England 2021-22 Ashes Tour

(25-12-2021 11:09 )Boomerangutangangbang Wrote:  ..& I've saved the best (worst0 until last, England are 5 ducks away from equaling their duck-est year in 1998, when they totaled 54.

So, only the one duck to add to this years tally, but it's another duck by an opener, which now stands at 14, the previous worst was 9.

England now move into the top 3 of another worst list. This time it's the most innings a Test Match side has been bowled out for less than 200, in a year.
14 (28 innings) - West Indies 2000
13 (16 innings) - Bangladesh 2002
12 (28 innings) - England 2021

The very idea that Jos Buttler is the best keeper in England is laughable! He is without question one of the very best one day and t20 batsman in the world but that form has never turned up in tests! His keeping isn’t world class in any cricket! His athleticism allows him some spectacular catches but often his foot movement is sloppy and his balance wrong!

Modern keepers need runs and if Buttler was averaging 45 maybe his keeping would be easier to stomach. But I also get the feeling he is keeping because they are so desperate to have him in the team they think giving him the gloves makes allowances for his poor batting average.

I just hope after this series England move on from Buttler and elongate his one day career.

Australia bowled out for 267 giving them a lead of 82. A good effort by the bowlers.

Now it's time for all the hard work to be undone by the batters .

Again a great response by the bowlers again, especially Anderson, he seemed very focus, & maybe a little angry at the criticism aimed at the bowling group from Root, when the batsmen are more to blame for our failings.

Crawley out for 5, Malan out first ball, Starc on a hat-trick.

Stop doing that Snooks.

All too predictable I'm afraid.

Another horror stat, England's opening partnership have totaled 45 runs from the 6 innings to date in this series, at an average of 7.5.

Andy Zaltzman has been churning out stats of England batters doom on Test Match Special with unerring frequency . It has long since got to the point of being so bad it is actually quite amusing.

Aaaaaannnd another one gone.
22/3.

And another 22/4

Stop, my sides are splitting

Do we have A the worst batting line up in are history? and B worst test batting line up than any of the other nations?

The sad part is that this is not one of the best Australia sides. Before the series they had Warner, Smith & Labuschange, & then a number of question marks, over the rest of the batting line-up with many trying to cement their places.
They have only been able to field their best bowling line-up in the 1st Test, with questions overs the strength & depth of the back-up bowlers, especially in terms of Test Match experience. But they've been so far on top of England that they've broken all the rules & given Ashes debuts to Neser & Bowland, good bowlers, but England had opportunities to exploit a weakened attack.

Poor old Joe Root will be in the firing line again.

Whilst he is still one of the worlds best batsmen, he doesn't seem to get the best from all of his players. Remember Illingworth with John Snow, Brierley with Ian Botham and Bob Willis.

What England need now is a batting coach...