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

[AKane]

10 hours ago, Lord said:

 

They lost with them too 

lost with them yes - but that was not this Aus team.

 

oh yes as a side note  ..... they won with them too.

 

Edited January 8 by AKane

[Lord]

2 hours ago, Gollum said:

When in India?

 

security threat. Good it doesn't happen in India

[The Hound]

These BBC ratings are funny. Jacks didn't got a score after playing 4 tests and the guy who didn't played any got a 0/10 lol. 

Maybe khwaja was right about racism 

 

 

 

[The Hound]

Enjoy watching Root & Smith for the time left. We might not see test batsmen of their caliber for a long time with shorter formats being preferred by upcoming players and their inability to build an innings. 

[vvvslaxman]

Listen to the part where Nas putting baz in the spot. You think Gauti would react the same way.

 

 

[vvvslaxman]

Brutal interview by Nas

[Gollum]

8 hours ago, vvvslaxman said:

Listen to the part where Nas putting baz in the spot. You think Gauti would react the same way.

 

 

I think Nasser and Athers are very fair. They are blunt, honest, grill everyone including their own. And also give due credit to other players and teams, no jingoism. 

[vvvslaxman]

On 1/7/2026 at 9:32 PM, Gollum said:

So frustrating. Other teams make 4th innings chases look so easy. There is no planning/method when we chase, and we panic for no reason against the run of play. 

.I ran into this video about gabba test. They made me relive this chase. From that point to this.

 

 

[Gollum]

4 minutes ago, vvvslaxman said:

.I ran into this video about gabba test. They made me relive this chase. From that point to this.

 

 

Geoff Lemon is one of my favorite cricket writers. 

[Lone Wolf]

14 hours ago, Gollum said:

When in India?

I'd say When in Asia?? Reckon never.  This privilege is reserved only for Anglo Saxon countries 

Edited January 9 by Lone Wolf

[Gollum]

6 Aus-Eng tests in 2027. 

 

Ashes in England in the summer, and the centenary test (D/N) in MCG in March. 

 

Aus has a crazy schedule from October this year. 

 

3 tests in RSA

4 tests vs NZ (H)

5 tests in India, BGT

2 tests vs BD (H)

Centenary test vs Eng

WTC Final

5 tests away Ashes

 

21 tests in a span of 10 odd months, with IPL in between.

 

Their main guys will be cooked/injured by the time 27 ODI WC approaches. 

[Gollum]

2 minutes ago, Lone Wolf said:

I'd say When in Asia?? Reckon never.  This privilege is reserved only for Anglo Saxon countries 

UAE can pull it off I think. Maybe Sri Lanka. People in those countries have much better civic sense. 

 

In Ind/Pak/BD we need trenches/fences/nets in between players and crowds. 

[Gollum]

Hardly any test cricket for next 5 months. Just Pak's tour of BD in March, 2 tests, which ghonchu will even bother with that? 

 

First interesting watch will be NZ tour of Eng, 3 tests in June. 

[Lone Wolf]

8 minutes ago, Gollum said:

UAE can pull it off I think. Maybe Sri Lanka. People in those countries have much better civic sense. 

 

In Ind/Pak/BD we need trenches/fences/nets in between players and crowds. 

Sri Lankan dehat also exists... It may be lesser in concentration but it Exists.

They are without a doubt most civilized bunch in Subcontinent (bar is too low) but barring Anglos in extremely high per capita income countries it is tough to see.

 

Sharjah literally had Afghans and Pooks come to blows in UAE.  Nutjobs are in in plenty there too.

[Gollum]

4 minutes ago, Lone Wolf said:

Sri Lankan dehat also exists... It may be lesser in concentration but it Exists.

They are without a doubt most civilized bunch in Subcontinent (bar is too low) but barring Anglos in extremely high per capita income countries it is tough to see.

 

Sharjah literally had Afghans and Pooks come to blows in UAE.  Nutjobs are in in plenty there too.

True that. But if they really want to, UAE authorities can make even rowdy Afghans behave. They understand how to straighten subcontinental folks. Just that cricket isn't important enough PR for them. 

[Manucrick]

16 hours ago, Gollum said:

When in India?

We Subcontinent people have zero civic sense. Don't think it's going to improve 

[putrevus]

Is there bigger snake oil salesman than Brendon Mccullum, I just heard his interview with Nas, this guy has been selling bunch of bullcrap to land so many jobs.

