4th Test The Ashes - 4th - Test- 25/12/2025 - Melbourne Cricket Ground

[Northstandboy]

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[BicesterU]

Gutted there's nothing riding on this. Now the only reason to stay up for it is to drink and Irish coffee or two and eat shortbread.

I was close to spending a fortune to go out there for a fortnight to watch this test match but decided against, so every cloud...

 

[McXal]

This stupid Duckett video going around is going to give Pope yet another undeserved reprieve isn’t it?! They surely can’t pick Duckett after his poor tour AND that video. In which case they won’t want to drop Pope for Bethell as well to have 2/3 of the top three changed (and the other the super-unreliable/inconsistent Crawley).

Pope should be on a bloody plane home based on performance alone. Instead he’s going to survive and poor Jacks is going to be shoehorned in as an opener. I’ll be livid if Pope is playing again.

Key’s interviews on the press circuit today have been really interesting. Sounds like Bashir was indeed unselectably short of a gallop for Adelaide - the most favourable pitch on the tour for him. So would be quite a turn around for him to be chucked in to one of the biggest games in the cricketing calendar.

Suspect we’ll move Jacks up (to open, urgh), Pope gets another unwarranted chance and we’ll bring in another pace bowler to lighten the load on Archer (who will do very well to get through the whole series unscathed) and Stokes (who looked weary and ailing bowling-wise in the last test).

 

[holdsteady]

Pope is going to get a hundred tests isn’t he? Future generations will just see that and assume he was a great player, already the most average England batsmen to get over tests.

 

[Foley]

This stupid Duckett video going around is going to give Pope yet another undeserved reprieve isn’t it?! They surely can’t pick Duckett after his poor tour AND that video. In which case they won’t want to drop Pope for Bethell as well to have 2/3 of the top three changed (and the other the super-unreliable/inconsistent Crawley).

Pope should be on a bloody plane home based on performance alone. Instead he’s going to survive and poor Jacks is going to be shoehorned in as an opener. I’ll be livid if Pope is playing again.

Key’s interviews on the press circuit today have been really interesting. Sounds like Bashir was indeed unselectably short of a gallop for Adelaide - the most favourable pitch on the tour for him. So would be quite a turn around for him to be chucked in to one of the biggest games in the cricketing calendar.

Suspect we’ll move Jacks up (to open, urgh), Pope gets another unwarranted chance and we’ll bring in another pace bowler to lighten the load on Archer (who will do very well to get through the whole series unscathed) and Stokes (who looked weary and ailing bowling-wise in the last test).

What Duckett video?

 

[McXal]

What Duckett video?

It is referenced in the BBC article below and pretty easy to find online now as it’s gone a bit viral (apologies, not sure on forum rules whether posting the actual video is ok or not ). Part of me thinks it’s quite funny (fans telling pissed Ben Duckett he needs to take an Uber to the nets), and I actually agree with Key’s points to the media earlier - that in the context of modern cricket where players like Brook will get less than two weeks at home all winter - a mid-Ashes break wasn’t a bad idea.

But why pick a super-public, accessible spot and let the players run around getting hammered in front of the brutal Australian media?! For Duckett (and some of the other players who were pictured in bars drinking for ages), in the context of a series where you’re massively under-performing - why put yourself in that situation? It’s madness, and I suspect he’ll pay with his spot in the team. Surely there must be plenty of nice, private hotel complexes with nice bars and golf courses in Australia they could’ve gone to?

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

 

[tonyw]

I actually don't hate the fact that Duckett got pissed during a sanctioned break in the middle of the series. You read some of the stories about what the 86/87 touring side got up to........rather makes Duckett look like an angel, and it didn't prevent them from winning! He was an idiot, but it shouldn't affect his availability.

I do hate the way that Duckett has been batting......but we've only got one spare batsman on the tour, and given the choice between Duckett and Pope, Duckett has more credit in the bank.

I think it would be a bit mad to move Jacks up to open and play Bethell, and drop both Duckett and Pope, but if they did want to get an early start on a top-of-the-order refresh, I wouldn't complain.

But, like McXal, the one thing that will p**s me off is if Pope is playing in this Test.

 

[Northstandboy]

That’s that then



Pope dropped for Bethell.

 

[Billyox]

This is so poor
Yet again our top order lets our bowlers down

Australia bowled out for 152 and our reply currently on 89-8

 

[Leysboy]

We are an absolute mess.

All out 110 and trail by 42, after bowling them out for 152.

Disgraceful.

 

[yellowbow]

Harry Brook and Will Jacks both danced down the wicket and tried to launch the first ball they faced with ridiculous shots.

There were mumerings in the commentary box that they might have had a bet to see who could hit their first ball for 6.

Phil Tufnell commented “it wouldn’t surprise you with this team”

Obviously pure conjecture but the fact they are having those conversations illustrates what an utter carnival this current culture has degenerated into.

 

[Under The Cuckoo Lane]

Crazy 1st day. Aussies under-scored by at least 75 and still we can't make a fist of it.

 

[ECYellow]

3rd time in the series that we’ve been bowled out in less than 35 overs. Despite this one being a pretty poor wicket, the stats don’t lie and the batting has been inexplicable.

