Ashes inquest (3 replies)
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Anyway enough of my thoughts I've bored myself with them so found these comments on the ready to go message board as a starter for ten. What do peeps think? Btw fun to read this with a Mackem accent
Where to start with this absolute shower of shite?
1 - Whoever signed off the itinerary needs to be sacked, 1 "warm up" game which we all know was half arsed vs England Lions was a shambolic way to prepare.
2 - The constant "resting" of England players during the County Championship season is now looking hideous. For example I remember last year Durham needed a concussion replacement, the ECB wouldn't allow Carse to play despite him being at the ground, he was in the bar watching Sunderland in the play off final. The way they messed Potts about resting him as well last year clearly bothered the lad and obviously Bethell as well was messed about.
3 - The management of our fast bowlers, I have banged on about this for years but again shambolic. Archer, Wood, Atkinson, knackered on this trip and it raises questions yet again why this is happening all the time with English fast bowlers? The way they have managed Mark Wood was absolutely astoundingly bad. "Don't play any games mate for Durham, we'll just throw you straight into an Ashes Series"
4 - We were told this series was several years in the planning. Therefore what was the reasoning behind preparing Bashir for the last 2-3 years then not bother selecting him, and even worse selecting a spin bowler (Jacks) ahead of him who was clearly never part of this "several years in the planning".
5 - Bethell - Similar to point 4, granted he's done well this week, they basically threw the lad in at the deep end, he was never part of the plan. They may well have stumbled on a Pope replacement.
6 - Crawley/Duckett - Not good enough. Said on here to @smoker that Crawley has a way of blagging his place by getting a decent score when he needs to and he did it during this series, ultimately though not good enough 27.30 average is poor. Likewise Duckett, I was prepared to give him a chance this series after a poor start........ on the piss, pissed and averaging 20.02, not good enough. Both need replacing.
7 - County Cricket "too much cricket" - Can we stop with this bullshit? Again repeating myself, but this series was several years planning and some of this lot hardly played any red ball cricket between the end of the India series in July, to then rocking up in October/November in Australia. That is appalling. Ironically the player who has impressed me the most, was playing red ball cricket in September..... Josh Tongue.
8 - County Cricket merit - Can we get rid of this "face fits club" that is clearly the case with this lot? I am a strong believer in "performance over reputation" and this series has highlighted the need for that in my opinion. Hameed averaged 66 in the CC in 2025, Sibley 60.66, Simpson 60.33, Cox 59.09, Lawrence 54.23. There are other examples but you get the idea, reward CC performances because this current selection criteria just isn't working.
9 - Get rid of BM and RK, beyond arrogant and that is breeding throughout this team
10 - Given what I have seen this tour, Carse, Potts, Smith, Pope, Duckett, Crawley and Jacks aren't good enough for this level. Carse and Potts need a full season with Durham, Smith may come good. The 2 opening batsman I am struggling with. Bethell needs managing properly. What is the purpose of Bashir, he isn't even our best spinner.
11 - If we intend to experiment with the Kookaburra ball in the future, I'd suggest it's not a good idea to test it during a test series where the only players testing the ball are County players who are never ever playing for England.... seems a bit pointless having George Drissell testing a ball for an Ashes series..... ECB logic!!!
12 - Reduction of CC - Mr Bostock said it would improve performance/we would see more high level performances...... Can we stop with this shit now please?
13 - Stokes - made mistakes but is the best leader we have, the alternative is Brook who I wouldn't want captaining England, shit for brains that lad.
Really struggling to find any positives from this series, only 1 player scored 400 runs which is piss poor and only 2 players scored centuries for England, again piss poor.
An absolute disaster of a series, riddled with arrogance, weak minded players and against a very average Australia side, it's absolutely unforgiveable and some heads need to roll for this shambolic outcome.
Hope they enjoyed the golf and booze though
Where to start with this absolute shower of shite?
1 - Whoever signed off the itinerary needs to be sacked, 1 "warm up" game which we all know was half arsed vs England Lions was a shambolic way to prepare.
2 - The constant "resting" of England players during the County Championship season is now looking hideous. For example I remember last year Durham needed a concussion replacement, the ECB wouldn't allow Carse to play despite him being at the ground, he was in the bar watching Sunderland in the play off final. The way they messed Potts about resting him as well last year clearly bothered the lad and obviously Bethell as well was messed about.
3 - The management of our fast bowlers, I have banged on about this for years but again shambolic. Archer, Wood, Atkinson, knackered on this trip and it raises questions yet again why this is happening all the time with English fast bowlers? The way they have managed Mark Wood was absolutely astoundingly bad. "Don't play any games mate for Durham, we'll just throw you straight into an Ashes Series"
4 - We were told this series was several years in the planning. Therefore what was the reasoning behind preparing Bashir for the last 2-3 years then not bother selecting him, and even worse selecting a spin bowler (Jacks) ahead of him who was clearly never part of this "several years in the planning".
5 - Bethell - Similar to point 4, granted he's done well this week, they basically threw the lad in at the deep end, he was never part of the plan. They may well have stumbled on a Pope replacement.
6 - Crawley/Duckett - Not good enough. Said on here to @smoker that Crawley has a way of blagging his place by getting a decent score when he needs to and he did it during this series, ultimately though not good enough 27.30 average is poor. Likewise Duckett, I was prepared to give him a chance this series after a poor start........ on the piss, pissed and averaging 20.02, not good enough. Both need replacing.
7 - County Cricket "too much cricket" - Can we stop with this bullshit? Again repeating myself, but this series was several years planning and some of this lot hardly played any red ball cricket between the end of the India series in July, to then rocking up in October/November in Australia. That is appalling. Ironically the player who has impressed me the most, was playing red ball cricket in September..... Josh Tongue.
8 - County Cricket merit - Can we get rid of this "face fits club" that is clearly the case with this lot? I am a strong believer in "performance over reputation" and this series has highlighted the need for that in my opinion. Hameed averaged 66 in the CC in 2025, Sibley 60.66, Simpson 60.33, Cox 59.09, Lawrence 54.23. There are other examples but you get the idea, reward CC performances because this current selection criteria just isn't working.
9 - Get rid of BM and RK, beyond arrogant and that is breeding throughout this team
10 - Given what I have seen this tour, Carse, Potts, Smith, Pope, Duckett, Crawley and Jacks aren't good enough for this level. Carse and Potts need a full season with Durham, Smith may come good. The 2 opening batsman I am struggling with. Bethell needs managing properly. What is the purpose of Bashir, he isn't even our best spinner.
11 - If we intend to experiment with the Kookaburra ball in the future, I'd suggest it's not a good idea to test it during a test series where the only players testing the ball are County players who are never ever playing for England.... seems a bit pointless having George Drissell testing a ball for an Ashes series..... ECB logic!!!
12 - Reduction of CC - Mr Bostock said it would improve performance/we would see more high level performances...... Can we stop with this shit now please?
13 - Stokes - made mistakes but is the best leader we have, the alternative is Brook who I wouldn't want captaining England, shit for brains that lad.
Really struggling to find any positives from this series, only 1 player scored 400 runs which is piss poor and only 2 players scored centuries for England, again piss poor.
An absolute disaster of a series, riddled with arrogance, weak minded players and against a very average Australia side, it's absolutely unforgiveable and some heads need to roll for this shambolic outcome.
Hope they enjoyed the golf and booze though