Cricket

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.

Bob Willis has died :(

I just saw this. I hope the grumpy old bugger has a safe journey. RIP.

Stokes is kind of cricket's Jamie Vardy isn't he. Gay-basher-bashing larrikin who'll hit sixes

A man we can all vote for

the gay couple said he was standing up for them and how hes their friend now

yeah read what I wrote! it's heartwarming :D

Hope that puts to bed the notion of 4 day tests. Magical day.

and that catch by Crawley was WOW. The slips were close in and Stokes bowling at 90 mph and if you haven't seen it yet enjoy.

Dont mess with test cricket!

Stokes is kind of cricket's Jamie Vardy isn't he. Gay-basher-bashing larrikin who'll hit sixes

― imago, Monday, December 16, 2019 8:03 AM (three weeks ago) bookmarkflaglink

A man we can all vote for

― imago, Monday, December 16, 2019 8:05 AM (three weeks ago) bookmarkflaglink

Sad and almost embarrassing here for SA

I watched the first episode of the Aussie cricket thing - The Test - on Amazon Prime. The access the cameras have is pretty comprehensive but I'm not sure there's anything - or anyone - compelling enough to keep me coming back. Langer is kind of emblematic in his dead-eyed zealotry but it seems to be systemic. Maybe everyone will settle down but not sure I can be arsed.

Probably the only cricket we'll get to watch this year though

The Edge is on streaming services I think, will be giving that a go. Probably only for England fans but the ECB have put a load of sessions from the 2013 Ashes online. The sessions come in apparently random order but it's fun to dip into. The URL is a bit weird but I think it works?
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=geo+restricted+live+stream

The Edge is actually really good. If Trotty doesn't make you bawl, you're a stronger man than I.

Cheers for the Ashes link! That tour is weirdly blank to me. That Aussie side - Clarke in particular - were pretty unlikeable.

I was at a couple of the games, including the Old Trafford match when England really ground it out after Clarke scored an excellent century for Australia. A weird series, it could have been 2-2 had things gone a little differently.

I remember one game where we were lucky with the light but the rest is blank. Will catch up with some of those videos.

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2020/may/19/suwanji-madanayake-the-spinner-who-wants-to-play-into-his-50s-cricket

as a 33 year-old who still has aspirations of becoming a good club spinner (as opposed to the ropey current model), that is p inspiring

“They look fit but don’t use their brains. Without a brain, you can’t play the game.”

Ugh, Sibley, what a hideous looking batsman.

Burns is horrible too. Come on the Windies.

Michael Holding on race/BLM was really good, as everyone said it was.

Well done Windies!

Feels like the first team in fifteen years that wouldn’t have choked.

Cool as a cucumber tbh.

Ben Stokes: "... I thought we had a lot chances with the bat to put our foot on the throat of the West Indies".

... errrrrrrr

classic australianism tbfttl