(23-08-2019 17:57 )snookered Wrote:  England simply do not apply themselves properly to the demands of test match batting and in truth they haven't done so for some time.
The dismissals are largely self inflicted and have been for some time.
Too many batsmen getting themselves out through poor shot selection, poor technique, lack of foot movement, impatience or a combination of all of the above. Test batting represents a different type of batting challenge.
Airy fairy shots are costing England too often. Put the expansive shots away and play hard nosed, organised cricket.
Steve Smith should be the object lesson to England in terms of the way he goes about his batting. Yes he has considerable skill but he also knows what shots not to play in every situation. He just racks up loads of runs through an excellent batting mentality and inordinate patience and resolve. Englands batsmen are more often than not the architects of their own demise to an alarmingly regular degree. And all these batting collapses have been going on for a long while now. The 67 all out is hardly a surprise to me. The only surprise is that it took so long. After all Ireland bowled England out for 85 in the one off Lords Test. England have continually lost early wickets and found themselves 3 or 4 down relatively quickly too often in recent years.
Their batting discipline is extremely suspect at test level.
The Ashes are gone I'm afraid.
And to be honest I fear worse to come.

(23-08-2019 16:44 )GMach1 Wrote:  Curse! That bloody whining sound is back!
Horny me old mate I don't watch a lot of cricket but Test Matches in the past have been exciting because of the players we had. We keep dropping players when they fail in one test, but when they play for their respective clubs they play better-a bit like the England football squad(great for club, dire for country both past and present) there cannot be any excuse for being 67 all out when these players have been judged by the E&WCB to be the best we have. If it's not the players then who do you blame? Is it the groundsman and staff preparing the pitch? Do you blame the weather? You can come up with all the excuses under the sun but this game by England shows how bad we are at present. I for one will not bother watching anymore, the humiliation of today has put me off cricket for a long time to come.

(23-08-2019 19:02 )GMach1 Wrote:  Well I was rubbish at it at school(we're more an Athletics household but I want that great at throwing the Javelin either ) but I watched it through thick and thin on the BBC many years ago, then Sky got it and I didn't watch it that much-i like Test Match cricket because it is usually exciting especially against the Aussies, Pakistsnis, Windies, Indians etc but lately each time we've had an Ashes test I've had a sinking feeling in my stomach and that happened again on Day1 and a feeling of " here we go again" I'll wait until next time, this Test just depresses me now.