Official - Road to Ashes 2023

[TheJediBrah]

Woakes is a cheat

He's a pom isn't he

 

[FBU]

Although I said on here a few weeks ago that I don't think he'll play another test and rightly so, looking at the lower order, I am tempted to stick Woakes in in place of Broad.

Btw, everyone was up in arms recently at the mere suggestion of dropping Foakes. Am I right in thinking that everyone is now dropping Foakes?

Last Ashes in 2019

Archer 4 Tests 22 wickets at 22.27
Broad 5 Tests 23 wickets at 26.65
Woakes 4 Tests 10 wickets at 33.10
Curran 1 Test 3 wickets at 22.67

If Stokes is unable to bowl it will be either Woakes or Curran as the 4th Bowler
Woakes was dropped for Overton due to loss of form, then next Test Overton was injured replaced by Curran and the final Test Stokes couldn't bowl and Woakes was brought back.

The two best bowlers against Australia are Archer and Broad.

Wouldn't drop Foakes, best wicketkeeper and builder of partnerships. Crawley drops most catches which is even worse than his batting. Labuschagne has been dropped off 38% of the chances that he has offered, more than anyone who has played over 30 Tests.

 

[Burgey]

Woakes is a cheat code in english conditions. A bowling attack of robinson-anderson-broad with the dukes is also lethal but woakes batting is SO valuable and his bowling is as good as those 3 in english conditions. Good problem to have, england's fast bowling depth in general is really solid.

Only took 10 poles in 4 tests in 2019 tbf, but should certainly be in the discussion given his overall home record.

 

[Burgey]

Good word, pizzling. In fact I can only remember anyone using it once before. And it was you, Burgey, just as England were about to begin their second innings* at the Gabba in 2010.





*517/1 declared

Lol good times. I hopped on a plane to the UK as England began their second dig and was disagreeably surprised at the score when I landed.

 

[social]

I really don’t understand the disrespect that Foakes receives as it’s not his fault that the top order blows chunks

He’s a world class keeper and his batting record is perfectly acceptable

 

[Son Of Coco]

Seems like a fairly useless tool.

This also accurately describes some of the available selections.

 

[Son Of Coco]

Bairstow is ready, He's been smashing 95mph balls without pads on. Sent the footage to an unnamed aussie fast bowler who replied "****

To be fair, a lot of people call Bairstow that.

 

[Son Of Coco]

Good word, pizzling. In fact I can only remember anyone using it once before. And it was you, Burgey, just as England were about to begin their second innings* at the Gabba in 2010.





*517/1 declared

What a series that was...one where many Australian fans could apparently work out that bowling short **** wasn't a viable tactic. Nobody involved with the Australian team could see this however.

 

[social]

What a series that was...one where many Australian fans could apparently work out that bowling short **** wasn't a viable tactic. Nobody involved with the Australian team could see this however.

Many Australian fans also knew that Doherty was an average club bowler but our selectors didn’t

 

[Son Of Coco]

The Official English Team For The 1st Test

 

[Starfighter]

Speaking of tactics, I wonder how many runs Australia will concede to the third man boundary before it is realised that not having a fielder there because 'it's negative' is stupid. I don't recall if they ever learned the lesson in 2013.

 

[Son Of Coco]

Speaking of tactics, I wonder how many runs Australia will concede to the third man boundary before it is realised that not having a fielder there because 'it's negative' is stupid. I don't recall if they ever learned the lesson in 2013.

If England shorten the boundaries, 3rd slip will be in that position anyway.

 

[Burgey]

Speaking of tactics, I wonder how many runs Australia will concede to the third man boundary before it is realised that not having a fielder there because 'it's negative' is stupid. I don't recall if they ever learned the lesson in 2013.

I think they had one for decent portions of the 2019 series but I might be mistaken.

I'd definitely employ a fly slip though. If they're going to bat like D grade park sloggers then the D grade park field settings should come into play as well, and look for the top edged attempted hoick to mid wicket going over slips.

 

[Molehill]

@Molehill

What did I do now?

 

[Molehill]

Speaking of tactics, I wonder how many runs Australia will concede to the third man boundary before it is realised that not having a fielder there because 'it's negative' is stupid. I don't recall if they ever learned the lesson in 2013.

During the rain break in the IPL yesterday, they showed an Ian Bell ton from 2013.....and yes, a lot of runs went through 3rd Man!!

 

[Shady Slim]

Just been thinking, could the smaller boundary things be in response to the follow on loss to NZ aswell? If the boundaries are smaller then the fielders are probably gonna be covering less distance over the same time period since there's not as many 2's/3's available, right? If England are gonna be batting 50/60 overs most innings they probably wanna minimize the time there bowlers spend on the field when the opposition is batting.

nah man you’re thinking too much it’s just they’re cowards tbqh

 

[social]

During the rain break in the IPL yesterday, they showed an Ian Bell ton from 2013.....and yes, a lot of runs went through 3rd Man!!

Australia looked down on Vaughan’s 2005 tactics of cutting off boundaries for quite some time but reality is that it worked

 

[Starfighter]

During the rain break in the IPL yesterday, they showed an Ian Bell ton from 2013.....and yes, a lot of runs went through 3rd Man!!

I know, I remember it like it was yesterday how he scored boundary after boundary down there.

Australia looked down on Vaughan’s 2005 tactics of cutting off boundaries for quite some time but reality is that it worked

I hate the idea that gets promulgated in this country that not having four slips and field full of gaps is 'negative'. You have to adapt to the circumstances, and BazBall has a clear case for a third man.

 

[Molehill]

I know, I remember it like it was yesterday how he scored boundary after boundary down there.
I hate the idea that gets promulgated in this country that not having four slips and field full of gaps is 'negative'. You have to adapt to the circumstances, and BazBall has a clear case for a third man.

I think if Australia can work out the right field, it will frustrate some English batsmen not being able to score boundaries. I might leave Third Man free if you've got 3 or 4 slips in, but I'd want either a deep point or cover to frustrate a batsman only getting a single for a decent cover drive.

I'd keep 2 men back leg side the whole time too. They will go after short stuff and normally try and hit 6's.

 

[Blenkinsop]

Australia looked down on Vaughan’s 2005 tactics of cutting off boundaries for quite some time but reality is that it worked

Maybe they simply had a proper appreciation of Ian Bell's late cut as one of the most glorious sights in cricket and didn't want to miss out on seeing it.