Exactly how bad is this England team?

Now this might surprise a lot of people but I love Cricket, all formats of the game.

But for me Test cricket is the ultimate - it is what the name suggests; a true test of cricketing abilities - and Ashes Test Cricket is the absolute pinnacle of the sport.
en.wikipedia.org...

Currently England are getting a true arse kicking in the current Ashes series down under.

We are losing 3-0 and it looks highly likely to be 4-0 at some point tomorrow.
The only surprise is that it isn't going to be 5-0....thanks to the Sydney weather and Pat Cummins.

From an England point of view this has been a truly disastrous tour from start to finish.
I've experienced 5-0 humiliations before but this was something different....completely and utterly outclassed by a good but by no means great Australian team.

The England team was very poorly prepared.
The schedule and pre-Test match practice was so obviously inadequate.
The squad selection was always questionable.
Silverwood has never struck me as a suitable Head Coach.
Root is an amazing batsman but a very poor Captain lacking tactical nounce.

I'm not going to go into all of England's failings - there are so many - but while its true to say that Australia have outplayed England in every single facet of the game its also true to say that England have been truly desperate, both technically and mentally.

So where do England go from here?

The ECB are in a remarkably good position financially - international cricket is exceptionally well supported in England with good sponsorship deals and a relatively good infrastructure.

I'm sick of hearing Root's lame excuses and his amazing defence of Silverwood truly beggared belief.

What lessons can be learnt and where do we go?
I have my own opinions but......?

Or doesn't anyone really give a #?

I’d just like to say it is a pleasure to watch a young indigenous man Finally get to play Ashes cricket in the modern game.

The balmy army will always play on.

Commiserations.

a reply to: Freeborn

a reply to: Dalamax

If only the English players had shown half the passion and drive of The Barmy Army.....

I was surprised to read that Scotty Boland is only the second male Aboriginal cricketer to play Test Cricket for Australia - Jason Gillespie being the first.
Do you know how popular cricket is in the aborigine communities?

I was watching a bit of the ICC Under 19's World Cup that is currently being held in the West Indies and I couldn't help but notice the number of people of sub-continent descent representing Australia.

England made some poor choices in Australia, collectively and individually.
And they are mentally very weak.
The structure of English cricket is not supportive of Test cricket.

And the old schoolboy network still runs cricket behind the scenes and they discourage anyone outspoken or controversial.
Ashley Giles needs to go as does Tom Harrison.
I'd appoint either one or two of Andrew Strauss, Nasser Hussain or Michael Vaughan to oversee every aspect of English cricket.

It’s played everywhere mate. I think every Aussie kid has picked up a bat or ball at least once.

My knowledge is not deep, I couldn’t tell you about the politics or behind the scenes action in the game.
But I know the difference between a well team and a sick team.

I would like to see England return to being a cricketing powerhouse and a worthy sporting rival again.

a reply to: Freeborn

I love the game of cricket. I guess from my point of view as an Aussie, this Ashes series has been great to watch. As a fan of cricket in general though, I'd love to see the Poms return to their best to make Ashes cricket more competitive.

The last test in Sydney was the most enjoyable to watch for me, especially the last session going down to the wire. I usually hate seeing a team play for a draw but the way the English held on during the last half hour should be applauded.

I believe with the introduction and popularity of 20/20 cricket, including the money some of the top tier players earn playing the shorter format, it had taken away from the spectacle of test cricket which is a shame as there's no better way to watch the game.

I also agree there needs to be a change at the top for England to get back to their best. The playing list needs a shake up as well, starting from the top all the way down to the veterans in my opinion. I could go into depth but I'd be here for a long time.

Fun Fact: the first cricket team to tour England from Australia was a team of 13 Aboriginal men in 1868. There's quite a rich history of cricket in the Australian indigenous community.

Aboriginal Cricket Team

a reply to: TOMFROMOZ

I could go through our whole team - and backroom staff - and give you an assessment of their performance and/or an explanation for their failings.

But why bother, many of those failings were obvious well before this tour started, yet they were ignored for various reasons.

One of the many things I couldn't understand was the recall of Ollie Pope for this last Test.
Why did they take Dan Lawrence if they weren't going to give him a chance?
Makes no sense at all.

Its time to give Liam Livingstone a chance with the red ball - he can't do any worse than those currently in the frame.
James Vince as Captain.
Controversial, but Ricky Ponting as Head Coach.

If they can't persuade Andrew Strauss back into the management side of things then for me it has to be either Nasser Hussain or Michael Vaughan.

Enough of that.
That was fascinating about the Aboriginal Cricket Team.
I wonder why more haven't come through the ranks to play for the national team especially more recently?

a reply to: Freeborn

There are many examples of play not suited to test cricket, its as if these players think they are playing 20/20

I mean run out in the second over going for a quick single, just play it straight bat and stand your ground, its not bloody rocket science

Rory Burns run out for a duck by Marnus Labuschagne

a reply to: UpThenDown

Exactly,
A truly appalling decision to go for the run.
What's going on the batsman's mind?
That's not a technical failing....its just a bad choice.

Our players have made a seemingly endless number of them.

Could you imagine Cook, Strauss or Atherton making the same shout in similar circumstances?
No bloody way!

But its not just the players.
What about the selections?
Ollie Pope has looked woefully out of form - he's played no cricket for months prior to this tour - and is the epitome of the proverbial scared rabbit.
So we recall him for this Test and don't select Dan Lawrence, who in turn must now think 'How crap must I be if they won't give me a chance in this rubbish team'?

They picked Robinson - who did look a decent bowler in the first part of the series - despite concerns about his fitness levels.
He's that knackered he managed 8 overs and now looks like he's too tired and unfit to bowl again in this Test.
Why #ing pick him then?

Its shear bloody lunacy.

Making the same mistakes over and over again.

They called Billings up.
They should have called Vince and even maybe Hales up as well.
And if Livingstone is anywhere near Australia they should have given him a shout as well.

Ben Duckett?

Malan caught down leg side, again.

I'm a massive Stokes fan - who can't be?
But he's had a long series after an extended period off now looks very tired.
He needs protecting, him and Root - who has never scored an Ashes Test century - are England's only two World Class players at present.

Some of Root's on field decisions have been baffling.
He has an inability to think out in the middle and to change pre-determined tactics that aren't working and to adapt to circumstances.

I could go on and on and on......

Ha ha ha.
Literally pissing myself laughing.

One 50 run opening stand and people were seriously talking about an England victory....then so predictably three quick wickets and England are yet again relying/hoping on Root and Stokes.

These are ex-pro's and seasoned journalists....have they learnt nothing about this England side?

I actually thought the English had a team capable of putting a bit of pressure on the Aussies, final test over on day 3, very disappointing outcome for the English
Seems these days there needs to be three teams, tests, one day and a T20 team, all specialised players playing individual styles of the game. That way, might not get the T20 mindset in a Test

Wondering how good the Aussie team are or is the English team just that bad?

a reply to: Raggedyman

Australia has a pretty decent team....but nowhere near as good as some of their great sides of the last 20/30 years or so.

England have been woeful in every single aspect of the game.
They've been poorly prepared and managed.

English red ball cricket needs a radical overhaul.

But congratulations to the Aussies....whenever they needed it someone stepped up to the plate and gave match winning performances.
I really can't knock them at all....I just hope that the next time we meet we can make it a bit more of a contest.