England cricket

[Tonge moor green jacket]

Nothing wrong with being positive, but that isn't an excuse for ignoring all the other relevant factors.

A means of brushing off criticism and taking responsibility at times.

Being a truly great side means being effective in different conditions, situations and having a strong mental attitude.

All a bit Evatt ball- it's our way or no way- great when it works, shite when it doesn't.

I remember Stokes' comment early on in his captaincy, when he said something along the lines of not being bothered about losing as long as we're entertaining. 

Concerned me a tad did that.

The best teams are those that win consistently. That isn't always going to mean the best entertainment, but over the match as a whole, it means decent quality cricket.

[L/H White]

still confident on us avoiding the whitewash @bolty58

[Sweep]

10 hours ago, L/H White said:

still confident on us avoiding the whitewash @bolty58

I know I had a few quid on the 5:0, but I didn't think it'd really happen. It's looking a bit desperate now, and it could well be on

[L/H White]

19 minutes ago, Sweep said:

I know I had a few quid on the 5:0, but I didn't think it'd really happen. It's looking a bit desperate now, and it could well be on

I've already been paid out 

[bolty58]

12 hours ago, L/H White said:

still confident on us avoiding the whitewash @bolty58

Yep. Gutted you didn't take the 'one point more than any bookie you can find' offer I made to you. With 6 young grandsons I have an expensive festive period ahead.

No surrender.

PS - Lando made things much more comfortable for my good self last night. 

[Tonge moor green jacket]

12 hours ago, bolty58 said:

Yep. Gutted you didn't take the 'one point more than any bookie you can find' offer I made to you. With 6 young grandsons I have an expensive festive period ahead.

No surrender.

PS - Lando made things much more comfortable for my good self last night. 

Called in at Greenhalgh's the other day and the lass who served me was bouncing around, all enthusiastic for the last race.

She was desperate for Verstappen to win.

I said no way- couldn't want the grumpy Dutcher to win- and we should support Lando.

I must go back and rub it in! 😀

[BoltonPro15]

If we're honest about it 'Bazball' has been a complete failure in terms of results on the pitch.

Personally, I think its just an excuse for not being very good. A bit like being crap at golf but saying it's because you're trying to reach the green in one on every hole.

What frustrates me more is that actually think there's players in the team who would be better suited to playing 'proper' test match cricket and others who are only in the team because of their free licence. I'm sure the majority of county championship openers could do what Crawley does. Again, it's hard to be overly critical of the likes of Crawley because they are in the team to put bat to ball, even when everyone knows he shouldn't.

I don't know what comes next but i'd like to think its somewhere between 'Bazball' and test cricket.

[BobyBrno]

2 hours ago, BoltonPro15 said:

If we're honest about it 'Bazball' has been a complete failure in terms of results on the pitch.

Personally, I think its just an excuse for not being very good. A bit like being crap at golf but saying it's because you're trying to reach the green in one on every hole.

What frustrates me more is that actually think there's players in the team who would be better suited to playing 'proper' test match cricket and others who are only in the team because of their free licence. I'm sure the majority of county championship openers could do what Crawley does. Again, it's hard to be overly critical of the likes of Crawley because they are in the team to put bat to ball, even when everyone knows he shouldn't.

I don't know what comes next but i'd like to think its somewhere between 'Bazball' and test cricket.

Unless you expect us to win every match, I’m not sure your assessment of ‘complete failure’ is correct. 
Going into this series we were no.2 in the world in the ICC Test rankings. We have now slipped to 3. The results below are far better than the previous regime. I’m not defending the performances in the first two matches and plenty of ex players have had their say. Mostly negative. Just adding a bit of context. 
The results below don’t include the two matches in this series. 

[BoltonPro15]

51 minutes ago, BobyBrno said:

Unless you expect us to win every match, I’m not sure your assessment of ‘complete failure’ is correct. 
Going into this series we were no.2 in the world in the ICC Test rankings. We have now slipped to 3. The results below are far better than the previous regime. I’m not defending the performances in the first two matches and plenty of ex players have had their say. Mostly negative. Just adding a bit of context. 
The results below don’t include the two matches in this series. 

 

I think you make a good point, it just depends what you class as success and what a failure. 

Included in the 'others' are wins against Ireland, Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka and really poor West Indies, which make up 7 wins and 4 series wins.

In terms of the teams who in my opinion I think we should be measured against (NZ, Aus, Ind, SA), our only win was a 2-1 win at home to NZ last year.

