Ashes version 2025

[foxmerts]

One of the best ever test series rivalries is only weeks away and as a test cricket sad case- nut job that can sit for hours and hours for five days cannot wait .

So looking as usual looking for value and hopefully found a couple

Top wicket taker

Jofra Archer - going to terrify the Ozzie top order with the extra pace and bounce -$6.50

Josh Hazlewood - almost a clone  to  Glenn Mcgarth $ 5.5

Typical TAB I'm pretty sure Pat Cummins is out for a fair bit of the series but still have him at $8.00 but happy to be proven wrong

Top batter

Joe Root -$5.50 value bet for me

Zak Crawley - crazy money at $17

Yes no Ozzie -only because I think the order is more fragile

Series score 

England 2-1 - $19 

Australia 3-1 - $ 8.00

Both teams have a very volatile batting order and both are hit and miss - IMO the Perth and Sydney tests are the ones that will decide the outcome

Remember it's just Foxy's opinion

[Maximus]

Tremendous contest already at Perth on Day 1.
Poms self destructing in less than 33 overs but at 5+rpo ...madness...and Aust 33-4 after 18 overs in reply taking the -dig-n-if we can approach.
What's that? Only 50 overs and 14 wickets gone already. Bowlers having a ball; batsmen not so much, with Smith getting a right royal working over from Archer.

[mikenz]

Not sure if 19 wickets and 72 overs in a day is all that wonderful, no one batting sticks around anymore.

[Maximus]

part of the fascination of modern Test cricket..fans need to be entertained not bored silly. Having said that, some of the shot selection by batsmen on both sides yesterday was appalling./ Juicy prospect ahead, though with low first innings scores ...and I note that for the first time in the history of Test cricket, the opening partnership failed to score a run in the first three innings..wonder if it will become four? We may not have to wait long to find out!

[mikenz]

If England can get a lead over 220 it could be interesting but surely aussie couldn't bad as badly again, surely.

[Maximus]

another dreadful batting display by England..and they got their just desserts accordingly.

[stodge]

8 hours ago, Maximus said:

another dreadful batting display by England..and they got their just desserts accordingly.

Very much a sense of shock over here this evening. From having the Aussies by the throat we lost the game in a couple of hours.

Travis Head played a wonderful innings to steer the Aussies home and in less than 30 overs. Psychologically, it's a huge blow for England as we were in the match and it got taken away ruthlessly.

[Pure Steel]

Poms Bombs. 2 words that go together . Bombed out badly again those poor pommies. Have the Barmy Army Ever Been so quiet ?? 

4 hours of magic Ashes cricket  after Lunch yesterday. whatta ripper that was.

Poms have bombed out 5-0, 4-0 and 4-0 the last 3 Ashes series run in Australia and look set to add to that fine record .

(The Baggies retained the Ashes playing in England twice in between those Series wins with Two x 2-2 draws , so retained Ashes both times) 

Bring back some magic BAZBall England ?  . I could see Baz quietly smiling on the sidelines when Head took the game off them yesterday. . The kiwi in him supporting his good neighbours instead of those whinging Pom -Pom Bombs lol.  

[mikenz]

The difference between Heads batting and the rest is, it came off, 2 days for a test, unreal, Mitchell Starc again was Bazas nemesis, harking back to his third ball duck in World Cup final.......you would hope that there will be more Cricket in the next games.

[Maximus]

the difference between Head's batting and the rest is also that he took advantage of a pitch starting to flatten out -as one might expect into the afternoon of Day 2. 

[Farnarkler]

There's a video doing the rounds of a Pom sitting in the crowd texting his mate saying he's changing his flights and will be home by Tue!........he won't be Robinson Crusoe.

[mikenz]

Our lot get to play in Perth next year plus 3 other test, think they only got extra test as no one else touring, that's a massive challenge. Not losing in Perth is the main objective, Taylor got to 290 to set up a draw, and I think Greatbatch did same some time ago, I just doubt these days anyone would want to hang around that long now.

[Maximus]

Good Lord ..strike me down wiv a fevver ...clickit all over at Perth, of course, so Clicket-Mad Max channel-surfed to Day 2 of Test 2 IND v SAF ..
and after 112 overs SAF are not only still batting, but batting in their FIRST INNINGS. 322-6 scoring at under 3 an over.
Astonishing stuff.

[Maximus]

and as a just reward have had the pleasure of seeing a young all-rounder score his maiden Test century with a patient. diligent knock that has real significance for his team's chances against hosts India. Well done, young man ..Remember the name Senuran Muthusamy ...left arm spinner with a good brain for Test cricket.

[Maximus]

Day 3 30 overs gone as India try to recover after conceding nearly 500 to SAF.. nothing to see here, cos its just meandering along tame as can be ... none down for about 100 but really it's Day 3 aint it and we may as well turn the lights out here ...but ...hang on, wossup? All of a sudden its 120-6 after 42 overs ..

THAT'S REAL TEST CRICKET, SEE ..not the glorified T20 Bazball TravBall in Perth.

