Ashes 2013/14

[Villan For Life]

As a Bear I'm pleased to see Rankin get a test cap. What is incredible is that Finn has not been selected for any of the 5 tests. He now seems to have slipped behind Stokes as 3rd seamer.

I'd have selected Finn ahead of Rankin for this test purely on the basis of Finn's greater test experience. If they want to build future attacks around Finn then this is a strange way to go about it.

[paul_e]

In this series, Australia's last 5 wickets are averaging more than their first 5 with all their top 6 batsmen ave between 14 and 34 runs for the first dig

Just shows how important the performances of both Haddin and Johnson have been for them.

Taking nothing away from Australia as they've completely outplayed England in every facet but its also true to say that without either Haddin or Johnson they simply wouldn't be in this position.

To a large extent it's been down to our approach to bowling at the tail, put simply we give them far too much respect, look at Mitchell Johnson bowling to our tail and you see a bully who knows the guy he's facing would rather have the ball in his hand than a bat so he bowls aggressive and makes them play shots and test their technique, we persist with a line to 4th/5th stump at a good length, so they can leave it alone and just score from the bad balls, there's just no great pressure.

[Villan For Life]

In this series, Australia's last 5 wickets are averaging more than their first 5 with all their top 6 batsmen ave between 14 and 34 runs for the first dig

Just shows how important the performances of both Haddin and Johnson have been for them.

Taking nothing away from Australia as they've completely outplayed England in every facet but its also true to say that without either Haddin or Johnson they simply wouldn't be in this position.

To a large extent it's been down to our approach to bowling at the tail, put simply we give them far too much respect, look at Mitchell Johnson bowling to our tail and you see a bully who knows the guy he's facing would rather have the ball in his hand than a bat so he bowls aggressive and makes them play shots and test their technique, we persist with a line to 4th/5th stump at a good length, so they can leave it alone and just score from the bad balls, there's just no great pressure.

A couple of points crossed my mind reading these posts.

We always struggle to finish sides off. Our attack can and does make inroads into the opposition top order. Maybe we just aren't ruthless enough. The great West Indian sides from the mid-70's to the late-80's never let this happen neither did the Aussies under Border, Taylor Waugh or Ponting.

The other thing is that the series over here last summer was closer than the 3-0 score line suggests. Take Bell out of the equation and we were decidedly average. Whether this series ends up 5-0, 4-0 or 4-1 we have been resoundly beaten by an average Aussie side with a couple of players bang on form in Haddin and Johnson.

[paul_e]

In this series, Australia's last 5 wickets are averaging more than their first 5 with all their top 6 batsmen ave between 14 and 34 runs for the first dig

Just shows how important the performances of both Haddin and Johnson have been for them.

Taking nothing away from Australia as they've completely outplayed England in every facet but its also true to say that without either Haddin or Johnson they simply wouldn't be in this position.

To a large extent it's been down to our approach to bowling at the tail, put simply we give them far too much respect, look at Mitchell Johnson bowling to our tail and you see a bully who knows the guy he's facing would rather have the ball in his hand than a bat so he bowls aggressive and makes them play shots and test their technique, we persist with a line to 4th/5th stump at a good length, so they can leave it alone and just score from the bad balls, there's just no great pressure.

A couple of points crossed my mind reading these posts.

We always struggle to finish sides off. Our attack can and does make inroads into the opposition top order. Maybe we just aren't ruthless enough. The great West Indian sides from the mid-70's to the late-80's never let this happen neither did the Aussies under Border, Taylor Waugh or Ponting.

The other thing is that the series over here last summer was closer than the 3-0 score line suggests. Take Bell out of the equation and we were decidedly average. Whether this series ends up 5-0, 4-0 or 4-1 we have been resoundly beaten by an average Aussie side with a couple of players bang on form in Haddin and Johnson.

You have to include Warner in that, he's been very important at the top of the innings for them but being so aggressive from the off.  He's had a few low scores but he's been a key figure in setting the tempo for them and, as much as I don't like to admit it, he's looked a great player.  Been excellent in the field as well.

[eastie]

The Aussies run rate was well over 4 an over - impressive  .
Several times in this series we have 5 down and a low score and they have put on big stands to get out of trouble - it's disappointing we lack the killer touch .

[PaulWinch again]

Watching the highlights I really do like Ben Stokes, he's got a lot about him. I also think in time Borthwick could be very useful.

[eastie]

Watching the highlights I really do like Ben Stokes, he's got a lot about him. I also think in time Borthwick could be very useful.

One thing also about borthwick is he is a tremendous fielder - not sure his bowling is test match level but time will tell, stokes has without doubt been the best thing to come from this tour.

[PaulWinch again]

Watching the highlights I really do like Ben Stokes, he's got a lot about him. I also think in time Borthwick could be very useful.

One thing also about borthwick is he is a tremendous fielder - not sure his bowling is test match level but time will tell, stokes has without doubt been the best thing to come from this tour.

Borthwick's bowling needs a lot of work, but it has potential.

[taylorsworkrate]

Yet again! We have them at 97-5 on the ropes and fail to take the chance allowing them to reach 326 .
Carberry out for 0 and we are up against it again - add in rankin being injured and out of the game and we have 3 bowlers plus borthwick - a sad tour shows every sign of ending in whitewash.

5 Live reporting that Rankin went off with cramp and that he will bowl in the second innings.

Depends whether the Aussies elect to enforce the follow on.

[PaulWinch again]

Terrible leave Cook, absolutely shocking. That sums up the tour in one non shot.

[PaulWinch again]

Bell dropped first ball, our batting line up is a shambles.

[PaulWinch again]

what the fuck is Bell doing? he just bumped another up in the air. How the fuck did we let them get 325 as well?

[PaulWinch again]

Anderson smashed on the hand from a Johnson bouncer as well.

[PaulWinch again]

There needs to be a big big rebuild after this tour, this team has been on the decline for about a year and a half with a brief spike in India. However there are lots of problems to address.

[VILLA MOLE]

can we go home yet