2015 Ashes Thread

[Bill Manspeaker]

that sums up our (lack of) luck right now

[Ringo]

Yet again we show our faulty technique against the swinging ball. Stokes bowled well but would he be swinging it that much in Australia doubt it. Time to sack all our so called knowledgeable batting coaches and get one that will teach batsmen how to play the swing ball in England. Been frustrated over this as the last 3 series in England has seriously exposed this.

[Jay]

I agree with Warne. The shot that the "number 1 batsman in the world" played right before tea was just embarrassing. We haven't had our heads screwed on right all series.

[henry]

Ben Stokes...what a spell and an unbelievable catch to get rid of Smith. Shame to see Smith miss out again, didn't do much wrong there

Um what, he shouldn't be playing at them given Australia had just lost 2 wickets, there was like an over till tea and he had faced 5 balls...

[roo boys!]

Ben Stokes...what a spell and an unbelievable catch to get rid of Smith. Shame to see Smith miss out again, didn't do much wrong there

Um what, he shouldn't be playing at them given Australia had just lost 2 wickets, there was like an over till tea and he had faced 5 balls...

If Smith didn't play at those kind of deliveries he wouldn't be half the player he had become. I understand given the situation he would have been better off letting it go through and in hindsight he did fall into a bit of a trap, but I still feel he's at his best when he's backing himself and trying to score off anything full and wide

[BratPack]

Guys guys guys. We shouldn't point fingers, we need to go back to the drawing board, look at everything and do the only thing any sane, rational Australian supporter would do

Blame Nathan Lyon.

[Jukes]

So in our last four full (i.e. not having 2 wickets taken) innings, we've had:
Finn 6/79
Broad 8/15
Starc 6/111
Stokes 5/35 (with 3 wickets still up for grabs)

Wonder what the largest streak of five-fors and six-fors by different bowlers is for a series. Could do research, but nahhh.

Could be even longer too, seeing as Jimmy took 6/47 in the first innings at Edgbaston, but Lyon topped with 3/36 in Aus' innings, the spud.

edit: also, the last 9 innings have had a different leading bowler (i.e. most wickets, tiebreaker least runs). Ali, Johnson, Anderson, Lyon, Finn, Hazlewood, Broad, Starc, Stokes.

[Jay]

Rumour that Clarke is set to retire after this series :o

[PowerBug]

Rumour that Clarke is set to retire after this series :o

I called this. Except I called it for after the 2013-14 Ashes when England wiped the floor of Australia (Well that went horribly wrong didn't it...)

[Jay]

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/ashes-2015-clarke-set-to-retire/story-e6frg6n6-1227475615673

[Nige]

Punter suggested half the squad would be done, he's probably not wrong.

[Jukes]

Good on you Voges

[Jay]

Carn Gary, bat for 2 days. I believe in you.

[Jay]

Ian Healy finishes on a fitting note. "England retain the Ashes".

[Jay]

Thanks for the career, Clarkey. Great memories.