The Ashes

[Baggiedownunder]

Snicko not fit for purpose.
That is not in doubt. 
But even so all you can ask for is consistency when referrals are made. Snicko showed a spike just after passing Weatherald's bat.  Following on from Stokes dismissal in a previous test in similar circumstances surely the same logic should have applied here?
The fact it wasn't given out is a disgrace.

It didn’t spike it shown a thickening however agree it isn’t fit for purpose.
It was the reason for a 4-1 defeat

[pindgill]

This is the poorest Australia test team & squad in the last 15 years or so and the best chance of England winning in Australia in decades!!…
Like in India last winter they were comprehensively thrashed 4-1 only a dodgy pitch in Melbourne and Australia already winning the series prevented a 5-0 whitewash.
KEYS COACH & CAPTAIN need to go.

[rsbaggy2]

Snicko not fit for purpose.
That is not in doubt. 
But even so all you can ask for is consistency when referrals are made. Snicko showed a spike just after passing Weatherald's bat.  Following on from Stokes dismissal in a previous test in similar circumstances surely the same logic should have applied here?
The fact it wasn't given out is a disgrace.

It didn’t spike it shown a thickening however agree it isn’t fit for purpose.
It was the reason for a 4-1 defeat

Whatever the deficiencies of Snicko it was not the reason for England's capitulation. Think like that only excuses the ill preparation, poor discipline and arrogance and poor performances of the team.

What you're implying is nonsense. England lost the series due to their own shortfalls. To blame anything else is frankly ludicrous.

[Ted Maul]

What a series of missed opportunities. Opportunities missed throughout own inability to absorb pressure and react to the game situation. The Australians did this way better and were deserving winners, despite the fact things couldn't have gone more in our favour throughout the series. Imagine being told 12 months ago that...

Cummins, Lyon and Hazelwood manage three games between them.
Labuschagne wouldn't average 30.
Smith wouldn't score runs until the fifth test.
Joe Root would score 400 across the series whilst averaging 44.
We'd start with a pace bowling attack of Archer, Wood and Atkinson.
Josh Tongue emerges, plays three games and takes 18 wickets.

Yet all that went out of the window almost immediately, we were 100-1 at lunch on Day 2 in Perth and we'd lost before the day was out. 2-0 before we'd even gone on the piss in Noosa (which I don't have a problem with tbf) and the series was done.

Personally no issue with Baz and especially Stokes staying on as the last 2.5 games have seen some more sensible cricket - the Jamie Smith dismissal aside. There has to be real improvements in the next 12 months

[Baggiedownunder]

Snicko not fit for purpose.
That is not in doubt. 
But even so all you can ask for is consistency when referrals are made. Snicko showed a spike just after passing Weatherald's bat.  Following on from Stokes dismissal in a previous test in similar circumstances surely the same logic should have applied here?
The fact it wasn't given out is a disgrace.

It didn’t spike it shown a thickening however agree it isn’t fit for purpose.
It was the reason for a 4-1 defeat

Whatever the deficiencies of Snicko it was not the reason for England's capitulation. Think like that only excuses the ill preparation, poor discipline and arrogance and poor performances of the team.

What you're implying is nonsense. England lost the series due to their own shortfalls. To blame anything else is frankly ludicrous.

Typo above. I meant to say it wasn’t the reason not it was. Agree with your opinion

[rsbaggy2]

Snicko not fit for purpose.
That is not in doubt. 
But even so all you can ask for is consistency when referrals are made. Snicko showed a spike just after passing Weatherald's bat.  Following on from Stokes dismissal in a previous test in similar circumstances surely the same logic should have applied here?
The fact it wasn't given out is a disgrace.

It didn’t spike it shown a thickening however agree it isn’t fit for purpose.
It was the reason for a 4-1 defeat

Whatever the deficiencies of Snicko it was not the reason for England's capitulation. Think like that only excuses the ill preparation, poor discipline and arrogance and poor performances of the team.

What you're implying is nonsense. England lost the series due to their own shortfalls. To blame anything else is frankly ludicrous.

Typo above. I meant to say it wasn’t the reason not it was. Agree with your opinion

[Cheshire East Baggie]

Stokes is saying "We've got the right people in this team". McCullum is saying "I don't like being told what to do".

I don't see a future for them in the Test setup, and I don't see us improving while they are both still involved. Stokes as a player has a lot to offer when he's fit, but that's increasingly rare. McCullum is a fraud.

[Ted Maul]

Stokes is saying "We've got the right people in this team". McCullum is saying "I don't like being told what to do".

I don't see a future for them in the Test setup, and I don't see us improving while they are both still involved. Stokes as a player has a lot to offer when he's fit, but that's increasingly rare. McCullum is a fraud.

Bar the notable omission of a spinner and a second, more consistent opening bat I'm not sure I disagree with Stokes. The main reason for frustration on this tour is that we've sent the most talented group we've had for 15 years over there to play their weakest, oldest and most out of form side since 2010 and we've beaten ourselves in four and a bit days of test cricket.

[Gzbaggy]

"The most talented group" is pushing it
-Crawley is a very limited opener and Pope an average number 3
-we have no decent spinner and pick a T20 batsman who can bowl a bit!
-our wicket keeper is not top class
-our bowlers are very injury prone
-our fielding is not top class

Would not argue about their oldest side but Head, Smith, Carey, Starc and Cummins are top class players. Boland and Nesser would not get in our side because they are not quick enough, whether they are better than our bowlers, look at the averages.

[Tom Joad 25]

Stokes is saying "We've got the right people in this team". McCullum is saying "I don't like being told what to do".

I don't see a future for them in the Test setup, and I don't see us improving while they are both still involved. Stokes as a player has a lot to offer when he's fit, but that's increasingly rare. McCullum is a fraud.

Bar the notable omission of a spinner and a second, more consistent opening bat I'm not sure I disagree with Stokes. The main reason for frustration on this tour is that we've sent the most talented group we've had for 15 years over there to play their weakest, oldest and most out of form side since 2010 and we've beaten ourselves in four and a bit days of test cricket.

C'rect Ted. The areas improvement is required have been highlighted by many commentators,  mainly because they are obvious. Stokes appears to have recognised it. McCullum appears to have doubled down though and Key has gone quiet.  The subjects not acknowledged by the team management  remain. Team selection and guaranteed places being a huge one. I personally don't believe we should throw out the baby with the bathwater but of the 3 main men, Stokes' position should be safe, Key has questions to answer while McCullum appears thoroughly arrogant and dislikeable.