Ashes 2013/14

[eastie]

Terrible rate of scoring to add to it all, the way we bat we are going to have to bat 150 overs just to avoid the follow on, the defensiveness of this side is pathetic.

Indeed, our run rate is shocking and puts needless pressure on ourselves - need to rethink the attitude .

[Dr Butler]

Gooch has to go, Slow scoring and technically poor from the batters....what's Lara and Tendulkar doing these days

[paul_e]

I said in the summer that I think Flower was getting the end of his time, I got a few querying responses at the time on here but I still think I was right at the time.  There is something wrong with the squad and, whilst he was the right coach when he started, I think it's down to Flower and Gooch.  I'd look to replace both as soon as this series finishes.  Flower would go with thanks for making us competitive and starting the process, Gooch would just go.  if they stay I think it will have a negative effect on us long term as I can only see the current limitations in our approach being exploited more and more.

[taylorsworkrate]

Gooch has to go, Slow scoring and technically poor from the batters....what's Lara and Tendulkar doing these days

That's the thing for me. Despite the batsmen being poor for a good couple of years, there has been very little criticism about it in the media, for the batsmen and absolutely no criticism of Gooch. They are far too complacent and negative in their mindset.

This Aussie batting line up is by no means a good one, but they take the game to the opposition. Look at the way they get after our spinners, whilst we obviously view Lyon as the second coming of Shane Warne the ridiculous respect we show him.

[PaulWinch again]

I think every coaching regime comes to the end of its shelf life and our ongoing decline suggests that's what happening to us. Flower has done great things for English cricket, but we need a bolder approach now and to be a lot more aggressive. I'm not talking about the end of yesterday as I don't blame Carberry and Root for digging in, but we have to attack the opposition bowlers to shift the pressure onto them.

[OCD]

I wonder if the appointment of Ashley Giles to the shorter forms of the game was a continuance plan i.e. giving him some involvement and once the time was right, bring him in to replace Flower?

[PaulWinch again]

Maybe but I'm not sure whether he's going to give us the much needed shift in emphasis to being more aggressive.

[eastie]

I wonder if the appointment of Ashley Giles to the shorter forms of the game was a continuance plan i.e. giving him some involvement and once the time was right, bring him in to replace Flower?

I think flower will walk away after this series , he has done a great job but too many of our team are past their best now.

[PaulWinch again]

I'm not sure it's necessarily the team being past their best. There's no real reason why Anderson, Cook, KP, Prior should have started going downhill in terms of age. They should have a few or many years left at the top of the game, the only one who's really getting on is Swann. I think the coaching set up needs to change and we need a fresh more aggressive approach. If you look at Australia, they mainly have the same players they had in the summer but now Lehmann has had some time to get his ideas across those players are really improving. They look confident and they have belief. Flower did great things for England but I think we've been worked out now, and a new approach is needed.

[OCD]

I think we're also going into a phase of transition. We have a lot of young players coming through - Root and Stokes from the current line-up but a number of others who have been involved in the one-dayers.

[paul_e]

I think we're also going into a phase of transition. We have a lot of young players coming through - Root and Stokes from the current line-up but a number of others who have been involved in the one-dayers.

I think Buttler for Prior will happen very soon unless Prior sorts himself out, his game has abandoned him this year, not just with the bat but his keeping has become suspect as well.

[adrenachrome]

Boycott says there is (sic) more brains in a chocolate mouse, and grammar aside, it is hard to disagree with the old curmudgeon.

[adrenachrome]

Pietersen now. Moronic.

[taylorsworkrate]

That's all too predictable the way Pietersen got out. What on earth is he doing charging down the pitch at the bowler?

I wouldnt worry about it though KP. Gooch will probably say how well you're doing.

[Proposition Joe]

The mind boggles the way our batsmen contrive to get themselves out.  It's like giving the opposition an extra world class bowler in their team.

If you could put "Stupidity" in the "How Out" column of the scoresheet, stupidity would be up there with the top wicket takers vs. England.