The Ashes | 2025-26 | 5 tests | Nov 21 to Jan 08 | Discussion Thread

[Gollum]

Stokes has a groin injury and won't bat at his usual position as per Vaughan. 

[MK55]

No wonder they have the first 2 matches at Perth n Gabba followed by Melbourne. By the time the visiting teams acclimatize, series is almost decided for most.

[cowboysfan]

Pommies so lucky,Lyon would have killed them by now.

[MK55]

England murdering the Australian trundlers

[kosingh]

Aussies just seem better at bowling reviews than other teams 

[Gollum]

Pitch is good only, just that some of these Aussie bowlers are dire and Starc's tank is empty, 35 yo playing his 5th consecutive test this series and without much support. 

 

Bad enough that Cummins, Hazlewood are missing. But absence of Lyon here is helping Poms a lot, enough help for spinners here for a guy of Lyon's class to deliver the KO blow. 

[rollingstoned]

* that was a very fortuitous lbw. These decisions have all gone Aussies way this series. 

[kosingh]

Will Jacks ... Why is he in the test team at all

[Gollum]

Webster was bowling medium pace in WTC F IIRC. Here spin. 

 

Like Colin Miller (who here remembers his hair dye choices?) and Symonds in the past.

[Gollum]

9 minutes ago, kosingh said:

Aussies just seem better at bowling reviews than other teams 

Mostly boils down to input of keeper, Carey in this case. KL also is good with reviews, Jurel is terrible in that regard. 

Edited January 7 by Gollum

[Gollum]

Very good pitch, look at the turn even for Webster. 

 

Sub 150 chase coming up. Head phir todega in logon ko. 

 

India in 4th innings would have flunked a 120 chase on this pitch as well, hamara toh alag hi chalta hai. 

[Lone Wolf]

14 minutes ago, Gollum said:

Very good pitch, look at the turn even for Webster. 

 

Sub 150 chase coming up. Head phir todega in logon ko. 

 

India in 4th innings would have flunked a 120 chase on this pitch as well, hamara toh alag hi chalta hai. 

Exactly we are the biggest mental midgets when it comes to 4th inns run chases.

[Gollum]

12 minutes ago, Lone Wolf said:

Exactly we are the biggest mental midgets when it comes to 4th inns run chases.

2013-22 Indian team was strong enough to decide the match in 3 innings at home. Never really had to chase much in 4th innings. Won't be the case now. We must improve, need mental conditioning and proper strategy to break down chases, maybe hire someone like Laxman just for that or request him to conduct sessions for our boys.

 

RSA conceded a 75 runs lead in WTC F (huge for that pitch), 280+ chase in Lord's against full strength Aus, look how clinically they finished the job, in such a high pressure match. 

 

I don't expect any miracles, but at least chase down these 120/140/190 totals. Woh bhi nahi ho raha ham se. Even that Cape Town (2024) chase of 80 was made possible because of our openers going berserk in 1st 5, wahaan 10/2 start milta toh we were losing that. Remember how we lost 6 wickets for no run in our 1st innings. 

Edited January 7 by Gollum

[Gollum]

18 minutes ago, Lone Wolf said:

Exactly we are the biggest mental midgets when it comes to 4th inns run chases.

Of late we are unable to defend in 4th innings as well. Eng made 350+ chases against us look like cake walks. Can't defend 350, can't chase 120, pathetic state of our test team. 

[Gollum]

Both teams have misread this pitch. Not one frontline spinner. 

[Lone Wolf]

Around 200ish could be a tight chase.

It's been a while since we have seen a good game in SCG. 

[Lone Wolf]

Stokes overacting starts...  He is so washed up with the bat man.

This is India esque collapse.

Edited January 7 by Lone Wolf

[Lord]

2 hours ago, Gollum said:

Stokes has a groin injury and won't bat at his usual position as per Vaughan. 

 

Damn they'll miss his 12 runs

[Serpico]

1 hour ago, Gollum said:

Webster was bowling medium pace in WTC F IIRC. Here spin. 

 

Like Colin Miller (who here remembers his hair dye choices?) and Symonds in the past.

And the other famous Garfield

[Gollum]

7 minutes ago, Lord said:

 

Damn they'll miss his 12 runs

You meant 1-2 runs right?