2025-2026 Summer of Cricket

England’s 2 main strike fast bowlers have had massive issues with fitness for years, the selectors obviously hoped they could get 1 or 2 good test matches out of them. Wood bowled very well in Perth even though he did not take any wickets but he lasted only 1 test. Archer’s state of mind as well as his fitness is questionable, does he have the mental stamina to consistently bowl aggressive spells against Australia? Carse was disappointing, Tongue may be much better.

England selected some batsmen who we would not be able to play well in Australian conditions, such as Pope. Duckett is struggling. Root is an exceptional batsman. Stokes will always fight hard and is a match winner on his day and Jacks looks promising. Brook will be liability until he stops playing reckless shots and getting himself dismissed cheaply. The selectors did not select enough replacement batsmen, Jacob Bethell’s first class experience is very limited.

Smith dropped a routine catch and is struggling with the bat, the selectors should have selected a full time backup keeper.

If the squad was large, fine the objective is to win the Ashes not to save money, some of the players who weren’t required for the early tests could have been lent out to the Lions to get match practice.

England’s preparation was woeful, one inter squad game of a flat batting track which was nothing like the wicket at Optus Stadium. A few training sessions under lights a no day/night match for a squad where most of the players haven’t played under lights hard to comprehend.

It looks as though the Bazball without brains strategy has been reined in, but it took 1 and a half test matches for the English management to realise it was not going to work. Unfortunately for them they are 2 test matches down and they have never come from 2 test matches down to win a series.

Archer may have fired up the Aussies and Cummins and Lyon will be itching to get at the English batsmen in Adelaide.

There should be a thorough clean out of the underperforming English players, management and selectors at the end of the series.

As a diehard Aussie cricket tragic, I’m finding it hard to believe how incompetent England have been in their preparation, selection and attitude for this series.
 
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jamesgould said:
Speaking of injured fast bowlers …

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And now it looks like Tickner has dislocated his bowling shoulder diving on the boundary to stop a four. He's stretchered off with figures of 4/23 from 16 overs. :(

I think the list of injured bowlers is now:
Matt Henry (second ranked test bowler in the world)
Kyle Jamieson
Will O'Rourke
Ben Sears
Nathan Smith
Matt Fisher
Henry Shipley
Blair Tickner
Mitchell Santner (spinner)
 
It’s crazy to think they have picked before and are considering picking Bethell at 3 when he hasn’t even scored a first class 100.
 
Macca89 said:
It’s crazy to think they have picked before and are considering picking Bethell at 3 when he hasn’t even scored a first class 100.
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I read he recently scored 1, still his first class experience is very limited.

Surely they would other decent batsmen to pick.
 
He fits their reckless bazball style. Even first grade cricketers average higher than that and they can’t get a look in for state cricket
 
Macca89 said:
Khawaja and Neser dropped. Cummins and Lyon retun
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Australia have named their strongest possible team, I’m very happy with it. Our bowling lineup will be stronger than the last test. Our opening batsman will play positive cricket to build a platform for the rest of the batting lineup.

England have dropped Atkinson for Tongue who can bowl fast but can also be erratic.
 
Thankfully test cricket resumes today. I’m very much looking forward to focusing on something positive rather the abhorrent event that occurred on Sunday.

Cricket is one thing that unites many people in this country, to me a test match in progress is the sound of summer, today’s match will be a part of the healing process.
 
Interesting to see how things go, for a start happy that Cummins and Lyon are back in.
Have doubts about Head being a permanent opener would have preferred Usman in and Head in middle leaving Inglis out that would put Carey back to 7.
Think Usman deserved a last chance to play in hopefully the Ashes decider with the then opportunity to retire gracefully.
Expect Poms to be up for this one, all or nothing, expect a good game from both sides.
 
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