What a **** series. Utterly appalling to this point. Root hasn't done well as Captain and his batting seems to have suffered. Cook looks shot to bits. Ali has batted like a bowler and bowled like a batsman. James Anderson is too old to carry as much of the burden that we place upon him. Especially down under. Broad is performing like he's a decade older than Anderson. Encouraging flashes from Stoneman, Vince, Malan, Bairstow, Woakes and Overton but they need time to develop consistency. I'd be shocked if it doesn't end up a whitewash.
Good summary mate. Can't argue with a word of that! Not taking Plunkett, with his height and pace, was a definite mistake.
Re: Ali - I play cricket with my bosses team occasionally and we're watching Ali bowl and thinking "I could get more spin on a\ ball" - and I'm a doddery medium pace bowler!! Re Anderson/Broad - they're both fantastic assets in the bowling department when the conditions suit them. When they don't, I'd fancy me to score runs off them both and I'm 42 with dodgy eyesight!! Root has had a poor series in every way - Cook has been awful. They talk about not playing a specialised spinner as they want Moeen's ability with the tail. Well he's scored hardly any runs this series so what difference would it make. The whole coaching setup seems a joke when Fairbrace (I think) comes out and says "We don't bowl like that" when it's been the most successful way to bowl in Australia for ages!! Big changes needed - I like Root but I wonder if his strings are being pulled - he used to enjoy his cricket and play smiling - he doesn't seem to now. Think he also may need Stokes as his number 2 to keep him going. Stupid thing is, in all 3 test matches there have been times when we've "been in the game" and put a couple of decent sessions together and given fans like us a thought of "come on then let's kick on" - but then it's all come crashing down after not too very long. On to the next one - can't see anything other than a whitewash. There's another thing - the aussies will go for the jugular and try to beat us into submission. If it was in England and we were 3-0 up we'd make changes and give them some hope
Stokes was massive loss with bat & ball. Not saying scoreline would be any different but he can change a game quickly.
Of the old guard I must admit that Anderson has impressed me. We knew that he wouldn't be at his best, but he's been so disciplined in keeping things tight that he's actually managed 12 wickets which is no joke. He's just had no support. I keep seeing that he needs to be dropped as he's too old, but I'd drop Broad before him. Anderson has at least another home ashes in him for me. Not looking forward to going to the fifth test in Sydney now. That will be a ****ing heavy drinking day.
Anderson's ability and dedication with Overton's age would be better. You don't get 500 test wickets without dedication.
What I have seen from Anderson in this present series, the one he has been picked for, certainly does not show 100% effort , compared to Overton in everything , in fact it is true of a few more , skill albeit a big part is not the full story , collectively Australia wanted to win more than did England, and now that the Ashes have been won my belief could yet be proved correct
Don't see it myself. Anderson's consistency points to his discipline, experience and positive attitude. He doesn't have the pace he once had but that's not effort, that's age.
You were 36 when you moved over and since then support Austrailia as opposed to your country of birth and 30-odd years?
I was 35 when I came here but the next 47 years changed my outlook, in this world you will find no one and no country owes you a living, you must do the hard yards yourself, I worked for 20 years in England never out of work for one day, paid all of my taxes and Nat Ins stamp , when it came to retirement the English government said I was entitled to a pension of 25 pounds a week , an amount that stays the same until the day I die, the amount does not bother me per se, but I cannot help but think the people that decided how much I should be paid are getting more When I came to Australia I was the same person with the same aspirations putting in the same amount of effort but the rewards for ability were far superior , In England I was unable to get an apprenticeship in fact never a really good job even though I had attended a Grammar school but due to money constraints had to leave at 15 so did not get my GCE , I quickly became aware that I was judged not on any pieces of paper I had but what I could do, I will not bore you with details suffice to say I have been extremely successful ( And Lucky ) It is very difficult to define when the change in attitude took place as it obviously happened very slowly, but the names of sportsmen that I had known faded as they retired and new ones I had never heard of came up, whereas every day I was hearing the names of Australian sportsmen, so I think it was inevitable
Yeh I seem to understand I think. However I believe our government don’t reward hard work or length of time being employed. Infact they penalise you and help the non work force.
