Tee hee. (To be fair I did start an edit and was then called away from the screen and the time window ran out on me)
But seriously, I’m not going to rehearse the Steve Smith thing again. If you’re happy to rely on him to win that’s up to you, and you can decide for yourself how much it cheapens the victory or not. But the “poorer team by some margin” comment I’ll dispute. In the first Test you lucked into playing against a ten man team, and then in the second you needed the rain to save you. It wouldn’t have taken that all that many things to pan out slightly differently for you to have gone into this game 3-0 down. But that’s sport.
You are right about the Stokes decision though. Why on earth didn’t Paine review it?
I think this summer particularly this is very true. All the preparation and thinking was put into the World Cup campaign, and the Tests seemed to go on the back burner until a week or so before they kicked off. I also wonder if the imminent Bayliss departure is a factor.
Another good lesson for the ECB to learn would be don’t let Australians play loads of county cricket and get used to the conditions ahead of a home Ashes. Labuschagne especially benefitted massively from this. It’s bloody stupid, and I bet it wouldn’t happen down under, (and I speak as one who gave Michael Klinger a standing ovation at the end of his final innings for Gloucestershire last night).
Stuart Broad spent plenty of seasons playing out west of Melbourne. Pretty tough area, conditions wise and culturally. I was surprised and impressed when I read that.
Mind you Labuschagne is an outlier, plenty play county cricket and don’t do as well as he did.
I really ought to go to bed. It is 5.30 am FFS. Bring decently spaced Tests for the sake of the sleep deprived.
Have discussed this before but touring teams are afforded far less opportunity to play against good local opposition. We do it too.
Late edit before I toddle off – I retract “by some margin”. See you at Lords where Smith has scored centuries on each appearance I believe.
Taking Smith out of the equation, batting on both sides was equally poor.
The Aussies had the edge with a more potent bowling attack – might have been a different story if Anderson and Wood had been fit for England…..
All in all, I think Australia were slightly better overall, but on another day England could have won the first two Tests.
Priority now is to try and square the series even though The Ashes are gone.
England lost two tests by a big margin and won one by the skin of their teeth. Cummins and Hazlewood have been consistently excellent. Their bowling in this last innings was miles better than even Broad. Archer has undoubted talent and is very dangerous but has some way to go to reach their heights.
Australia deserved to retain the Ashes and it wasn’t just down to Smith.
Agreed, although some England player haven’t seemed to be able to focus really since the World Cup victory. I wonder if there’s going to be changes for the final match – talk of Curran coming in and a batsman dropping out if Stokes can’t bowl. Also pondering the squad for the winter matches in NZ, SA and SL
In the end, the difference was Steve Smith. Whatever else anyone may say about him, as a batsman he’s simply a genius. Him apart, the batting on both sides has been absolutely woeful. Very impressed also with Pat Cummins – now that he’s managing to stay fit, it’s obvious what a hugely talented bowler he is.
Junior Wells says
Your grounds, your pitches, your cricket balls, your crowds your weather
Our Urn – until next time
paulwright says
Smith was the difference.
Lodestone of Wrongness says
And Anderson
Junior Wells says
And Cummins and Hazelwood and an ability to rotate our quicks.
You’d have lost Headingley with no Smith playing without Stokes and even then he was plumb but not out to an appalling decision.
You’ve been the poorer team by some margin.
Kid Dynamite says
I regard these recent comments as so mean spirited I fear I will lower myself by responding.
Junior Wells says
Troll
Kid Dynamite says
Tee hee. (To be fair I did start an edit and was then called away from the screen and the time window ran out on me)
But seriously, I’m not going to rehearse the Steve Smith thing again. If you’re happy to rely on him to win that’s up to you, and you can decide for yourself how much it cheapens the victory or not. But the “poorer team by some margin” comment I’ll dispute. In the first Test you lucked into playing against a ten man team, and then in the second you needed the rain to save you. It wouldn’t have taken that all that many things to pan out slightly differently for you to have gone into this game 3-0 down. But that’s sport.
You are right about the Stokes decision though. Why on earth didn’t Paine review it?
Junior Wells says
Because he is shite with reviews, and had used the last one the over before.
Smith served his time -were you proposing life ?
I’ve read quite a bit of English press on the Ashes and my view is consistent with a lot of what I’ve read.
You know – you beat us in World Cup, I said well done, you won the Cup I congratulated. Shoe, other foot. Nada.
SteveT says
Simple really – we were shite with a couple of sessions that bucked the trend.
Our one day cricket has flourished at the expense of our test cricket.
Kid Dynamite says
I think this summer particularly this is very true. All the preparation and thinking was put into the World Cup campaign, and the Tests seemed to go on the back burner until a week or so before they kicked off. I also wonder if the imminent Bayliss departure is a factor.
Another good lesson for the ECB to learn would be don’t let Australians play loads of county cricket and get used to the conditions ahead of a home Ashes. Labuschagne especially benefitted massively from this. It’s bloody stupid, and I bet it wouldn’t happen down under, (and I speak as one who gave Michael Klinger a standing ovation at the end of his final innings for Gloucestershire last night).
Junior Wells says
Not true. Plenty play down here.
Stuart Broad spent plenty of seasons playing out west of Melbourne. Pretty tough area, conditions wise and culturally. I was surprised and impressed when I read that.
Mind you Labuschagne is an outlier, plenty play county cricket and don’t do as well as he did.
I really ought to go to bed. It is 5.30 am FFS. Bring decently spaced Tests for the sake of the sleep deprived.
Have discussed this before but touring teams are afforded far less opportunity to play against good local opposition. We do it too.
Late edit before I toddle off – I retract “by some margin”. See you at Lords where Smith has scored centuries on each appearance I believe.
Uncle Wheaty says
We let you win out of pity!
Bargepole says
Taking Smith out of the equation, batting on both sides was equally poor.
The Aussies had the edge with a more potent bowling attack – might have been a different story if Anderson and Wood had been fit for England…..
All in all, I think Australia were slightly better overall, but on another day England could have won the first two Tests.
Priority now is to try and square the series even though The Ashes are gone.
Tiggerlion says
England lost two tests by a big margin and won one by the skin of their teeth. Cummins and Hazlewood have been consistently excellent. Their bowling in this last innings was miles better than even Broad. Archer has undoubted talent and is very dangerous but has some way to go to reach their heights.
Australia deserved to retain the Ashes and it wasn’t just down to Smith.
Bargepole says
Agreed, although some England player haven’t seemed to be able to focus really since the World Cup victory. I wonder if there’s going to be changes for the final match – talk of Curran coming in and a batsman dropping out if Stokes can’t bowl. Also pondering the squad for the winter matches in NZ, SA and SL
Tiggerlion says
I think we need to try another batsman, myself. Someone who might stay at the crease for a while without flashing the bat. Do you know anyone?
Freddy Steady says
@tiggerlion
Let me get this right Tigger, you’re putting yourself forward for the Oval Test?
Tiggerlion says
Oh yes please!!!
count jim moriarty says
Didn’t make one, Junior.
In the end, the difference was Steve Smith. Whatever else anyone may say about him, as a batsman he’s simply a genius. Him apart, the batting on both sides has been absolutely woeful. Very impressed also with Pat Cummins – now that he’s managing to stay fit, it’s obvious what a hugely talented bowler he is.
Tiggerlion says
I think it was Uncle Wheaty who predicted an English whitewash.
Uncle Wheaty says
Hands up, it was me.
I stand corrected. Steve Smith was the difference and the lack of Anderson also contributed.
Both teams have dodgy batting line ups and the bowlers were the difference here.