The Ashes.

[only1billybonds]

Just been announced that Josh Hazlewood will miss the first test due to start in Perth next Friday. This is a big blow to the Australians as they will already be without their captain and no.1 pace bowler Pat Cummins.

Englands preparations for the tour has been questioned by many as they have opted to play no warm up games aside from a one off against the English lions. 

Many are saying that its crucial that we get of to a good start in Perth which basically means we cant afford to lose seeing as the 2nd test in Brisbane is a day/night game ( fucking ridiculous) where the Aussies are strongly fancied.

Looking forward to this now but really unsure of how it will play out, I guess I'd still make them slight favourites due to home advantage. Going to be a few all nighters in the coming weeks for me, let's hope it'll be worth it.

[SurfaceAgentX2Zero]

From the BBC

'Andrew Strauss' wife, Ruth, who died in 2018 from non-smoking lung cancer.'

Is 'non-smoking lung cancer' a bit like 'good AIDS' 

[Fauxstralian]

Pretty even day with Australia taking 170/7 & knocking off 166
Would have been Australia’s but for the late wicket of Labuschagne 
England still ahead given Australia have to bat last as the wicket deteriorates 
Australia with too many all rounders bat deep but tomorrow is a massive day for a few especially Green , Webster & Khawaja 

[fraser]

I have not bothered to stay up for the last two tests. I saw a replay of Smith's wicket. He wont be going up the batting order anytime soon. He has been dropped for the T20 World Cup

I stayed up long enough to see that wicket.. 
Wtf

[Westham67]

I have not bothered to stay up for the last two tests. I saw a replay of Smith's wicket. He wont be going up the batting order anytime soon. He has been dropped for the T20 World Cup

[Fauxstralian]

Massive missed opportunity for England 
End of an era for Australia, reckon at least half of this squad will be gone by the mid 2027 Ashes in England.
Khawaja, Hazlewood, Boland, Lyon, Neser & probably Smith retired
Wetherald, Labuschagne & Green dropped

[Come On You Irons]

This England team finally wakes up in the two dead rubber matches. Sums them up.

Flat track bullies and total melts when the heat is on.

[Fauxstralian]

Englands (shortened) day at Sydney
Sad day for Test cricket when neither team selects a specialist spinner for the second successive Test

[Fauxstralian]

It’s an average Australian team even they hold every bilateral Test trophy and the ODI World Cup
Havent sorted their preseries problems with the top 3 and the key bowlers have missed most Tests
No Hazlewood, Cummins one Test & Lyon 2 overs at Perth & an incomplete Adelaide Test
The good news is that as Dads Army moves on there is some exceptional talent in the wings

[Fat, Bald n 50]

4th test doesn't gloss over the problems, Key (and it hurts me to say this as a Kent man) and McCullum need to go.  Bazball is a disaster and fails more than it succeeds.  We've made a bog average Australian side look like the far superior Aussie sides of the late 90's early 00's.

[Takashi Miike]

[Westham67]

Atkinson is out for the last test

[Westside]

England win the toss, bowl first and win. Other two times they've won the toss this series and batted first they've lost. Makes a mockery of those who criticise England for bowling first, when they win the toss.

[Fauxstralian]

Sad?
Australia lead 3-1 having played Englands ‘greatest team for 15 years’ with a decimated bowling attack & no top 3
Beaten England AND New Zealand plus the turgid tediosity that is ‘Nigel Farages Gammon Army’ with their trumpet & banality 
Hilarious
 

[Massive Attack]

Then why aint he backing our* boys instead then??


*Those that are English like me

[Come On You Irons]

Is Fauxstralian actually English and lives in England? 

Yes. This is why we call Sven the "plastic Aussie" and why everyone thinks he a complete joke with his cricket "wit" and "trolling".

He is just an incredibly sad human being.

[fraser]

Is Fauxstralian actually English and lives in England? 

 

[Massive Attack]

Is Fauxstralian actually English and lives in England? 

[fraser]

The only repetitive dirge going on here, is you banging on about Australia (outside of cricket) that no one gives a fuck about, you plastic Aussie cսnt.

From his home in London where he prefers to be over Australia... 

[Far Cough UKunt]

The only repetitive dirge going on here, is you banging on about Australia (outside of cricket) that no one gives a fuck about, you plastic Aussie cսnt.

[Fauxstralian]

Has been a lot of whining about how terrible it is to spend summer in various Australian cities with lots of spare time to sight see plus get out of the cities to some wineries (Margaret River, Barossa Valley etc) & beach resorts 
Barmy Army = Nigel Farages Gammon Army
With trumpets & repetitive dirges

[Westham67]

I hope Potts gets a go in Sydney. I was in the same year as Steve Potts at school. We played together in our school cricket team. He could bat, I could bowl. His mum worked in a small clothes shop near our school called "Debbies"

[Come On You Irons]

Result not a validation of Bazball, but credit where credit is due. Before the homophobic racist convict points it out, first England win in  Australia in 19 tests.

Are you a member of the ' Barmies  Army'...I use the term Army very loosely .
Embarrassing cunts  on a jolly on daddies dough.
Id side with the  local divs
... all ..day.. fuckin... long 

I agree with this. I find these organised tour groups to be totally cringe. Basically it's as you called it, a massive jolly with a bit of cricket thrown in as an excuse for an expensive jolly holiday. The "ultras" with that annoying trumpet are pathetic.

It made me laugh when all these rich poshos moaned about all the money they spent "following" the team across the globe and being "let down" by the players 

Yeah, what a shocker it is for them voluntarily spending winter in Australia pissing it up for weeks on end!

[Massive Attack]

Sometimes chucking in a raw young flashy fucker/innocence in sport does good as they are often fearless, almost ignorant to the importance of it all and carry little pressure on their shoulders. It's why I often have a lot of trust in our Academy players if I see enough glimpses of talent thinking they'll handle it better than some give them credit for - Looks in Potter/Moyes direction. If they have the ability, chuck them in at the deep end to see if they can sink or swim at that level. No point trying to over protect them for fear of possibly triggering their thoughts and feelings. This can now be the making of them to realise they can belong if they keep their head screwed on remaining humble and professional. 

[Westside]

Result not a validation of Bazball, but credit where credit is due. Before the homophobic racist convict points it out, first England win in  Australia in 19 tests.

Are you a member of the ' Barmies  Army'...I use the term Army very loosely .
Embarrassing cunts  on a jolly on daddies dough.
Id side with the  local divs
... all ..day.. fuckin... long 

Nope. Haven't been abroad to watch England play cricket since the 90's. Then I travelled independently and sat wherever I could get tickets.

[Monsieur merde de cheval]

Winning in Australia is no mean feat, the first test since 2011. Bethell 40 is a good sign, pleased for the Barmy Army

Bethall was chucked in the deep end and showed a pair .