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The Ashes 2017-18

Oh dear, now Ben Duckett is suspended after pouring a drink over a senior player in a bar. Wheels are well and truly detached.
 
Does seem a strange thing to do after the warnings and curfew earlier. But to be fair a bloke without discipline like that shouldn't be playing for his country, it's not a holiday, they're paid to do a job. Could have scuppered his chances of breaking into the Ashes squad, be a shame for him.
 
Couldn't organise a piss up in a brewery... without greeting you with a headbutt or pouring a pint on your head.
 
What the hell was that warm up match an excuse for? Were they protecting Cook, Vince, Malan etc from further failure? Can we please keep Keaton Jennings the fuck away from the side?

Pointless.
 
planetgeli said:
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.)
Click to expand...
same planet as Boycott, re dropping Ali. He's a walking wicket against spin and so far ineffective with the ball. I was not being totally serious to be honest as he 'can' perform, but he needs to get it together

Only scored 24 was it? Out sweeping to off spin :facepalm:

Edit to 24 not 26 and article

Ashes 2017: Moeen Ali is England’s ‘weak link’ in Australia – Geoffrey Boycott | Metro News
 
Last edited:
Mumbles274 said:
same planet as Boycott, re dropping Ali. He's a walking wicket against spin and so far ineffective with the ball. I was not being totally serious to be honest as he 'can' perform, but he needs to get it together

Only scored 24 was it? Out sweeping to off spin :facepalm:

Edit to 24 not 26 and article

Ashes 2017: Moeen Ali is England’s ‘weak link’ in Australia – Geoffrey Boycott | Metro News
Click to expand...

Well from that article I’d take the view of Ponting over Boycott and Swann every time. It’s the batting that is letting us down (no centuries in two games) and Moeen is far more likely to produce with the bat than any possible replacement (Crane? Is anyone serious about that?). I think it’s fairly obvious Moeen’s spinning finger is damaged, which is why he didn’t bowl at all while captaining in this latest bizarre warm up match. A match from which Cook, Vince and Malan were excluded when its time in the middle our batsmen need.
 
planetgeli said:
Well from that article I’d take the view of Ponting over Boycott and Swann every time. It’s the batting that is letting us down (no centuries in two games) and Moeen is far more likely to produce with the bat than any possible replacement (Crane? Is anyone serious about that?). I think it’s fairly obvious Moeen’s spinning finger is damaged, which is why he didn’t bowl at all while captaining in this latest bizarre warm up match. A match from which Cook, Vince and Malan were excluded when its time in the middle our batsmen need.
Click to expand...
Yeah, as I said was being flippant really. Very odd tour all round so far
 
planetgeli said:
Well from that article I’d take the view of Ponting over Boycott and Swann every time. It’s the batting that is letting us down (no centuries in two games) and Moeen is far more likely to produce with the bat than any possible replacement (Crane? Is anyone serious about that?). I think it’s fairly obvious Moeen’s spinning finger is damaged, which is why he didn’t bowl at all while captaining in this latest bizarre warm up match. A match from which Cook, Vince and Malan were excluded when its time in the middle our batsmen need.
Click to expand...

You'd think the previous Australian tour would have taught England about the wisdom of fielding a spinner who isn't fit to bowl.

England are unchanged at any rate, with Bairstow and Moeen swapping places in the batting order. Bairstow being the player more likely to stick around a bit, rotate the strike with singles and help squeeze a few extra runs from the tail enders, I'm not sure what the logic is there.
 
SpookyFrank said:
You'd think the previous Australian tour would have taught England about the wisdom of fielding a spinner who isn't fit to bowl.

England are unchanged at any rate, with Bairstow and Moeen swapping places in the batting order. Bairstow being the player more likely to stick around a bit, rotate the strike with singles and help squeeze a few extra runs from the tail enders, I'm not sure what the logic is there.
Click to expand...
Dunno about that. Moeen's done well with the tail before when batting at 8. And he doesn't spare himself when he's down to the rabbits - he swings merrily and is usually the one getting out as a result.
 
Toss won. Batting first.

Tried to get some kip, kittens decided to charge up and down like demons!

Let the coffee and disappointment begin!
 
Have we finally found a partner for Cook in Stoneman, just as Chef looks like he has lost his touch? :facepalm:
 
Mumbles274 said:
Have we finally found a partner for Cook in Stoneman, just as Chef looks like he has lost his touch? :facepalm:
Click to expand...
I hope that Cook isn't finished yet. He's been a good player but seems to have lost that little edge that made him hard to get out. If he gets another couple of low scores I can see him calling it a day at the end of this Ashes.

England off to a reasonably solid start so far. 50 stand, 89-1. Early days though, and it looks like a good batting wicket.
 
Really enjoying this. Hostile bowling, drama... Just needs a counter attacking ton from one of the England players
 
Very impressive from Malan and YJB. Very impressive indeed. An endorsement for moving YJB to 6 -- his ability to build a partnership rather than Moeen's more one-dimensional bash 'em up has been crucial here.

271-4 as I speak. Still plenty of opportunity to be all out for less than 300, mind.
 
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