Ashes 2013/14

[aj2k77]

There's the match, the ashes and my quid gone.

[curiousorange]

I'm of the opinion that had the normal amount of time elapsed between Ashes series, England would not have been as undercooked as this. Combined with an Australia who will never have been as motivated, the loss if not the humiliation was inevitable.

[aj2k77]

Bell has had a 72, 60 and a 32
Pietersen has had 53, 45, 36
Cook 72, 45
Carberry 40, 60, 43, 31
Root 87, 26
Stokes 28, 60


14 decent starts and none converted into a single ton. Concentration issues? Pressure? Just good nagging bowling?

[OzVilla]

I'm of the opinion that had the normal amount of time elapsed between Ashes series, England would not have been as undercooked as this. Combined with an Australia who will never have been as motivated, the loss if not the humiliation was inevitable.

I feel the same way. I've said this before, but I cannot overestimate how pumped up the Australian nation has been for this series and that's basically due to them getting the return leg, the Broad non walk which was used by Lehmann and the media to cast Broad as the villain that crowds could target and the fact that they convinced themselves that somehow 3-0 in England was some great injustice.

It's been quite an eye opener and ive lived here for years now. I think it took England by surprise and allowed Australia to gain early momentum - the one thing we couldn't afford.

Once this had happened, they were in deep trouble.

[OzVilla]

Thus far coming out of this series the way I see it -

Those who have shown enough to move forward -

- Carberry
- Root
- Bell
- Stokes
- Broad

Those who I'll give the benefit -

- Cook - He's got a couple of scores in spite of being in bad form, and it's harder being captain.

- Anderson - Just about but more on past glories, needs to improve quickly.

Those who are staring down the barrel -

- Prior
- KP - too many starts thrown away
- Swann - Seems to have lost his ability to do much at all.
- Trott - no fault of his own, but it'll be very tough for him to come back for the sake of his health.
- Tremlett - gone over the hill
- KP

I think that a fair appraisal. I just don't think they jettison either Swann or Pietersen unless they decide to give it away - can see KP pissing off to take the IPL money tbh.

[PaulWinch again]

This morning and our bowling display summed up our tour, completely shambolic. It allowed them to get an extra 40 odd minutes to bowl and Anderson was taken for a world record total in an over. Terrible.

[eastie]

This morning and our bowling display summed up our tour, completely shambolic. It allowed them to get an extra 40 odd minutes to bowl and Anderson was taken for a world record total in an over. Terrible.

77 in 4 overs off Anderson is quite a shocking stat.

[Monty]

It's not necessarily permanent in the long-term, but Anderson and Swann seriously need to be rested (or 'dropped' as it was once known) for the Boxing Day test.

[bertlambshank]

Both Anderson and Swann have been shit since they thought they were above cricket and started being radio presenters.The ECB should have told them to concentrate on cricket.

[PaulWinch again]

I think Anderson and Swann should be dropped, as a message needs to be sent. I think Swann would be a more permanent thing, but Anderson needs to be shown this isn't good enough.

[eastie]

I think Anderson and Swann should be dropped, as a message needs to be sent. I think Swann would be a more permanent thing, but Anderson needs to be shown this isn't good enough.

. 
I told you both should have been dropped for this test in favour of monty and Finn and you insisted swann and jimmy should play

[PaulWinch again]

I think the only two positives out of this tour are that Stokes has shown he could be our long term solution at 6. His bowling will only improve and it's pretty useful already and his batting really impressed me today. I also think Carberry could be a pretty good opener for a couple of years.

[Monty]

I think the only two positives out of this tour are that Stokes has shown he could be our long term solution at 6. His bowling will only improve and it's pretty useful already and his batting really impressed me today. I also think Carberry could be a pretty good opener for a couple of years.

Stokes has remained very calm and measured throughout the despair and carnage about him, as has Carberry. Also, Bell continues to look as good as he can, which is a small plus.

[OzVilla]

I think Anderson and Swann should be dropped, as a message needs to be sent. I think Swann would be a more permanent thing, but Anderson needs to be shown this isn't good enough.

I feel a bit sorry for Anderson tbh.  They get no support from the batsmen at all and the Aussies can tee off at them in the 2nd innings and make them look stupid. Warner, Watson can really hurt you on these decks as they just hit through the line. If it ain't swinging then they can just line Anderson up with little risk as they've so many runs to play with.

They must be knackered too, they've been in the field so much in hot conditions .

If we are pointing the finger anywhere, it's the batters and fielding way before we get to the bowling.

[OzVilla]

I think Anderson and Swann should be dropped, as a message needs to be sent. I think Swann would be a more permanent thing, but Anderson needs to be shown this isn't good enough.

. 
I told you both should have been dropped for this test in favour of monty and Finn and you insisted swann and jimmy should play

Doesn't it say something about how Finn must be bowling that he hasn't featured at all yet?