It's The Ashes (again)

[Cheshire East Baggie]

The cricketing establishment ex cricketers reporters & commentators are laying in heavy seems all have been writing there pieces months!!!..
Stokes & MuCullum will not change despite the criticism even if they loose this test they will be confident in winning the next 3 it’s a great approach & mentally however loosing this series and the winter test series badly against India will put coach & his captain in jeopardy!!..

Losing to Australia will always put coach and captain in jeopardy but to lose from strong positions shows the system just needs a little more common sense. A silly declaration and some wrong selections at Edgbaston and then to surrender the top order from an untroubled 188-1 at Lords, against a very good side? England are the architects of their own downfall here and that really should be easy to sort out in future.

Of course we might turn it around and win the series, or at least get close. But for me the exit route is obvious. Stokes can't go on for long without a knee operation - even that might not prolong his career. So if we get hammered, he'll be off "for the op". Will McCullum's style of play be sustainable without Stokes as captain and inspiration? Or will Baz melt away into the night? Whatever happens, I see no long term legacy with Bazball. It's about Stokes, McCullum, Bairstow, Broad, the big personalities. When they've all gone, I hope we still have Root and Foakes to provide some reliability in the batting order and knock some common sense into the young talent coming through.