The Ashes Tour of Australia 2025/26

(21-12-2025 00:19 )Snooks Wrote:  Rain has stopped play in Adelaide with England 241/6 and someone has posted to the BBC Sport Ashes discussion the following.....

'Rain might save Australia here!'

Lewis, Melbourne

Err - wouldn't England benefit more???

England have just lost the third Ashes Test to Australia. 3-0 Australia. Australia retain the Ashes. Heads and jobs should roll at how bad we've been this series.

Now where does England Cricket from here? It is just unacceptable that we can't even beat at times a Australian second XI and pretty certainly heads and jobs should roll, but even then, do we rip out every root and branch of our set up to start again?

For me three key jobs need to change. Those of Rob Key, Brendan McCullum and Ben Stokes (I know there probably will be many who will likely say Stokes probably doesn't need to to be sacked) but I will think it is likely he may resign. England will then need a new captain, but it certainly should not be Harry Brook. For me he has a lot of hard work to do before he can take on that mantle. He has been one hell of a disappointment on this tour, and I'm sure he knows it. He needs some home truths said to him and he needs time away from the England set up to do so.

I'm sure many of us now have some ideas who should be the next coach.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=4_NsFh-Z4a...GM7w%3D%3D

I Might get the England Batsmen a Few Copies of this.

^Would they even watch it?

There was comment by Matthew Hayden that said something along the lines that if he'd played that shot by Brook and walked back into the dressing room he would have got a bollocking from Allan Border saying that if he did that again he'd be risking his place for the next game. Bet Stokes never said anything to Brook when he walked in.

The England top 7 as a collective are all performing below their best, with the exception of Crawley who is averaging slightly above his career Test average which is very modest, Root's aggregates the most in the series just 4 runs greater than Crawley, the majority of which came from his century. Very little focus has fallen on Duckett who statistically leaves only 1-2% of deliveries, is there any wonder Starc has his number he has average 16 in the series. The frantic batting style of Pope is least suited to the No.3 role, which he actually volunteered for, Root is comfortable at 4, but might as well move up as he is coming in early anyway.
Brook s the most frustrating of all, it feel like he is wasting his talent which sounds daft as he has an Test average of 54, with a little more nouse he could easily be in the 60's which would put him in a small select group only behind Bradman. He is a modern day Pietersen, equally annoying at times & KP will admit with more talent than himself. What hinders him is he is so confident in his ability that even when faced with the very best bowlers in the world he believes he can take them down.
I don't get too hung up about how a batsman gets out, ultimately its about how many runs you score before you're dismissed. A reverse sweep poses no more risk than a conventional sweep, players practice these shots, it was poor execution.
Stokes has face the most deliveries at the lowest strike rate, but has been unable or unwilling to up the ante.

Australia's captain Pat Cummins will play no further part in the series, with the Ashes won there's no reason to risk him reinjuring himself a battling back to play in the vital 3rd Test. Lyon has undergone surgery on a torn hamstring & will undergo a long lay off. Jhye Richardson & Todd Murphey are the replacements. The batting line-up will have to find a place for Smith who is fit to play, maybe at the expense of Inglis. A further change could see Cameron Green lose his place in favour of Beau Webster.

Currently listening to Rob Key interview on 5 Live.

Have to say talking bollocks

Jofra Archer's Ashes is over after suffering a side strain, he will replaced by Gus Atkinson in the Boxing Day Test at the MCG. Jacob Bethall comes in for the out of form Ollie Pope.

I'm gutted for Archer and wonder if we ever will see him on a Ashes tour again...hoping Atkinson can find some magic with the ball.

I think a lot of people have said swapping Pope out for Bethell is the one real change they would make and now, I wonder just what possible difference he would have made if they had shown some courage and dropped Pope in the 3rd Test. I have always had a feeling that Bethell should played a bigger part on the tour a lot sooner if it had become clear to those responsible for team selection, that Pope was struggling or was uncomfortable batting at 3.