[mikenz]

5 hours ago, Maximus said:

Day 3 30 overs gone as India try to recover after conceding nearly 500 to SAF.. nothing to see here, cos its just meandering along tame as can be ... none down for about 100 but really it's Day 3 aint it and we may as well turn the lights out here ...but ...hang on, wossup? All of a sudden its 120-6 after 42 overs ..

THAT'S REAL TEST CRICKET, SEE ..not the glorified T20 Bazball TravBall in Perth.

I know what ya mean, even India don't want to hang around much it seems  these days , out for 206, South Africa should squeeze the life out of them, and maybe win series 2 0,  i guess if you look at  if India have more than 500 to chase why would they bother, a draw is still losing the series and they probably don't care,  yes good test  Cricket is compelling but  good test games are getting few and far between, I'm picking NZ bar weather issues winning series 3 zip against the windies.

 

[foxmerts]

'Disappointing ' is the word that sticks to mind when it comes to regarding the pommie effort - thought they had them when despite being 3 down the field was pretty well all over the place ( typical Smith captaincy ) and whilst ' bazeball' is a fairly new concept , there are times to shelf it and that was the moment.

Two well set players coulda milked the ones and two till the cow came home but could not help themselves ( disappointed again ) and the rest floated the same boat

The bowling attack bullied their way thru the Ozzies and bruised the crap  outa em and was great to watch ( real test cricket ) but it turned into a game of two halves and typical Ozzie fashion came back and was painful to watch at times.

Credit to Stark and Head both head and shoulders above the rest

Hopefully England learn quick enough to learn to pick and choose the moments better for ' bazball' or its already over

IMO in regards to India who somehow despite all the superstars they continue to under deliver - ever since the 2019 tour of Oz ( whicjh IMO is 1 of the best ever ) they've struggled  for consistency since - but thats just y opinion

Bring on The Gabba

[Maximus]

and IMO hardly enough praise being dished out to Starc ...10 wkts in a pivotal Ashes Test (ie one that sets the tone of the Series).. most of the yap post-Test has been about what Head did in the 4th innings. What Starc did in the first and third innings was what knocked England off their stroke. The catch to remove Crawley in his first over of the Poms' second dig was astonishing. And if memory serves he also outfoxed superman/saviour Stokes

[mikenz]

23 minutes ago, foxmerts said:

'Disappointing ' is the word that sticks to mind when it comes to regarding the pommie effort - thought they had them when despite being 3 down the field was pretty well all over the place ( typical Smith captaincy ) and whilst ' bazeball' is a fairly new concept , there are times to shelf it and that was the moment.

Two well set players coulda milked the ones and two till the cow came home but could not help themselves ( disappointed again ) and the rest floated the same boat

The bowling attack bullied their way thru the Ozzies and bruised the crap  outa em and was great to watch ( real test cricket ) but it turned into a game of two halves and typical Ozzie fashion came back and was painful to watch at times.

Credit to Stark and Head both head and shoulders above the rest

Hopefully England learn quick enough to learn to pick and choose the moments better for ' bazball' or its already over

IMO in regards to India who somehow despite all the superstars they continue to under deliver - ever since the 2019 tour of Oz ( whicjh IMO is 1 of the best ever ) they've struggled  for consistency since - but thats just y opinion

Bring on The Gabba

In some ways England and India drawing 2 all last English summer and the way they seem to be so fickle these days they may not be the heavyweights in test cricket they are perceived as being, probably don't care anyway.

[mikenz]

6pm and India 66 for 5, no application whatsoever, roll on the next 20 20 series and will all be hunky dory , sign of the times for Cricket.

[Uriah Heap]

On 11/23/2025 at 9:55 AM, Maximus said:

the difference between Head's batting and the rest is also that he took advantage of a pitch starting to flatten out -as one might expect into the afternoon of Day 2. 

Yeah, it flattened out sure and Head batted well, but the English bowlers looked a different bunch from the ones who'd bowled in the first innings. From 'Super impressive' to 'Ineffective' all in 2 days. That's what stood out for me.

[foxmerts]

Have the Poms learned from the last  test - two players well set - field fairly spread and a chance to milk the runs or does bazeball take ova

Not a test they can afford to loose- time will only tell

[foxmerts]

Surely the Poms can't fark this one up - wots been a complete let down  ( disaster )hopefully they can for once get 1 for the fans

[mikenz]

Test Cricket is slowly fading if this is indicative of a so called major series, Aussie will probably lose more than England winning but Australia have achieved their objective already.......once the focus switches then strange results can creep in....remember they did lose to the Windies either last year or the year before.

[Maximus]

17 minutes ago, mikenz said:

Test Cricket is slowly fading if this is indicative of a so called major series, Aussie will probably lose more than England winning but Australia have achieved their objective already.......once the focus switches then strange results can creep in....remember they did lose to the Windies either last year or the year before.

Well, Ashes aint slowly fading if 94,000+ at the MCG is anything to go by...