Official - Road to Ashes 2023

[FBU]

We are going to get the useless Dukes ball we had last year, that had to be changed at least 7 times an innings, which enabled England to play baz-ball cricket. Australian bowlers will get a surprise it's not the usual Dukes.

 

[Ashes81]

We are going to get the useless Dukes ball we had last year, that had to be changed at least 7 times an innings, which enabled England to play baz-ball cricket. Australian bowlers will get a surprise it's not the usual Dukes.

Why would changing ball help England to play Bazball?

The Dukes balls last year were very poor, they went out of shape far too easily.

However, I don't see how that favours England

 

[Burgey]

After reading last 3 pages , I have come to conclusion that 3 key players in this Ashes are : Head, Crawley and Woakes

The old "you're only as good as your three weakest players" approach.

 

[Burgey]

Michael Neser's ascendency came during this period.

Dermo Sabba Abbott is also a Duke Ball God.

 

[GoodAreasShane]

However, I don't see how that favours England

Far easier to throw the bat around to a ball that isn't moving off the straight. Thought that was pretty obvious myself

 

[Son Of Coco]

To be fair, Zak Crawley can do that too, it's just he hasn't made it to 20 balls for flippin' ages!

I'm not using the Sussex Experience as a guarantee he's going to fail, but at the same time, what happened in Hobart is no guarantee to success either.

I know he'd played well elsewhere (and I think the double ton in the 50 over game was perhaps the turning point for him in terms of confidence), but Hobart was a dead rubber Test against a team frankly ready to go home (even more so than usual with all the Covid protocols). He obviously got a ton at the Gabba, but even then he came to the wicket with Aus already 40 runs ahead and only 3 down.

Will he score runs if he comes in at say 30-3 at Edgbaston? What happened at Hobart has zero bearing at this point.

England regularly turn up in Australia ready to go home before the 1st test has started.

 

[GIMH]

England regularly turn up in Australia ready to go home before the 1st test has started.

Australia regularly leave England without a series win after the 5th Test has finished

 

[GoodAreasShane]

Australia regularly leave England without a series win after the 5th Test has finished

Once in 45 years counts as regularly?

News to me

 

[GIMH]

Once in 45 years counts as regularly?

News to me

2019, 2015, 2013, 2009, 2005, 1981

6 if you want to go back 45 years like..,.

 

[Burgey]

He obviously got a ton at the Gabba, but even then he came to the wicket with Aus already 40 runs ahead and only 3 down.

This may well be the case in the upcoming Ashes tbf

 

[Son Of Coco]

Australia regularly leave England without a series win after the 5th Test has finished

Sure, but at least we compete. We were generous enough to let you draw with us last time.

England spend far too much time designing their menu and far too little time designing their techniques.

 

[Brook's side]

2019, 2015, 2013, 2009, 2005, 1981

6 if you want to go back 45 years like..,.

85

 

[GoodAreasShane]

2019, 2015, 2013, 2009, 2005, 1981

6 if you want to go back 45 years like..,.

Misread the post as saying match wins as opposed to series wins

Australia only failed to win a game once in that time (2013), England have failed to win an Ashes Test six times in that time period (1989, 1990-91, 2006-07, 2013-14, 2017-18, 2021-22)

 

[Brook's side]

Misread the post as saying match wins as opposed to series wins

Australia only failed to win a game once in that time (2013), England have failed to win an Ashes Test six times in that time period (1989, 1990-91, 2006-07, 2013-14, 2017-18, 2021-22)

 

[Brook's side]

Sure, but at least we compete. We were generous enough to let you draw with us last time.

England spend far too much time designing their menu and far too little time designing their techniques.

You have been blessed with some incredible talent during the last 35 years and that just is what it is, but aside from that I'd say mental approach has been the biggest difference between the sides during that period?

We've certainly had players with good technique (at least at the start of a series) who have flopped, whereas your guys very rarely have.

 

[Ashes81]

Far easier to throw the bat around to a ball that isn't moving off the straight. Thought that was pretty obvious myself

We were bowling with the same balls which by your logic would mean India, S.Africa and NZ should have piled up the runs.

And of course if the ball didn't move as much, how would our seamers, who rely entirely on the moving ball to take wickets because they have no abilty, dismiss the opposition.

Thought that was pretty obvious myself.

 

[GoodAreasShane]

We were bowling with the same balls which by your logic would mean India, S.Africa and NZ should have piled up the runs.

And of course if the ball didn't move as much, how would our seamers, who rely entirely on the moving ball to take wickets because they have no abilty, dismiss the opposition.

Thought that was pretty obvious myself.

It wasn't just the Tests where run rates were super high, county cricket had one of its most batting friendly seasons in many years too.

Clearly the state of that years batch of Duke balls contributed to that

 

[Ashes81]

If the Aussies don't beat us this summer, by the time they tour again, it will be 26 years since they won a series in England. 26 ****ing years.

To be honest I think there's a serious case for making the 2026 Ashes a 3 test series and give Pakistan the 5 test series.

 

[Ashes81]

It wasn't just the Tests where run rates were super high, county cricket had one of its most batting friendly seasons in many years too.

Clearly the state of that years batch of Duke balls contributed to that

The Dukes balls last year were very poor, disgracefully so, but it was the same for both sides.

If anything you could argue it favoured the touring teams as their was less movement off the seam for them to deal with.

 

[Brook's side]

If the Aussies don't beat us this summer, by the time they tour again, it will be 26 years since they won a series in England. 26 ****ing years.

To be honest I think there's a serious case for making the 2026 Ashes a 3 test series and give Pakistan the 5 test series.

Or New Zealand? They make a decent game of it sometimes.