Top level professional sport is won by very small margins. Luck plays less of a part over a series than it does in, say, an ODI, but Australia only need to be a little bit better than us, consistently, to produce a hammering. The media warble on about our squad being rubbish, or not trying, which is just nonsense.
The Ashes
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swee'pea99
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That's certainly true, and I'm not suggesting it was decisive, but I do think an already very challenging series was made significantly harder by the significantly unlucky losing of the first four tosses.2852910 said:
Cyclist33
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I read earlier that England are in danger (what?) of creating a new record. The only side to lose 100 wickets in a five test series. It's going to take a good side (or a superb spin bowler) to challenge the Aussie team. Who are they up against next?
In other news, I have a ticket for MCC v Rest of the World on July 5th at The Wood of St John.
In other news, I have a ticket for MCC v Rest of the World on July 5th at The Wood of St John.
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I went to bed when it was 23-5, I could have done better! And I have not played since 1991
2852910 said:
I don't agree. The effect of scoring systems in professional sport, especially cricket, is that small differences in skill and luck turn into huge margins in scores. This Australian side is not ten times as good as this English side, any more than Hull City were six times as good a team as Fulham last weekend - and in last summer's series Australia didn't win a single Ashes game, with similar personnel. That's why it's daft to pillory the England side as a set of donkeys.
If you look at individual sports which are similarly competitive, such as athletics or distance running, you can see that the differences in ability are actually tiny.
Lullabelle
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I don't follow the cricket so don't know much about it but it just seems that England &Australia have been playing all last year, I know they don't play 365 days but it feels like it because of the news constantly going on about it 
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It's easy to follow:I don't follow the cricket so don't know much about it but it just seems that England &Australia have been playing all last year, I know they don't play 365 days but it feels like it because of the news constantly going on about it
You have two sides, one out in the field and one in. Each man that's in the side that's in goes out, and when he's out he comes in and the next man goes in until he's out. When they are all out, the side that's out comes in and the side thats been in goes out and tries to get those coming in, out. Sometimes you get men still in and not out.
When a man goes out to go in, the men who are out try to get him out, and when he is out he goes in and the next man in goes out and goes in. There are two men called umpires who stay all out all the time and they decide when the men who are in are out. When both sides have been in and all the men have been out, and both sides have been out twice after all the men have been in, including those who are not out, that is the end of the game!
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1 'attitudinal = 100 nautical miles' ie: a sea-change is needed.2853634 said:
FWIW, England won the toss.
The main difference, apart from the Aussie fast bowlers being a bit better than ours, is that they have found someone to dig them out of the 1st innings mire every time. Often Haddin, sometimes Watson, Smith or even Johnson. It's an ability that England had around 2005 and beyond but have looked fragile these days and low in confidence.
We beat Australia over here in the summer albeit with the rub of the green so the difference between the teams isn't as vast as it looks but we are a side in need of rebuilding and it may take some time.
The main difference, apart from the Aussie fast bowlers being a bit better than ours, is that they have found someone to dig them out of the 1st innings mire every time. Often Haddin, sometimes Watson, Smith or even Johnson. It's an ability that England had around 2005 and beyond but have looked fragile these days and low in confidence.
We beat Australia over here in the summer albeit with the rub of the green so the difference between the teams isn't as vast as it looks but we are a side in need of rebuilding and it may take some time.
Accy cyclist
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The humiliation is complete! Am i being naive in suggesting that they could've let England win the last test to avoid such an humiliation?! Mind you we are talking about Australians here. They aren't renown for their sense of fair play or etiquette i suppose.
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2854957 said:
Yes i suppose you're right. They wouldn't have let us win and then pretended that we won the last test fair and square
. Knowing them they'd have told the worlds media that they let us win! 
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[QUOTE 2854971, member: 1314"]I've not been following in detail. Who would you keep in the England side? Broad's figures looked ok. Carberry had the 3rd highest English batting average but by all accounts looked spooked. Guess Cook, KP and Bell will keep their places.[/quote]
I'd keep them all - mind you, I'm Scottish
I'd keep them all - mind you, I'm Scottish
Accy cyclist
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[QUOTE 2854971, member: 1314"]I've not been following in detail. Who would you keep in the England side? Broad's figures looked ok. Carberry had the 3rd highest English batting average but by all accounts looked spooked. Guess Cook, KP and Bell will keep their places.[/quote]
Oh i don't know much about cricket to suggest who is and who isn't selected. I'm just sounding off from a peed off with England losing to Australia at sport once again position! It's a bit like the non football fan who gets mad at England being knocked out of the World Cup by Germany(once again). They or i wouldn't suggest which selection or tactics should've been used, just that we are ~@#! off that we've been beaten by them once again!
Oh i don't know much about cricket to suggest who is and who isn't selected. I'm just sounding off from a peed off with England losing to Australia at sport once again position! It's a bit like the non football fan who gets mad at England being knocked out of the World Cup by Germany(once again). They or i wouldn't suggest which selection or tactics should've been used, just that we are ~@#! off that we've been beaten by them once again!
Keep Stokes, Broad, Anderson, Cook, Bell and (Prior if he gets some form back)
In truth, you'd have to keep faith with some of the others on this tour because the class from the county pool is limited.
KP wil survive probably as will the young'uns Root, Ballance, Bairstow.
In truth, you'd have to keep faith with some of the others on this tour because the class from the county pool is limited.
KP wil survive probably as will the young'uns Root, Ballance, Bairstow.
