Ashes II - 2013/14 - In Australia

I guess England fans feel like Indian fans in 2011-12.
 
At least you guys had Dravid playing extremely well in that series, there's literally no one coming out of this with any credit. Well Broad was decent but typically he's out.

This has to be the worst bowling attack England have put out in a few years now Broad's out. Bresnan's just not a wicket threat, nor for that matter is Anderson at the moment, Swann's just there for them to slog him, and Stokes, well he's just making the decision to pick him look all the more bizarre - poor with ball and bat. Really beggars belief he was somehow chose again. I'd be stunned if Australia are bowled out before declaring this innings, expecting some huge scores.
 
The Ashes being won in this very session. Prior's stumping miss.. Warner's just belting them right now.

BTW, anyone else like Michael Vaughan's commentary?
 
Warning signs were there for England in the last Ashes. They were bailed out by Anderson and Bell in couple of tests. Here Anderson is off form and they bowling has no venom.
 
Doesn't help with fielding like that. Fielding turned a probable loss into a definite loss last game, and although Australia's 150 lead was enough to win this game, its just going to add to a humuliating huge defeat with yet again more pathetic fielding.

Too many players out there feeling sorry for themselves. When they've lost 10 wickets for 165 runs there's really no excuse for such tame bowling. Although granted its difficult when Prior and Cook apparently have their minds on other matters and refuse to take the few chances we have. It's amazing given how good England used to be at fielding, show's how complacency can quickly and easily rot the team. Fielding is really one of those things there's absolutely no excuse to be so poor at.
 
It's essentially been the same team. Warner couldn't play because he punched Root and Clarke wasn't in form.

Siddle and Harris bowled the same way last time around, now theyve got Johnson who can blow the tail away.
 
Kamran Akmal would've been proud of this wicketkeeping performance.
 
This is as poor a wicket keeping performance as i've seen in a long, long time. At international level anyway. It's getting extremely hard to justify Prior's place in the team, awful batting, and the glove work has been even worse this match (and generally hasn't been very good recently anyway).

I'd be tempted to drop him Bairstow next game because this is as indicative of poor attitude as much as anything. Concentration clearly isn't the level it needs to be. Although as I said before, the entire side fielding wise has been like that. Feel extremely sorry for Swann who should have had Warner twice now.
 
Yea. Prior's had a shocker today.

Well played, Warner.
 
Warner's average
1st inngs: 40.00 2nd inngs: 50.11*

That's a pretty good record.
 
Seems the umpires have stopped calling no balls. A few journalists at the ground tweeting saying the non-wicket no balls aren't being called.

Pretty bad for the bookies.
 
Fair fecks to Stokes.

Probably the only player coming back from this tour with any credit.
 
NinjaFletch said:
Fair fecks to Stokes.

Probably the only player coming back from this tour with any credit.
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Really? Good wicket then but he's been our most expensive bowler this innings, not really been any more of a wicket threat than anyone else generally, and his batting has been poor, although not that much worse than the other batsman. He's got potential in that 3rd seamers role i'd say but there's no way he should be making the team as a number six.
 
This has been a really good day for Australia, basically secured the ashes today. I can't see England chasing down this score and with two days left in the match it is plenty of time to bowl them out.
 
JulesWinnfield said:
Really? Good wicket then but he's been our most expensive bowler this innings, not really been any more of a wicket threat than anyone else generally, and his batting has been poor, although not that much worse than the other batsman. He's got potential in that 3rd seamers role i'd say but there's no way he should be making the team as a number six.
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I think he's done as well as could be expected of him and shown why he's considered so talented.

I agree though, he's not really ready yet. I don't think he's good enough at 6 as a batsman or as a third seamer, but he's shown promise. Would be nice to see him coming in not having to save the innings and being able to bat without pressure before we give Ballance a go.

Perhaps 'only' is a bit harsh on a few others as well, Joe Root has been as good as anyone, imo, and has been unlucky not to score more runs and Carberry has acquitted himself pretty well, too.
 
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Thing is, England were poor in the summer as well. Largely, Australia being a bit crap and Ian Bell helped them win the series. Even so, 3-0 did flatter them.

What we are seeing now is Australia settling on their best 11, getting their act together and playing with a much greater desire, whereas England have remained in a similar zombie like state. I really think some of those guys thought they could just turn up and Australia would lie down for them again, and that not having been the case they've struggled to change their mindset. I still think on paper England is a better side (atleast batting wise), however Australia are clearly playing the better and more aggressive cricket and simply want to win much more.
 
Watson again gets a good score....when its completely irrelevant. I think the Aussies would have been better off with him failing, still the big weakness in their line up.

EDIT: :lol: The shambolic fielding continues, quick thinking from Bresnan at least for the run out, though I suspect he'll be annoyed not to have a wicket to his name there. It does show the terrible attitude of the team though, Bell drops the catch and just turns his back, good thing Bresnan was there to react.
 
Aussies have shown so much more fight and desire to win this series than England. Should wrap things up by tomorrow lunch.
 
Wow!! Beautiful delivery. Forget tomorrow lunch, this might end today.
 
Aussies piling on some quick runs before declaring. Now just to see if they can bowl England out. Hope we can get some quick wickets, and the game isn't drawn out with England just trying to survive the whole time.
 
This is brilliant cricket by the Aussies. Going for the kill, and it's a fascinating watch. As much as Prior's form nosedived, Mitchell Johnson looks a proper player. He had a shocker for a while. I'm delighted for Clarke, he's a good cricketer and he led his side well when they were in the dumps.
 
Shocking review.

Great catch, 3 down.
 
You can say the warning signs were there in England and I'll grant you they probably were but that doesn't explain or excuse this batting, which has been poor from everyone. The mental battle was lost in the first test and England just haven't regained composure since, they let Australia get under their skin and they've stayed there. All this talk about the sledging going too far is proof of that, there's no way we'd be complaining about it if we were winning.
 
That'sHernandez said:
You can say the warning signs were there in England and I'll grant you they probably were but that doesn't explain or excuse this batting, which has been poor from everyone. The mental battle was lost in the first test and England just haven't regained composure since, they let Australia get under their skin and they've stayed there. All this talk about the sledging going too far is proof of that, there's no way we'd be complaining about it if we were winning.
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Yup the players just want to get out of there and go home asap. Terribly prepared mentally.
 
As an Indian fan, chasing 500 at 200/4 with a good partnership going is about the time I start thinking "hang on, we've got a chance here.."
 
Considering the way Australia has gone through England's tail so far, even at 450/4 I still wouldn't be too confident of a win.

Frankly watching how these two have put on 85, its all the more galling how we collapsed from 180/4 to 250 all out in the first innings. Even worse was how it got to that stage in the first place having been 85/0, and having had Australia 130 odd for 5 on the first day too. Every single key moment this series, but this match in particularly, we've failed beyond miserably at the real crunch times.

Fair play to Stokes though, I questioned his batting big time yet he's done well here. Good half century, earned his place in the team next time round.
 
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