Ashes 2025/6

@Virgil said in Ashes 2025/6:

@KiwiPie said in Ashes 2025/6:

Guardian top 100 Ashes cricketers

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Warne 1, Bradman 2, Botham 3.
Compiled by 51 journalists picking their top 50 - Bradman topped most lists but apparently 2 people didn't select him in their top 50 even though they had to include players from all eras.

TBF and in their defense he only averaged 89.78 vs England, thats a whole 10 runs lower than his overall average.
Clearly struggled against the big boys.

Funnily though he averaged an even lower 78 at home vs England but slightly redeemed himself by averaging a not too shabby 102 in England. Scoring 11 x 100's from just 19 tests...

Further to this silly list.......

It's pretty awesome to me that Beefy and Warnie are so highly rated. Both absolute larrakins off the field who could play like demons when they needed to. Both very high on my list of favourite players.

Guys who captured the imagination like few, if any, before them because if you look closer they both had a few faults ( Beefy crap vs Windies, Warnie crap in India )

Would definitely choose either of them to have a few beers with over Bradman who preferred tea apparently.

@sparky said in Ashes 2025/6:

Josh Hazelwood is out of the first Ashes Test: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/articles/cwy7z7xjep1o

Probably means a likely debut for Brendan Doggett

@1kiwi said in Ashes 2025/6:

@sparky said in Ashes 2025/6:

Josh Hazelwood is out of the first Ashes Test: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/articles/cwy7z7xjep1o

Probably means a likely debut for Brendan Doggett

Dizzy Gillespie backs him, which is good enough for me.

I still can't agree with starting the series in Perth. I'll be somewhere in Tokyo when the first ball is delivered so hopefully it goes well and/or I can find a way to watch it

@NTA said in Ashes 2025/6:

I still can't agree with starting the series in Perth. I'll be somewhere in Tokyo when the first ball is delivered so hopefully it goes well and/or I can find a way to watch it

We went to Perth for a day night first test of the tour and it ruined us for the entire trip

Australia XI for first Test: Usman Khawaja, Jake Weatherald, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith (c), Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey (wk), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Brendan Doggett, Scott Boland

As a Pom, its difficult to ever see Aus test team as anything other than an unstoppable force, particularly in Australia. I have basically consistently under estimated this England team under Stokes and Mac - I am still going to be watching through my fingers, I still expect it to be 4-0 or 5-0. But there's no doubt that this is our best chance to do something special for the first time in 14 years. Winning probably beyond them, but being competitive is a genuine possibility, will depend a lot on the fitness of our first choice bowlers.

Apparently Stokes would be only the third English skipper ever to regain the Ashes in Australia - that would be some achievement.

@1kiwi said in Ashes 2025/6:

Australia XI for first Test: Usman Khawaja, Jake Weatherald, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith (c), Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey (wk), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Brendan Doggett, Scott Boland

That's some team.

That 3,4, 5, 6 and 7 are a different league collectively to their English equivalents. I don't see England getting them all out cheaply.

Even with all the injuries, that bowling line-up is better than England's.

Australia should be massive favourites for the series. It will end at least 3-1 to their favour.

But yeah, I think it will end 5-0 to Australia.

@sparky said in Ashes 2025/6:

@1kiwi said in Ashes 2025/6:

Australia XI for first Test: Usman Khawaja, Jake Weatherald, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith (c), Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey (wk), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Brendan Doggett, Scott Boland

That's some team.

That 3,4, 5, 6 and 7 are a different league collectively to their English equivalents. I don't see England getting them all out cheaply.

Even with all the injuries, that bowling line-up is better than England's.

Australia should be massive favourites for the series. It will end at least 3-1 to their favour.

But yeah, I think it will end 5-0 to Australia.

England have the two best test batsmen in the world. Duckett is a very good opener too. Stokes obviously capable of lifting for the big occasions. I'm not sure the gulf is as great as you think.

Can't help but agree with the bowling summary though.

Might have to side with Smith on this one

@MN5 said in Ashes 2025/6:

England have the two best test batsmen in the world

Root's average of 35 in Aus with a high score of 89 doesnt have quite the same ring as ICC number 1 test batsman.....

@KiwiMurph said in Ashes 2025/6:

@MN5 said in Ashes 2025/6:

England have the two best test batsmen in the world

Root's average of 35 in Aus with a high score of 89 doesnt have quite the same ring as ICC number 1 test batsman.....

Don't ruin my narrative with pesky facts.

Root is due........SURELY !!!!!

or else we get a nude Hayden run

@MN5 said in Ashes 2025/6:

or else we get a nude Hayden run

Grace Hayden?

