Off Topic The Ashes

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The Penguin said:
RIP Bazball
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Yes. The writing was on the wall anyway, but England faded at the end of what had been a good day 4.
I wouldn't expect them to last much beyond lunch tomorrow.
Might put on another 100 runs, perhaps even 150 with an epic tail end stand?
If England lose by less than a 100 run margin it will be remarkable.
Pretty unlikely though.

But it's all irrelevant really.
Despite modest improvements the series was lost on day 1.
I heard some nonsense on the radio today about the importance of winning at least one Test, which would instil some kind of hope in these players for the next Ashes series.
That really is clutching at straws.
 
Got to feel for the England squad on tour Down Under.

Their Golf & lounging around the beach schedule is going to be interrupted on Boxing Day by having to play some Cricket <wah>
 
lardiman said:
I don't mind the England players enjoying a few cold ones between tests...

www.bbc.co.uk

The Ashes: England investigate reports of Noosa drinking as video emerges

England will look into reports of players drinking excessively during a break from the Ashes series in Noosa, says director of cricket Rob Key.
www.bbc.co.uk www.bbc.co.uk

But I hope these allegations of four to six days continually on the sauce are exaggerated <ale>:emoticon-0167-beer:<cheers><ale>:emoticon-0167-beer::emoticon-0132-envy:
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The devil makes work for idle hands. The old cricket tours were much busier. The tourists would play the States in between tests. Apart from keeping them busy it would give the reserves something to play for, and hopefully make a case for their inclusion in the team. They've had too much time on their hands, especially after getting thrashed in 2 or three days.
 
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Australis lose 4 wickets before lunch.
Well whoopie. Stable doors and bolted horses come to mind.

I hope the travelling England fans are enjoying themselves.
But this test has less competitive value than a World Cup 3rd place play-off game.

EDIT: (four hours later)

Normal service resumed <doh>
 
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Some Aussie on the radio said (in so many words) that England should regard beating 2nd or 3rd raters playing Bazball as more important than competing for the Ashes.
A perverse definition of success.
I assume he was on the wind-up.
 
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Two complete innings on the first day ? That’s just not test cricket. Probably over a quarter of a million ticket buying fans will now miss out on a full day of Ashes cricket as a result of a poor test pitch and inadequate batting. Shameful.
 
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Ubedizzytoo said:
Two complete innings on the first day ? That’s just not test cricket. Probably over a quarter of a million ticket buying fans will now miss out on a full day of Ashes cricket as a result of a poor test pitch and inadequate batting. Shameful.
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In the good old days, if this happened in Championship cricket there would be inspections and reports.
 
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Perhaps if it’s finished in under 2.5 days the players should be made to go back out and play a ‘second’ test within the 5 days. Might make them be a bit more circumspect with their batting if they know they don’t just get 2 or 3 more days of rest.
 
Ubedizzytoo said:
Perhaps if it’s finished in under 2.5 days the players should be made to go back out and play a ‘second’ test within the 5 days. Might make them be a bit more circumspect with their batting if they know they don’t just get 2 or 3 more days of rest.
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Just read that we were bowled out in the final session after tea.

That is a combination of a poor pitch and extremely poor batting.

You just know that the aussies will rack up 400 in the second innings!
 
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Ubedizzytoo said:
Two complete innings on the first day ? That’s just not test cricket. Probably over a quarter of a million ticket buying fans will now miss out on a full day of Ashes cricket as a result of a poor test pitch and inadequate batting. Shameful.
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Too right.

Likelihood is this game won't go past the second session of the third day.
It's an insult to the spirit of Test cricket.
 
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The endless stream of excuses continues.
Now it's the fault of the pitch. Which is of course the same for both teams.
 
In fairness twenty wickets down on day one day in the CCC would see an investigation launched, and probably a points deduction for the home team. :emoticon-0138-think


The views expressed in my posts are not necessarily mine.
 
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TwoWrights said:
In fairness twenty wickets down on day one day in the CCC would see an investigation launched, and probably a points deduction for the home team. :emoticon-0138-think


The views expressed in my posts are not necessarily mine.
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I accept there should perhaps be a sanction imposed because the pitch is set up for a 2 or 3 day match instead of a full test, with bowlers having a huge advantage. We may be looking at a test match where no batsman even reaches 50.

But that should not be made an excuse for England losing the game (if they do lose).
The pitch is still the same for both teams. If Australia win, it will be because they have the better bowlers. Or batsmen who could cope better with the conditions.
 
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Who knows what would have happened in this test if the Aussies hadn’t already retained the Ashes before it started.

Bottom line is that the pitch was a disgrace and the ticket buying public have been right-royally shafted. Test matches should not finish in two days. Get the players back out there tomorrow and have a re-run for the benefit and entertainment of those who have paid to watch.
 
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