Ashes 2013/14

[Proposition Joe]

Where to start with this utter shambles?  Some chickens are coming home to roost big style, exposing the fact that we have been really poor since winning in India.  Should have lost in NZ, were poor against them at home and only beat Australia by default really, because they are that bad.

The batting is one thing, but one of the big problems is that our two main strike bowlers, 5Live's Jimmy and Swanny, don't look threatening at all.  Is age catching up with Jimmy or is it his workload given that we were over reliant on him in the past?  Since Trent Bridge he hasn't looked dangerous at all.  Swann is being out-bowled by Lyon and is looking like a part-time spinner at the moment.

And the batting ... these types of collapses were one thing 20 years ago, but this Aussie team isn't even any good.

And I think Moikel Klaaaak has got the Broad short-ball monkey off his back after that 2nd innings century, and my bet is he'll absolutely pile on the runs for the rest of the series.

To those saying we start poorly and this team has bounce-backability: we are about to go 2-0 down, not 1-0 because Perth is a gimme for Aus.  That means we have to win 2 out of Adelaide, MCG and Sydney and not lose the other one.  Adelaide looks like being a slowish flat track, at best we'll get a draw if the pitch nullifies their quicks, but the way we're batting against Lyon I wouldn't bet against him being a match winner there.

Fuck, I hate Australia.  We should have ground the Australian cricket team into the dust and burnt the corpse when we had the chance.  Now it looks like monster is resurrecting its self belief if not itself.

[Proposition Joe]

I think I'd almost be inclined put Bell at three and bring Ballance in at 6 below Root. I don't know if it'd work but there needs to be a shake up. We don't look to have prepared for fast short bowling which I find insane

You'd think they'd have a bowling machine that goes up to 95mph.  And indoor nets are usually really fast and bouncy (even I managed to bowl chin music at the Lord's indoor nets).  So WTF have they been doing?

[aj2k77]

I think I'd almost be inclined put Bell at three and bring Ballance in at 6 below Root. I don't know if it'd work but there needs to be a shake up. We don't look to have prepared for fast short bowling which I find insane

You'd think they'd have a bowling machine that goes up to 95mph.  And indoor nets are usually really fast and bouncy (even I managed to bowl chin music at the Lord's indoor nets).  So WTF have they been doing?

What they do every series, come in undercooked. For most of these players test match cricket is the only first class cricket they play, having a couple of innings at the very most before each series in different conditions than they are used to is not enough for me.

[aj2k77]

Also is there anything more obnoxious than a confident Aussie. They've lost 4 in a row against us and are talking like we're whipping boys. If this sort of shit doesn't motivate a couple of them to go out second innings and sell there wicket dearly nothing will.

[jcsutv]

Funny when you look back at some posts on day one.  These series swing to and fro and all is not lost today. Since Cook has been captain we have lost the ability to finish off the tail. Australia have not scored boat loads of runs to beat us, we have batted very poorly. 

[LionVilla]

Why declare? Is poor weather forecast?

Can't believe you ave asked that question. This is good positive cricket from Aussies. They have a lead of well over 500 and even the great West Indies team would have not got that in the fourth innings ( mind you great teams don't have to do that) Once you are in a no lose position  every over that you bat gives the opposition slightly better chance of survival. So correct and very good decision by Clarke.

[Chris Smith]

I think I'd almost be inclined put Bell at three and bring Ballance in at 6 below Root. I don't know if it'd work but there needs to be a shake up. We don't look to have prepared for fast short bowling which I find insane

You'd think they'd have a bowling machine that goes up to 95mph.  And indoor nets are usually really fast and bouncy (even I managed to bowl chin music at the Lord's indoor nets).  So WTF have they been doing?

What they do every series, come in undercooked. For most of these players test match cricket is the only first class cricket they play, having a couple of innings at the very most before each series in different conditions than they are used to is not enough for me.

It's a difficult balance. They play so much international cricket these days that you have to give them some down time otherwise they go stale. The flip side is not enough preparation and this sort of start as a consequence.

[eastie]

If a change is made I would move root up to 3 and Bairstow in at 6 but I think trott will get a  chance to make amends
Swann has looked poor too and there are several concerns but I wouldn't write off england off just yet - a wounded lion can be dangerous.

