It's The Ashes (again)

[rsbaggy2]

England's new fielding coach?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/live/cricket/64959135

Video at 3.00pm

[CaptainFantastico]

You could easily flip the narrative of the series and say that this style of play has made us competitive with the best side in the world, whilst dropping about 300 runs worth of catches. If you put a combined 11 together you’d struggle to get more than 2/3 English players in there.

Obviously it’s impossible to prove that “playing sensibly” wouldn’t have seen us 2-0 up at this stage but the very opportunities that have been squandered have been brought about by this style of play. If you swap the catching statistics around then I’m pretty confident you could swap the score around too.

That’s my take on it

[Mr Nimbus]

You could easily flip the narrative of the series and say that this style of play has made us competitive with the best side in the world, whilst dropping about 300 runs worth of catches. If you put a combined 11 together you’d struggle to get more than 2/3 English players in there.

Obviously it’s impossible to prove that “playing sensibly” wouldn’t have seen us 2-0 up at this stage but the very opportunities that have been squandered have been brought about by this style of play. If you swap the catching statistics around then I’m pretty confident you could swap the score around too.

Yup.  Two or three English players in a combined 11 may even be generous.  I'm struggling after Root.  Bairstow pre injury form looks a one summer wonder.  The Aussies wouldn't need to rely on a half fit Stokes to dig them out of holes.  Brooke has potential but wouldn't get in.  None of the bowlers get in their attack. Fowkes maybe????

[SausEggBaton]

Bears and Pears are shit, too.

Wo wo wo! Calm down! Everyone's had a drink. Chill  out

[Borin' Baggie]

Good start to the day so far

[hudds]

Good start to the day so far

What time did you set your alarm?

[strawman]

This short stuff is bloody idiotic - handing em runs

[Borin' Baggie]

Good start to the day so far

What time did you set your alarm?

The day started at the time of the first ball, even if I've been up since 7

[Cheshire East Baggie]

It's anybody's game just now. Every chance we can claw it back to 2-1.

Here's a thought. What if the unfashionable Chris Woakes, with almost 100 Test wickets in England at an average in the low 20s, had played at Lords instead of the obviously unfit or out-of-form Anderson? Even (perish the thought) been preferred to the GOAT for Edgbaston? With Robinson being fugged they won't have the problem of dropping Woaksy to give Anderson a farewell appearance at Old Trafford. Nevertheless, cronyism and complacency in selection and on the field has put us 2-0 down.

Baz'n'Ben aren't impressing me with their cricketing intelligence, even though Stokes is carrying the team with his awesome batting.

[Malcolm Tucker]

It's anybody's game just now. Every chance we can claw it back to 2-1.

Here's a thought. What if the unfashionable Chris Woakes, with almost 100 Test wickets in England at an average in the low 20s, had played at Lords instead of the obviously unfit or out-of-form Anderson? Even (perish the thought) been preferred to the GOAT for Edgbaston? With Robinson being fugged they won't have the problem of dropping Woaksy to give Anderson a farewell appearance at Old Trafford. Nevertheless, cronyism and complacency in selection and on the field has put us 2-0 down.

Baz'n'Ben aren't impressing me with their cricketing intelligence, even though Stokes is carrying the team with his awesome batting.

Not including Woakes is fucking idiotic - agreed. Proper mental.