12-07-2025, 02:30 PM
This extract from Stephan Shemilt's article sums it up well imo:
"This? This was England's big opportunity. The most anticipated Ashes series in a generation.
This is why James Anderson was pensioned off, why performances in domestic cricket were largely ignored and why parts of the County Championship were turned into an experiment with the Kookaburra ball.
Australia were supposed to be ageing and in decline - "the worst team in 15 years". Instead, the home side have rissoled England with their reserve bowling attack and opening batter Usman Khawaja out with a bad back."
Pretty disgraceful performance
"This? This was England's big opportunity. The most anticipated Ashes series in a generation.
This is why James Anderson was pensioned off, why performances in domestic cricket were largely ignored and why parts of the County Championship were turned into an experiment with the Kookaburra ball.
Australia were supposed to be ageing and in decline - "the worst team in 15 years". Instead, the home side have rissoled England with their reserve bowling attack and opening batter Usman Khawaja out with a bad back."
Pretty disgraceful performance