It's The Ashes (again)

[Fido]

The bowling has become a bit mundane and expensive.

Tongue has been getting a lashing.
Robinsons' effect has been diluted.
Broad has bean ineffectual.
Anderson is like a puppet with no strings.
Root candig them out.

Edited in light of the last few minutes.

Have an arf for that little ditty, by the way.

[Cheshire East Baggie]

The bowling has become a bit mundane and expensive.

Tongue has been getting a lashing.
Robinsons' effect has been diluted.
Broad has bean ineffectual.
Anderson is like a puppet with no strings.
Root candig them out.

Edited in light of the last few minutes.

Have an arf for that little ditty, by the way.

+1

[Tom Joad]

I’m quite sanguine. We’re double world champions in the white ball formats and 3rd in the test rankings. It’s never been better and probably never will be

..wins Most Pessimistic Post trophy. (Temporarily, in the absence of Nick ).

[Beachboysbaggie]

I’m quite sanguine. We’re double world champions in the white ball formats and 3rd in the test rankings. It’s never been better and probably never will be

..wins Most Pessimistic Post trophy. (Temporarily, in the absence of Nick ).

Eh? I’m saying we’ve never had it so good. Macmillan was branded a deluded optimist when he said that!

[Shabby Russian]

Couldn't help thinking that the close of play score yesterday, was the one we should have aimed for at the end of day 1 at Edgbaston.

Only 5 wickets down  and with a good opportunity to go and make a big first innings .

[AnelkasBeard]

Couldn't help thinking that the close of play score yesterday, was the one we should have aimed for at the end of day 1 at Edgbaston.

Only 5 wickets down  and with a good opportunity to go and make a big first innings .

If we can somehow get Smith early this morning, we have to be hopeful we can dig them out for 400, and then post a proper score in reply. But if Smith hangs around enough to let Carey, Starc and Cummins swing the bat around him, we're looking at a monster total I fear.

[Ted Maul]

Can't believe I found myself nodding along to KP at teatime yesterday when he described England as "shambolic" - he was spot on.

The whole set up yesterday was really poor from England. It's one thing going against the norm, giving it the big one about winning by 150 runs and hitting everything for six but the basics of the game and our preparation seem to have been lost. First rain delay the Australian batsmen were ready to go quicker than the England batsmen, another 12 no balls and two dropped catches as well. We saw the diligence that Australia approached their innings during the first couple of hours, can we honestly say we think England will go about their business in the same way?

Ashes cricket is the pinnacle of the game, the biggest series in cricket for English cricketers and from what I've seen from the first six days of the series we seem to have approached it with a real blase attitude and we're on the verge of getting a seriously bloody nose unless we buck our ideas up quickly. It's the cricketing equivalent of the Albion playing Man City, turning up 15 minutes before kick off and playing six up front. This Australian team are the best for a generation with a lot of players at the peak of their powers at the right time, we may well lose the series however we play but at the moment it just doesn't feel as though we're giving ourselves the best chance to do so.

[Throstle4Life79]

KP (Pietersen) very critical this morning. Stupid Baz ball crocket. Terrible bowling and fielding yesterday.

[AnelkasBeard]

Yesterday was literally nothing to do with Bazball tactics though, unless you point towards a difference in preparation (which is a fair criticism).

[Ted Maul]

Yesterday was literally nothing to do with Bazball tactics though, unless you point towards a difference in preparation (which is a fair criticism).

The performance across the first six days of this series looks to me to be a symptom of a relaxed preparation, we look massively undercooked.

- Bowling across both tests really poor. Players trundling in at 78mph and bowling thousands of no balls.
- How many catches have we dropped and stumpings have we missed - cost us the first test.
- Wasting a great opportunity yesterday under great bowling conditions - the lack of a serious wicket taking spinner too?
- The noises in the press in the last week about our performance at Edgbaston - how great are we? Well, not really snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.
- I've not mentioned batting yet but can you imagine Crawley and Duckett lasting like Warner and Khawaja did in difficult conditions yesterday?

We're quickly disappearing up our own arses with 'Bazball' and the new style. Sky interviewed Crawley at lunch yesterday and the first five minutes was paying tribute to how he hit the first ball of the series for four, a bit small time when you've been beaten. Feels to me like we're not taking it seriously, and when we're playing against the best Australian team for a generation that will only end up one way.