Ashes 2013/14

[Villan For Life]

So Australia haven't had to play back to back series aswell Kevin?

http://www.espncricinfo.com/the-ashes-2013-14/content/story/704695.html

Clutching at straws

[eastie]

I thought Bell played the most pathetic of shots to get out - really poor - you can carry one or two off form players but not 7 or 8 and few will come out of this tour with any credit .

Stokes has at least pressed his claim for the future , Root puzzles me , he seems to have lost his way - I don't really see carberry as the answer to the opening slot either , he has done ok at best but not as well as Compton did in the role - there will be several things to address before the Indians come over in the summer - to sooner Flower decides to reveal his future the better.

[PaulWinch again]

Cheers chaps yeah maybe not with me around the bat!

[olaftab]

A shameful batting display and England have reached a new low in this series.

[taylorsworkrate]

It'll be very interesting to see the line up for the 1st test of the summer against Sri Lanka. My thinking would be along the lines of:

Cook
Root
Bell
Pietersen - reluctantly
Ballance
Buttler - WK
Stokes
Borthwick
Broad - Captain
Finn
Anderson/Onions

Root would have to really work at his game in fairness, but has the talent.

[eastie]

It'll be very interesting to see the line up for the 1st test of the summer against Sri Lanka. My thinking would be along the lines of:

Cook
Root
Bell
Pietersen - reluctantly
Ballance
Buttler - WK
Stokes
Borthwick
Broad - Captain
Finn
Anderson/Onions

Root would have to really work at his game in fairness, but has the talent.

Pretty much bang on the money that is, apart from I would keep cook as captain and not broad.
We won in India and won the ashes at home so I think it would be harsh to take it from cook after this series-

He has not performed but his players have let him down too, give him at least the summer.

[Ad@m]

It'll be very interesting to see the line up for the 1st test of the summer against Sri Lanka. My thinking would be along the lines of:

Cook
Root
Bell
Pietersen - reluctantly
Ballance
Buttler - WK
Stokes
Borthwick
Broad - Captain
Finn
Anderson/Onions

Root would have to really work at his game in fairness, but has the talent.

I think Root needs to be taken out of the firing line. He's clearly got the talent but I think he's suffering from a chronic lack of confidence. In the first innings he was shaking like a shitting dog when Johnson was charging in. He looked petrified. He's also only really scored in one innings in the whole series.

I'm not sure who we're playing next - if its someone crap who he could build up some confidence against I'd keep him in. If it's anyone good I'd take him out to stop him getting any further mental damage.

[cheltenhamlion]

Put me down for the Flintoff role. I am or was pretty quick, with buckets for hands and have scored runs at 6 and 7.

Not that I have much by way of a defence but I do hit it hard.

[paul_e]

I'll give keeping a go, haven't done it for years but you seem to be short.  With the bat I have absolutely no foot movement so I just slog at anything with bat miles away from my body so I guess I'll take the bairstow slot there as well.

[Kingthing]

on a lighter note…

[adrenachrome]

"Looking around the pitch, a broken team" says Aggers, and who would argue. England's captain  now employing what I what call, following the ZummerZet's last visit to Edgbaston,  Tresco Tactics.   

[Villan For Life]

Sod the result, let's select our H & V Cricket 11. Please fill in the blanks:

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10 Villan For Life
11

We need a captain and someone to do the most important job of the lot. Carry the drinks.

[eastie]

Sod the result, let's select our H & V Cricket 11. Please fill in the blanks:

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4 Eastie
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10 Villan For Life
11

We need a captain and someone to do the most important job of the lot. Carry the drinks.

I nominate Taylor's for the captains role .

[eastie]

What was cook doing with his ridiculous decision to bowl root rather than the specialist abroad and panesar - broad had 2 overs and monty came on when the game was  long gone - I agree with aggers and boycott that cook needs to explain his decisions as his captaincy here gave us no hope today.

Today in my opinion we lacked fight , guts and Heart and the Aussies were laughing at how bad we were - heads must roll!

[eastie]

If you worked out a combined test team from this series how many England players would be in the 11 ?

Maybe pieterson and broad at a push?