2017/8 Cricket, Ashes, etc.

[JohnK]

Anyone recall Geoff Boycott describing Steve Smith as an above average club cricketer in his first Ashes series?

From memory Steven Smith was a leg spinner who could bat a bit. He's certainly worked on his game.

Lyon v Moeen Ali is not a difference? Starc, Hazelwood, coughmins v Anderson, Broad, Overton, Woakes is not a difference?

You can have any contest you desire but take Steve Smiths 239 out of this game Australia struggles to reach 400. Game on or not?

 

[TheRealTMA]

Our tactic all summer has been the fast short ball which the Poms do not appear to handle too well.

The scoreline suggests one way traffic but each test has gone 5 days. The Poms were favourites to win previous test on the last day.

Take Smith out and this is an even series. Yes Smith is the only difference.

No, we have people who can actually bowl. The Poms don't.

 

[RooFlyer]

Anyone recall Geoff Boycott describing Steve Smith as an above average club cricketer in his first Ashes series?

Destined for greatness, then

 

[RooFlyer]

Take Smith out and this is an even series. Yes Smith is the only difference.

You can have any contest you desire but take Steve Smiths 239 out of this game Australia struggles to reach 400. Game on or not?

Talking about series or the last match?

 

[Pushka]

From memory Steven Smith was a leg spinner who could bat a bit. He's certainly worked on his game.


You can have any contest you desire but take Steve Smiths 239 out of this game Australia struggles to reach 400. Game on or not?

Agree with the BOLD bit. That is indeed why he was selected, for his bowling.

 

[JohnK]

Talking about series or the last match?

Both. Obviously I have turned off my one-eyed vision goggles.

This Pommy team is awful. Right? Our current team is great. Right? Why has every game gone to day 5? Poms have batted for more than a day in the first innings in at least 2 tests. Great teams crush weak teams in under 3 days or under 4 days.

Take Steve Smith out of this side and this is an even series. The Poms have handled our great bowlers except for periods where they have taken 2 wickets in 4 balls on how many occassions? Sure the Poms can't take 20 wickets but this series could have easily been 1-0 to the Poms. No?

This series is much closer than most people make it out to be? No?

 

[RooFlyer]

Sure the Poms can't take 20 wickets but this series could have easily been 1-0 to the Poms. No?

No.

Suggest you turn your one eyed vision goggles back on - that might even things up a bit.

Here's the BBC take.

Ashes: The key reasons why Australia beat England (in reverse order)
England's squad
Avenue antics
The big three
Stokesless
Let down by the main men
No pace, no spin


Steve Smith
Missed opportunities
Australia are just better

 

[QF WP]

Would be interesting to find the stat for how long it is since a team lost all 3 tosses yet still won the first 3 tests of an Ashes series

A great question - I have posed it to a cricketing statistician whom hopefully will know the answer

 

[JohnK]

No, we have people who can actually bowl. The Poms don't.

Yes we know that already. Poms are missing Stokes and Finn who went home early.

 

[TheRealTMA]

Yes we know that already. Poms are missing Stokes and Finn who went home early.

Well we are never sure what it is you know JohnK without the one eyed vision goggles.

But, nor do they have many who can bat or field or captain, and it seems nothing much coming up according to Bob Willis and Michael Vaughan.

 

[QF WP]

A great question - I have posed it to a cricketing statistician whom hopefully will know the answer

ANSWER: The only time this has happened is in 2002/03 Ashes in AUS when ENG won the toss in first three Tests (Gabba, Adelaide and WACA)—AUS won the matches.

 

[kpc]

I'm a great believer that we should get rid of the toss...the visiting team can decide whether they want to bat or bowl first!....removes any allegations of pitch doctoring and evens up the playing field. Certainly would help us when we play in India

 

[JohnK]

Well we are never sure what it is you know JohnK without the one eyed vision goggles.

LOL. I know enough to get by. I follow test cricket around the world. Have been for a long time.

 

[kelvedon]

No, we have people who can actually bowl. The Poms don't.

Jimmy Anderson can bowl

 

[turtlemichael]

...The Poms have handled our great bowlers except for periods where they have taken 2 wickets in 4 balls on how many occassions? ...

That appears to be saying they have handled our bowlers except when they haven't.

Having been to the three matches so far I think that the Australians have been far superior in captaincy - primarily field setting. There have been some amazingly transparent fielding traps set which the Australians have usually been able to work around. 6-3 leg side fields to medium pacers bowling on middle and off? Gimme a break.

The batting has not been superior except for Smith and they have out bowled England by a huge margin.

 

[JohnK]

That appears to be saying they have handled our bowlers except when they haven't.

Not really. For an average team the Poms have done ok. I think they have handled our bowlers in patches. Malan and Bairstow this test and there are a few more instances in the series. They've also had some very wrong reviews go against them at crucial times. I think they've done better than most people expected.

But in saying that your points are valid. We've out bowled and out captained the Poms. I'm not convinced about our batting. 2 out of 3 of our saviours have a very volatile test career which could be over any minute. The rest are very fickle. What's happened to Handscomb? Has gone from greatness to never to be selected in a year.

This series is over. I think the real test will come in South Africa who I'm not sure are at full strength if Steyne and de Villiers are not playing.

 

[TheRealTMA]

Just can’t wait until SA for more of your supportive and positive comments on the Australian Cricket Team, JohnK.

 

[turtlemichael]

Just can’t wait until SA for more of your supportive and positive comments on the Australian Cricket Team, JohnK.

I'm there for the four Tests so I'll be able to correct any misappreciations!

 

[turtlemichael]

This series is over. I think the real test will come in South Africa who I'm not sure are at full strength if Steyne and de Villiers are not playing.

Both Steyn and de Villiers have said they will be available for the series against Australia - Steyn coming off a serious injury and de Villiers off an attitude/earn some money problem. The South Africans have some problems but they tend to bounce back. They have Kagiso Rabada who at 22 has taken over 100 test wickets at an average of 22 and has the potential to be in the top echelon of fast bowlers of all time. He regularly bowls over 150kph and is faster than any Australian at the moment. We shall see. I reckon Steyn is the best fast bowler I have seen and I hope he plays but both he and de Villiers are at the tail end of their careers in Test cricket, much like some of the English.

 

[Scarlett]

I'm there for the four Tests so I'll be able to correct any misappreciations!

You're:
A. Comfortably retired
B. Working for CA
C. Working as a cricket correspondent for media.

Whichever, you're very lucky... and I'm jealous!