The Ashes

[Josh1873]

At least we've avoided the whitewash - but this changes nothing, for me. Rob Key and McCullum both need to leave their positions ASAP.

[tHEgLASSdOORS]

Knight the lot of them

[Ted Maul]

Let's get it right, if that pitch was in India we'd have pages of chat about how bad it was. That was a shocker. Is that really the direction we're taking test cricket?

[Lightnin]

I know someone that booked to go out to the last 2 tests before it started. So not only has he gone when we’ve already lost the ashes, he could also only have tickets for the final days.

[Josh1873]

Let's get it right, if that pitch was in India we'd have pages of chat about how bad it was. That was a shocker. Is that really the direction we're taking test cricket?

I've no idea on pitch preparation, but surely there's enough knowledge to predictably produce a pitch that has a good balance between bat and ball. 

No one wants to see 20 wickets in a day, but similarly no one wants to see 600 play 550 in a bore draw, either. 

I genuinely have no idea how they go about producing a pitch, but I'd have thought there's something you can do to make it more balanced between bat and ball?

[Ted Maul]

Let's get it right, if that pitch was in India we'd have pages of chat about how bad it was. That was a shocker. Is that really the direction we're taking test cricket?

I've no idea on pitch preparation, but surely there's enough knowledge to predictably produce a pitch that has a good balance between bat and ball. 

No one wants to see 20 wickets in a day, but similarly no one wants to see 600 play 550 in a bore draw, either. 

I genuinely have no idea how they go about producing a pitch, but I'd have thought there's something you can do to make it more balanced between bat and ball?

Could have taken another couple of mm of grass off it for a start, international class bowlers don't need that much help getting wickets. Like I say, if that was a pitch in Chennai breaking up and turning square resulting in a two day test you'd not be able to move fort articles about it. Let's not for get that the pitches have been like this for 50% of the tests in this series too (Perth wasn't quite as bad but still finished in two days).

[rsbaggy2]

Well there's a belated Christmas present for you all!

Didn't expect that result last night, but well played to the team for finally playing the match to it's conditions with the correct approach. Or so it seems.

The pitch was apalling and I echo Ted's comments that had this been in the subcontinent we would have heard so much more criticism of it. As Steve Smith said, there was too much grass on it and thereby it took away the skill required to bowl a team out twice and to provide a fair crack for the batsmen. 

A dreadful test match with the only solace been that England won.

[pindgill]

A win is a win!!…well done England.
If that pitch was again in India the criticism the BCCI would have took led by the likes of Cuzer would have lasted weeks!!..
Very strange re ACB preparing pitches like this one & Perth not only was it detrimental to there own side but has cost them 10’s of millions in gate receipts!!..

[Tom Joad 25]

A win is a win!!…well done England.
If that pitch was again in India the criticism the BCCI would have took led by the likes of Cuzer would have lasted weeks!!..
Very strange re ACB preparing pitches like this one & Perth not only was it detrimental to there own side but has cost them 10’s of millions in gate receipts!!..

Yes. I have absolutely no idea what they were thinking. The explanation that the pitch would get better by days 4 and 5 is nonsense. A real own goal for the Aussies but I don't suppose they'll lose too much sleep. Well done Bethell, to get a score in those conditions, in that pressure, against that attack, is very promising.

[Josh1873]

FWIW, any pitch that sees a Test over in two days is unacceptable. I couldn't give a toss which Nation that pitch was in.

I feel like a 'good' wicket that sees a run fest, and a bore draw, should get heavier criticism than the two pitches we've seen, however. At least 20 wickets a day produces a result and entertainment. 600 v 600 is boring and isn't good for anyone.