The Ashes 2021-22

Gillespy

Pat Cummins as a bowler himself wouldn't be too happy if a team declares when he's on a hattrick. Would have been five wickets for Leach as well. Nice to see him do well after all his troubles.

Start of the series England would have bitten your hand off if you told them Warner, Labuschagne and Smith would score the runs they have and Hazelwood would miss four of the matches. It's been the less fancied names and replacements that made the difference. Even Harris contributed in Melbourne. Khawaja was always way too talented to be out of the team. What a player he is in form. Shows the scale of the challenge Root faced, squad depth like that.

A shade under 3.5 runs needed then. Dreamland. Saying that Hameed and Crawley looked comfortable enough. But the weather is likely to win it.

Bad Carey drop. Wicket keeping being poor all round this series.

Makes up for it then. Hameed is a woeful international opener. Let’s pressure build to the point he has to get out.

Royale with Cheese

Opening partnership of 46. Must be the best of the series?

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118442027#Comment_118442027

Think so. I know before the 3rd test the opening partnership had averaged under 10.

Crawley looks to be playing well. Positive intent. Hameed just invited pressure. Burns & Crawley probably their best bet short term unless they drastically change something.

Strumms

Malan talking 29 deliveries to score 4 runs. Wonder what his average of 29.48 has declined to now ?

how did he miss that ball ? Zero foot movement… swings his bat like a drunk swinging a hurly after a few pints on Paddy’s day…Devon Malcolm would have made a better fist of keeping that out.

Strumms

England despite having lost the series, despite this match being a dead rubber, are treating day 5 of the 4th test at the Gabba as a glorified net session. Between Stokes and Root… 50 runs off 129 deliveries. Run rate between them of 2.58…

Root has scored 20 from 66…. Stokes 34 from 65 and injured but has played the odd attacking shot.

why don’t they back themselves, their ability and try to win ? A scandal that all that’s gone on, people crying out for some entertainment, a distraction, a sporting classic to enjoy…. 54 from 131,

Now Buttler and Bairstow, 36 from 101 deliveries…. What’s the point, seriously, I’m beyond…. Aghhhhh , paying to watch this shîte

Royale with Cheese

Got up to watch the final hour or so. England hang on for the heroic draw 😂

I said during the second test the only was this wasn't ending 5-0 would be the weather, well it did its job here.

Gillespy

It was a well earned draw in fairness given everything. A lot of the rain overs were made up by the earlier starts, so not as many lost as you think. Australia were fortunate to get as many overs as they did based on the forecast if anything so they might look at the overs lost to the faffing around the declaration.

Should be it now for Buttler the test cricketer. He's leaving for home with a broken finger. A worthwhile experiment given his talent. It dragged on a year or two too long and hindered the careers of Moeen Ali and Bairstow to accommodate him. And Foakes lost out too of course.

Strumms

Here is a damming stat that sums up how dreadful this English side are…

in not one single batting innings have they managed to score 300 runs, not once.

high score 297, low score 68.

lowest combined innings totals in one test…253

highest combined innings totals in one test…428 :o

thats just abysmal….

A busy few months with both tests and one dayers away to West Indies and home to New Zealand…

I doubt very much either set of fixtures won’t leave them feeling apprehensive….

they could loose both sets of series..

Root.. “ I’m proud of the teams character “ … Jos Buttler could have committed mass murder at breakfast… “well yes, but, I’m very proud at the way after that he held a door open for an old lady”

Strumms

So England bowling well… Aussies should be three down with Crawley dropping a hard chance that would have been a sitter for Root if he’d left it.. Australians being very conservative… poor captaincy…

9 overs bowled and 7/2

Gillespy

Very watchable first session. Labuschagne's dismissal was a big bonus for England the way it came. He had made use of the life he got after Crawley dropped him to put on a great fight back with Travis Head.

Royale with Cheese

They've dropped Anderson for the pink ball test?

MFPM

Interesting day's play. Good start for England getting Warner and Smith cheaply, then they got lucky with Labuschange. Great fightback by Head and Geeen, would've been nice to see Green get his maiden century. Looks set for low scoring game. Interesting to see England's batting with the changes, places up for grabs, Butter likely finished with red ball cricket and Bairstow his recent century aside is hasn't done enough to keep his place going forward.

Gillespy

12-3 to 240-6 is a golden opportunity lost by England. I think it was 80-4 at lunch so all to play for still. Robinson's back issue was very costly in the second session. Wood was shockingly expensive and Woakes too.

Excellent by the Australians however.

Strumms

Australia at 83/4 in just the 23rd over England held all the cards… you have thought 220 might just have been within Australian reach but 241/6… a good chance of reaching just under par of about 270, but if they can get 290/300.. they’ll be delighted

Mark Wood 11.3 overs bowled…going for just under 7 runs an over.. he conceded 79 runs off those 11.3…. Not good

MFPM

Australia reach 300, Seems like a good score given the way the match has developed though we await to see how England bat. Wood has done well taking those wickets but he's gone for a few, Lyon smacked him for a few sixes.

MFPM

So England capitulate once more, different batters but broadly the same outcome. Lots of starts but no one making a big score. Root has one more innings to score an elusive century in Australia, could be his last chance as no guarantee he'll be back in 4 years.

England need to get a few quick wickets in the remaining overs to have any chance.

Gillespy

Billings did ok. Seems to get on very well with Root and Stokes which is probably half the battle to getting a run in the team.

Can't be no complaints about the five pitches we've seen. Could have been a classic series if the teams were more evenly matched ie if England batted and caught better. Overall their bowling has been fine.

Strumms

Wokes called up on a wicket taking delivery which was called a no ball by the third umpire.

the guy has about 6 angles, none of which were absolutely conclusive but ‘looked’ like a few millimetres of Wokes’s heel was behind the line… either way if not conclusive… the on field decision should remain…but no, overturned…

standard of umpiring on the field is in decline but if a fella with about 6 angles , slow motion, 10 minutes, 87 replays, and the rule book sitting in front of him and still gets it wrong ?!

Trampas

I thought no ball calling was decided by 3rd umpire completely now so onfield isn’t watching unless technology fails.

England bowlers doing well but nothing to bowl with

MFPM

England have bowled well obviously Wood in particular...some of the celebration though, lads you're three nil down and in all likelihood will be 4 nil! The fragility in some of the Aussies batting has been exposed once more. Interesting too that Smith hasn't got a century in 5 test matches quite a contrast to his display in England last time out.

MFPM

So 271 to chase to put a modicum of respectability on the series, it's certainly doable but if any of the Aussie bowlers replicate Wood you'd imagine England will fall short.

MFPM

Runs flowing for England, scoring over 5 an over.

MFPM

Well bowled Green, bad luck for Burns.

MFPM

Stokes holes out to Starc, caught Lyon. That feels like a big wicket notwithstanding Stokes isn't in great form.

Royale with Cheese

There goes Root, 4-0 beckons.

MFPM

I actually thought England were going to get these runs, this capitulation could end up being the most demoralising for them if they lose from here.

Mr. Guappa

It's no surprise, and only appropriate, that the series ends with an England batting collapse.

MFPM

Well that was dismal...9 wickets for 56 runs!! England have big issues going forward.

Richard Hillman

They packed it in there. No fight. The plane home beckoned.

I see Dawid Malans missus had a premature baby overnight. Everything all good according to reports. His first born, so his head must have been all over the shop.