Ashes 2013/14

[Meanwood Villa]

And can we please drop KP as well. He's always been a prick, now he's one that's crap at cricket as well.

[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

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

Possibly but it says a lot about the misplaced loyalty of flower - he insisted he was not afraid to drop big names and make changes and the n brought in Bresnan for monty - hardly inspiring.

[aj2k77]

Carberry has looked decent in very tough conditions. 1st Ashes series and away, hostile environment and hostile bowling, batsmen crumbling left right and centre and he's made 4 30's+ in 6 innings, he needs to go on from there. I can see him scoring some runs in the home series next year.

[eastie]

Carberry has looked decent in very tough conditions. 1st Ashes series and away, hostile environment and hostile bowling, batsmen crumbling left right and centre and he's made 4 30's in 6 innings, he needs to go on from there. I can see him scoring some runs in the home series next year.

Yes worth keeping in the side - root is scoring extremely slowly at 3 - I think maybe bell needs to step in at 3 and root drop back to 5 - bell is too often stranded with the tailend and he is a good stroke player who keeps the run rate ticking over .

[OCD]

It was because of his strike rate that I thought he would be better down the order. It builds up too much pressure and by the time Bell gets to the crease the damage is usually already done.

[aj2k77]

It was because of his strike rate that I thought he would be better down the order. It builds up too much pressure and by the time Bell gets to the crease the damage is usually already done.

Yep I wanted Bell at 3 for this test aswell. I think they well and truly bottled making any decisions this test, took the tried and tested drop monty for Bresnan 0 risk 0 reward strategy and shuffle Root again. From the Management to the Captain they are a very cautious bunch.

[eastie]

The fielding was comical in the extreme today - stuff you wouldn't see in village cricket at times and quite extraordinary at test level - I don't think in over 40 years of watching cricket I have seen such an awful fielding display - really is a tour I can't wait to end .

I'm not a one day person and test cricket is all that interests me on this tour - time to salvage some pride in the remaining tests.

[OCD]

Too cautious. Changes are needed and I hope the ECB are giving it serious consideration as to just how far to go with the changes and how to develop the side over the next few series.

I'll be interested in the ODI's and 20/20's. Usually whoever wins the Ashes, the other side does well in the shorter form of the game. ODI's have also become a big way of bringing in young talent through too so I will be interested in seeing some of our younger talent after seeing what the old guard have become.

[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.

. 
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?

Indeed and in fairness Anderson has been excellent for a while prior to Trent Bridge, which isn't that long ago. They possible got the selection wrong, but let's face it if teams are teeing off against us Finn will get smashed more than anyone the way he's been bowling.

[PaulWinch again]

Root can score very quickly once he's in, I wouldn't worry that much about his scoring rate at number 3.

[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

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

Indeed and in fairness Anderson has been excellent for a while prior to Trent Bridge, which isn't that long ago. They possible got the selection wrong, but let's face it if teams are teeing off against us Finn will get smashed more than anyone the way he's been bowling.

Would get more bounce and pace though and more wickets i daresay in Perth .
I can't see broad playing in Melbourne due to injury so it will be interesting to see who comes in .

[PaulWinch again]

I hope Stokes gets his 100 he really deserves it.

[eastie]

I hope Stokes gets his 100 he really deserves it.

It would be something for the barmy  army to celebrate and provide a much needed lift to many .

[PaulWinch again]

As I say one of the very few positives of this tour is that we may have finally solved our number 6 issue.

[tomd2103]

As I say one of the very few positives of this tour is that we may have finally solved our number 6 issue.

Yep and have the option of someone who might develop into a genuine all rounder in the side.  Whether he bats at six might depend on Prior's eventual sucessor.  Would Buttler or Kieswetter be a better bet at six with Stokes at seven. 

This series has been a disaster so ar, but I'm looking forward to seeing how the likes Root and Stokes develop in the coming years.