Ashes 2025/6
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Yeah the poms have f'd up this series good and proper.
Poms have the raw material to get it done, but the Aussies have played it much smarter.Bazball does have a place. Just gotta pick the right time.
Aussies finished the 1st test off with bazball.Financial disaster; ACB guna make sure that the wickets are ultra flat for at least the next generation!
Didn't mind the shoot out myself; very entertaining.Test cricket got way better when ODI tactics and strategies came into it; dunno about the T20 version of test cricket tho.
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You can kind of see what the groundsman was going for when you look at how we've been preparing our pitches lately (the basin and hagley especially), where the pitch is almost as green as the outfield at the toss and often by tea a lot of the life is gone. I can see why they went for that option. Will be very interesting to see what way they go next year.
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Crowe rules “unsatisfactory” personally would have been great opportunity to say worst Australian action at MCG since 1981

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@bayimports said in Ashes 2025/6:
Crowe rules “unsatisfactory” personally would have been great opportunity to say worst Australian action at MCG since 1981

Could argue since 1987. Kinda worse with the Dyer The Liar action on top of the Morrison LB on McDermott ...
Noting that said Jeff Crowe was the captain.
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@booboo said in Ashes 2025/6:
@bayimports said in Ashes 2025/6:
Crowe rules “unsatisfactory” personally would have been great opportunity to say worst Australian action at MCG since 1981

Could argue since 1987. Kinda worse with the Dyer The Liar action on top of the Morrison LB on McDermott ...
Noting that said Jeff Crowe was the captain.
Nice, Jeff clearly missed a trick to have some fun with a serious matter
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@Donsteppa said in Ashes 2025/6:
Khawaja retiring at the end of the SCG test.
Hard to know, he might have genuinely continued on, but this might also have been his last chance to fully go out on his terms.
So far 16 test centuries.
Excellent record. Got better with age.
He'll be hoping to sneak past Mike Hussey into that 14th spot.
Crumbs Australia have had some amazing batsmen when you look through the list......Mark Waugh has the lowest average ( just under 42 ) of the top 24. That's very impressive in a way no other country can match.
Khawaja also makes interesting points about copping it from the media for his Golfing last month.......I could be wrong but I'm sure people would have given him grief no matter what race/religion he was. Comes across very "woe is me"
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@Virgil said in Ashes 2025/6:
Averaged 48 as an opener, nearly identical to Langer and only behind Hayden who averaged 50 (Australia top openers)
It pays not to do a direct comparison to our guys.
Mike Hussey ( I noticed him cos he is one above Khawaja ) had an outstanding career, helped by a magnificent start if I recall.
Michael Clarke ? a bit disappointing in that he let the average dip to 49.....
Fern favourite Dave Warner fifth on the list averaging 44 as an opener.
Matty Hayden averaging an unbelievable 50 as an opener, his little partner in crime Justin Langer only averaging 45.
Steve Waugh well and truly the best in his family. Same with Greg Chappell, both over 50, their stink brothers only managing early 40s.......
But back to the present, Khawaja retiring and uncertainly over Steve Smith ( 37 in June ) is music to Cam Greens ears I'm sure.
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@Godder said in Ashes 2025/6:
For openers, averaging over 40 is internationally good, and over 45 is high quality. Averaging over 50 is all time great stats, so getting close to that is telling of how good he actually was.
Hayden is underrated compared to legends like Ponting, Warne, McGrath etc. Not to mention in any other era Langer would be the outstanding opener of his generation.
I’d go for 40 as high quality personally. ( also allowing for different eras, Greenidge and Haynes averaged 44 and 42 respectively and they're revered as the absolute best of their era ) Remember their chances for not outs are extremely low and they’re facing the oppositions best bowlers.
Seems ironic to say it bearing in mind what we've witnessed lately but I reckon no other country has produced as many outstanding openers as England. Hobbs, Sutcliffe, Hutton, Edrich, Boycott, Gooch, Vaughan ( when he opened ), Trescothick, Strauss, Cook…..Atherton was a better player than his stats indicate….Stewart did a job when required.
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@MN5 said in Ashes 2025/6:
Khawaja also makes interesting points about copping it from the media for his Golfing last month.......I could be wrong but I'm sure people would have given him grief no matter what race/religion he was. Comes across very "woe is me"
Agreed. Similar to the English team in Noosa, anyone can generally do what they want so long as they stay injury free and win. Lose or get crocked, and then the microscope is on...
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@Donsteppa said in Ashes 2025/6:
@MN5 said in Ashes 2025/6:
Khawaja also makes interesting points about copping it from the media for his Golfing last month.......I could be wrong but I'm sure people would have given him grief no matter what race/religion he was. Comes across very "woe is me"
Agreed. Similar to the English team in Noosa, anyone can generally do what the want so long as they stay injury free and win. Lose or get crocked, and then the microscope is on...
Khawaja predictably being ripped apart on social media for his comments.
I've got no doubt he experienced prejudice growing up but there is a time and place for gripes and I don't think this is it.
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@MN5 said in Ashes 2025/6:
I've got no doubt he experienced prejudice growing up but there is a time and place for gripes and I don't think this is it.
100%
If you're out because of back spasms didn't be surprised if people look at your preparation. That's not racism. Racism will be through his career, but not convinced this is the place.