England Ashes 2025/26
Discussion
We also need cover should Stokes not last. I think they will play Archer and Wood in the first then rotate. The spinner won’t play in all either as they don’t have a good record over there. Brook as vice and Pope will be in at no3 (or Bethell) but Pope will be reserve keeper. Potts is there to soak up loads of overs where necessary. Our first choice team of Archer, Wood and Stokes is strong in my view, but how much they play together remains to be seen.
40,000 England fans heading to Oz! Gonna be some atmosphere.
https://inews.co.uk/sport/cricket/barmy-army-austr...
https://inews.co.uk/sport/cricket/barmy-army-austr...
The bowlers are key. I guess they will only play maybe 3 Tests so the squad is important and we have plenty of pace bowling. Wood is the risk, he hasn’t played at all so we don’t know how he will go. Archer looks fine, but I can’t see any of them playing 5 consecutive Tests. Stokes is a major factor. If he can stay fit he will create balance and ease the pressure on the others.
Hammer67 said:
We definitely have a chance.
IMO it will be decided by whichever first choice pace bowling attack stays fit for the duration.
Ours are fragile, theirs are old. I saw a post the other day that said if we added Ian Botham and David Gower to our squad the average age would still be 135 days younger than the AussiesIMO it will be decided by whichever first choice pace bowling attack stays fit for the duration.
Scabutz said:
Hammer67 said:
We definitely have a chance.
IMO it will be decided by whichever first choice pace bowling attack stays fit for the duration.
Ours are fragile, theirs are old. I saw a post the other day that said if we added Ian Botham and David Gower to our squad the average age would still be 135 days younger than the AussiesIMO it will be decided by whichever first choice pace bowling attack stays fit for the duration.
They are seasoned professionals playing in their own country. they know what`s required and are all top quality.
I`m much more concerned about ours, who are, as you say, fragile and playing in unfamiliar conditions.
Archer and Wood are the quickest on either side and could be the difference if they can hack it.
I laughed at Stokes’ “has beens” comment. Christ, he’s dim. If it had been Mark Butcher, or Graeme Hick making the comments; he might have got a chuckle, but he has chosen those words to describe two of our genuine greats (though it pains me to say it about Gooch, as a Gower fan) both of whom are a long, long way ahead of him in the pantheon of English cricketers.
I predict Stokes won’t last the series, along with Wood, and Archer, and I am prepared for a defeat, although perhaps not an absolute white wash.
I predict Stokes won’t last the series, along with Wood, and Archer, and I am prepared for a defeat, although perhaps not an absolute white wash.
Well when it comes to fragility Aus have to contend with Cummins being equally as important to Aus as Stokes but also as fragile.
Unusually for Aus aswell, they don’t actually hold a great strength in depth currently and their backups are also not in the first flush of youth.
I rather suspect that the series is in the balance out in Aus for the first time in quite a few yrs.
Unusually for Aus aswell, they don’t actually hold a great strength in depth currently and their backups are also not in the first flush of youth.
I rather suspect that the series is in the balance out in Aus for the first time in quite a few yrs.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/articles/cwype...
The video interview with Farbrace embedded in that article is very good. As he points out maybe people should be supporting the team rather than attacking their preparation a few days before the series….how very English.
The video interview with Farbrace embedded in that article is very good. As he points out maybe people should be supporting the team rather than attacking their preparation a few days before the series….how very English.
milesgiles said:
Weakest aussie side in years. We should at the least be competitive think it will go all the way
Aussies have an unsettled Top 3, but a very good middle order and an extremely high quality bowling attack. You can definitely argue its a weak side by their standards but their bowling attack even with Cummins out is still very strong.Meanwhile it seems Wood is a doubt for the first test…hamstring issue in first day of warm up game.
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