5th Ashes test

[Stalbansclaret]

Test cricket is so fantastic when it's as good as this series has been. Last year v India was pretty good too. Listening to TMS and watching on Sky are both fantastic pleasures.
England certainly didn't deserve to lose this series so it's only right that they won today.

[Tricky Trevor]

Thrill a minute series but I hope they never cram it in like that again. Nothing in it day to day but the Ozzies definitely struggled with tiredness, after playing the World Championship test against the Indians, from test 3. The wet weather at OT allowed them to recover for the final test.

[DAVETHEVICAR]

An amazing series and enjoyed every minute watching on Sky.
Lots of ups and downs and in the end a fair result at 2-2.

[DAVETHEVICAR]

An amazing series and enjoyed every minute watching on Sky.
Lots of ups and downs and in the end a fair result at 2-2.

[Conroysleftfoot]

What an amazing year of sport we've witnessed starting with Burnley's win at Huddersfield and finishing with the Ashes. Can't wait for City to rock up at the Turf.

[IPAclaret]

Simply amazing Ashes series, up and down all the way through...

except for the 4th Test when the weather saved the Aussies from a good flogging, it would have been incredible to come back from 2 down to win 3-2. We were so unlucky there.

But all in all, well done the two teams, top quality and great entertainment.

[Spijed]

They were discussing on TMS who will be playing for England on home soil in four years time and it's highly likely that between now and then there will be a massive overhaul with so many of England's team well into their 30's.

Unfortunately there don't seem to be any bowlers out there likely to match the achievements of the current side, or even come close which is a big worry going forwards.

[Cleveleys_claret]

Watched the whole series and absolutely amazing stuff and a great advertisement for Test cricket, always my preferred format.

Question though, when handing out awards...Woakes and Starc and the captains all spoke. Root got an award at the beginning, was there a reason he didn't do an interview?

[LeadBelly]

An amazing series and enjoyed every minute watching on Sky.
Lots of ups and downs and in the end a fair result at 2-2.

Agreed, very good series to watch with England going 2-0 down then generally having the better of things though there were a lot of games where each team won a few sessions and a lot of swings and roundabouts.
Drawn series fair enough though England will be disappointed about OT and maybe a few decisions, they did win the toss 4/5.

I was a bit disappointed at the Oval yesterday with (in my view) a lack of sportsmanship in the crowd. Very few people applauding good shots from the Oz openers who played really well. Great that the home crowd are partisan and don't make things easy for the opposition but a bit churlish to not appreciate good opposition play IMO.

Handy for me within easy reach of Southampton and London but I still cant get to grips with the next home ashes series being 1 east midlands, 1 west midlands, 3 southern and no northern venues.

[sjb]

They were discussing on TMS who will be playing for England on home soil in four years time and it's highly likely that between now and then there will be a massive overhaul with so many of England's team well into their 30's.

Unfortunately there don't seem to be any bowlers out there likely to match the achievements of the current side, or even come close which is a big worry going forwards.

3 to keep an eye on are Josh Tongue, Tom Lawes & Gus Atkinson.

[CoolClaret]

They were discussing on TMS who will be playing for England on home soil in four years time and it's highly likely that between now and then there will be a massive overhaul with so many of England's team well into their 30's.

Unfortunately there don't seem to be any bowlers out there likely to match the achievements of the current side, or even come close which is a big worry going forwards.

Agreed but you could say the same about Australia!

Hazlewood, Starc, Lyon and Cummins are all the ‘wrong’ side of 30…

That Murphy looked like he could do a job for them though he will get better with more experience.

Cam Green is still good going but got fair found out in this series.

[TheFamilyCat]

They were discussing on TMS who will be playing for England on home soil in four years time and it's highly likely that between now and then there will be a massive overhaul with so many of England's team well into their 30's.

Unfortunately there don't seem to be any bowlers out there likely to match the achievements of the current side, or even come close which is a big worry going forwards.

I doubt the achievements of Anderson and Broad will ever be matched by anyone from anywhere.

[nil_desperandum]

Agreed but you could say the same about Australia!

Hazlewood, Starc, Lyon and Cummins are all the ‘wrong’ side of 30…

They are but they are by no means the oldest players.
You can add Carey and Marsh to the list as both will soon be 32, but:
Smith is 34,so is Boland , and both Warner and Khawaja are 36.
The Aussie team is Dad's Army.

Most of England's batting line up should be available for the next Ashes series, but I would expect only Head and Labuschagne to be in the Australia batting line-up.

