Re: The Ashes 2013
Why is Ben Stokes being thought of as next Gary Sobers, what is special about Stokes?
Of course comparing him to Sobers is ridiculous but he looks to be a talented player. Bowls in the high 80s and the hundred he just scored on a very difficult pitch against a top notch attack was brilliant.
No current Pakistani player would have made more than 40 on that pitch against Johnson, Harris and Siddle - never mind a 100.
Re: The Ashes 2013
The same trio of Johnson, Siddle and Harris would struggle in India and UAE.
Re: The Ashes 2013
Afridi would’ve scored a 100 in 40 balls 
Re: The Ashes 2013
Australia make it 4-0 in Melbourne
England endured a 5-0 whitewash in 2006-07 and it seems that their fate will be the same this time
BBC Sport - Ashes 2013-2014: Australia cruise to win over England
Re: The Ashes 2013
Bumble (David Lloyd) impersonates Bob Willis
Re: The Ashes 2013
We are whitewashing the same Australian team in the UAE .........Or atleast winning it for sure
Re: The Ashes 2013
Proof that* iss duniya mein log sirif charhtey sooraj ko salam karte hain; doobti kishti ko koi sahara nahin deyta*
Predictable reaction: Now many incl. senior cricinfo correspondent George Dobell are calling for coach Flower’s head totally disregarding the fact that most of the current test teams are home bullies, i.e. winning at home (barring SA, though not invinicible by any stretch of imagination, a very good but not a great test side).
Yes England have not played (esp. batted & fielded) well and shouldn’t have been 4-0 down by now but I always thought that Australia would win at home
Dobell: Flower’s time is up, England need a fresh approach | Cricket News | England in Australia - The Ashes | ESPN Cricinfo
In August 2013 the same Dobell predicted an English win down under
Ashes aftermath, a conversation with George Dobell! - HITC Sport
Re: The Ashes 2013
^ I don't think calling for coach's head is bad considering how bad this team has been batting, there haven't been "good" innings from senior players, only few good knocks IMO, but not good enough to secure a draw or win.
Re: The Ashes 2013
There is no single great test team right now. Most teams are winning at home
A few recent exceptions:
South Africa beat Australia 3-1 in Australia in 2012/13 England won Ashes 3-1 in Australia in 2010/11 England beat India 2-1 in India in 2013
As far as i know back in 2012/13 SAF beat AUS in AUS 1-0 as they played only 3 Test Matches
Re: The Ashes 2013
You’re right. SA won 1-0 (3 match series) in 2012/13
Re: The Ashes 2013
For the 5th time in this Ashes, England squandered an advantageous position in the first innings and Haddin (wk) rescued Australia
First Test (Brisbane) Australia 100/5 recovered to 295, Haddin 94
Second Test (Adelaide) Aus 174/4 (although not such a bad position) >>> 570, **Haddin 118
**Third Test (Perth) Aus 143/5 >>> 385, **Haddin 55
Fourth Test (Melbourne) Aus 112/5 >>> 204, Haddin 65
**Fifth Test (Sydney) Aus 97/5 >>> 326, **Haddin 75
**England left to curse Haddin again | London Evening Standard
Re: The Ashes 2013
Haddin has the best average so far, 465 runs at 66.42
Re: The Ashes 2013
Johnson is in phenomenal form, 37 wickets in 5 matches. His bowling made all the difference.
Re: The Ashes 2013
No English batter in top 5 of the series . This English team looks mentally shattered . Dont know the reason . There must be something going inside.
Look how cook and swann run away ??
Re: The Ashes 2013
Only one English batsman averaged 30+ in the series, Ben Stokes 34.87. just not good enough at this level
This is England’s third Ashes 5-0 whitewash. 1921 (Aus captain: Warwick Armstrong), 2006/7 (Ricky Ponting) and 2013/14 (Michael Clarke)
Re: The Ashes 2013
Haddin’s 493 runs is a new record for the number of runs scored by a batsman in a test series outside the top 6. I think Gilchrist previously held the record
Re: The Ashes 2013
Aussies right back where they belong. And all due to one man’s redemption: Mitchell Johnson! :k:
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I won’t say that yet. If Ashes were played in England this Summer, it would be a close contest and England would just edge it imo. Johnson’s real test would be when Aussies play their next test series in India, UAE etc.
The same Johnson struggled in Lanka in 2011 taking just 6 wickets in 3 tests at a pathetic average of 52.17 (SR 101.67)
Re: The Ashes 2013
plus Lyon is not a world-class spinner. He would struggle in places like India, Lanka and UAE