Just some observations on how England could improve and win the Ashes back down under or next at home:
Scheduling: Stokes quite rightly points out that the state of test cricket is a concern. Improving scoring rates which Stokes has done is great. However, I would like to see test schedules changed by having more rest between tests and more warm up games ie not packing in 5 tests in the blink of an eye. Cummins look spent by the 4th test as an example. England have some genuine quality in Archer, Wood et al and more spaced out tests would work to our advantage IMO
Spinners: Picking the same spinner in every test ie, Leach as Australia did with Lyon has caught both sides out. Could we send our better spinners to play in Indian or Sri Lankan first class cricket in the English winter to learn from the home spinners and hopefully improve so there is more back up quality? Against the weaker nations should we play our second spinner whoever that is so they have more exposure to test cricket when called upon
Test grounds: I would personally play the first test at Headingly and leave grass on the wicket. It is arguably the most important test and England maybe better served staring at Headingley to ensure they go 1 up
Selection: Greater transparency over who is picking the sides. There were some interesting selections and as fans some who pay significant amounts of money for test tickets are entitled to understand this process better IMO
Players going abroad: As some of the Aussies have showed, performing away from home can be hard. Laba as an example looks like chalk and cheese at home and away. By all account Woakes is fairly similar so should players be playing abroad more in domestic 4 day cricket in the english winter
Scheduling: Stokes quite rightly points out that the state of test cricket is a concern. Improving scoring rates which Stokes has done is great. However, I would like to see test schedules changed by having more rest between tests and more warm up games ie not packing in 5 tests in the blink of an eye. Cummins look spent by the 4th test as an example. England have some genuine quality in Archer, Wood et al and more spaced out tests would work to our advantage IMO
Spinners: Picking the same spinner in every test ie, Leach as Australia did with Lyon has caught both sides out. Could we send our better spinners to play in Indian or Sri Lankan first class cricket in the English winter to learn from the home spinners and hopefully improve so there is more back up quality? Against the weaker nations should we play our second spinner whoever that is so they have more exposure to test cricket when called upon
Test grounds: I would personally play the first test at Headingly and leave grass on the wicket. It is arguably the most important test and England maybe better served staring at Headingley to ensure they go 1 up
Selection: Greater transparency over who is picking the sides. There were some interesting selections and as fans some who pay significant amounts of money for test tickets are entitled to understand this process better IMO
Players going abroad: As some of the Aussies have showed, performing away from home can be hard. Laba as an example looks like chalk and cheese at home and away. By all account Woakes is fairly similar so should players be playing abroad more in domestic 4 day cricket in the english winter
