What we learned from the 4th test

[Burgey]

It's kind of amazing that with an ATG bowling line up, being saved by rain from defeat in both 2019 and 2023, Smith having an all timer in 2019, that Aus still haven't won a series here for a quarter of a century. Pretty damning tbh, and that's clearly not changing any time soon.

Weirdly, if England had rolled out the pitches they do now, Aus would probably have won in 2016 and 2019

 

[mackembhoy]

Marnus averaged 60 odd at one point too mate. It's very early days for both of them. They'll get found out during the Ashes out here, all Englishmen do. At best they, like Root by the time he finishes, will end up averaging mid-high 40s. Which is fine, it puts them in the very good category, or as it's known in England "all time great level."

Brook is a better player than Marnus and won't have the same drop that he's had.

His technique isn't a big issue he's just as thick as a castle wall.

He'd have already got 3000 runs and been standalone second to the Don, if he had more than one braincell.

As it is he's not beating Weekes/Marnus to the 3000 mark as he's not scoring 344 in his next 2 knocks. Unlikely he does it in 3 to match them either.

 

[Spark]

Brook is a better player than Marnus and won't have the same drop that he's had.

His technique isn't a big issue he's just as thick as a castle wall.

He'd have already got 3000 runs and been standalone second to the Don, if he had more than one braincell.

As it is he's not beating Weekes/Marnus to the 3000 mark as he's not scoring 344 in his next 2 knocks. Unlikely he does it in 3 to match them either.

Ehhh I do want to see how he plays extra bounce tbh; high backlift players who plant the front foot and try to drive on the up do have problems with that at times and he looked a bit troubled by it at stages in 2023.

 

[LangleyburyCCPlayer]

Ehhh I do want to see how he plays extra bounce tbh; high backlift players who plant the front foot and try to drive on the up do have problems with that at times and he looked a bit troubled by it at stages in 2023.

Because he didn’t play in India, Australia will only be the 4th country Brook will have played in, it will certainly be a different challenge to Pakistan, New Zealand and England

 

[Blenkinsop]

Has Brook ever played club cricket in Australia?

 

[Uppercut]

The association between attacking batting and "stupidity" is starting to really grate on me. Everyone is trying to find a balance between attack and defence, but it's only when they err in one direction that they get personal remarks about their intelligence. I thought Jadeja didn't bat aggressively enough in the third test but I wouldn't dream of saying something like "he's thick as a castle wall" over it.

 

[cascade]

Has Brook ever played club cricket in Australia?

He played a season for UNSW in 2018/19 and did pretty well. Also couple of games in Tas when he was there for the BBL.

 

[Burgey]

The association between attacking batting and "stupidity" is starting to really grate on me. Everyone is trying to find a balance between attack and defence, but it's only when they err in one direction that they get personal remarks about their intelligence. I thought Jadeja didn't bat aggressively enough in the third test but I wouldn't dream of saying something like "he's thick as a castle wall" over it.

I think Brook is stupid because he described Root as the greatest test batsman of all time the other day.

 

[trundler]

I think Brook is stupid because he described Root as the greatest test batsman of all time the other day.

I think most guys who are teammates with a great player do this sort of thing. It's at least more defensible than claiming Anderson is the best fast bowler of all time. Kohli had similar PR among players and coaches and he's not on the same level as Root.

 

[mackembhoy]

I think Brook is stupid because he described Root as the greatest test batsman of all time the other day.

Both Root and Stokes have called him thick.

Root comments on him

"As much as he's an idiot away from cricket — I can say that because I've known him for ever — he's very cricket-intelligent!', said Root.

'He might not always be the most intelligent away from cricket, but he understands the game exceptionally well.

On the eve of the Oval Test against South Africa, Stokes was asked about his new batsman, and after the usual platitudes about him being a “huge talent” and one for the future, Stokes had a little laugh. “He’s a bit dumb.”

Brook, the brightest English batting talent in the game right now, laughs at the memory. “He came straight in the dressing room and said sorry after he said that. I’m not very 'school-smart' but I would say I’m fairly cricket-smart. I’m streetwise but educationally? Nah, I'm not very good. I’m shocking at quizzes.”

 

[Blenkinsop]

Graham Gooch was notoriously dim, still did OK though.

 

[Son Of Coco]

i agree that the concept of "retaining" the ashes is kind of goofy, but yes, this post is unequivocally correct - australia's performances in england have been much better than england's performances here but it's disappointing it hasn't been enough to win a series outright. part of it goes to spuddy selections with the bat, like giving a passport to davey warner that allows him to travel anywhere other than south africa, or giving a passport at all to marcus harris. part of it is also credited to england's great performances at home where broad and woakes can be demons too!

And the pitches that have been churned out.

 

[ashley bach]

Optimism and hope are one thing but realism is another @Molehill

How can England win the Ashes down under when they can't win it at home?

Honestly it's exceptionally difficult not to see your lads getting cream pied again, despite Australia having their own share of problems.

 

[Molehill]

Optimism and hope are one thing but realism is another @Molehill

How can England win the Ashes down under when they can't win it at home?

Honestly it's exceptionally difficult not to see your lads getting cream pied again, despite Australia having their own share of problems.

I've never said they would win, but I wouldn't write the bowlers off because of their stats on these pitches. If Bumrah can be well above his average, then so can everyone else (and they are).

Are we saying that all the Aussie batsmen are rubbish because of what they achieved in the W Indies?

 

[Red_Ink_Squid]

How can England win the Ashes down under when they can't win it at home?

The last Ashes was a 2-0 win from the 3 canonical Tests.

 

[ashley bach]

The last Ashes was a 2-0 win from the 3 canonical Tests.

Another moral victory for your lads then.

 

[Blenkinsop]

Are we saying that all the Aussie batsmen are rubbish because of what they achieved in the W Indies?

Not for that reason, no.

 

[Arachnödouche2.0]

I think most guys who are teammates with a great player do this sort of thing. It's at least more defensible than claiming Anderson is the best fast bowler of all time. Kohli had similar PR among players and coaches and he's not on the same level as Root.

Kohli was actually better than Root when he had that rep though.

 

[Spark]

Kohli was actually better than Root when he had that rep though.

That lasted quite a while though, even as his Test output went into deep and terminal decline pundits were still raving about him as head and shoulders above the rest

It's changed now though, as the last memory people have of him as a Test batsman is that compilation that CA uploaded to YouTube of him getting out the same way over and over again

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Optimism and hope are one thing but realism is another @Molehill

How can England win the Ashes down under when they can't win it at home?

Honestly it's exceptionally difficult not to see your lads getting cream pied again, despite Australia having their own share of problems.

The hope is basically the Aussies aren't very good and the bowling attack are Dad's Army.