Cricket

The players have been really magnanimous though. They accepted the LBW wrong call and admitted it was their own fault for wasting that review but I wonder how the press will accept it.

this was pretty good but of course they still can't resist the temptation to mention that Stokes was born in NZ https://www.theage.com.au/sport/cricket/we-can-all-die-happy-now-cricket-doesn-t-get-any-better-than-this-20190826-p52knk.html

Like the way everyone here just applauded how great Smith's been (comparing to Bradman) I think they will just stand back and admit it's one of he greatest innings ever.

Shame its not on council telly for everyone to watch

This must be the highest successful run chase ever for a team bowled out under 100. How on earth did England win after being bowled out for 67? It just doesn't happen. It only happens for other teams against England. Never happens for us. We better not to back to old habits though. Surely the players know they need to just grind out the runs and dont give up their wickets cheaply. Dont make me shout at them again!

Just checking if that really happened yesterday

just ask Glenn

The most remarkable of finishes, as seen in the TMS box.

Thank you so much for being there with us.#bbccricket #Ashes pic.twitter.com/qTG16XC79Z

— Test Match Special (@bbctms) August 25, 2019

bees.

just ask Glenn

🐦[The most remarkable of finishes, as seen in the TMS box.

Thank you so much for being there with us.#bbccricket🕸 #Ashes🕸 pic.twitter.com/qTG16XC79Z🕸
— Test Match Special (@bbctms) August 25, 2019🕸]🐦

rogue bees.

I've got 5 days at Old Trafford then a couple of days at the Oval, that could have been a dismal prospect, not any more!

"I just have to make sure they are clean every time they were facing up because I would really regret it if it had been smudged," he said, "and then they zoom in on the glasses and say 'he didn't clean his glasses'.

Getting beyond a joke now this England/Smith thing.

This would be a good Test to draw

it would be a miracle. They only happen once in a lifetime.
Can you see anything other than an England collapse? They got lucky in the last test which papered over the cracks.

They got lucky in the test before that you mean, when Smith got it in the neck.

hah

I just wish Joe Root could go out there and hit a triple century tomorrow

wow Root edged and neither Paine or Warner went for it. Lucky!

Root has found it so hard to convert 50s to 100s since becoming skipper. It's very worrying cuz we need a double ton from him.

Root now injured after being struck on the back leg (Australia reviewed for LBW but it was missing)

How's the weather forecast for tomorrow?

One of my heroes Abdul Qadir died. :( He was a genius with the ball

He was, that's sad

Well England are having a "go"

well its 0-2

and root will remain captain, his batting will stink because of it and nothing much will change over the next few years as the ECB prefer the money from One Day and T20 games and this silly new competition

Anybody think England will bat out the draw?

Without those two wickets there might have been a chance, but now it looks beyond them.

God has to intervene.

I don't think Stokes is God tbh

Nor do I.

But it's ok the ECB made a ton of cash who gives a shit.

that's pretty much it innit, that's all they care about

its like having the Celtic FC board and their biscuit tin running cricket.

Bairstow out

it looks awfully dark there to me

Root has to stand down or be sacked as captain. Hi batting has been affected badly and he's not a good captain and his Ashes record as skipper is appalling. He's lost 2 series.

But the buck mustn't stop there.

Just watch the ECB do nothing and watch it all happen over and over again

Congrats to steve smith for single-handedly winning the Ashes

Australia (or at least Smith) clearly the better side over the series, but at least that was a battling and spirited performance today. England are short a few batsmen and a spinner.

i saw a weird BBC headline about "Brave England" and then i checked the fucking score

Bravely losing by 185 runs.

Well they did put up a fight instead of not being rolled over in a session like they usually do in this situation.

But I cant see how Roy (and i like him) can be in the test team. Im a big fan of Butler but while I reckon he'd make a good skipper he's not proven he's a test player yet 1 century isn't enough and tho while I wouldn't be surprised if the new coach dumps him I reckon he might get the winter as a last chance.

Bairstow is not a frontline batsmen, prefers to bat as 7 and his keeping isnt good enough. I reckon him or butler will be dropped (poss both) and Foakes getting a chance in the winter.

But the truth is England have run out of batsmen to try.
Burns has done enough to warrant a chance but not denly yet who else is left to try?

Batsmen just dont get enough 4 day games and it will be worse with this 'Hundred' bullshit and overseas tours will still not have enough first class warm up games as nothing is going to change really.

Any ideas who the next coach should be?

Id really like to see the whole system changed and selectors fired and a full review but I'm not holding my breath.

I wouldn't bet against them giving everyone another go in the last test too and will talk about no knee-jerk changes and root will still be captain for the next tour and BS about how he has a job to do and wont walk away

Unchanged squad. Root says he's the best man for the job.

Vic Marks is sensible on this I think: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2019/sep/09/captaincy-robbing-england-of-joe-root-greatest-asset

Not too much point doing wholesale changes for the last test, though it might have been nice to see Sibley, Pope or Crawley get a game it might also be better to give one or all of them a full series in the winter. I think SCurran will play instead of Overton, and they might rest Stokes.

Would be a waste to play Stokes if he can't bowl and why risk aggravating his injury?

yeah deffo

both teams' selectors have really covered themselves in glory this series

looking like a drawn series with australia grimly batting out a draw inbred other game. england dominant

lol my phone knows australia better than i do

Good lord, Smith missed a straight one and is out.