@MN5 said in Ashes 2025/6:
Graeme Swann on cricinfo said that Ben Stokes was the most talented all rounder since Kallis.
he does say "since Kallis" but even then i can't get on board. He did win a Cricket World Cup with his bat though...
Stokes has that mentality though, and you need it in Aus. If, and it is a huge if, he can stay fit, he will play a big part at some point. Definite big moment player.
@mariner4life said in Ashes 2025/6:
@MN5 said in Ashes 2025/6:
Graeme Swann on cricinfo said that Ben Stokes was the most talented all rounder since Kallis.
he does say "since Kallis" but even then i can't get on board. He did win a Cricket World Cup with his bat though...
Stokes has that mentality though, and you need it in Aus. If, and it is a huge if, he can stay fit, he will play a big part at some point. Definite big moment player.
Yep, great team man who doesn't give a fuck about his own stats.
Merely "good" on paper in both disciplines but a better player than stats indicate.
@MN5 said in Ashes 2025/6:
a better player than stats indicate
absolutely. Will perform in a big moment, but maybe not dine out when playing a shit team
@mariner4life said in Ashes 2025/6:
@MN5 said in Ashes 2025/6:
a better player than stats indicate
absolutely. Will perform in a big moment, but maybe not dine out when playing a shit team
Something of an anti Henry Nicholls you might say
If you want to know why Australia refuse to admit test cricket is struggling:
Perth: Day 1 and 2 sold out, about a hundred tickets left to Day 3, under a thousand for Day 4.
Brisbane: Day 1, 2 and 3 sold out, Day 4 selling fast
Adelaide: Day 1, 2 and 3 sold out, Day 4 selling fast.
Melbourne: Day 1 and 2 sold out, Day 3 selling fast
Sydney: First 4 days sold out.
@mariner4life said in Ashes 2025/6:
If you want to know why Australia refuse to admit test cricket is struggling:
Perth: Day 1 and 2 sold out, about a hundred tickets left to Day 3, under a thousand for Day 4.
Brisbane: Day 1, 2 and 3 sold out, Day 4 selling fast
Adelaide: Day 1, 2 and 3 sold out, Day 4 selling fast.
Melbourne: Day 1 and 2 sold out, Day 3 selling fast
Sydney: First 4 days sold out.
I'm not sure the Black Caps vs West Indies ( 2020s edition, not 1980s ) can quite compete.
@mariner4life said in Ashes 2025/6:
When you consider the size of those grounds, that's very impressive.
MCG is enormous. What better way to burn off Xmas lunch and dindins than sit and drink piss and watch cricket the next few days ?
God bless you Australia.
@Catogrande said in Ashes 2025/6:
@MN5 said in Ashes 2025/6:
Might have to side with Smith on this one
I quite liked Monty's reply:-
Former England spinner Monty Panesar has responded to Steve Smith's bizarre swipe at him by saying he made his mistakes "on a quiz show", while the stand-in Australia captain "made his on a cricket field".
this might hold a lot more water if Monty, who is apparently as dumb as a sack of hammers, hadn't admitted to ball tampering in his own fucking book.
@mariner4life said in Ashes 2025/6:
@Catogrande said in Ashes 2025/6:
@MN5 said in Ashes 2025/6:
Might have to side with Smith on this one
I quite liked Monty's reply:-
Former England spinner Monty Panesar has responded to Steve Smith's bizarre swipe at him by saying he made his mistakes "on a quiz show", while the stand-in Australia captain "made his on a cricket field".
this might hold a lot more water if Monty, who is apparently as dumb as a sack of hammers, hadn't admitted to ball tampering in his own fucking book.
I did love my trip to America, one of my favourite cities ever.
First thing goes England's way, they win the toss and decide to bat first.
Previous winning sides at this ground all batted first.
@Virgil said in Ashes 2025/6:
First thing goes England's way, they win the toss and decide to bat first.
Previous winning sides at this ground all batted first.
What ?
This is starting TODAY ? ( typical MN5 not reading posts )
fuck paperwork, it's cricket watching time !!!!!
That English keeper has had a handy start to his test career.
The rest of the top order pretty rocks and diamonds.
It amazes me Zak Crawley still has a test career, one ton in 37 innings and that was against Zimbabwe.
@mariner4life said in Ashes 2025/6:
When you consider the size of those grounds, that's very impressive.
And the price of the tickets.
Tuned in to see the fifth ball as my first ball and it gets Crawley. Caught in the slips off Starc. A bit of a loose waft.
0/1
@MN5 said in Ashes 2025/6:
That English keeper has had a handy start to his test career.
The rest of the top order pretty rocks and diamonds.
It amazes me Zak Crawley still has a test career, one ton in 37 innings and that was against Zimbabwe.
I'll just leave this here......
Mark Waugh saying he thinks Boland's bowled the loosest this morning he's seen.
Oz has some guy called Doggett on debut as the third seamer. His State record isn't fabulous.
They've got another debutant called Weatherald who will open - again his State record looks a bit mediocre for an Oz test player.
Both in their early 30s, so decently experienced.
England don't have a specialist spinner - Root is it I guess if they need it.
Root falls a hundred short of that maiden ashes ton in Australia.
Grace Hayden undoes a button on her blouse......
Never mind, my boy Brook will sort things out.
lol it’s all over already, wonder if the Aussies can wrap up the series inside 12 days like 4 years ago
Crazy difference between Boland and Starc - so far Starc is 5 overs 3/10, Boland 4 overs none for 29.
The step down from Starc is massive. Other bowlers not looking super scary right now.
of course, Starc with 3 wickets so far...
Huge wicket to Green as England were consolidating.
Brook and Stokes in the middle, mini crisis already, lets see the aggressive Ranga stand up !
94/4.
typical of this England team, 100 runs in a session at 4.5, but already 4 back in the shed.
Huge from Starc, night and day from the rest. At this rate Australia will bat for more than an hour today.
Massive wicket. At 100/3 at lunch the Aussies would probably have still had their nose just ahead but not by much, especially with two set batters.
@Chris-B said in Ashes 2025/6:
Oz has some guy called Doggett on debut as the third seamer. His State record isn't fabulous.
Harsh marker. He has 190 wickets at an average of 26
@sparky said in Ashes 2025/6:
Stokes gone. Australia far too good for England.
Brook will get a hundred and the tail will wag to make things competitive.
@MN5 said in Ashes 2025/6:
@sparky said in Ashes 2025/6:
Stokes gone. Australia far too good for England.
Brook will get a hundred and the tail will wag to make things competitive.
Lol nar
Amazing that the whole series is essentially over as a contest before Tea on Day One of the First Test.
Congratulations Australia.
Incredible performance from Starc, basically all of his wickets were to superb deliveries as well as opposed to the batsmen giving their wicket away. With his two partner's in crime out injured he just decided to do it all himself, unreal that he's still putting performances like that in at 35. Aging like a fine wine.
Not over yet though, this Aus batting lineup is brittle, a couple of early wickets and it'll be all on.
@KiwiMurph said in Ashes 2025/6:
@Chris-B said in Ashes 2025/6:
Oz has some guy called Doggett on debut as the third seamer. His State record isn't fabulous.
Harsh marker. He has 190 wickets at an average of 26
Probably, but I sort of think someone who's played that much and averages 26 in first class is probably going to struggle to average under 30 in tests - and that's not what you expect from Oz.
However, having had a look at him - he looks pretty useful!
