It's The Ashes (again)

[AnelkasBeard]

Jimmy shouldn't be selected. There's no room for sentiment in sport. But I fear he'll get a place just because it's OT.

Anelka's team is pretty much what I'd go with but Tongue replacing Anderson and Crawley replaced with Bairstow. But I think he's nailed it in terms of what England will go with.

There is no room for sentiment in sport...........posted on a forum about a club that has won fuck all in most of our lifetimes that the only reason we give a shit is sentiment.


Sport is all about sentiment otherwise everyone would support Man City

In that case we may as well select Boycott, Freddie Flintoff and Botham!

In defense of Josh here, he clearly means no room for sentiment in sport in the professional setting of picking a team etc.

Fans are the ones that need to have the sentiment.

[SuperBob2002]

Jimmy shouldn't be selected. There's no room for sentiment in sport. But I fear he'll get a place just because it's OT.

Anelka's team is pretty much what I'd go with but Tongue replacing Anderson and Crawley replaced with Bairstow. But I think he's nailed it in terms of what England will go with.

There is no room for sentiment in sport...........posted on a forum about a club that has won fuck all in most of our lifetimes that the only reason we give a shit is sentiment.


Sport is all about sentiment otherwise everyone would support Man City

In that case we may as well select Boycott, Freddie Flintoff and Botham!

In defense of Josh here, he clearly means no room for sentiment in sport in the professional setting of picking a team etc.

Fans are the ones that need to have the sentiment.

Yep. That's exactly what I mean. Love Jimmy and he's arguably the greatest bowler we've ever produced, but if he's reached a point where he's ineffective then we need to be ruthless and brutal. 

Get Rushworth into the team! He's just taken two wickets for the Bears this morning (this is of course me talking bollocks and a tongue in cheek comment).

[Shabby Russian]

My thoughts are that although the series has been very exciting and watchable, the standard of cricket has been mediocre, particularly the batting.

The pitches in the first 2 tests, provided the batters with a massive advantage, which in many instances the batters were prepared to throw away.

I think the last test was more like it, but even then the batting was below the standard you might expect. 

I'm not seeing the point of test cricket, if the groundsman prepare pitches that are suitable for one day cricket, and the batters only want to bat as long as they would in a 50 overs match.

[SuperBob2002]

Cricket is always a more enjoyable watch when the pitch and general conditions favour the bowlers slightly more than the batters. No one wants to see two innings of 500plus runs and then the third innings is just going through the motions of securing the draw.

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Thank god I'm not a Kent fan. I'd be in utter meltdown territory. Ridiculous run out, another two further run out chances with poor running between the wicket and poor communication. Going for shots that aren't there. They're 75-5 after winning the toss and Bears have probably only had to work for 2 of those wickets. 3 have been absolute gifts! 

[Ted Maul]

I find myself half agreeing with Josh here. The preparation and attitude towards the last test match seemed far more serious and switched on than what had come before at Edgbaston and Lords. Extras has been trotted out a fair few times so look at the numbers; Edgbaston we conceded 44, Lords we conceded 74 and Headingley we conceded 30 - less than half that of Lords. Dropped catches remain a problem partly attributable to not playing a proper WK but you can't have everything. I found myself once again agreeing with KP that the England approach this week seemed much more focussed, no BS in the media before the game, picking a sensible team to play the conditions, digging in when required. A model to follow for the last two games.

That said, it would be very England to claw it back to 2-2 and have the Oval test rained off.

[Cuzer]

I’d play Jimmy at OT for Robinson who clearly isn’t fit

I’d leave the rest as is

Cuzer

[rsbaggy2]

I’d play Jimmy at OT for Robinson who clearly isn’t fit

I’d leave the rest as is

Cuzer

A chance to put the Aussies to the sword should be grasped with both hands. Sentiment aside, Tongue deserves to be the pick ahead of both Anderson and Robinson. Not saying Jimmy won't perform but he doesn't merit selection based on form.

[Cuzer]

A lot of clammer for Tongue granted, especially how the Aussies are struggling to play pace bowling but I’m in the form is temporary, class is permanent camp

Dependent on the wicket and conditions of course but Id back Jimmy

Just looked at the forecast for Finals Day on Saturday

FFS, been so lucky with the weather over the years, even when it was in September

Absolute wounded

Cuzer

[Cheshire East Baggie]

A lot of clammer for Tongue granted, especially how the Aussies are struggling to play pace bowling but I’m in the form is temporary, class is permanent camp

Dependent on the wicket and conditions of course but Id back Jimmy

Just looked at the forecast for Finals Day on Saturday

FFS, been so lucky with the weather over the years, even when it was in September

Absolute wounded

Cuzer

I'm firmly in the "time waits for no-one" camp. Jimmy looks his age. He can't bowl short at his pace, which is the way Stokes wants them to bowl. Picking him for Lords and again at Old Trafford could be the difference between a series win and a series defeat.

[Borin' Baggie]

I’d play Jimmy at OT for Robinson who clearly isn’t fit

I’d leave the rest as is

Cuzer

Foakes needs to come in