Mitchell Johnson is a class above the England batsmen. He has just totally destroyed us. He takes 7 for 40 in a stunning display of fast bowling. England 172 all out.
Another pathetic batting performance from all bar Bell and Carberry.
Don't care who the bowler is but no one should be capable of taking 16 of our wickets @ less than 9 runs a time on tracks where the opposition can rack up runs in a series at just under 50 average.
I felt that although we deserved to win the Ashes at home 3-0 was a bit flattering. Our batting has not been great for the last 3 or 4 series, particularly against high class bowling attacks. The Aussies are playing tough aggressive cricket and we are struggling to handle it. Have we turned into an awful team overnight , no, but we need to look at the team honestly, loyalty is great but it can go too far. So who needs to come into the team, at the moment the only ones who are truly secure are Cook (surely he will come good?) Carberry, Bell, Broad, Swann, (two bad tests don't make you a bad bowler) and Anderson. I love KP's batting and I'am sure hes not under that much pressure as he seems untouchable, so realistically 4 places up for grabs. Stokes looks good with the ball and probably deserves a second chance, which means he will probably get dropped next test. Matt Priors keeping is looking way better than his batting, there is something I never thought I would say, Joe Root will be a reliable test player, but is struggling being the yoyo and technique. As for Monty, he's done not much wrong on a flat track, which again means he will be left out in the next test on a seamer friendly track. I have not given up on saving this test, but if the inevitable happens could the next test 11 be Cook, Carberry, Bell, Pietersen, Balance, Bairstow, Stokes, Bresnan, Broad, Swann and Anderson, probably not, but I feel better for getting this off my chest.
Never thought I'd say this but, unless Prior gets some serious runs in the second innings, he has to be "rested". In his last 25 innings in all comps/tour matches he is averaging just 15. As much as I'm not sure Bairstow is the answer, he probably would only have to turn up to better that.
Melts , I mean seriously I don't mind losing but humiliated by these Aussies is a bit too much. You'd like to think a couple of thrashings may make our lot focus properly and produce something in the third test, still we may be able to bat this one out but it's gonna take a monumental effort for us to scrape a draw from this test . More than likely to be 2 down with 3 tests to play will be too much for us to come back from so we're gonna have to bat for our Ashes lives
Absolute disgrace, I am like ooah, I can stomach losing but there are some players out there who need to look at themselves in the mirror. We can't handle Johnson and some players don't fancy it. The Test series is as good as gone. I would make wholesale changes for the next Test. Players like Swann, Prior and Peterson are living on their reputations.
My team for Perth.
Cook, Carberry, Bell, Pieterson, Ballance, Bairstow,Stokes,Broad,Bresnan, Panesar, Anderson
It's like our hearts aren't in it. I can understand the first test, slow starters, getting used to the heat or whatever excuse but there isn't any thing you can say to defend today's batting performance. Pathetic.
Too cosy a club,too many you wouldn't want next to you when things get nasty! At the end of the day how nasty does cricket get? They call you a few names and ask whos shagging your Mrs,you have a helmet and more padding than you can shake a stick at,nasty? They need a fucking good punch up on a Saturday night.
It's a shame cook is a useless tosser. Who knows whether it would have made any difference but it must be psychologically challenging to be chasing down huge totals all the time rather than having a crack first on these pitches.
Your living up to your name. If you know anything about cricket you will know Cooke is far from useless and if we had won the toss we wouldn't have been chasing these totals .
Jeez! Useless tosser was a pun! And your second point is precisely the one I was making. d'oh.
Never thought I'd say this but, unless Prior gets some serious runs in the second innings, he has to be "rested". In his last 25 innings in all comps/tour matches he is averaging just 15. As much as I'm not sure Bairstow is the answer, he probably would only have to turn up to better that.
I do worry whether Bairstow is a good enough keeper though, the keeping side doesn't seem to be taken as seriously these days, but a missed catch/stumping may cost an awful lot more runs than the runs the keeper scores himself
Never thought I'd say this but, unless Prior gets some serious runs in the second innings, he has to be "rested". In his last 25 innings in all comps/tour matches he is averaging just 15. As much as I'm not sure Bairstow is the answer, he probably would only have to turn up to better that.
I do worry whether Bairstow is a good enough keeper though, the keeping side doesn't seem to be taken as seriously these days, but a missed catch/stumping may cost an awful lot more runs than the runs the keeper scores himself
Absolutely take that on board. The only thing I would say is that most keepers are good standing back and struggle more against the spinners and as none of the three used have really beaten the bat in the series I would hope it wouldn't be so much of an issue.
Plus if Prior fails again he will have 4 runs in 4 inns and with his poor efforts in the last series, Bairstow will be asking himself what he has to do to get in the side.
We're never going to go back to specialist keepers, Bairstow deserves a chance. Prior was selected as a batting keeper, his keeping was pretty ordinary for some time. After all, Alec Stewart kept in more Tests for England than in games for Surrey.
The horror. Got to say that this series looks well and truly lost. What is most disturbing is that we are giving away our wickets so cheaply making the Aussie team look even better. I would drop Pietersen as he has been found out. Prior needs to make a lot of runs in the next innings to keep his place. Bresnan needs to come back and Bell should be playing at 3. Not that this will make much difference as, much as I hate to say, the Aussies are far more focused and on top.
Comments
Don't care who the bowler is but no one should be capable of taking 16 of our wickets @ less than 9 runs a time on tracks where the opposition can rack up runs in a series at just under 50 average.
Never thought I'd say this but, unless Prior gets some serious runs in the second innings, he has to be "rested". In his last 25 innings in all comps/tour matches he is averaging just 15. As much as I'm not sure Bairstow is the answer, he probably would only have to turn up to better that.
They might as well declare now 'cos we won't last one day on current form let alone two.
You'd like to think a couple of thrashings may make our lot focus properly and produce something in the third test, still we may be able to bat this one out but it's gonna take a monumental effort for us to scrape a draw from this test .
More than likely to be 2 down with 3 tests to play will be too much for us to come back from so we're gonna have to bat for our Ashes lives
My team for Perth.
Cook, Carberry, Bell, Pieterson, Ballance, Bairstow,Stokes,Broad,Bresnan, Panesar, Anderson
Peterson only stays because there is no one else.
If only....
Apart from Bell and Carberry it was another shambolic effort.
Monty put up more of a fight than most at the end.
The bloke is sooooo out of form we have to play Bairstow in Perth
Bairstow for Prior
Brennan for Ballance
Keep Monty and drop Swann
This game will be wrapped up by this time tomorrow
You have to wonder what Graham Gooch is doing as batting coach considering we haven't got over 400 in 19 innings.
Get someone else in.
Plus if Prior fails again he will have 4 runs in 4 inns and with his poor efforts in the last series, Bairstow will be asking himself what he has to do to get in the side.
At te end of the first test Cook looked shell shocked, i think the whole team have been traumatised by that result
After all, Alec Stewart kept in more Tests for England than in games for Surrey.