[eastie]

4 Comments
Jonathan Trott has to admit he has a problem against left-arm quick bowlers after his second innings at the Gabba which was among the worst I have seen from an England No 3.
He does not need to confess to the media but he should go to the coaching staff and tell them he has an issue against that kind of bowling. You do not play shots like the ones he did on Saturday without something being seriously wrong in your mind.
Before we played Australia in 2005 I remember Marcus Trescothick openly admitted in the dressing room at Headingley that he had a problem playing Glenn McGrath. Two or three of the lads sniggered but everyone else said we will help you out.
All of a sudden everyone was behind him giving him advice. Two days later he went out and smashed a hundred in a one-day game.
This year Trott averages 21 against left-arm seam. Neil Wagner and Trent Boult also caused him also sorts of problems when England played New Zealand and he has been out 11 times to left-arm seam in total this year.
Related Articles
Boycott: Pathetic England show they have learnt nothing 22 Nov 2013
Australia vow to show Trott no mercy 22 Nov 2013
Five things we learnt on day two 22 Nov 2013
Forget cricket, let’s stick to what we do best 22 Nov 2013
Johnson shatters English superiority 22 Nov 2013
Australia's attack too good for England 22 Nov 2013
Three steps to improving your swimming technique Santander
He has an issue. Technically he has a fault but it is also a mental battle. He has a problem against pace and you know what they say when you have a problem, you can’t solve it until you admit to it.
Technically speaking, his eyes are getting too far away from the ball and his momentum is taking him so far over to the off side that he cannot pull out of the shot. If he stays still and more on the leg stump with his head position then those short balls on his ribs actually become nice balls to play. You just flick them off or, if you can’t do that, at this level you have to wear a chest pad and let it hit you.
For the first time in his career Trott is facing a question mark about how he is going to cope with a crisis. Ian Bell, Alastair Cook and Kevin Pietersen have gone through that sort of period in the past and emerged stronger. Trott can do the same but he has hard work ahead of him because his problem is against pace and that kind of issue is so hard to resolve.
On quick pitches against good pace attacks he struggles: South Africa in Johannesburg in 2009 (he scored 5 and , Australia at Old Trafford last summer (5 & 11), at Perth 2010-11 (4 & 31) and here in Brisbane this week.
The one bit of advice I would give him is I think he gets closed off with his left shoulder against a left arm over the wicket bowler such as Mitchell Johnson.
I think he has a blind spot in his left eye because of that. It would help if he opened up his stance and moved as far back in the crease as possible, which is an option for Trott because he has an initial movement forward.
I don’t see why he would want to get closer to the ball when it is coming down at 91 mph. Go as far back on the stumps as possible, stay more on the leg side and open up that shoulder to get the right eye looking at the ball from the left-arm over bowler. I am pretty sure he is right eye dominant.
It all sounds very complicated but I think it would help his game. He might see the ball earlier, it would stop him jumping around the crease. In the first innings at the Gabba he was trying to manoeuvre the ball into the leg side by moving himself so far over to the off side that he lost sight of the ball.
He was successful in Australia three winters ago averaging 89 in the series. But if you look at the attack in that series, Australia were weak. They had Ben Hilfenhaus who was medium pace, Doug Bollinger also medium pace, Peter Siddle was not as good as he is now, and Johnson was all over the place because he was expected to be aggressive while also keeping it tight.
With this attack it is different. Ryan Harris is attritional but also pacy, Siddle is bowling quickly and you know he will be accurate too, and they have a spin option in Nathan Lyon as well as Shane Watson when he is fit.
They have four bowlers who can hold an end allowing Clarke to throw the ball to Johnson and let him loose in three over bursts.
If Johnson is not finding his range Clarke can take him off and bring on one of the more dependable guys. They tried him on a few occasions in the England first innings and he did not get it right so took him out of the attack. But it did not matter.
They brought him back and he caused chaos from the Vulture Street End. I think this will be the tactic for the series. Clarke will give Johnson an opportunity for two or three overs at a time and maximising him when it clicks and he finds rhythm. It is a wonderful option to have as a captain.
Stuart Broad this week has given an exhibition of how to cope under a huge amount of pressure. It is not just his ability to deliver his performance but also displaying fight and energy in the most hostile of circumstances.
Nothing can prepare you for 40,000 people singing “Broad is a w*****” when you first get the ball in your hand on day one of an Ashes series.
I have never heard an England cricketer get that kind of response from a crowd. His first ball was a no ball hit for four and his opening over was poor. He could have gone into his shell straightaway but he thrived and won the crowd over.
Succeeding in such circumstances comes from inner strength, confidence, fight and huge amount of belief in your own ability.
His bowling was excellent but what stood out for me was his batting. He came out to face a hat-trick ball with England 87 for six and the Gabba rocking. It was a brutal environment for a player already a target of abuse.
But he fought it and that was the moment I realised Broad is an outstanding cricketer.
In this Test match he has proven to me he is going to go on and be one of the greats of English cricket.
His bowling was clever because he learned he had to bowl a bit fuller and use his short ball as the surprise ball.
He is at his best when he realises his stock ball is the full ball. He has this amazing ability to bowl a sharp, straight delivery. He is rarely off the money. He is a little like Glenn McGrath in his pomp. You knew as a batsman when McGrath was bowling that it was going to be aimed at your left ear or left arm where you would sometimes lose sight of it.
Broad looks in complete control of his bowling and his action. Unfortunately he has been around a few players this week who have been poor.

