My dear old things, it's STW TMS!

That’s exactly what I’m expecting as well.🙄

Yes, My prediction is Aus declaring at 410-7 and England being 40-3 at the close.

Whether it’s selection or tactics England just get it wrong too often don’t they? Captain or coach to blame?

So, what’s the betting we’ll see Root and a nightwatchman at stumps today?

That’s optimistic!

Convert – you’re a bit optimistic too!

That’s the series gone surely? Even if they escape with a draw here they need to win 2 of the last 3 – no chance.

That’s optimistic!

Yup. Hameed gone too. Could well be deep into the middle order by close.

Yeesh

Saved by lightening?

I don’t know why you’re all so pessimistic: we’ve eight wickets in hand and are a mere 456 runs behind. Should have those knocked off in four sessions.

Convert – you’re a bit optimistic too!

Arse.

So, is it time for a change at the top of the order? Crawley for Burns perhaps? Or dare I say Bairstow?

God, not Bairstow! Unless you just tell him to play in one day mode and accept a lot of daft dismissals. That you suggested him reflects the paucity of options, surely?

Well today has gone well 😔 We’ve still got the trickier batting conditions to come as well.

Shambolic really. Got lucky with the lightning last night, Aussies missing their best two bowlers, best day for batting so far, flat pitch etc – cue England rolling over.

I guess it’s not a surprise given they’re worse at batting, bowling and fielding.

Dismal. They need someone to spice up the batting, a little unpredictability. Put Livingstone in, oops no he didn’t go.
Prepare for a rapid Aussie 200 declaration, then skittle us out and play golf on day 5.

I look forward to the Boxing Day test match, stay up drinking/eating. Think this year will be the first in some time that I won’t bother

It’s just daft really. They are totally unprepared, and haven’t even had the warm-up matches, and it shows.

I’m starting to think that the much maligned 90s England would’ve made a better fist of this. Atherton, Gooch, Stewart & Thorpe look like a stronger batting unit at least.

We are only in the second test. I’m absolutely confident that we can learn lessons from this and the Brisbane shambles, come back stronger and win the next three.

Can’t we Joe?

That’ll be his cut and paste response in the post match interviews tomorrow

5/0
It’s not just the batting they look like they don’t want to be in the same team.
Something missing and it’s not the top of the stumps

Well, with that flurry of Aussie wickets before 6:30 this morning I dared to dream. Then, with 4 and a bit sessions to bat, I hoped Burns and Hameed would just stick around for at least an hour. But no, Hameed goes for a duck and slowly but surely we’re back to relying on the middle order. This could now be over by lunch tomorrow.

It’ll be all over by the time my 06:00 alarm goes off

As ever, it’s the hope that kills you.

at least we’ve shown some backbone

Well, regardless of how he got himself out, Buttler has shown plenty of backbone for sure and redeemed himself somewhat. Too little too late IMO and we need a longer term replacement once this tour is over. Pope and many others need to take a good look at themselves. Plus the selectors need a rocket.

Oh well, 7 overs in and both openers gone. Hmm, what chances the Aussies are batting by before close …

Boxing Day test going well already 😳

Not much they could do with those balls though TBF.

Just woke up and we’re 140/6 – winviz giving England a 17% chance of victory. FFS. 🤦‍♂️

159/8, well at least there’s no ‘It’s the hope that kills you’ type issues now…

Ffs, useless

Robinson is playing a highly entertaining cameo here but the ashes is basically over already on day 1 of the third test. 🤦‍♂️

Edit: jinxed him 😂

Time for a new coaching team and a new captain. These kind of performances are far too frequent and are starting to affect home performances to. Maybe even put Anderson and Broad out to pasture.

I’d agree we need a new captain but who?

Here we go again.
I think there’s some serious questions on the coach, they’re without a plan and have been all series and that must stop at Silverwood.
I too wonder if Root will fall on his sword. The issue is who would take the captaincy on? The only safe spots in the team bar Root are Malan (no captaincy experience, limited tests), Stokes (have we learned from Botham and Flintoff?) and Robinson which would be a proper curve ball. Unless they bring in a project captain who they invest in for the future I’m struggling as to who’s take it.

Rumors the bolwing team and half the batting coaching side are off at the end of the winter. It will be a huge shame if broad and Anderson get rembered for this mess.
No openers
Iffy wicket keeper
Lack of archer
Team work in the bin.
Bowling coaching is wrong for the southern hemisphere nevermind the conditions.

Feels like the Gower era

*The backroom part not the player I always like Gower

…Aye….Grim reading 🙄🙄🙄

Agree coach change needed, possibly captain and time to say cheerio to Anderson, maybe Broad too. If Archer and Stone were fit they may not have travelled. I see Root is back to pretty 50s again, rather than big tons.

I don’t think you can underestimate the covid impact too – away from home, in a bubble, in bloody Australia for Xmas, covid raging back home – I think that’ll knock another 10% off performance.

The ‘team’ have been in a bubble of sorts for too long. Too much cricket full stop. No players in county cricket average 45 or above so who to replace this lot with? Once upon a time players used to learn their trade playing during the winter in Oz and SA. Now they ply their trade in one of the permanently running various T-versions of the game. I don’t blame them. They want to earn. I don’t think any English bowling attack will be moulded again until Broad and Anderson retire. They have been great servants but England have relied on them for too long. Since Swan, no spinner has ever been a permanent pick. One needs to be. Like Lyon for the Aussies, or Jadeja/Ashwin for the Indian team. Consistency has to be the way forward. I blame the coaching, selection and management. Sorry in advance for the ramble.

TLDR: English cricket is sh1t and depressing.