Ashes 2025/6

Virgil

England have made just the 1 change for the 3rd test.
Decided against changes to the batting order (bringing in Bethell etc)

England XI:
1 Zak Crawley, 2 Ben Duckett, 3 Ollie Pope, 4 Joe Root, 5 Harry Brook, 6 Ben Stokes (capt), 7 Jamie Smith (wk), 8 Will Jacks, 9 Brydon Carse, 10 Jofra Archer, 11 Josh Tongue.

MN5

@Virgil said in Ashes 2025/6:

England have made just the 1 change for the 3rd test.
Decided against changes to the batting order (bringing in Bethell etc)

England XI:
1 Zak Crawley, 2 Ben Duckett, 3 Ollie Pope, 4 Joe Root, 5 Harry Brook, 6 Ben Stokes (capt), 7 Jamie Smith (wk), 8 Will Jacks, 9 Brydon Carse, 10 Jofra Archer, 11 Josh Tongue.

Great call, Bazball will work eventually and McCullum and Stokes can say "told you so"

Seriously, I hope it does work, would be nice to go into the boxing day test with the series still alive.

Virgil

Big last minute change, appears Steve Smith has pulled out of the test due to illness. Khawaja likely to replace him

MN5

@Virgil said in Ashes 2025/6:

Big last minute change, appears Steve Smith has pulled out of the test due to illness. Khawaja likely to replace him

I hope his back is up to it.

Duluth

1 Jake Weatherald, 2 Travis Head, 3 Marnus Labuschagne, 4 Usman Khawaja, 5 Cameron Green, 6 Alex Carey (wk), 7 Josh Inglis, 8 Pat Cummins (capt), 9 Mitchell Starc, 10 Nathan Lyon, 11 Scott Boland

No Quarter

Archer has started very well, can he maintain it though is the question. Carse has been pretty wayward, but both have a wicket each now and a Smith-less Aus batting lineup will be under some big pressure.

No Quarter

Geriatric Waj at the crease now, let's hope he doesn't put a hip out as well

MN5

@No-Quarter said in Ashes 2025/6:

Geriatric Waj at the crease now, let's hope he doesn't put a hip out as well

Turns 39 tomorrow. I wonder if he'll still be batting then ?

No Quarter

Dropped catches at crucial times is killing England this series

Chris B.

@No-Quarter said in Ashes 2025/6:

Dropped catches at crucial times is killing England this series

Should've had the Waj for 5 and 51/3 - which would have had England well on top on what's likely going to be a pretty benign pitch for much of the match.

Donsteppa

They look very much like bowling Usman back into form.

Donsteppa

And Jacks is cannon fodder.

Donsteppa

Bus change throws his wicket away first ball after lunch.

No Quarter

Absurd shot from Champagne lol, Archer with his 2nd

nzzp

@No-Quarter said in Ashes 2025/6:

Absurd shot from Champagne lol, Archer with his 2nd

got big on him. Hard after a break.

Donsteppa

And now Green too busy thinking about his T20 earnings plays an equally lazy shot.

nzzp

@Donsteppa said in Ashes 2025/6:

And now Green too busy thinking about his T20 earnings plays an equally lazy shot.

game on!

Donsteppa

Poor focus from Australia. Phoning it in after lunch.

nzzp

Far out. Jacks is a mediocre offspinner who's just getting belted. Poor selection and being treated disdainfully by the Aussies.

MN5

@nzzp said in Ashes 2025/6:

Far out. Jacks is a mediocre offspinner who's just getting belted. Poor selection and being treated disdainfully by the Aussies.

Basically an English Michael Bracewell. I wonder if they call him beast too ?

First class bowling average of 42 with less wickets than matches.

Kind of a specialist number 8 batsman who bowls a bit ?

The Silver Fern

Ashes 2025/6