Personally, I see everything as cycle of preparation for competing against India and Australia - which we aren't able to do.

I'm not saying 'Bazball' is worse than times gone by, I just don't think its worked.

 

[L/H White]

pinnacle of english test cricket is a ashes series victory imo, we haven't won one for a decade 

[Sweep]

33 minutes ago, L/H White said:

pinnacle of english test cricket is a ashes series victory imo, we haven't won one for a decade 

I think someone said on the radio earlier, for the close on 150 years we've been playing the ashes, there have only ever actually been two total whitewashes, and they have both been within the last 20 years. The thoughts where any whitewash in any series is utterly, utterly shameful, but even more so against Australia (I'm not sure why them in particular)

 

There was once a 1 test series back in 18?? , which England won, so I guess we can count that as a whitewash 😐

[BobyBrno]

1 hour ago, BoltonPro15 said:

 

I think you make a good point, it just depends what you class as success and what a failure. 

Included in the 'others' are wins against Ireland, Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka and really poor West Indies, which make up 7 wins and 4 series wins.

In terms of the teams who in my opinion I think we should be measured against (NZ, Aus, Ind, SA), our only win was a 2-1 win at home to NZ last year.

Personally, I see everything as cycle of preparation for competing against India and Australia - which we aren't able to do.

I'm not saying 'Bazball' is worse than times gone by, I just don't think its worked.

 

Sorry to be pedantic but we won 2-1 in NZ earlier this year.

We drew 1-1 in Feb 23. Lost by one run. 

We won 3-0 in England in 2022 just after McCullum took over in the May. 
 

As an aside, a good read is Bazball. 
A good insight into their attitude and how they want the team to play.  They hate the term ‘Bazball’ (Stokes and McCullum)

I am a glass half full sort but even I have concerns about the preparation, some players attitude and their response to constructive criticism. 
 

[L/H White]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/articles/cm21z1y18nxo

[Tonge moor green jacket]

They've been trying to manage him for years, and he continually has issues with injury. 

Sad, as he always comes across as genuine and enjoying the game.

At his age, simply can't see him coming back again, and having a serious impact. 

Maybe it's time to move on.

[MalcolmW]

My partner's 18yo grandson is currently playing a season in a minor league in Melbourne,

(her daughter and family are going there for a holiday starting Sunday and taking in the test there).

His current batting average is higher than anyone on either side in the Ashes (but maybe not by tomorrow).

But the thing is he is a bowler who bats at 11 or occasionally 10 at home in the North Staffs and South Cheshire league.

His scores so far have been 10, 30, 31*, 25* and 12* fir an average of 54. Last out on 25 October.

I think maybe 4 x 2 hours in the nets each week is rediscovering his batting technique

[BoltonPro15]

On 08/12/2025 at 17:08, BobyBrno said:

Sorry to be pedantic but we won 2-1 in NZ earlier this year.

We drew 1-1 in Feb 23. Lost by one run. 

We won 3-0 in England in 2022 just after McCullum took over in the May. 
 

As an aside, a good read is Bazball. 
A good insight into their attitude and how they want the team to play.  They hate the term ‘Bazball’ (Stokes and McCullum)

I am a glass half full sort but even I have concerns about the preparation, some players attitude and their response to constructive criticism. 
 

I don't see this as pedantry and you're right to raise it - fair enough.

Like I say, people have differing views on what classes as success. 

For me, we are yet to see anything close to success it terms of results.

You could argue that the 'Bazball' era has been entertaining. Again, in depends what you want from your cricket.

Personally, I'd like test matches to be more than 2-3 days, I actually feel a bit short changed when they are over after 2-3 days

[L/H White]

tongue for atkinson

[L/H White]

Steve Smith out

[Traf]

Have we lost yet?

 

[mickbrown]

Carse’s bowling is like wild man’s shite

[jmjhb]

1 hour ago, L/H White said:

Steve Smith out

Sadly, won't make any difference on account of the England team being shit and Bazball being inflexible bollocks

Edited December 17, 2025 by jmjhb

[Ani]

In the first 7 overs, 1 ball would have hit the wickets. 

[desperado]

What a catch! 

[Ani]

FFS I was going to go to sleep !! 😂😂
 

Just found out Josh Inglis went to same school as Yoof when Inglis lived in Leeds as a kid 

Edited December 17, 2025 by Ani

[desperado]

Keeping them below 350 would be good at Adelaide.

An up and down first day so far for both sides.

Australia have thrown some of their wickets away