@KiwiMurph said in Ashes 2025/6:

@MN5 said in Ashes 2025/6:

England have the two best test batsmen in the world

Root's average of 35 in Aus with a high score of 89 doesnt have quite the same ring.....

Yup and NO test 100 scored. That must be a serious monkey on his back.

@MN5 said in Ashes 2025/6:

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Might have to side with Smith on this one

I hadn't seen that before. Most of the comments are 'Smith sent me here', 'Thanks for the recommendation smudge' etc

@MN5 said in Ashes 2025/6:

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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".

@Duluth said in Ashes 2025/6:

@MN5 said in Ashes 2025/6:

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Might have to side with Smith on this one

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I hadn't seen that before. Most of the comments are 'Smith sent me here', 'Thanks for the recommendation smudge' etc

love this comment on Reddit earlier today about this feud..

"From second slip Zac Crawley pipes up "Hey Smudge, what's the capital of Zaire?"

And for the next tortuous twenty minutes Smith faces off a barrage of short balls and geography trivia questions before losing his off stump having not been able to name all the countries that share a border with Oman.

@Catogrande said in Ashes 2025/6:

@MN5 said in Ashes 2025/6:

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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".

That's actually not a bad retort ! Game on !!!!!

About fucking time!! feels like the build up to this has taken an eternity.

England absolutely have to win this first test to be any chance. They just cannot afford to get behind on the scoreboard, especially with Cummins and Hazlewood out, and two Australian debutants.

Predictions? I reckon obvious is best, Smith most runs, Boland most wickets. I thought the series would be 3-1 Australia, but barring rain, i actually can't see a draw happening just given both teams' pace of play.

I hope it lives up to hype. I'm going to day 2 and 3 of the Boxing Day test so 1-all going in to that would be tasty.

@mariner4life said in Ashes 2025/6:

About fucking time!! feels like the build up to this has taken an eternity.

England absolutely have to win this first test to be any chance. They just cannot afford to get behind on the scoreboard, especially with Cummins and Hazlewood out, and two Australian debutants.

Predictions? I reckon obvious is best, Smith most runs, Boland most wickets. I thought the series would be 3-1 Australia, but barring rain, i actually can't see a draw happening just given both teams' pace of play.

I hope it lives up to hype. I'm going to day 2 and 3 of the Boxing Day test so 1-all going in to that would be tasty.

I'm keen to see Brook ( hopefully ) dominate. To me the most exciting batsman I've seen in donkeys years. Just fearless in his approach.

......and yes the Boxing Day test is awesome. Have already staked out a spot on the couch in the bay with the potential future father in law to eat snacks, drink beer, talk occasionally and watch cricket.

Hopefully its sunny weather so all the kids and other family members are by the pool and don't disturb us.

As with all touring batsmen, he needs to get used to the bounce. if he can get on top of that he should be alright.

Poms have a little bit of history against them, they have only won once at Perth and that was back in 1978.
They have yet to play at the new ground where OZ have only lost once.

@mariner4life said in Ashes 2025/6:

As with all touring batsmen, he needs to get used to the bounce. if he can get on top of that he should be alright.

He strikes me as a guy who loves a challenge, fights fire with fire and absolutely tailormade for Bazball ( theres that awful term again )

As you said earlier, both teams approaches should ensure there aren't any draws barring rain but England definitely come across as the team more likely to collapse than Australia.

this test in intriguing though isn't it? The Aussies are without their safety blanket of those three amazing quicks. They are sporting a very long tail. A debut batsman opening, a guy recalled to the lineup at 3, who was dropped after a drought. They have dropped one of their best performing players of recent times. Nathan Lyon is in ropey form too, and has battled on this surface.

And yet they remain favourites.

England have to enter the game with a degree of confidence.

@mariner4life said in Ashes 2025/6:

this test in intriguing though isn't it? The Aussies are without their safety blanket of those three amazing quicks. They are sporting a very long tail. A debut batsman opening, a guy recalled to the lineup at 3, who was dropped after a drought. They have dropped one of their best performing players of recent times. Nathan Lyon is in ropey form too, and has battled on this surface.

And yet they remain favourites.

England have to enter the game with a degree of confidence.

Graeme Swann on cricinfo said that Ben Stokes was the most talented all rounder since Kallis.

Not sure if that's accurate given Kallis is an all time generational great but Stokes is certainly capable of big plays in big matches like Flintoff ( although neither can touch Beefy for ATG status )

He will be a factor in this series.

@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.

When you consider the size of those grounds, that's very impressive.

@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:

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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:

View embedded content

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.