Ashes 2013/14

[PaulWinch again]

Buttler competing with Prior in form would be great for us. Jordan impresses me too, but he needs to sustain his pace throughout the day. Overton hasn't appeared yet, but he is quick.

Whisper it quietly, but I've been increasingly encouraged with what I've seen of the 50 over team.  Add a switched on KP at three and a strike bowler (hopefully Finn, Rankin or someone like Overton can find some form) and we could be an outside shout at the World Cup next year.  Before I'm accused of getting carried away after one win, I think the spine of the ODI team has been developing nicely over the past year or so and we've still got another year before the WC to fill in the gaps. 

Still not sure about Cook being in the ODI side let alone captain though!!

Cook on form is fine, he's capable of scoring at a strike rate of 90+ and with the right players around him that's not a problem. Form is massively important though, because I think given the way his tour has gone I believe it'll influence his captaincy. If he stays as captain he'll be a lot more assertive from now on.

I can see where you're coming from Paul and I suppose Cook would be OK to open if someone like KP is batting at three.  When we had an top three of Cook, Bell and Trott in ODIs we got bogged down too often in overs 20-40 and there was no real acceleration.  Cook and Bell are both capable of scoring run-a-ball hundreds, but if both are opening we need someone who can accelerate the innings when required batting at three.

I agree I think that's why they've put Stokes up there, he can accelerate an innings pretty quickly.

[Dave Cooper please]

Snatching defeat from the jaws ao victory again I see.

What exactly does Ravi Bopara bring to the ODI team?

[Dave Cooper please]

I've said that so he'll smash 40 from 28 balls to win the game!

[OzVilla]

What the fuck was Root thinking?

[villan from luton]

Not sure how Boapara can be given out there, it is not conslusive at all whether his foot was down or not

[OzVilla]

Horrible end again. Bopara unlucky, Root brainless. He really worries me as he continually plays poor Cricket. It cost us the game tonight and someone needs to tell him so.

[villan from luton]

That was an embarrassing end to an embarrassing tour.

[OzVilla]

That was an embarrassing end to an embarrassing tour.

It really is, we've embarrassed ourselves and been the architects of our own downfall a lot of the time.  Tonight being another classic example.

I can take defeat, I can take being outplayed. What really pisses me off is being out fought and out thought. Throughout this shambles of a tour we've been out fought, out thought and out played.

Highlight: the emergence of Ben Stokes.

Lowlight: everything else

With a special mention to Greame Swann again who really did let his team down.

[OCD]

Not sure how Boapara can be given out there, it is not conslusive at all whether his foot was down or not

I don't know why the 3rd Umpire always seems to give decision like this against us. It was the same in the World Cup final against India. Nothing seems to have been mentioned about how only the one Bail has come out of it's Groove the second that Bopara's foot is questionably in the air. There was no conclusive evidence so you would have thought they would have given the Batsman the benefit of the doubt. For me, it wasn't bad luck - it was bad officiating, again.

We might have sneaked over the line had that decision not gone against us but we should never have been in that position in the first place. 150+ for 3, chasing 219 and we still manage to find a way to lose a game that should have been ours.

[PaulWinch again]

That's a really bad way to lose.

[tomd2103]

Still puzzled by the Bopara decision.  Most conclusive camera angle showed that his foot was on the ground when the bail was actually dislodged and I can't quite understand why hewas given out.  Probably cost us the game, but we didn't help ourselves before that.

[willywombat]

Wombat where are you- wombat where are you

I'm over here eastie - having a quiet chuckle

[eastie]

Wombat where are you- wombat where are you

I'm over here eastie - having a quiet chuckle

Fair play you old rascal, you deserve the plaudits this series - but enjoy your glory for we WILL regain the urn next year

[willywombat]

In all fairness, I think your boys have shown enough during the ODI's to suggest that the immediate outlook isn't quite as bleak as some of you seem to think. Bring it on!

[PaulWinch again]

Don't like the plans put in place by the ICC with India, Australia and England having all the power. They've removed the Test Championship idea as well and the future tour programme is gone. It isn't good for Test cricket.