Mumbles274
running from law and the press and the parents
Sweeping 
The Ashes 2017-18
- Thread starter planetgeli
- Start date
Mumbles274
running from law and the press and the parents
Till the summer?
Casual Observer
enough
The only good thing about going just an hour and 45 minutes into the last day is that it spared us a second Dan Norcross stint.
Ted Striker
Foot's on the other hand
Dunno...going to probably sleep like normal, take one nervous listen to tms at 6ish...If Root is still being mentioned it's game on
The latter it is, then
redsquirrel
This Machine Kills Progressives
Need to think about re-jigging the batting order IMO. Not getting enough out of Bairstow stuck so low down. Overton had a pretty decent debut, I'd keep him in the team for Perth.
Oh and so much for Graham Swann's moronic 2-1 to England prediction.
Oh and so much for Graham Swann's moronic 2-1 to England prediction.
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Mumbles274
running from law and the press and the parents
Drop him for a couple of tests
Spymaster
Plastic Paddy
I don't think a big panic is required. Both matches have been closer than the final scores suggests. If we'd got Smith a bit earlier in the first test and Marsh in the second they'd have been very different games. Crap call on the toss though. The gap between the teams isn't huge; good bowling sides v average batting sides but their spinner's made a big difference. We need to stop losing wickets in clusters. 6 for 57 in a session is miserable.
Casual Observer
enough
Don't think Lyon will do much in Perth. Won't happen but I'd swap Vince for Foakes and Norcross for Dagnall.
PaoloSanchez
Well-Known Member
The result of both of the tests so far have flattered the Aussies a bit. England were closer to them than the scorelines would suggest. Both captains made decisions that with hindsight many thought to be the wrong ones. Root putting the Aussies in to bat after winning the toss and batting conditions were at their best. Smith not enforcing the follow on when that would surely have put the game way beyond England's reach with no chance of them getting a result.
England's excellent bowling effort in the Aussie second innings caused a bit of anxiety for Smith and you could see it in the teams body language. If Woakes and Root could have seen out the early overs then it would have been interesting. Root needed to play the sort of captains innings that Smith played in the first test but hasn't quite managed it so far. England needed at least one of their batsmen to stick around and get a big score like Smith and Marsh did.
Anyway, I'm happy with the result, well done Aussies. I stopped listening and watching because I didn't want to jinx the outcome. Switched on when Broad and Bairstow were in and the game was effectively over.
I don't think England need to change the line up really. Keep Overton, senior batsmen need to up their game. Cook has been a bit too quiet, needs to put in one of his big scores to help team out and get them off to good solid starts.
Not sure what's with the Norcross hate, seems ok to me. TMS ftw.
England's excellent bowling effort in the Aussie second innings caused a bit of anxiety for Smith and you could see it in the teams body language. If Woakes and Root could have seen out the early overs then it would have been interesting. Root needed to play the sort of captains innings that Smith played in the first test but hasn't quite managed it so far. England needed at least one of their batsmen to stick around and get a big score like Smith and Marsh did.
Anyway, I'm happy with the result, well done Aussies. I stopped listening and watching because I didn't want to jinx the outcome. Switched on when Broad and Bairstow were in and the game was effectively over.
I don't think England need to change the line up really. Keep Overton, senior batsmen need to up their game. Cook has been a bit too quiet, needs to put in one of his big scores to help team out and get them off to good solid starts.
Not sure what's with the Norcross hate, seems ok to me. TMS ftw.
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Casual Observer
enough
Problems with Norcross are that he can't stop talking, talks mostly superfluous bollocks and doesn't give the co-commentator/analyst a chance to get a word in. Today was a prime example - he was on with Glenn McGrath who, as the most successful fast bowler of all time, has plenty of insight to offer - Norcross did 100% of the talking during the over then during the change of over when he should have let McGrath in, he did 80% of the talking then as well. Thant's rank bad manners as well as shitty commentary.
Another problem with Norcross is that his voice goes up and down too much for accentuation during speech - just about tolerable if there's a good punchline at the end but there never is.
On the plus side, Norcross is confident and knows a lot about the game and could be OK but someone needs to take him to one side and teach him the basics.
I've inadvertently sat near Norcross at the Oval for Surrey games a couple of times. Both times I've gone to another part of the ground when the penny dropped.
Norcross out, Dagnall in.
Another problem with Norcross is that his voice goes up and down too much for accentuation during speech - just about tolerable if there's a good punchline at the end but there never is.
On the plus side, Norcross is confident and knows a lot about the game and could be OK but someone needs to take him to one side and teach him the basics.
I've inadvertently sat near Norcross at the Oval for Surrey games a couple of times. Both times I've gone to another part of the ground when the penny dropped.
Norcross out, Dagnall in.
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littlebabyjesus
one of Maxwell's demons
Play him as part of a lower-middle-order trio next to two other batting all-rounders?
I don't have too much of a problem with his all or nothing batting, tbh. My problem thus far this series has been with his poor bowling. Lyon's shown him up.
littlebabyjesus
one of Maxwell's demons
This was kind of true last time round as well. In the first couple of tests, England had Aus five or six down for not too many and looked right in it, only for a huge lower order revival to take the games away from them. Very disappointed by this Adelaide test - game was lost in the first innings, on the first day really, which is a huge let down. Bad luck, by all accounts, on the second morning, but you normally earn your luck in test cricket - and they hadn't earned it on day 1.
redsquirrel
This Machine Kills Progressives
With Foakes playing as just a batsman or keeper too? I think taking the gloves away from Bairstow would be a massive mistake, damage his confidence and resulting performance with the bat.
