The Ashes Thread.

[David48atTD]

So they would have changed the team with players from the same squad. Just as England are doing.

Yes, fair enough.

My bad.

[baldrick]

Therefore the suggestion from willy and baldrick that England are resigned to losing is nonsense.

in closing , I present

Why hasn't this thread been closed yet???

It's criminal to keep this thread open.

in summary - youse is fcuked

[David48atTD]

^ got the quote mixed up a little there 'ole chap.

Was cyrille who penned ...

Therefore the suggestion from willy and baldrick that England are resigned to losing is nonsense.

[David48atTD]

Mitch Marsh included in Australia's 12-man squad for final Ashes Test, England drop Jason Roy



Vice-captain Travis Head has been axed for the fifth Ashes Test as Australia hunt a series win at the Oval, where Mitch Marsh will return to the XI.

Key points:

• Mitch Marsh has not played in the Australian Test side since Boxing Day 2018
• Travis Head is dropped after run of disappointing scores since match-saving 42 at Lord's
• England's Jason Roy is dropped after recording a high score of just 31

Selectors are yet to make a call on whether Pat Cummins or Josh Hazlewood will be rested from the series finale, which starts on Thursday.

Peter Siddle, who played the first two Tests, has been retained in a 12-man squad and could be recalled in place of the world's top-ranked bowler Cummins or an in-form Hazlewood.

Regardless of the attack, coach Justin Langer and chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns want to ensure their fast bowlers aren't worked into the ground in London.

[David48atTD]

OUT! DENLY NICKS AND SMITH COMPLETES THE CATCH... JUST!


Australia gets the breakthrough, and it felt like they needed it!

That full length from Cummins strikes again, with Denly pushing at a wider one and getting a thick edge to the cordon.

At which point Smith made an absolute meal of trying to catch it, fumbling it about three times before stabilising himself just long enough while falling to hold on.

Well bowled, Pat Cummins

Joe Root, come on down

[Bettyboo]

69 for 1

A strange score...

[cyrille]

Root dropped twice.

Lucky day?

[Saint Willy]

Good fight back from England. 8/278 (I think)

[Headworx]

278

Steve Smith: "Challenge accepted"

[harrybarracuda]

Steve Smith: "I won't need sandpaper for this one"

FTFY.

[Headworx]

^Yeah that whole sandpaper thing has really got to him, as has the constant booing and sledging. He's clearly having big trouble concentrating, I'd be very surprised if he gets more than 300 combined in his 2 innings this match

[Loy Toy]

^ You watch....... We Aussies will be reminded again how we can never truly retain the Ashes as we will never take physical control over a little urn donated by a Pommy cricketers wife because she was so disgusted with her husband's performance.

Just the feeling attained by beating the Poms on their own soil is enough of a prize to take home.

[kmart]

^Yeah that whole sandpaper thing has really got to him, as has the constant booing and sledging. He's clearly having big trouble concentrating, I'd be very surprised if he gets more than 300 combined in his 2 innings this match

Smith galvanized by the cheating scandal and enforced ban. Warner seemingly destroyed by it.

[Loy Toy]

It is generally accepted in Australia that the sand paper affair was thought up by and instigated by David Warner.

It is also common knowledge that his batting had deteriorated leading up to the cheating attempt and the South African fast bowlers had him on toast.

Smith may or may not have known about it but had to accept responsibility as the Captain at the time.

Smith paid dearly for the scandal not only losing millions of dollars but also 15 months of his cricketing life as well as the Australian Captaincy forever.

[Headworx]

... but also 15 months of his cricketing life as well as the Australian Captaincy forever.

Not so sure bout that, I thought his ban was for one period of time and not being able to Captain the team was for another period on top of that too. But why would anyone want to take the chance on him being Captain again, as having that responsibility might change his current Bradman-esq form with the bat.

[cyrille]

Yeah, his ban from 'leadership roles' is up in a few months.


I heard on the radio that, long term, Pat Cummings is favourite for the job...despite some misgivings about a bowler being captain.

[cyrille]

Smith may or may not have known about it.

There is no suggestion from anyone that Smith did not know about it.

The three of them discussed it during a meal break.

Boy but you crammed a lot of bullshit into that short post, shorty.

[Loy Toy]

I thought his ban was for one period of time and not being able to Captain the team was for another period on top of that too

As I understand he will never be the Australian captain again and whether that is the decision from Cricket Australia or him personally will probaably come out of the wash in time.

[cyrille]

As I understand he will never be the Australian captain again.

Well Mark Taylor clearly 'understands' it differently.

The subject of the Australian captaincy has lingered in the background with Steve Smith suspended from all leadership positions until next March, but it would be great if Paine can go on until at least then, and potentially another year or more beyond that point, too.

I believe Smith will captain Australia again. I was on the Cricket Australia board that determined the penalties for Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft over the events of Cape Town and have no doubt he will be a better leader next time around because of the very harsh lessons he learnt.

https://www.smh.com.au/sport/cricket...11-p52qda.html

[cyrille]

Smith galvanized by the cheating scandal and enforced ban. Warner seemingly destroyed by it.

Warner's record in England was pretty poor before this tour.

[harrybarracuda]

It is generally accepted in Australia that the sand paper affair was thought up by and instigated by David Warner.

What a load of shite.

I posted above where Smith admitted that the "leadership group" came up with the idea before it was executed.

Or are you trying to say that Smith, as captain, wasn't part of the "leadership group"?

[Loy Toy]

^ Back off Harry and read my post again.

Warner come up with the idea and initiated the meeting.

That is what is generally accepted at being how this shite come about.

[cyrille]

That's my understanding of what happened too.

Your claim that Smith possibly didn't know is bollocks though.

You've contradicted yourself on that.

[Dillinger]

I was having a beer with a decent Aussie yesterday. He reckoned Smith should have been booted out for life.

If he wasnt so good he would have been. There's a few examples in sport of that though. He's done his time I think and has lived and thrived under the barracking. Fair play to him. Unfortunate choice of words

[Bettyboo]

Not so sure bout that, I thought his ban was for one period of time and not being able to Captain the team was for another period on top of that too. But why would anyone want to take the chance on him being Captain again, as having that responsibility might change his current Bradman-esq form with the bat.

The Convict Convict should be made captain immediately...

Why isn't our West Indian trying to hit him on the head with every ball then throw in the occasional perfect, and fast, leg stump yorker???