Ashes 2013 Thread: Australia vs. England

[prophet]

Can't stand Warner. He's a knobhead and he looks like a peado with that tash, movember or not.

[The Milkman]

^ Yeah, he's definitely a flog. I love the way he bats though.

Sad to hear about Trott. He's a class act. I hope we see him back sooner than later.

[AkydefGoldberg]

Australia in a fantastic position to go 2-0 up. Clarke/Haddin demoralising England in the field. Johnson getting a ripper to oust Cook. KP/Bell as the experience batsmen have to deliver to save the game.

[AkydefGoldberg]

Three years ago, Mitchell Johnson was the butt of the jokes from everyone. Now he's owning everyone's arses with his bowling. England are afraid of him, big-time. Australia have really performed with real passion and determination so far.

[prophet]

Another shocking start to the day, Broad out stupidly and Swann's just followed suit after looking vulnerable everytime he was at the crease. Prior is batting well though which is encouraging at the very least.

It's almost like the Aussies are making up for the last 3 Ashes series' when they've hardly turned up. Now the shoe's on the other foot and England are batting horribly it's an awful feeling. Our last series down under we dominated, what happened?

EDIT: aaaaand there we are, bowled out in under an hour! at least I can go to bed now

[AkydefGoldberg]

I left it at Broad's dismissal to watch MOT2, an hour later, it was all over.

Perth ain't a happy hunting ground for them but only positive they don't have to win to retain the Ashes, a draw is enough but I'd feel uncomfortable lifting the urn having played poorly. Hopefully Aussies take it out of their hands and they can start the inquest into the display. Aussies really want it - England just seem like they were abit too complacent.

[AkydefGoldberg]

Aussies in a very comfortable position.

England 180-4. KP goes thanks to Siddle again. KP deserves a big amount of stick, got himself in with patience then threw his wicket away. Geoff Boycott pretty on the money when he says KP bottled it. He's a top player but can't avoid criticism. Cook got runs but poor wicket to give away.

Aussies bowled well as they sensed England were nervous hence the cautious approach.

[AkydefGoldberg]

England paid the price of complacency. Aussies just wanted it more, could tell with the way they played, batted, fielded, bowled, sledged.

England's "spine" failed big time. Maybe the bowlers would have performed better had the batters done their job. Pieterson has two Tests to perform but if not, his place is in serious question no matter how great his past reputation. This was the big series, when his team were in trouble to stand up and be counted as a top player but again, it's about HIM. Trying to outdo Siddle, Lyon.

Cook, Anderson, Swann, Prior all need to have a look at themselves.

[prophet]

The thing that I personally find so hard to take is how smug the Aussie's are about beating us. Yeah they embarrassed us on the pitch and won the first three tests easily but the difference in personality they're showing compared to the last couple of years is something to behold.

If I'm not mistaken England won the last three Ashes' before this current one correct? The last time we were in Australia we humiliated them on their own turf and even still I can't remember us every being that cocky and assured of themselves. Warner particularly although I've already mentioned him and how much I despise him in this thread. I actually like a lot of the Aussie squad and it might just be how the media is reporting it to me but what's annoyed me most about this tour is how badly we've surrendered the urn and how annoying they've been winning it.

[AkydefGoldberg]

^TBH, I think that smarmyness is down to them losing the last three on the bounce. I remember when England got hammered in the 90s - there was always resignation and an acceptance we were shit. When we won in 2005 - we won it with good cricket but with class aswell as shown with Flintoff consoling Lee at Edgbaston.

Aussies, under Lehmann, have decided to get really angry and aggressive (abit over the top) but I like it when it's that way. Shows it means something to them rather than being too casual and jokey with the opposition.

This nastiness is nothing compared to the "sledging" between India-Pakistan games in the 80s where mums and sisters were frequently used in insults.

I think England will win a Test and avoid a whitewash though - too much experience to get fritted away quickly.

[AkydefGoldberg]

Aussies win the toss and bowl.

England include Panesar and Bairstow to replace Prior. Broad fit.

Has Bairstow wicket-kept for Yorkshire at all? Don't why I had him down that he's been a wicket-keeper Yorkshire and has some experience in domestic cricket?

[Chewy]

The thing that I personally find so hard to take is how smug the Aussie's are about beating us. Yeah they embarrassed us on the pitch and won the first three tests easily but the difference in personality they're showing compared to the last couple of years is something to behold.

If I'm not mistaken England won the last three Ashes' before this current one correct? The last time we were in Australia we humiliated them on their own turf and even still I can't remember us every being that cocky and assured of themselves. Warner particularly although I've already mentioned him and how much I despise him in this thread. I actually like a lot of the Aussie squad and it might just be how the media is reporting it to me but what's annoyed me most about this tour is how badly we've surrendered the urn and how annoying they've been winning it.

Australian people in general are just smug assholes.

They think they're funny and interesting and that the rest of the world thinks they're adorable.

You should see them in Hawaii, announcing to everyone that they're Australian expecting some form of awe from everyone else.

It's embarrassing to share their accent.

[AkydefGoldberg]

The warning signs were in the summer when the Aussies won moments in the match but couldn't win it all together and shown by a collapse by England during the 4th Test.

England have played abysmally through-out besides a few exceptions and the Aussies have wanted it more. KP's suggestion scheduling excuse is what it is, an excuse. Australia have had the same issue, playing ten Tests and have turned up in this series but also showed promise in the summer.

I can't forsee what changes they can make besides dropping Carberry for Ballance and Rankin for Anderson.

[AkydefGoldberg]

5-0 whitewash by the Aussies - worst tour ever.

I'd still believe in Cook as captain but he has some major improving to do. He's made mistakes, poor decisions in games and failed with the bat. Can't remember if he's playing in the ODI series but I'd advise him to go home and take a break. His mind has gone with the bat.

Broad, Stokes, Ballance are the only players who come out with some, the very smallest, of credit.

I think England came thinking it'd be 2011/11 Part II but got blown away and battered by Mitchell Johnson in the first Test and they just crumbled. No excuses. Australia had the same back to back Tests as us but they wanted it more although not the greatest Aussie team but individual players delivered.

[prophet]

Aky were you as annoyed as me that they dropped Root for the final test? All this talk of the future and they drop the batter with the most potential to improve and eventually open. They kept Carberry thoyugh? Madness.

[AkydefGoldberg]

Aky were you as annoyed as me that they dropped Root for the final test? All this talk of the future and they drop the batter with the most potential to improve and eventually open. They kept Carberry thoyugh? Madness.

I was surprised but I can understand the thinking behind it. He's a promising player who had, alongside his team-mates, psychologically had a tough time so not against resting him for the final Test just to take him out of the spotlight. The series was lost. Carberry was given a final chance and he blew it.

I don't see Root as an opener, think he's better down the order. They need to put Bell at three as Trott might not be back anytime soon, Pietersen at four, Root at 5.