PaoloSanchez
Well-Known Member
Funny now that you mention it, I vaguely remember sometime in the early hours while I was half asleep McGrath not being able to get a word in edgeways but at the time I thought it was Aggers talking over him to get the scores out for those who may have just switched on and needed a score update. Anyway, I shall listen out for Norcross a bit more now that people have moaned about him to see what the fuss is about. I wasn't a big Dagnall fan when he first started but I do like him now. Alison Mitchell I'm getting used to. I like Tuffers nervous quirkiness. On the whole I'm happy with the whole TMS vibe. It has evolved gradually and yet still maintains it's wonderful charm. imo it is one of broadcastings crown jewels, even with Norcross there.
littlebabyjesus
one of Maxwell's demons
I've never seen him play but by all accounts, he's a brilliant keeper, so it would make no sense playing him with Bairstow behind the stumps. To Bairstow's credit, I think he's improved as a keeper enormously after a pretty shaky start, and his batting stats when keeping are better than those when not keeping, and I'm sure he doesn't want to give up the gloves. But if Foakes plays, he has to keep, surely.
England's attack is good. In England. Jimmy managed to do some damage under the lights but his style is completely ineffective in Oz otherwise.
They're been completely outclassed by the Aussie quicks and even Lyon appears to have gone to the crossroads or something and is now a top a class player. 5-0.
Casual Observer
enough
Batting only. Whilst I think Foakes is the best glove man on the planet, I agree with you that it would be a big mistake to change keeper mid series. Haven't watched/listened to everything in the two tests thus far but don't think Bairstow has made any mistakes and he's definitely improved over the years. He's also more vocal behind the stumps than Foakes (or Buttler for that matter) which could be a factor too these days. Probably takes a bit of time to build a rapport with Moeen as well.
The generally fast and bouncey Oval pitches are the closest English equivalent to Perth and Foakes has had a good year with the bat - that was my thinking.
PaoloSanchez
Well-Known Member
If it wasn't for Broad and Anderson, England would have been completely smashed in both tests imo. I wouldn't call them completely ineffective. While it's clear that the conditions don't really suit them as much as Trent Bridge might, they are good at keeping the pressure on and stopping the runs. What they haven't had is consistent and reliable support from the other bowlers. Woakes did have one good spell but that was it. Overton had a good debut, but unfortunately Moeen for whatever reason was not able to support the bowling attack like Lyon was able to. The Aussie attack worked well and solidly as a unit, nothing spectacular. Only Broad and Anderson did that for England and they can't really do it by themselves.
littlebabyjesus
one of Maxwell's demons
Not so sure about that. For me the major difference so far has been the performances of the captains. Root's tendency to get 70s or 80s rather than 100s contrasts with Smith's tendency to kick on from 50 to well over 100. Smith's conversion rate from 50 to 100 is 21/42. Root's is 13/47.
Might as well pick Crane now.
Don't know what else I can suggest.
Perhaps I could help the England bowlers with their biomechanics. I've been studying stuff carefully on YouTube, which makes me an armchair expert. I think I have a couple of insights. For instance, everyone knows that the front arm is very active in fast bowling to generate angular momentum, but what about the front leg? It can do the same and should have the same timing as the front arm. It should be yanked down and then I believe NOT slammed into the ground. Patrick Patterson's front leg was quite balletic.
Don't know what else I can suggest.
Perhaps I could help the England bowlers with their biomechanics. I've been studying stuff carefully on YouTube, which makes me an armchair expert. I think I have a couple of insights. For instance, everyone knows that the front arm is very active in fast bowling to generate angular momentum, but what about the front leg? It can do the same and should have the same timing as the front arm. It should be yanked down and then I believe NOT slammed into the ground. Patrick Patterson's front leg was quite balletic.
planetgeli
There's no future in England's dreaming
Lots of replies here noting "if...". If only those elephants had turned up eh?
Australia has FOUR bowlers taking 39 wickets all at averages under 29. England has SEVEN bowlers taking 27 wickets all except one at averages from 29 to 115.
Australia has two centurions and three players averaging over 58. England has no centurions and nobody besides Overton averaging over 36.
And some of you think these games have been "closer than they look"? You must be watching a different series. We're getting hammered.
Starc is blowing us away, like I thought he would. We aren't up to speed. Moeen is obviously not 100% in his bowling but whoever said drop him is on a different planet. The best I can offer is move Bairstow up to six (Moeen at seven) because he's the only one who looked like scoring properly/looked in touch again, in the second innings. I actually think you've got the best XI out there from that squad. They just need to play better. (And I stand by what I said, and what is coming to pass, about Vince's first knock being deceiving. Its just the alternative is Ballance and....well....elephants.)
Australia has FOUR bowlers taking 39 wickets all at averages under 29. England has SEVEN bowlers taking 27 wickets all except one at averages from 29 to 115.
Australia has two centurions and three players averaging over 58. England has no centurions and nobody besides Overton averaging over 36.
And some of you think these games have been "closer than they look"? You must be watching a different series. We're getting hammered.
Starc is blowing us away, like I thought he would. We aren't up to speed. Moeen is obviously not 100% in his bowling but whoever said drop him is on a different planet. The best I can offer is move Bairstow up to six (Moeen at seven) because he's the only one who looked like scoring properly/looked in touch again, in the second innings. I actually think you've got the best XI out there from that squad. They just need to play better. (And I stand by what I said, and what is coming to pass, about Vince's first knock being deceiving. Its just the alternative is Ballance and....well....elephants.)
littlebabyjesus
one of Maxwell's demons
You can prove anything with facts.
