Would England have won the 2005 Ashes without ball tampering?

[TheJediBrah]

England would have won comfortably even without mintgate. Cry more.

this is such a bad take for so many reasons lol

 

[PlayerComparisons]

Good to see that we have a consensus. This was a very necessary thread.

 

[Coronis]

Interesting the different reactions among the English and Australians re: ball tampering.

Aussies get banned and English get MBE’s

 

[Ali TT]

Interesting the different reactions among the English and Australians re: ball tampering.

Aussies get banned and English get MBE’s

Don't moan at us because your whole ****ing nation went through some self-flagellating, performative bullshit about upholding the "spirit of cricket" when you suddenly realised that your cricketers were the dodgy ***** the rest of the world already knew they were.

 

[Aidan11]

 

[sledger]

Should move this thread to the testing forum imo.

 

[Coronis]

Don't moan at us because your whole ****ing nation went through some self-flagellating, performative bull**** about upholding the "spirit of cricket" when you suddenly realised that your cricketers were the dodgy ****s the rest of the world already knew they were.

Intense response. Didn’t mean to hit a sore spot.

 

[GIMH]

I wonder if when literally everyone on this forum is dead there will still be Australian folk crying about the 2005 Ashes

 

[Coronis]

I wonder if when literally everyone on this forum is dead there will still be Australian folk crying about the 2005 Ashes

I mean people still cry about Bodyline and most of the people who were alive then are dead.

 

[GIMH]

I mean people still cry about Bodyline and most of the people who were alive then are dead.

A good point. You lot really can't handle defeat

 

[sledger]

Says a lot about a nation when its peoples allow a piece of confectionery to upset them for the best part of a quarter of a century tbh.

 

[Coronis]

Says a lot about a nation when its peoples allow a piece of confectionery to upset them for the best part of a quarter of a century tbh.

Speaking of I’m really gonna miss Fantales til I die.

 

[Kirkut]

A better question should be - Would England have won the Ashes in 2005 if McGrath was not injured midway?

Sure, England did use reverse swing very well and mints may have played a role, but there was no banana swing which should make reverse swing the single greatest factor in that series. England won because they won more mini battles or moments than Australia did, not that Flintoff and Jones swung it huge and sent stumps flying all the time.

 

[Coronis]

A better question should be - Would England have won the Ashes in 2005 if McGrath was not injured midway?

Sure, England did use reverse swing very well and mints may have played a role, but there was no banana swing which should make reverse swing the single greatest factor in that series. England won because they won more mini battles or moments than Australia did, not that Flintoff and Jones swung it huge and sent stumps flying all the time.

I mean, that’s not even a question, the two matches McGrath missed were the two England won.

 

[Ashes81]

I mean, that’s not even a question, the two matches McGrath missed were the two England won.

You're right it's not even a question because injuries are part and parcel of the game.

We won the series 2-1 because over the 5 tests we were the better team.

 

[GIMH]

I mean, that’s not even a question, the two matches McGrath missed were the two England won.

Rain saved Oz in the third which he played, and the fifth was also a draw (England were the better side in that also but part of that was the weather and series situation forcing Australia’s hand)

 

[Coronis]

Rain saved Oz in the third which he played, and the fifth was also a draw (England were the better side in that also but part of that was the weather and series situation forcing Australia’s hand)

Obviously we’re in complete hypothetical mode here but no way was McGrath in 100% shape 1 week after rupturing two ligaments in his ankle. (or even for the rest of the series tbh) But it is what it is sadly. (for Australia)

We still got one of the most entertaining series of all time so I’m glad for that.

 

[Aidan11]

The last time I had this much fun was when I diarrhoea'd on a farm field and accidentally soaked a litter of kittens, resulting in their mother biting my leg in a non-playful way.

 

[Coronis]

The last time I had this much fun was when I diarrhoea'd on a farm field and accidentally soaked a litter of kittens, resulting in their mother biting my leg in a non-playful way.

“Accidentally”

 

[Aidan11]

“Accidentally”

Yeah I was aiming for the puppies.