Sport The Ashes - 3rd Test- 26/12/2021 - Melbourne

Who will win?

  • Total voters
    20
  • Poll closed .
Did I think we'd win this series before it started? Not really. What I did expect (as a very minimum) was for the side to show a bit of fight, maybe win a match or even two and to have a bit of pride. To be beaten by an innings and a few runs when you have bowled the opposition out for under 270 is absolutely unforgivable especially when it follows two other absolute trouncings.

For all of the lip service that is given to Test cricket by the cricketing hierarchy in this country, they obviously don't give a toss.
 
HampshireYellow said:
Nah I can easily see England winning one meaningless game after Australia have given up trying to make the powers that be keep the status quo and not change the coaching/management/captain/squad, unfortunately!
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I actually disagree with this. This is precisely something we would do if the roles were reversed - take the foot off the gas. But it's not the Australian way, they are ruthless and will want to ram it down our throats. Even when we were some way better than them the series results were just 2-1 (2009), 3-0 (2013) and 3-2 (2015). I would take 4-0 right now, with the faintest of hopes that the weather can save us in one game.
 
If anyone believes that the Criminals will let up now, they are sorely mistaken.
They will truly want to grind us into the dirt. Total whitewash is within their grasp and they will have no intention of letting us slither to any kind of result. Ever!
To us, it’s just cricket - to them, it’s personal!!!
 
nige01ox said:
I actually disagree with this. This is precisely something we would do if the roles were reversed - take the foot off the gas. But it's not the Australian way, they are ruthless and will want to ram it down our throats. Even when we were some way better than them the series results were just 2-1 (2009), 3-0 (2013) and 3-2 (2015). I would take 4-0 right now, with the faintest of hopes that the weather can save us in one game.
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Agree with this.
Reckon if you asked the average Australian, their ideal Ashes would be a hard-fought Aussie victory in a great series between two highly skilled, evenly matched sides.
But when that's not possible, a humiliating 5-0 trouncing would come a close second.

Even in the 90s - when the England team wasn't up to much, and the Aussies had one of the greatest Test teams ever assembled - we still had enough players of Test quality that we could put up a fight, and we usually nicked a Test.....and often when the series was still alive as well. Not any more.....now it's just a ritual humiliation tour.
 
nige01ox said:
I would take 4-0 right now, with the faintest of hopes that the weather can save us in one game.
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Pretty much why I can’t do cricket.

Not sure how any satisfaction can be taken from getting a draw because of the weather.
 
Scotchegg said:
Agree with everything you've said. Also not sure about Root as captain. He's too safe, too slow to react to anything and doesn't appear to be a leader when things get tough. A wonderful batsman, and probably only captain as everyone else is awful. But if we want to progress we need changes top to bottom.
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Whilst I agree Root isn’t the best captain unless we add another passenger to an already weak team we have no other option as only him and Stokes( injury and mental health) aside are probably the only players who are guaranteed a place and the bracketed are probably reasons it won’t be Stokes. You could have the greatest captain ever and England would still be 3-0 down and outclassed as the players aren’t good enough.
 
ZeroTheHero said:
For all of the lip service that is given to Test cricket by the cricketing hierarchy in this country, they obviously don't give a toss.
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The ECB sidelining the County Championship to the outer edges of the season for the Hundred sums up their attitude to it. Until there is a complete change in that view then there won't be a way back imo.
 
So, for the last 2 games do England play their 'best team" or play some younger players like Lawrence and accept that they in all likelihood be hammered and sink or swim?
Buttler, Bairstow, Broad, may well not play again for England in the Test team after this tour I assume?
 
Foley said:
So, for the last 2 games do England play their 'best team" or play some younger players like Lawrence and accept that they in all likelihood be hammered and sink or swim?
Buttler, Bairstow, Broad, may well not play again for England in the Test team after this tour I assume?
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On the batting side, unless any of them are completely shot mentally and there's risk of doing psychological damage, I would play the youngest group possible. No point playing Bairstow or Burns when we know there's no chance of them being part of England's future. Lawrence should get a shot.

Then does anyone know if James Bracey is still in Australia? Scored a battling century for the Lions, seems to have decent defensive technique and is a better keeper than Buttler. Would like to see him come in for the last two Tests as well, and get some more top level experience.

On the bowling front, we don't actually have any young bowlers in our squad other than Dom Bess. And anyway, the seam bowlers haven't been that bad - Anderson, Robinson & Wood probably deserve to keep their spots.
 
tonyw said:
On the batting side, unless any of them are completely shot mentally and there's risk of doing psychological damage, I would play the youngest group possible. No point playing Bairstow or Burns when we know there's no chance of them being part of England's future. Lawrence should get a shot.

Then does anyone know if James Bracey is still in Australia? Scored a battling century for the Lions, seems to have decent defensive technique and is a better keeper than Buttler. Would like to see him come in for the last two Tests as well, and get some more top level experience.

On the bowling front, we don't actually have any young bowlers in our squad other than Dom Bess. And anyway, the seam bowlers haven't been that bad - Anderson, Robinson & Wood probably deserve to keep their spots.
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I think it a good idea to try Lawrence, Bracey and Bess.
England seem.to be naturally conservative and I would be surprised if Bracey especially comes in.
 
It sounds like Root is likely to be asked to stay on as Captain ( are there any alternatives?), but I would be surprised if Silverwood survives .
 
Foley said:
It sounds like Root is likely to be asked to stay on as Captain ( are there any alternatives?), but I would be surprised if Silverwood survives .
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There are no alternatives and although Root hasn’t had a great series captaincy wise nobody could’ve captained this team to anything other than a heavy defeat. Add in Anderson and Broad will be gone in the next 12-18 months we are in a seriously bad position in n my opinion.
 
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