Off Topic The official 2017-18 Ashes Thread

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sb_73 said:
Looking a bit like this, but if we can get on top of Warner, Smith and Marsh it will be very interesting. Smith is just about the best out there at the moment though. If Stokes is allowed to play it will be even more interesting, gives us a lot more variation in the field and oomph in the batting line up.
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Even if Stokes gets out there he will be woefully under prepared.
Not sure he would make much difference under those circumstances.
 
Stroller said:
Yes, he's scored a lot of runs and yes he had to be selected for this tour, but I've never enjoyed watching him play.

PS why do you refer to my posts without actually replying to them?
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I try to avoid directly interacting with you as we seem to see most things rather differently which often leads to bad words etc.
As for your comments on Cook, he's never been the most attractive batsman watch, but his record is unbelievably good.
 
rangercol said:
Even if Stokes gets out there he will be woefully under prepared.
Not sure he would make much difference under those circumstances.
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Is this the reverse psychology stuff again? He’s probably the best all rounder in the world at the moment (though I can’t say I’m a huge fan of him, not sure why), even at 80% he improves the team. And he is the English player most likely to punch Nathan Lyon’s teeth down his throat.

Australia definitely favourites for the series based on first 3 days, but two fragile looking teams. We should count ourselves lucky that we saw the 2005 series, two great teams playing great cricket. I can’t imagine seeing another series like that one.
 
QPR999 said:
It's hard to join in the ashes debate as you can't see any of the matches. Even the highlights are unavailable anywhere other than bloody BT Sport. Bastards.
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Mate, I totally agree with you. It's a disgrace that our national cricket team is not shown on the BBC. It should be compulsory free to view. I also agree with others that BT Sport is crap. When I am out or late or away I like to listen to the coverage on BBCR4 LW.
 
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sb_73 said:
Is this the reverse psychology stuff again? He’s probably the best all rounder in the world at the moment (though I can’t say I’m a huge fan of him, not sure why), even at 80% he improves the team. And he is the English player most likely to punch Nathan Lyon’s teeth down his throat.

Australia definitely favourites for the series based on first 3 days, but two fragile looking teams. We should count ourselves lucky that we saw the 2005 series, two great teams playing great cricket. I can’t imagine seeing another series like that one.
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No it's not reverse psychology. I'm not a big fan of his either and I do believe he's a bit of a bottler at big moments, not to mention I reckon he's thick as **** (bit like Freddie, who has just revealed that he believes the world is flat!!<doh> ). He is however one of the top all rounders in the world and if he had started the tour with the rest of them I believe he could well have been the difference. I just think he'll be far too under-cooked by the time he gets out there, if he does. I'd love to see anyone put Lyon in his place.
BTW........compare Ali's stats and Stokes' as all rounders and they're almost identical. Interesting eh?
 
ELLERS said:
Mate, I totally agree with you. It's a disgrace that our national cricket team is not shown on the BBC. It should be compulsory free to view. I also agree with others that BT Sport is crap. When I am out or late or away I like to listen to the coverage on BBCR4 LW.
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I have BT and agree that their sport coverage in general is pretty poor. However, I don't think they're doing too bad a job with the cricket, although I much prefer Sky's.
I can't quite believe that even the highlights are only available on BT. That is a scandal!!
 
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rangercol said:
I have BT and agree that their sport coverage in general is pretty poor. However, I don't think they're doing too bad a job with the cricket, although I much prefer Sky's.
I can't quite believe that even the highlights are only available on BT. That is a scandal!!
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Agree the coverage is pretty much the same. Only thing is with SKY they seem to start about 5 hours before and debate for 3 days after.
 
jeffranger said:
Just woke up seen the score, disastrous 195 all out & aid 78-0, didn’t expect that.
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You're lucky you didn't watch it, abject surrender especially by the tail plus one or two crackpot giveaway wickets noteably Bairstow. Aussies cruising and now have a massive psychological advantage as England's body language says it all. Lyons has made Moeen look second-rate as a spinner...
 
Sooperhoop said:
You're lucky you didn't watch it, abject surrender especially by the tail plus one or two crackpot giveaway wickets noteably Bairstow. Aussies cruising and now have a massive psychological advantage as England's body language says it all. Lyons has made Moeen look second-rate as a spinner...
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Lyon, although a complete twat who deserves a kicking, is actually a very good off-spinner.

Ali doesn't look fit and has also split his spinning finger which would explain his poor bowling.
 
At the end of play, Aussies need 50 odd runs tomorrow, currently without loss of any wickets.
Very pleased with how the team as whole have pitched in.
 
That's very disappointing after three even days, to totally fail with both bat and ball.

Especially as some batsmen got good starts and had seen off the new ball.
 
Cook gets 9 in 2 innings is not good enough. This game was in the balance, we blew our chances and the Aussies took them. It just puts on unnecessary pressure.
 
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