Ashes 2013/14

[Chris Jameson]

I definitely would have played Rankin in this game, his form in the ODIs last summer showed he could shake the Aussies up. I know I selected Bresnan for this game, but I thought he might at least control an end but he's been hopeless.

You definitely wouldn't, you admit it yourself.

[Andy Poole]

"@StuartBroad Could have been better today but 6 wickets on a Day 1 Test pitch after losing yet another Toss is a pretty good effort."

Here's the problem. They ACTUALLY think they've done well!

[PaulWinch again]

I definitely would have played Rankin in this game, his form in the ODIs last summer showed he could shake the Aussies up. I know I selected Bresnan for this game, but I thought he might at least control an end but he's been hopeless.

You definitely wouldn't, you admit it yourself.

I said they should both start, I was wrong on Bresnan.

[aj2k77]

There is no killer instinct in the side, everyone has had it too comfortable for too long. If we had been 150-5 the probability is we'd be all out for 200, they are looking at 400+. That's the difference.

Yep one of our many problems. Basically a successful cricket team needs to have the right balance so that the players are secure enough in their position that they aren't worried that one bad display will result in being dropped, but at the same time you can't have players consistently performing poorly and having no threat of losing their place.

At the moment our team has the wrong mix completely. You have the majority of positions that seem completely secure regardless of performance, eg Anderson, Swann, Pietersen. Then you have two positions, number 6 and the 3rd seamer who seem to be one bad display away from the chop. For example Finn is in and out of the team all the time and isn't afforded any security and I'm certain that's been a factor in his loss of confidence and rhythm. The whole set up is incosistent, and the results of this are showing on the pitch.

Nail on the head. It's turned into an old boys club, all pats on the back if your face fit and kicked out on your arse if it doesn't.

Well it was good whilst it lasted and I think there are the players coming through to rebuild and hopefully learn a few lessons.

[PaulWinch again]

The plus side is there are a lot of good young players coming through. Finn, Stokes, Rankin(slightly older but still), Taylor, Buttler, Jordan, Mills, Borthwick, Foakes, Robson, Overton, Lees and Chopra are all young and promising cricketers. Whatever changes come in after this tour, there is a lot of potential to work with.

[paul_e]

The bigger issue regarding killer instinct is that we get to a point and then assume the job is done.  Over the 2 series this year we've had the aussies under the boot in almost every innings but in the vast majroity of them we've let them off and allowed them to still get a par score with big runs in the lower order.  The likes of Siddle, Johnson, etc can all hold a bat but their averages against us in 2013 and well up on their career averages because we've let them get cheap runs and not really got in their faces and examined their technique.  For all the problems with the batting our collapses have usually come after we've let their bowlers have a good confident spell with the bat against bowlers who aren't asking enough questions.

Go in to bat against a side you've skittled for less than 200 and you're in a good place in terms of confidence and the top order can play their game, bat against a side who have 350+ despite being 5 or 6 down for less than 150 and deep down you know that you've thrown away an opportunity to kill the game.

[Chris Smith]

The bigger issue regarding killer instinct is that we get to a point and then assume the job is done.  Over the 2 series this year we've had the aussies under the boot in almost every innings but in the vast majroity of them we've let them off and allowed them to still get a par score with big runs in the lower order.  The likes of Siddle, Johnson, etc can all hold a bat but their averages against us in 2013 and well up on their career averages because we've let them get cheap runs and not really got in their faces and examined their technique.  For all the problems with the batting our collapses have usually come after we've let their bowlers have a good confident spell with the bat against bowlers who aren't asking enough questions.

Go in to bat against a side you've skittled for less than 200 and you're in a good place in terms of confidence and the top order can play their game, bat against a side who have 350+ despite being 5 or 6 down for less than 150 and deep down you know that you've thrown away an opportunity to kill the game.

I agree to an extent but as the ball softened up and the bowlers tired in that heat it was always likely that somebody would get in and score a few.

[paul_e]

The bigger issue regarding killer instinct is that we get to a point and then assume the job is done.  Over the 2 series this year we've had the aussies under the boot in almost every innings but in the vast majroity of them we've let them off and allowed them to still get a par score with big runs in the lower order.  The likes of Siddle, Johnson, etc can all hold a bat but their averages against us in 2013 and well up on their career averages because we've let them get cheap runs and not really got in their faces and examined their technique.  For all the problems with the batting our collapses have usually come after we've let their bowlers have a good confident spell with the bat against bowlers who aren't asking enough questions.

Go in to bat against a side you've skittled for less than 200 and you're in a good place in terms of confidence and the top order can play their game, bat against a side who have 350+ despite being 5 or 6 down for less than 150 and deep down you know that you've thrown away an opportunity to kill the game.

I agree to an extent but as the ball softened up and the bowlers tired in that heat it was always likely that somebody would get in and score a few.

I'd make the same assessment as you if it was the first time, but they have been allowed to get cheap runs from the tail pretty much consistently for 7 and a bit matches, that's when it becomes a worry.

[OCD]

Having lost early wickets Smith and Haddin constructed their innings and therefore a partnership when they most needed it. We just weren't good enough to take a wicket. In fact, you could say we weren't lucky enough because there were a number of times where we could have got rid of Haddin early on which on another day would have happened. Had that happened things would have looked very different. What matters more is that we bat much, much better.

[Steve R]

I can't believe the team selection. We need to win a game so we pick medium/fast bowlers who if they bowl well will make it hard to get runs. Absolutely nuts.

Australia were always going to make damn sure we did not get a wicket in this series that was in any way conducive to seam. Yet the wicket takers are still left out.

[taylorsworkrate]

I can't believe the team selection. We need to win a game so we pick medium/fast bowlers who if they bowl well will make it hard to get runs. Absolutely nuts.

Australia were always going to make damn sure we did not get a wicket in this series that was in any way conducive to seam. Yet the wicket takers are still left out.

Yep, we effectively have 3 extremely similar seam bowlers, who are all fine bowlers at home and in certain conditions away.

It's almost as if the set up are surprised that Australia haven't prepared green tops. They were always going to produce quick bouncy wickets, and I was quite heartened by us taking Rankin, Finn, and Tremlett(before seeing how down on pace he was).

To not play either Finn or Rankin in this match is criminal.

[Broughty-Villian]

well now we see what the batsmen are made of. made to lunch. If we get to close 150+ and one down, that will be a miracle.

[Proposition Joe]

Nobody jinx it!

I can't relax when England are batting, I'll breathe easy should we pass the Aussie score with 1 down or something...

[Proposition Joe]

God dammit.

Australia now into the tail.

[aj2k77]

LOL at DRS.