Ashes 2025/6
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@Duluth said in Ashes 2025/6:
@MN5 said in Ashes 2025/6:
Might have to side with Smith on this one
I hadn't seen that before. Most of the comments are 'Smith sent me here', 'Thanks for the recommendation smudge' etc
love this comment on Reddit earlier today about this feud..
"From second slip Zac Crawley pipes up "Hey Smudge, what's the capital of Zaire?"
And for the next tortuous twenty minutes Smith faces off a barrage of short balls and geography trivia questions before losing his off stump having not been able to name all the countries that share a border with Oman.
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@Catogrande said in Ashes 2025/6:
@MN5 said in Ashes 2025/6:
Might have to side with Smith on this one
I quite liked Monty's reply:-
Former England spinner Monty Panesar has responded to Steve Smith's bizarre swipe at him by saying he made his mistakes "on a quiz show", while the stand-in Australia captain "made his on a cricket field".
That's actually not a bad retort ! Game on !!!!!
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About fucking time!! feels like the build up to this has taken an eternity.
England absolutely have to win this first test to be any chance. They just cannot afford to get behind on the scoreboard, especially with Cummins and Hazlewood out, and two Australian debutants.
Predictions? I reckon obvious is best, Smith most runs, Boland most wickets. I thought the series would be 3-1 Australia, but barring rain, i actually can't see a draw happening just given both teams' pace of play.
I hope it lives up to hype. I'm going to day 2 and 3 of the Boxing Day test so 1-all going in to that would be tasty.
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@mariner4life said in Ashes 2025/6:
About fucking time!! feels like the build up to this has taken an eternity.
England absolutely have to win this first test to be any chance. They just cannot afford to get behind on the scoreboard, especially with Cummins and Hazlewood out, and two Australian debutants.
Predictions? I reckon obvious is best, Smith most runs, Boland most wickets. I thought the series would be 3-1 Australia, but barring rain, i actually can't see a draw happening just given both teams' pace of play.
I hope it lives up to hype. I'm going to day 2 and 3 of the Boxing Day test so 1-all going in to that would be tasty.
I'm keen to see Brook ( hopefully ) dominate. To me the most exciting batsman I've seen in donkeys years. Just fearless in his approach.
......and yes the Boxing Day test is awesome. Have already staked out a spot on the couch in the bay with the potential future father in law to eat snacks, drink beer, talk occasionally and watch cricket.
Hopefully its sunny weather so all the kids and other family members are by the pool and don't disturb us.
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As with all touring batsmen, he needs to get used to the bounce. if he can get on top of that he should be alright.
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@mariner4life said in Ashes 2025/6:
As with all touring batsmen, he needs to get used to the bounce. if he can get on top of that he should be alright.
He strikes me as a guy who loves a challenge, fights fire with fire and absolutely tailormade for Bazball ( theres that awful term again )
As you said earlier, both teams approaches should ensure there aren't any draws barring rain but England definitely come across as the team more likely to collapse than Australia.
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this test in intriguing though isn't it? The Aussies are without their safety blanket of those three amazing quicks. They are sporting a very long tail. A debut batsman opening, a guy recalled to the lineup at 3, who was dropped after a drought. They have dropped one of their best performing players of recent times. Nathan Lyon is in ropey form too, and has battled on this surface.
And yet they remain favourites.
England have to enter the game with a degree of confidence.
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@mariner4life said in Ashes 2025/6:
this test in intriguing though isn't it? The Aussies are without their safety blanket of those three amazing quicks. They are sporting a very long tail. A debut batsman opening, a guy recalled to the lineup at 3, who was dropped after a drought. They have dropped one of their best performing players of recent times. Nathan Lyon is in ropey form too, and has battled on this surface.
And yet they remain favourites.
England have to enter the game with a degree of confidence.
Graeme Swann on cricinfo said that Ben Stokes was the most talented all rounder since Kallis.
