series was more to do with when we play Australia away. It was always a case of Ashes followed by WC, which they sensibly moved away from.

When is the next time the WC will be in England ? Probably another 20 years, by which time we'll have had at least 4 home Ashes series without the distraction of a WC preceding it. This year was just an unfortunate one off.

Where the ECB have got it wrong, imo, is the The Hundred. They should have just been a bit more creative with the current T20.......less games but more intensity (like 2003 when it first started).

Just as an aside, as you are bashing the ECB. I was at Corbridge on Saturday and they have a fantastic new bar which apparently was two-thirds funded by a grant from the ECB in the wake of the floods which ruined their ground in 2015. This and the All Stars initiative have breathed new life into a village cricket club ............all thanks to Sky money. It's not all about the England Test team
 
As the op said it was tiredness and too much cricket that effected the players, last thing they needed was more games.

the best performers in the series the likes of Stokes, Smith, Cummins and Hazelwood hardly played any practices games, where the Aussies who played the practice games were probably their worst performers!

So really don’t get the point!

Smith and Labuschagne both played in the game v Derbyshire their 2 best batters in the series, our batters bar Stokes and probably Burns could have done with some time in the middle with the red ball in that period.
 
Did no harm to Stokes and Smith, quite the opposite.

Plus you never going to get top international cricketers wanting to turn down the IPL, for a game in the county championship in April, whichever country they from.
The best players can adjust more easily than others.
 
Smith and Labuschagne both played in the game v Derbyshire their 2 best batters in the series, our batters bar Stokes and probably Burns could have done with some time in the middle with the red ball in that period.

Smith got 23 are you really saying that extra practice made the difference?
 
Smith got 23 are you really saying that extra practice made the difference?

By all accounts Smith is obsessed with batting so it would have more likely made a difference (to him at least) if he didn't play especially with him missing the previous test

It might not have made any difference to England but most of them batted undercooked with the red ball. Bairstow and Roy completely forgot not every full ball is drivable in red ball cricket

Are you saying the England batters I mentioned couldn't have done with the extra red ball practice? if that's the case we seemed to have watched completely different series
 
By all accounts Smith is obsessed with batting so it would have more likely made a difference (to him at least) if he didn't play especially with him missing the previous test

It might not have made any difference to England but most of them batted undercooked with the red ball. Bairstow and Roy completely forgot not every full ball is drivable in red ball cricket

Are you saying the England batters I mentioned couldn't have done with the extra red ball practice? if that's the case we seemed to have watched completely different series

I am saying like the op there was no time for any further practice players played too much if anything.

I am also saying the best players in series were the people who had less red ball practice, Smith, Stokes, Cummins and Hazelwood.

Smith scored runs before the Derby game and after the Derby game,you can seriously suggesting the 23 he got in that game had any influence on his performances?

Of course our players could do with more red ball credit and practice I agree, and that should happen more but that was not the reason we lost this series not at all.

Their players played in the World Cup as well, they beat us because they performed better and had better players and not because they players had more red ball cricket practice.

As most of their players apart from Labuschange who had red ball practice actually performed quite poorly in the series
 
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The blame for the current Ashes debacle lies squarely at the FTECB's door.
Since 2015 they have totally concentrated the England set up on winning the 2019 World Cup. Something we achieved and should be very proud of and the whole Country should be celebrating for the rest of the summer.
But oh no !!!! the FTECB decide to have an Ashes series straight after the World Cup because Sky TV wanted one and offer a deal that the FTECB won't turn down. To hell with the players we want the money !!!!
In 2014 we had back to back Ashes series because the FTECB don't want a World Cup and Ashes series in the same year. So what has changed ???? Simple MONEY. The FTECB are now in a financial mess because of their commitment to the new 100 Competition.
I really feel sorry for the England players who have had to play in the World Cup and the Ashes series. After the World Cup they had a 2 week break before the played Ireland in a Test Match at Lords as their preparation for the Ashes series. Some players were rested because of their workload in the World Cup. I suggest they all needed a rest not just a certain few.
The England players in my view look burnt out. They should be rejoicing in what they have achieved this summer and not be under scrutiny for their performances in the Ashes.
You can only flog a horse so many times before it lies down and dies.
A 3 Test Series against an emerging nation should of been arranged after the World Cup where England could of blooded the best young talent.
BUT OH NO SKY WOULD'NT OF PAID FOR THAT.

Yep - good post. We do look fucked and its clear the priority for this summer for the Aussies was the Ashes and they deserve to win for their focus, planning and attention to detail.
 
Its been a close series the biggest issue we have had though is the scoring rate bar the 2nd test it has been poor, when they have the attack like they do you need to get after them as they will find a way to get you out, too often we have just cruised through our innings.
 
Its been a close series the biggest issue we have had though is the scoring rate bar the 2nd test it has been poor, when they have the attack like they do you need to get after them as they will find a way to get you out, too often we have just cruised through our innings.

I do actually think that is a very good point.

A couple of times we only had about 200 on and we’re facing the new ball again, always hard that way!

however a lot on here think the opposite and that we were not patient enough and played too many one day players and went for too many shots.
 
Its been a close series the biggest issue we have had though is the scoring rate bar the 2nd test it has been poor, when they have the attack like they do you need to get after them as they will find a way to get you out, too often we have just cruised through our innings.

It hasn't been that close.

They've had the upper hand on most days of most tests. We've been hanging in there and won due to a miracle at Headingley.

They have the best batsmen by miles, the best bowler and the recently introduced Labuschagne shows better form than any of our batsmen.

'Getting after' good bowlers is exactly why our batsmen get out. You might hit a quick 20, but they'll get you in the end ......... unless of course it's Stokes at Headingley
 
It hasn't been that close.

They've had the upper hand on most days of most tests. We've been hanging in there and won due to a miracle at Headingley.

They have the best batsmen by miles, the best bowler and the recently introduced Labuschagne shows better form than any of our batsmen.

'Getting after' good bowlers is exactly why our batsmen get out. You might hit a quick 20, but they'll get you in the end ......... unless of course it's Stokes at Headingley
One player has been the difference. We could have won the 2nd test if the weather had been better and wasnt far off a draw in the last test. They overall have been the better team but hardly battering us. It isnt about smashing everything its about playing a few more shots just like the Aussies have against our attack, too many times we have left balls that are run scoring opportunities and not attacked the short ball. Roots and Burns 1st innings partnership is a great example it was good effort but it was too slow and should have been putting them to the sword like the aussies would in the same position.
 

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