Off Topic The Ashes

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Some arrogance is good for individual Sportsmen. But Stokes and McCallum are totally intransigent. They will not admit they are wrong. Not playing a couple of competitive games before the Test was ridiculous. Playing shots that get you out in Australian conditions is just pig headed.
 
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What an unlikeable, arrogant bunch the management are.

Not just McCullum, who’s a real tosser, but Key, Stokes & Brook all come across as very much up themselves.

English cricket has funded a very expensive 3.5 year campaign that all led to a way to an away win the Ashes. These players / management have had the best of everything- huge contracts, first class travel & hotels, the lot.

If we can’t expect humility, the least we can expect is the great game not being treated like 2 days of baseball.
 
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Both Stokes and Mc Callum are really irritating me now. They will not bend or agree that they got it wrong. Their answer to our problem is to go harder in the same vein. Key is big mates with Zac Crawley’s Dad. It explains why he keeps on getting picked. Stokes at the start of the Test calling out Vaughan as a has been was disrespectful and wrong. England seem to be digging themselves into a hole. I can only see them losing 5-0.
 
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Dick Plumb1 said:
Both Stokes and Mc Callum are really irritating me now. They will not bend or agree that they got it wrong. There answer to our problem is to go harder in the same vein. Key is big mates with Zac Crawley’s Dad. It explains why he keeps on getting picked. Stokes at the start of the Test calling out Vaughan as a has bean was disrespectful and wrong. England seem to be digging themselves into a hole. I can only see them losing 5-0.
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McCullum’s post match comments suggest to me he’s more interested in “building his brand” for the lucrative franchise contracts that will follow when he’s fired.

I have thought for some time now - since the New Zealand away series - that he’s doing enormous damage to England Test cricket.

Under Baz ball we only bully the minnows at home - his record against the big boys incl away is poor.
 
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Golf clubs.

I don't put much store by things posted on social media.
But if true (and I wouldn't mind seeing a video to verify) that is a disgrace.
 
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Former England coach Paul Farbrace was interesting on the radio yesterday.

Although I disagree with him, he said “Team Baz” are now all in on this strategy & won’t change come what may . He also thought Crawley would get all 5 Tests regardless of scores <laugh>

In his opinion it’s death or glory for this lot now - either they bring home the Ashes urn, or their P45s
 
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lardiman said:
Golf clubs.

I don't put much store by things posted on social media.
But if true (and I wouldn't mind seeing a video to verify) that is a disgrace.
Click to expand...

The cynic in me …and I could be wrong here <whistle> …suggests that you are not necessarily a fan of cricket, but are you casting your net further afield in the search of arguments <yikes>
 
There is going to be a big outcry in the Press and by England fans if we get walloped in the 2nd Test.
 
Second Test begins in under 24 hours I believe :emoticon-0158-time:

England have to do better.
Another 2 day defeat, or even a 3 day one, will be an insult to the fans who have travelled so far.
Come on you Englishmen. This is the Ashes. The oldest cricket rivalry of all.
 
Blimey! :headbang: England were 5 for 2 earlier <doh>

Fortunately have recovered to 87 for 2 as I type, thanks largely to Zak Crawley...
 
Well, they've changed their tune.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/articles/czj0mr1xdd9o

After the first 2 day humiliation it was "we won't change the way we play..."
Now after one more heavy defeat? Bazball is seemingly 'dead'.
Crikey, I hope so.
And Australia is no place for weak men.
Doh <doh>

Too late now of course.
England will do well to avoid a 5-0 whitewash :headbang:
 
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What a blunder <doh>

www.bbc.co.uk

The Ashes 2025-26: Australia's Alex Carey reprieved by Snicko operator error

The company that owns the Snicko technology takes "full responsibility" for the error that reprieved Australia wicketkeeper Alex Carey on day one of the third Ashes Test.
www.bbc.co.uk www.bbc.co.uk

Alex Carey admitted he was out on 72 in the 3rd test - he knew he had edged it.
But Snicko said he had not. So he was not out.
Then it turns out the Snicko operator made a mistake. Carey was out all along.

Chalk up another triumph for badly applied technology over Human sporting values.
And of course if Carey had done the sporting thing and walked - which historically Cricketers always used to do as a point of personal honour, he would have been slaughtered by his own people.
My old Dad only played cricket for a local Church team. But if he knew he was out he would walk.
There was never any question of behaving any other way.
 
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lardiman said:
What a blunder <doh>

www.bbc.co.uk

The Ashes 2025-26: Australia's Alex Carey reprieved by Snicko operator error

The company that owns the Snicko technology takes "full responsibility" for the error that reprieved Australia wicketkeeper Alex Carey on day one of the third Ashes Test.
www.bbc.co.uk www.bbc.co.uk

Alex Carey admitted he was out on 72 in the 3rd test - he knew he had edged it.
But Snicko said he had not. So he was not out.
Then it turns out the Snicko operator made a mistake. Carey was out all along.

Chalk up another triumph for badly applied technology over Human sporting values.
And of course if Carey had done the sporting thing and walked - which historically Cricketers always used to do as a point of personal honour, he would have been slaughtered by his own people.
My old Dad only played cricket for a local Church team. But if he knew he was out he would walk.
There was never any question of behaving any other way.
Click to expand...
Very few cricketers walk any more. If you can find it have a look at Chris Broad given not out in the Ashes a few years ago. The worst umpiring decision ever. It wasn't even a snick, it was a thick edge to slips.
 
May well be all over before the end of day 4, assuming England are set around 500, then collapse.
We might hang on until day 5, if Bazball is abandoned and the lads actually try to play Test cricket.
I doubt they are capable of that though.
 
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Credit where it's due - England have had a decent 4th day and are still in with a slim chance of chasing down a win.
Still a long way to go, and I fear a middle-order collapse is the most likely outcome. But dare we hope for better?
 
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