Not sure if that's accurate given Kallis is an all time generational great but Stokes is certainly capable of big plays in big matches like Flintoff ( although neither can touch Beefy for ATG status )
He will be a factor in this series.
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@MN5 said in Ashes 2025/6:
Graeme Swann on cricinfo said that Ben Stokes was the most talented all rounder since Kallis.
he does say "since Kallis" but even then i can't get on board. He did win a Cricket World Cup with his bat though...
Stokes has that mentality though, and you need it in Aus. If, and it is a huge if, he can stay fit, he will play a big part at some point. Definite big moment player.
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@mariner4life said in Ashes 2025/6:
@MN5 said in Ashes 2025/6:
Graeme Swann on cricinfo said that Ben Stokes was the most talented all rounder since Kallis.
he does say "since Kallis" but even then i can't get on board. He did win a Cricket World Cup with his bat though...
Stokes has that mentality though, and you need it in Aus. If, and it is a huge if, he can stay fit, he will play a big part at some point. Definite big moment player.
Yep, great team man who doesn't give a fuck about his own stats.
Merely "good" on paper in both disciplines but a better player than stats indicate.
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@MN5 said in Ashes 2025/6:
a better player than stats indicate
absolutely. Will perform in a big moment, but maybe not dine out when playing a shit team
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@mariner4life said in Ashes 2025/6:
@MN5 said in Ashes 2025/6:
a better player than stats indicate
absolutely. Will perform in a big moment, but maybe not dine out when playing a shit team
Something of an anti Henry Nicholls you might say
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If you want to know why Australia refuse to admit test cricket is struggling:
Perth: Day 1 and 2 sold out, about a hundred tickets left to Day 3, under a thousand for Day 4.
Brisbane: Day 1, 2 and 3 sold out, Day 4 selling fast
Adelaide: Day 1, 2 and 3 sold out, Day 4 selling fast.
Melbourne: Day 1 and 2 sold out, Day 3 selling fast
Sydney: First 4 days sold out. -
@mariner4life said in Ashes 2025/6:
If you want to know why Australia refuse to admit test cricket is struggling:
Perth: Day 1 and 2 sold out, about a hundred tickets left to Day 3, under a thousand for Day 4.
Brisbane: Day 1, 2 and 3 sold out, Day 4 selling fast
Adelaide: Day 1, 2 and 3 sold out, Day 4 selling fast.
Melbourne: Day 1 and 2 sold out, Day 3 selling fast
Sydney: First 4 days sold out.I'm not sure the Black Caps vs West Indies ( 2020s edition, not 1980s ) can quite compete.
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When you consider the size of those grounds, that's very impressive.
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@mariner4life said in Ashes 2025/6:
When you consider the size of those grounds, that's very impressive.
MCG is enormous. What better way to burn off Xmas lunch and dindins than sit and drink piss and watch cricket the next few days ?
God bless you Australia.
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@Catogrande said in Ashes 2025/6:
@MN5 said in Ashes 2025/6:
Might have to side with Smith on this one
I quite liked Monty's reply:-
Former England spinner Monty Panesar has responded to Steve Smith's bizarre swipe at him by saying he made his mistakes "on a quiz show", while the stand-in Australia captain "made his on a cricket field".
this might hold a lot more water if Monty, who is apparently as dumb as a sack of hammers, hadn't admitted to ball tampering in his own fucking book.
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@mariner4life said in Ashes 2025/6:
@Catogrande said in Ashes 2025/6:
@MN5 said in Ashes 2025/6:
Might have to side with Smith on this one
I quite liked Monty's reply:-
Former England spinner Monty Panesar has responded to Steve Smith's bizarre swipe at him by saying he made his mistakes "on a quiz show", while the stand-in Australia captain "made his on a cricket field".
this might hold a lot more water if Monty, who is apparently as dumb as a sack of hammers, hadn't admitted to ball tampering in his own fucking book.
I did love my trip to America, one of my favourite cities ever.
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