[Quicknick]

Just got up at almost four in the morning in Thailand to check the result, fully expecting a defeat as the Aussies were only three wickets down with only just over two an over needed with time on their hands when I went to bed. Feel so pumped up!

[CoolClaret]

They are but they are by no means the oldest players.
You can add Carey and Marsh to the list as both will soon be 32, but:
Smith is 34,so is Boland , and both Warner and Khawaja are 36.
The Aussie team is Dad's Army.

Most of England's batting line up should be available for the next Ashes series, but I would expect only Head and Labuschagne to be in the Australia batting line-up.

Yup - that begs the question

For India do we try and integrate our young seamers on the fringe of the squad now in anticipation of the tour down under/next ashes at home

OR

Simply pick the best available side?

It’s an interesting one.. perhaps some sort of mixed approach but finding the balance will be key (as always)

[Quicknick]

The sun will be breaking through the clouds anytime about now

I am delighted it did.

[quoonbeatz]

Fantastic series, there's nothing quite like the Ashes. Will be interesting to see where both teams go from here, a lot of big players unlikely to be around next time.

Real shame its all been rushed through for the godawful Hundred, we should be having another month to look forward to at least!

[TheFamilyCat]

Yup - that begs the question

For India do we try and integrate our young seamers on the fringe of the squad now in anticipation of the tour down under/next ashes at home

OR

Simply pick the best available side?

It’s an interesting one.. perhaps some sort of mixed approach but finding the balance will be key (as always)

Taking young seamers to India is putting them on a hiding to nothing.

You'd think we'll play 2 spinners over there, not sure who though if Leach isn't fit.

[CoolClaret]

[quote=TheFamilyCat post_id=2144809 time=1690839279 user_id=733]
Taking young seamers to India is putting them on a hiding to nothing.

You'd think we'll play 2 spinners over there, not sure who though if Leach isn't fit.
[/quote]


It is yeah I agree.

I expect Tongue to start a few games mind and I think we could play both Leach (who I expect to be back fit) and maybe Rehan Ahmed, who has the added bonus of being able to do a little bit with the bat as well

Time will tell like.

[Lu-tze]

An incredible Ashes series, after which both teams can be proud of their amazing performances. That really was test match cricket at its best with both teams giving their absolute all. I do think that the controversial stumping of Bairstow by Carey was a changing point in the game: until that point Australia were in the box seat, but the incident seemed to galvanise the English team to spur them for the remainder of the series.

I agree and do wonder if Carey had his time back he’d do it again.
I think we’d have lost that match anyway and without the stumping incident all the chat the following day would have been questioning the captaincy and the whole ‘bazball’ approach.
Instead all of the media focus was on ‘cheating Aussies’ and stokes’ incredible effort taking the heat off us and giving us some belief/impetus for the next test.

[claretonthecoast1882]

The best and most entertaining whole series I have witnessed.

Other series have had individual moments or tests but this was brilliant from the very 1st ball to the last. 2 very good and evenly matched teams going at each other is what test cricket is about. It is a shame that the greedy powers that be felt the need to cram the series in to fit the awful 100 in

[Ric_C]

A superb series. England could / should have won it 4-1 tbh.

A lot of crying from Aussies on twitter today which is nice to see

[box_of_frogs]

A lot of rumours also flying about that England refused to go for the customary post series drinks with the Aussies. I’ll be disappointed if they are true.

[claretonthecoast1882]

A lot of rumours also flying about that England refused to go for the customary post series drinks with the Aussies. I’ll be disappointed if they are true.

It's ******** started by someone who felt a bit left out of things. They all met up that evening

[CoolClaret]

End of series stats:

Cam Green made to look very, very average for a highly touted youngster.

Joe Root All Rounder?!

[Ric_C]

Those stats are very damning. England with 5 batters averaging over 40, Wood and Woakes by far the best bowlers.

Australia very very lucky to retain the Ashes

[JarrowClaret]

Those stats are very damning. England with 5 batters averaging over 40, Wood and Woakes by far the best bowlers.

Australia very very lucky to retain the Ashes

If you check the stats for the 2019 Ashes they are the opposite way around and we were very lucky to win the series.

[Papabendi]

If you check the stats for the 2019 Ashes they are the opposite way around and we were very lucky to win the series.

we didn't win the 2019 series, we drew and Australia retained the Ashes.

[JarrowClaret]

we didn't win the 2019 series, we drew and Australia retained the Ashes.

Fair enough my mistake my main point was about the statistics being the opposite way around and how lucky we were.