Another Day 5 where everything is possible.
Will Australia be cruelly denied a win by the weather? /jk
My group chats are so annoyed that Dead Rubber Dave has showed up to pretty much guarantee he gets his undeserved victory lap at home. He's lucky the SCG doesn't hold that many people, as he might find out how indifferent a lot of Aussie cricket fans are about him and his 'legacy'. There's enough that like him to attend his ceremonial match in Sydney - but they wouldn't fill an MCG.
It could only end that way, couldn't it ?
The end to the other great series of modern times, only Stuart Broad could hit a 6 with his last ball and get a wicket with his last bowl in cricket to win a match.
It feels like the right result in the end - I was worried BazBall was going to fall apart there at 2-0 down but England fought back and it’s a real shame the rain in Manchester denied us a proper ‘winner takes all’ final game.
Thoroughly enjoyable.
When the Aussies were 200 odd for 3, I just thought that it didn't really matter if they won...if you chase down 300 plus to win, then fair play.
I'd far rather have a series like this, where every day (apart from Manchester day 5) had something going on, than a thousand tests of AthersBall.
One of my work colleagues did offer the opinion that the wrong bowler was retiring....sad as it may be to say, I would agree with that. He might have been unlucky, but I don't think Jimmy A has much left in the tank.
I think Jimmy is likely to do a bit of thinking between now and the India tour. That said he’s always been quite good on the sub continent, so maybe it’s his chance to say goodbye?
I think Jimmy is likely to do a bit of thinking between now and the India tour. That said he’s always been quite good on the sub continent, so maybe it’s his chance to say goodbye?
Fair shout, but I don't think England can be taking passengers down there for sentimental reasons. They already have two players (Wood and Woakes) to manage the fitness of, and another spinner or two to find.
Fair shout, but I don't think England can be taking passengers down there for sentimental reasons. They already have two players (Wood and Woakes) to manage the fitness of, and another spinner or two to find.
You forgot Ollie Robinson there too. I think we're not too bad for spinners - they just need time and experience. You'd think they'd get that in this set up. But yes, I am also quite concerned that Jimmy hasn't got it any more and there's no test cricket now until India next year for the England men's team. Time to see what he can do for Lancashire I guess.
I'm not totally convinced by Robinson - I think he got distracted by his mouthing off before the series started, which seemed to be at odds with his somewhat peripheral status on the team.
I'm also not sure which spin options you've seen, because the desperation of knocking on Moeen's door would suggest that you have a little more faith in them that the England management. I've not watched a lot of county cricket this season, to be fair.
One of my work colleagues did offer the opinion that the wrong bowler was retiring....sad as it may be to say, I would agree with that. He might have been unlucky, but I don't think Jimmy A has much left in the tank.
Broad was still a big threat right to the end, but Jimmy looked pretty toothless across all 4 tests.
I will admit to rolling my eyes pretty hard when the replacement ball that was allegedly 38 overs old had visible writing on it still. But you can't lose 4/11 in a big chase and expect success.
As a series, it was an ebb and flow of amazing moments and amazing f*ck ups. Woakes impressed me a lot this series. Good areas every spell.
I’ve only just realised that The Hundred starts today. Now there’s a tournament that is already feeling a little stale and dated.
I’ve only just realised that The Hundred starts today. Now there’s a tournament that is already feeling a little stale and dated.
Isn't that the reason for the compressed Ashes schedule?
Isn't that the reason for the compressed Ashes schedule?
It's the reason for compressed everything in the English domestic league. Opening games were at Trent Bridge today, it was barely half full for the men's game, probably less than a third for the women's.
The women's game was a bit one sided. The men's game was really entertaining to be fair.
The World Cup makes for an awful schedule before the start of our home Summer.
8xT20s and 19-21 x ODIs (If they make finals) with 5 of those T20s vs India in a stupid sugar rush after the WC and arriving home a week before the first test. We will be prepared like tourists for the home summer. A least there will be a lot of Sheffield Shield cricket happening to help find the next version of test cricketers prior to this point.
I can't see the Hundred lasting as it is, although I understand there are some contractual/sponsorship reasons why it has to run for at least another year.
The timing of it is awkward for the sort of overseas players who would bring the crowds in (and it doesn't pay enough as it is to make the mercenary ones choose it over the US one or the SL one), and the top tier home players need a rest after the Test series. All you end up with are county-standard players, the ones not quite good enough for the Test team, or the international players who roam the world and that you see in every short form competition.
I would say it's done a lot for the exposure of the women's game, but little for the men's game.
I would say it's done a lot for the exposure of the women's game, but little for the men's game.
So good then? How much coverage did the Women's Ashes get locally? All the matches were on FTA TV here as were all the previous summer. Some even on the main channel. It's given the game a good boost.
Quite a lot of coverage - Sky showed all of the games here included every day of the Test. I can't remember whether any were shown on non-Satellite TV, but I suspect there might have been some highlights. The games were mostly close, and the points system kept interest up.
In all honesty, I think there would be a lot of merit to getting rid of the men's version of the Hundred, but I'm not sure that the women's competition could generate the crowds - as Sorbicol said, at the moment, the women's games are held in the afternoon with the equivalent men's game as a 6 or 6.30 start to catch the after-work beer drinkers. I'm not sure many of them would pitch up for the ladies game only.
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