I can see it being all but over tomorrow. Another defeat in the offing, as while the deficit isn’t too big, our batsman have shown in this series that they just aren’t very good compared to the Aussie bowlers.

 

[unification]

Sounds like a rubbish pitch if even the Aussies can’t muster 200 on it.

What a waste of time for all concerned.

 

[Oxfordpete]

Some of The shots our batsmen attempted were ridiculous, it’s a test we are 3 down there’s no need to ‘go for it’ on day 1

 

[dickwalton1964]

I used to love Test cricket, all cricket, growing up and when someone was out I’d run out to the garden to tell my dad who’d then stop what he was doing to come in and watch the replay ! It was news, especially if it was one of the Chappells, a Boycott or Richards etc. You could mow the lawn now and in that time three or four could be out ! Sadly I don’t watch cricket anymore and have very little interest in it - the art and strategy has gone out of the game. Test matches always went the 5 days, you might get a 2 or 3pm finish on day 5 but they’d pretty much go the distance.

 

[Foley]

Alistair Cook suggested that he didn't know how you could bat on that pitch.
Joe Root was in for what 14 balls and hardly managed to hit one.
The pitch was ridiculous, and actually with the exception of Duckett, I am not sure that you could blame the batsmen.
The bowlers need a chance, but to me the balance on this pitch is ridiculously on the side of the bowlers. And in their conditions, not surprisingly, the Australian bowlers are simply better
The Australian cricket board will be furious as the match won't make 4 days ( may not make 3 days) and the loss of income with 90,000 people there will really hurt.

 

[Leysboy]

I used to love Test cricket, all cricket, growing up and when someone was out I’d run out to the garden to tell my dad who’d then stop what he was doing to come in and watch the replay ! It was news, especially if it was one of the Chappells, a Boycott or Richards etc. You could mow the lawn now and in that time three or four could be out ! Sadly I don’t watch cricket anymore and have very little interest in it - the art and strategy has gone out of the game. Test matches always went the 5 days, you might get a 2 or 3pm finish on day 5 but they’d pretty much go the distance.

Which Richards - Barry Richards of South Africa, or Viv Richards West Indies.

Whichever both were enjoyable to watch.

 

[dickwalton1964]

Which Richards - Barry Richards of South Africa, or Viv Richards West Indies.

Whichever both were enjoyable to watch.

I’m going back to the era of apartheid so didn’t see B Richards at test level v England, remember him as a great batsman for, I think, Hants so saw plenty of him in the old Gillette and Benson & Hedges cup games on telly. Viv Richard’s though was pure box office - sleeves rolled up, minimal padding and protection, always chewing gum and would just nonchantly dispatch the ball to all parts of the ground - and out of the ground a lot of the time! 70’s and early 80’s was magical for cricket. The W Indies batted to about number 10, if not 11 !!! They could all play all the shots !

 

[tonyw]

It’s obviously a shocker of a pitch - but it also shows how lacking in defensive technique modern players are (and this goes for the Aussies as well as our own).

The ability to grind your way through a tough period where the ball’s doing a lot is a lost art. And Test cricket is poorer for it.

Interestingly they think the pitch is going to flatten out as the game goes on, meaning the 4th innings will likely be the easiest time to bat. So England could still win this one if they bowl well again…….

 

[holdsteady]

It’s obviously a shocker of a pitch - but it also shows how lacking in defensive technique modern players are (and this goes for the Aussies as well as our own).

The ability to grind your way through a tough period where the ball’s doing a lot is a lost art. And Test cricket is poorer for it.

Interestingly they think the pitch is going to flatten out as the game goes on, meaning the 4th innings will likely be the easiest time to bat. So England could still win this one if they bowl well again…….

I suppose it’s the old “why learn a skill that’s not going to make you any money” again? You can get a million pound plus contract in the IPL being an attacking batsmen, defensive skills are not going to earn you anything in a format where a quick 25 runs is better than a slow 50.

 

[Leysboy]

England again bowl brilliantly to get Australia out for 132 in there second innings.

At Tea on Day 2 England are 77/2 and require 98 more runs to win.

 

[yellowbow]

England again bowl brilliantly to get Australia out for 132 in there second innings.

At Tea on Day 2 England are 77/2 and require 98 more runs to win.

We won’t get a better chance to end the 15 year wait for a win down under

 

[Leysboy]

England 120/3

Crawley goes for 37.

Root joins Bethall out in the middle who is on 35.

England require 55 runs to win.

 

[West Oxon U’s]

51 to win. Root off the mark.

 

[Billyox]

Sorry people ive just switched on the collapse will start shortly

 

[McXal]

This pitch is a bit mad. Every ball feels like a bit of a lottery.

Bazballer England are the most capable side in world cricket of collapsing and getting bowled out from this position, which is why this is so nerve-wracking to watch…

 

[Leysboy]

137/4

Bethall goes for 40

38 runs to win. Harry Brook comes out to join Joe Root.

 

[McXal]

I’ve criticised him for batting like an idiot all tour. But if Brook bats like Brook and stays in for 20 minutes here that’s almost the game…

 

[Leysboy]

Root out. 158/5