2025-2026 Summer of Cricket
- Thread starter Lefty
- Start date
There hasn't been much common sense in the English test side for a while.Amazingly McCullum has said that they will not change their approach to batting.
‘Won’t be changing our blueprint’: McCullum says England won’t deviate from Bazball style
There was disbelief in the England camp after the Perth Test ended inside two days – their recklessness with the bat destroying their hopes for victory and leaving them with an almighty task to wrest back the urn.www.smh.com.au
This series may not live to the hype leading into it.
But I have to say I never saw this being a close series. As a neutral it's pretty much always a walkover.
And England really needed to get off to a good start to stay in the series. They had a huge chance at 100 runs ahead and one down in the third innings, but just played mindless cricket.
Anyway, Border-Gavaskar is much more competitive and entertaining!
Thieves Like Us
David Fairleigh
I was really pining my hopes on a result similar to the last India game against Australia in Perth where a big 3rd inning total saw them to victory.
The current style of cricket has seen England pull off some pretty incredible victories, undoubtedly more than if they had played a more conservative brand. I think there are some players like Duckett, Brook and Smith where this style just really suits them. We need others like Root, Pope and Stokes to play their natural game rather than getting whipped up into a frenzy. They can all play aggressive cricket but their best innings come after they have played themselves in then they accelerate.
If Crawley is picked for the next game I will be absolutely spewing.
The current style of cricket has seen England pull off some pretty incredible victories, undoubtedly more than if they had played a more conservative brand. I think there are some players like Duckett, Brook and Smith where this style just really suits them. We need others like Root, Pope and Stokes to play their natural game rather than getting whipped up into a frenzy. They can all play aggressive cricket but their best innings come after they have played themselves in then they accelerate.
If Crawley is picked for the next game I will be absolutely spewing.
Lefty
Danny 'Bedsy' Buderus
Andrew McDonald said today that Usman Khawaja may not be selected for the second test even if he is fit.
www.theguardian.com
I would rather see Matt Renshaw selected in his place, he is in form, he has just scored another Sheffield Shield century and he has previous test experience (14 tests).
Australia not guaranteed to pick Usman Khawaja for second Ashes Test even if injury-free
Usman Khawaja is still struggling with a back issue that flared up in the first Test and is not guaranteed selection in Brisbane
I would rather see Matt Renshaw selected in his place, he is in form, he has just scored another Sheffield Shield century and he has previous test experience (14 tests).
Beatell
Darren Albert
We need to get some younger players in annd around this team or we will fall off a cliff. I honestly believe Uzzies time is up.Andrew McDonald said today that Usman Khawaja may not be selected for the second test even if he is fit.
Australia not guaranteed to pick Usman Khawaja for second Ashes Test even if injury-free
Usman Khawaja is still struggling with a back issue that flared up in the first Test and is not guaranteed selection in Brisbane
I would rather see Matt Renshaw selected in his place, he is in form, he has just scored another Sheffield Shield century and he has previous test experience (14 tests).
Lefty
Danny 'Bedsy' Buderus
Hazelwood was back bowling this morning and Cummins bowled with the pink ball.
Jhye Richardson played in the Chairman’s XI Vs England Lions match which finished yesterday.
It looks as though Australian cricket supporters will have a very enjoyable festive season this year.
I feel sorry for the English supporters who have paid a lot of money to watch the English team play in Australia.
www.smh.com.au
Jhye Richardson played in the Chairman’s XI Vs England Lions match which finished yesterday.
It looks as though Australian cricket supporters will have a very enjoyable festive season this year.
I feel sorry for the English supporters who have paid a lot of money to watch the English team play in Australia.
Hazlewood back bowling as Cummins trains with pink ball
Josh Hazlewood has been spotted in Sydney bowling ahead of the second Ashes Test.
mozza
Game on broheim
You’re a better man than I. I feel no sympathy for them whatsoever.I feel sorry for the English supporters who have paid a lot of money to watch the English team play in Australia.
Hazlewood back bowling as Cummins trains with pink ball
Josh Hazlewood has been spotted in Sydney bowling ahead of the second Ashes Test.
This england side is every chance of winning a game or 2 , their bowling attack is very good, their aggressive mentality at all costs is ridiculous but will bear fruit at some stage this series and they will likely win convincingly.
They were in front of the game for the whole match pretty much until head took them apart. Not over yet @Lefty , heads knock covered over alot of cracks in our top order.
They were in front of the game for the whole match pretty much until head took them apart. Not over yet @Lefty , heads knock covered over alot of cracks in our top order.
Beatell
Darren Albert
Our batting is woeful, Head definitely covered up our cracks. England will win games imo also
An unhappy pom is a good pom when the Ashes are on in my booksHazelwood was back bowling this morning and Cummins bowled with the pink ball.
Jhye Richardson played in the Chairman’s XI Vs England Lions match which finished yesterday.
It looks as though Australian cricket supporters will have a very enjoyable festive season this year.
I feel sorry for the English supporters who have paid a lot of money to watch the English team play in Australia.
Hazlewood back bowling as Cummins trains with pink ball
Josh Hazlewood has been spotted in Sydney bowling ahead of the second Ashes Test.
I can see them batting themselves to victory in a game that historically they'd be dead and buried in.
Lefty
Danny 'Bedsy' Buderus
I’m sure England will perform brilliantly at times with the bat or ball during the rest of the series but I don’t think they can sustain it against the Australian team.
Our bowling lineup is excellent and there are no weak links. All going well our bowling lineup for Brisbane is most likely to be Starc, Boland, Cummins, Green and Lyons. I believe England’s batsmen may get away from Australia for a while, but our bowlers will rally and strike back.
England’s bowlers were down on pace in the second innings at Perth, they may terrorise our batsmen for a while but I don’t think they can sustain it and Archer and Wood are very unlikely to play in all five tests.
I can’t see England winning any of the remaining tests.
Khawaja has been an excellent batsman for Australia, however the time has come from him to be dropped.
mozza
Game on broheim
Our batting is definitely average but England put everything into that 1st innings effort. Archer was noticeably struggling on the 2nd dig. There’s no way he and Wood will play all the Tests.
Perth was definitely their best chance at getting a win and they bottled it.
Pretty rough on the bowlers when they are only getting 30-40 overs rest between innings. Another reason this bazball is ridiculous.
Lefty
Danny 'Bedsy' Buderus
In a major surprise, Australia have named an unchanged 14 man squad for the second test which starts on next Thursday. Cummins was not considered ready to play. Australia still have a lot of flexibility in determining their final 11.
www.theguardian.com
Australia name unchanged squad for second Ashes Test with Pat Cummins still out
Captain Pat Cummins’s return is on hold as Australia named an unchanged squad for the match in Brisbane, with Usman Khawaja retaining his place
Lefty
Danny 'Bedsy' Buderus
I think selecting Usman again would be a backward step, and as they haven’t selected another opener in the squad, the best option would beto open with Head and Weatherald, play Green at 5 and Webster at 6. I think opening with Head, will be hit or miss.It’s not the team I would have selected.
Battler
Matthew Johns
I'd personally go Inglis at 5, Green at 6.