 

Who created this narrative that this England team was successful, they have never beaten India or Australi both home and away.

Edited January 9 by putrevus

[Gollum]

18 hours ago, putrevus said:

Is there bigger snake oil salesman than Brendon Mccullum, I just heard his interview with Nas, this guy has been selling bunch of bullcrap to land so many jobs.

 

Who created this narrative that this England team was successful, they have never beaten India or Australi both home and away.

Probably Gambhir.

 

McCullum inherited a weakass team (with 1 win in previous 17 tests) and made them somewhat competitive. Winning a test in Ind/Aus and keeping some of the other tests close, a series win in NZ, is way beyond what the struggling England of 2019-21 could manage. 

 

GG inherited the world's number 1 team, a team which was lock for WTC F spot, and look what a mess he made of it !!!!! 0-5 against SENA at home is worse than what we faced in dark 80s and 90s. That too for a team which was unstoppable at home for the previous 12 years, dominating tests in a manner which even GOAT WI/Aus could never manage at their pomp at home. 

 

Also McCullum backs his players, has great relationship with them, sometimes too much as Nasser and Athers allude to. GG can't let his bias slide when it comes to Ro-Ko, Iyer, Jaiswal, Sanju, Axar etc....very strong dislikes. And why is he always so grumpy? He seemed so pissed when Rohit, Kohli were doing well and winning their team matches in recent ODIs. If that is the sort of body language we see on TV when we are doing well, imagine the hell players go through with him in dressing room, training nets where there are no cameras around. Had 36 all out happened with GG at the helm, next 3 tests would have seen even more humiliating defeats....then this chooza had the nerve to come on national TV and mock Shastri's coaching credentials. 

 

I feel for kids like Jaiswal and Arshdeep, who have to navigate their way amidst such hostility and passive-aggression from head coach...most of our players looked so depressed and meek in the RSA series, can't be good for mental space. Kohli, Pujara, Ashwin, Jadeja etc. were lucky to have started their career in a calm, laid-back environment. For all their faults, I am sure Dhoni and Fletcher had a big part in grooming the rookies back then and giving them a chill environment to express themselves. 

Edited January 10 by Gollum

[putrevus]

16 hours ago, Gollum said:

Probably Gambhir.

 

McCullum inherited a weakass team (with 1 win in previous 17 tests) and made them somewhat competitive. Winning a test in Ind/Aus and keeping some of the other tests close, a series win in NZ, is way beyond what the struggling England of 2019-21 could manage. 

 

GG inherited the world's number 1 team, a team which was lock for WTC F spot, and look what a mess he made of it !!!!! 0-5 against SENA at home is worse than what we faced in dark 80s and 90s. That too for a team which was unstoppable at home for the previous 12 years, dominating tests in a manner which even GOAT WI/Aus could never manage at their pomp at home. 

 

Also McCullum backs his players, has great relationship with them, sometimes too much as Nasser and Athers allude to. GG can't let his bias slide when it comes to Ro-Ko, Iyer, Jaiswal, Sanju, Axar etc....very strong dislikes. And why is he always so grumpy? He seemed so pissed when Rohit, Kohli were doing well and winning their team matches in recent ODIs. If that is the sort of body language we see on TV when we are doing well, imagine the hell players go through with him in dressing room, training nets where there are no cameras around. Had 36 all out happened with GG at the helm, next 3 tests would have seen even more humiliating defeats....then this chooza had the nerve to come on national TV and mock Shastri's coaching credentials. 

 

I feel for kids like Jaiswal and Arshdeep, who have to navigate their way amidst such hostility and passive-aggression from head coach...most of our players looked so depressed and meek in the RSA series, can't be good for mental space. Kohli, Pujara, Ashwin, Jadeja etc. were lucky to have started their career in a calm, laid-back environment. For all their faults, I am sure Dhoni and Fletcher had a big part in grooming the rookies back then and giving them a chill environment to express themselves. 

I forgot Gambhir, you are so correct . This guy used jingoistic nonsense on TV to land job as a coach.

[helperononline]

On 1/8/2026 at 9:51 AM, Gollum said:

@helperononline got all 3 correct. Aus win comfortably, Head top scorer, Starc top wicket taker. Cricket acumen 

Tan q