@MichaelVaughan: Early thoughts on Trott.... @TelegraphSport http://t.co/1AY2F1MaGp

[dave.woodhall]

Wouldn't a link have been easier?

[aj2k77]

I think I'd almost be inclined put Bell at three and bring Ballance in at 6 below Root. I don't know if it'd work but there needs to be a shake up. We don't look to have prepared for fast short bowling which I find insane

You'd think they'd have a bowling machine that goes up to 95mph.  And indoor nets are usually really fast and bouncy (even I managed to bowl chin music at the Lord's indoor nets).  So WTF have they been doing?

What they do every series, come in undercooked. For most of these players test match cricket is the only first class cricket they play, having a couple of innings at the very most before each series in different conditions than they are used to is not enough for me.

It's a difficult balance. They play so much international cricket these days that you have to give them some down time otherwise they go stale. The flip side is not enough preparation and this sort of start as a consequence.

 

I think I'd almost be inclined put Bell at three and bring Ballance in at 6 below Root. I don't know if it'd work but there needs to be a shake up. We don't look to have prepared for fast short bowling which I find insane

You'd think they'd have a bowling machine that goes up to 95mph.  And indoor nets are usually really fast and bouncy (even I managed to bowl chin music at the Lord's indoor nets).  So WTF have they been doing?

What they do every series, come in undercooked. For most of these players test match cricket is the only first class cricket they play, having a couple of innings at the very most before each series in different conditions than they are used to is not enough for me.

It's a difficult balance. They play so much international cricket these days that you have to give them some down time otherwise they go stale. The flip side is not enough preparation and this sort of start as a consequence.

I agree and seeing as we've not started a series well away for nearly 4 years now we haven't got the balance right.

[eastie]

Wouldn't a link have been easier?

Possibly but sometimes links are awkward for people using mobiles .

[taylorsworkrate]

I think I'd almost be inclined put Bell at three and bring Ballance in at 6 below Root. I don't know if it'd work but there needs to be a shake up. We don't look to have prepared for fast short bowling which I find insane

You'd think they'd have a bowling machine that goes up to 95mph.  And indoor nets are usually really fast and bouncy (even I managed to bowl chin music at the Lord's indoor nets).  So WTF have they been doing?

What they do every series, come in undercooked. For most of these players test match cricket is the only first class cricket they play, having a couple of innings at the very most before each series in different conditions than they are used to is not enough for me.

It's a difficult balance. They play so much international cricket these days that you have to give them some down time otherwise they go stale. The flip side is not enough preparation and this sort of start as a consequence.

I don't think lack of preparation can be blamed in this instance, its barely 2 months since the last Ashes series, and all the batsmen got runs in the warm ups.

For all the talk of fast bouncy pitches, you'd think they were trying to bat on a greased up bouncy castle. In reality the pitch has only a little more pace than those in the summer.

[taylorsworkrate]

Why declare? Is poor weather forecast?

Because the knew it was an inevitability that England would throw away at least a couple of wickets before the close of play

[jcsutv]

Why declare? Is poor weather forecast?

Can't believe you ave asked that question. This is good positive cricket from Aussies. They have a lead of well over 500 and even the great West Indies team would have not got that in the fourth innings ( mind you great teams don't have to do that) Once you are in a no lose position  every over that you bat gives the opposition slightly better chance of survival. So correct and very good decision by Clarke.

Written at 10am? He got lucky with One wicket and the other was a gift. Clarke has made some odd declarations before. The weather does appear to be a factor.  To be fair I was watching on Skygo with no sound and was asking a question that was probably being discussed by commentators.