Stokes batted on to almost 600 when he could have declared maybe 15-20 overs earlier and had a much better shot at bowling the Aussies out whilst the ground was playable. Crazy decision given the dire predictions of rain over the last 2 days. Got exactly what he and his team deserved.
Cricket Season Thread
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Tucker
Well-known member
100% Stokes and the coaches made a number of bad strategic decisions concerning declarations in the first and fourth test as well as pitch preparations for the first and scond tests. As a team, England dropped far too many catches to win Test matches as well.
Buttface
Well-known member
Bairstow alone had 8 missed chances over the first three tests.
"But cricket won out with Bazball!"
Team selections and tactic failures aside, the single biggest player to have an impact on England's failure to win the first two Tests was Bairstow with his ineptitude with the gloves. They also failed to support Anderson and Broad by preparing friendlier pitches for them in the first two Tests.
It's quite funny that the Poms are 2-1 down and there's backslapping and a congratulatory feel about their tactics and captaincy whilst losing the Ashes while Cummins is copping a bit of stick from some in Australia over our tactics after losing Nathan Lyon and our brittle top and middle order failed to give our bowlers something to defend in the 3rd Test to put it beyond doubt.
Fallen Angel
Well-known member
His keeping might be below standard (coming off knee surgery btw), however he‘s done a much better job with the bat than some of the Aussies. Smith’s series in particular has been pretty weak.
Can only go on the results, he has cost them. And I did say that the Australian batting was brittle.
Fallen Angel
Well-known member
Stokes inability at knowing when and when not to declare is what cost them. As well as their first innings at Lords when Lyon went down.
diedpretty
Well-known member
OK, a keeper dropping several regulation catches isn't an issue... 🙄
supercoach
Well-known member
As Tucker pointed out the Poms prepared Bazball pitches for the first couple of tests and that in itself was a crazy call given the fact Australians have always struggled when the ball is doing plenty through the air and off the track.
Another thing, the Poms have won either all the tosses or close to it and Australia have had to bat in the harder conditions basically in every test.
Only hope Australia win the last, a three one victory would make it very hard for any Pom to cry we were robbed
Another thing, the Poms have won either all the tosses or close to it and Australia have had to bat in the harder conditions basically in every test.
Only hope Australia win the last, a three one victory would make it very hard for any Pom to cry we were robbed
Fallen Angel
Well-known member
I think if the run out had not happened and he didn’t put a lot of Aussie noses out of joint, there’s no way he would be the target that he is. If it was Stokes who was the no 1 enemy, it would be the declarations that cost them.
Yep.
The Poms had everything do their way and they bottled it through shit captaincy, shit tactics and shit team selections. Simple.
No one has argued that the declarations aren't a major factor, I even prefaced my first comment with "team selections and tactical failures aside," as an obvious concession that declarations factored as a major part of their failure.
Cricket is a game of moments though. Stokes bottled the declarations big time. Putting pressure on your bowlers by dropping catches doesn't help. If Carey makes those mistakes and we lose the Ashes, we are absolutely saying he should shoulder a lot of the blame, whether declaration dramas factor in or not.
Hopefully with the Ashes retained we have a bit of a crack this game. No point going super defensive if you’re leaking runs regardless. Might as well try taking wickets. Wouldn’t mind seeing Nesser get a go.
AmericanHistoryX
Well-known member
Sorry. I clicked this link accidently. Hopefully you guys are happy here. We mean no harm to your planet.
Tucker
Well-known member
Michael Vaughn reporting there’s a rumour that Dave Warner and Steve Smith will both retire after the Oval Test.
Nothing substantiated and no comment from Aussie camp yet.
Nothing substantiated and no comment from Aussie camp yet.
Buttface
Well-known member
I don’t think The Run-Smith should retire just yet, but Warner should have retired or been tapped last summer.
Halbrowne61
Well-known member
Can’t see that happening. Oz got out of jail in Manchester and feel Poms will be much more motivated. No Gary has hurt us and think all our players will be thinking about is coming home.
England to win by plenty.
PS and there is no way Cummins won’t play.
Tucker
Well-known member
Bazball has failed in a few innings this series so far.
They’ll go hard at us and we are likely to reciprocate.
This may not resemble Test cricket in a traditional sense this last game….
They’ll go hard at us and we are likely to reciprocate.
This may not resemble Test cricket in a traditional sense this last game….