Ashes 2025/26: Australia vs England | 3rd Test | Adelaide | December 17-21 | Match Discussion

[gibsyhesperis]

I think Key did a good job in terms of picking up an England side that faltered during Joe Roots captaincy.

He does seem to have got a bit arrogant recently. Could sense a little bit of tension and needle at times when he was interacting with pundits and ex players.

Despite this disaster tour, I do think Bazball has been largely positive for England and for cricket. It has moved the game on to the extent that teams no longer fear batting last as much, 4th innings targets are being set for higher runs, and turned the conventional blockathons on flat tracks into high paced aggressive cricket. They just had to learn to reign it back a bit at times. Which unfortunately was beyond them.

That's fairly impressive to have pushed on the oldest format in such a way over a 3-4 year period.

England were indeed a mediocre but boring and soulless team pre-Bazball.
They are a mediocre and vaguely entertaining team with Bazball.

They are seventh in the WTC (for what it's worth).
More importantly they have not beaten a top side (i.e. India or Australia) either home or away during this period. This is damning --winning abroad is tough but you should win at home.

That is simply not good enough given the money and investment in the game here in England.
They cannot content themselves in beating second string nations.

 

[aboveandbeyond]

Very little to do with that. Aus has been a monster team at home as long as visiting team is not India. From 2017, Aus has played 31 tests at home( not including India) and lost only 1 game and won 26 with W/L 26. Flip it to Eng in home for context.

Eng simply does not have a quality to go toe to toe with Aus in Aus conditions. Aus is just fantastic team in Aus conditions.

South Africa won 3 consecutive series in Australia i think.

But I still stand by my point. ENGLISH AND AUSTRALIANS see the Ashes series like no other.

 

[Marshland]

South Africa won 3 consecutive series in Australia i think.

But I still stand by my point. ENGLISH AND AUSTRALIANS see the Ashes series like no other.

But let's be real, England are diluting these contests with their insipid performances. The brand is being stretched to a great extent, and there's only so much it can stand.

 

[Buffet]

South Africa won 3 consecutive series in Australia i think.

But I still stand by my point. ENGLISH AND AUSTRALIANS see the Ashes series like no other.

I was making a different point.

Aus seeing Ashes as important had very little to do with Eng doing so poorly in Aus. Main reason is Aus being so good and at same time Eng being poor in Aus conditions. Yes, SA won earlier when SA had gun team. Same with India in recent years and same with Eng winning in 2011. You got to have team for that and Eng simply does not have it and that's why we see 5 tests long Ashes in Aus being done and dusted within 10-11 days of cricket. There has been no fight and that's due to skill gap in Aus conditions.

 

[sweep_shot]

South Africa won 3 consecutive series in Australia i think.

But I still stand by my point. ENGLISH AND AUSTRALIANS see the Ashes series like no other.

2008, 2012, 2016. Yup.

3 in a row.

 

[Buffet]

I am not even asking for Eng to win series in Aus. Show some fight and win a test. At least, draw few tests when series is live.

10-11 days and 5 tests long Ashes series gets done and dusted like a clockwork in each series.

 

[Marshland]

I am not even asking for Eng to win series in Aus. Show some fight and win a test. At least, draw few tests when series is live.

10-11 days and 5 tests long Ashes series gets done and dusted like a clockwork in each series.

Too much to ask for mate.

And the worst part? You know that after the 2nd test they will collapse completely and the rest of the series is a given. Quite unlike Australia over there who fight till the end.

 

[Buffet]

Too much to ask for mate.

And the worst part? You know that after the 2nd test they will collapse completely and the rest of the series is a given. Quite unlike Australia over there who fight till the end.

I don't expect Eng to have Aus mentality, but Ashes in Aus repeats like a clockwork. Aus is very strong at home so I get that point, but Eng starts looking to be done with series after 10 days of cricket.

 

[aboveandbeyond]

But let's be real, England are diluting these contests with their insipid performances. The brand is being stretched to a great extent, and there's only so much it can stand.

In Australia I do agree. Some consolation for England in England Against Australia, Wombats have not won a test series in England for best part of 25 years

 

[aboveandbeyond]

2008, 2012, 2016. Yup.

3 in a row.

No team can match that. That is a awesome achievement.

 

[sweep_shot]

I think England have to stop the Bazball project after this series.

McCullum should be sacked as the coach. He himself was not a good Test batter. He was effectively a slogger. How is he the Test coach? LOL.

England need to return to traditional Test cricket with traditional players. Funky gimmicks like bazball are not the solutions.

 

[sweep_shot]

No team can match that. That is a awesome achievement.

Correct.

As a matter of fact, no team achieved that in Australia over the last 30 years.

 

[Ball Blazer]

agree. very one sided games

I am not even asking for Eng to win series in Aus. Show some fight and win a test. At least, draw few tests when series is live.

10-11 days and 5 tests long Ashes series gets done and dusted like a clockwork in each series.

 

[Ball Blazer]

I think England have to stop the Bazball project after this series.

McCullum should be sacked as the coach. He himself was not a good Test batter. He was effectively a slogger. How is he the Test coach? LOL.

England need to return to traditional Test cricket with traditional players. Funky gimmicks like bazball are not the solutions.

traditional test is now only surviving bcz of India and Australia.

 

[sweep_shot]

traditional test is now only surviving bcz of India and Australia.

Even India have become mid-tier in Test. India lost to South Africa and NZ. Got whitewashed actually.

Only 2 good Test teams right now - South Africa and Australia.

 

[Marshland]

In Australia I do agree. Some consolation for England in England Against Australia, Wombats have not won a test series in England for best part of 25 years

We have gone toe to toe with England in both 2019 and 2023. One was a narrow defeat, the other was a drawn series.

Much more than what they have done over here, when even drawing a single match is beyond them.

 

[aboveandbeyond]

We have gone toe to toe with England in both 2019 and 2023. One was a narrow defeat, the other was a drawn series.

Much more than what they have done over here, when even drawing a single match is beyond them.

Atleast our last series win in Australia is more recent than when Aussies last won in the UK. Dam! Reminds me of when I was in junior school!

 

[sweep_shot]

Atleast our last series win in Australia is more recent than when Aussies last won in the UK. Dam! Reminds me of when I was in junior school!

Correct.

Last time Australia won a Test series in England was back in 2001. Since then, they either lost or drew in England.

 

[Marshland]

Atleast our last series win in Australia is more recent than when Aussies last won in the UK. Dam! Reminds me of when I was in junior school!

Yeah, and all you needed to win in 2005 was breathmints for the ball, dodgy decisions by Billy Bowden, and McGrath stepping on the ball before a crucial test. A round of applause for your cricketing merits!

 

[aboveandbeyond]

Yeah, and all you needed to win in 2005 was breathmints for the ball, dodgy decisions by Billy Bowden, and McGrath stepping on the ball before a crucial test. A round of applause for your cricketing merits!

Hang on a minute. Pot calling the kettle black. Have you forgot "Sandpaper Gate"