West Ham Online

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.

Thankfully, some of the Aussies threw their wickets away. But Archer bowled well. Gotta get the two remaining wickets cheaply, then bat properly…

Englands day
When you win the toss and bat you want to be 300/4 by stumps
Since Head in the First Test too many have got a start & not gone on
Reprieve for Khawaja but losing Smith on the morning of the Test is a blow
Green under a lot of pressure from Webster who has been excellent when he played & Inglis needs to do a lot more if he is ever going to be more than a stop gap player

Eerie Decent" wrote: ↑17 Dec 2025, 00:05 The Brendan Carse selection could come back to haunt England.

I mean, we'll be lucky to win over a few hearts, but fuck me, this is a shocking start from him.

Eerie Decent" wrote: ↑17 Dec 2025, 00:05 The Brendan Carse selection could come back to haunt England.

I mean, we'll be lucky to win over a few hearts, but fuck me, this is a shocking start from him.

And another by Archer!  

1st great ball from Archer after lunch! Excellent start.  

Now for another...

This has already got disaster written all over it.

Not the lack of an early wicket - more importantly the fact that England are STILL persevering with their short-pitched drivel.

The definition of insanity…

Carse is pitching far too short - yet again.

Pitch it up, you stupid cսnt!

The Brendan Carse selection could come back to haunt England.

I mean, we'll be lucky to win over a few hearts, but fuck me, this is a shocking start from him.

zebthecat wrote: ↑16 Dec 2025, 23:32 We'll be batting last against Nathan Lyon.
He has 63 wickets at 25 in Adelaide.

 

We'll be batting last against Nathan Lyon.
He has 63 wickets at 25 in Adelaide.

Not holding out much hope. The pitch most likely to turn from day 3 and we haven’t really got a frontline spinner. Bet Leach would bowl well in Adelaide.

Baaaaaaaaaz!
[Waves giant plastic foam hand]

stubbo-admin wrote: ↑16 Dec 2025, 20:42

zebthecat wrote: ↑15 Dec 2025, 19:38

Westham67 wrote: ↑15 Dec 2025, 09:39 The only change is Tounge in for Atkinson

As ever with England when the batting fails repeatedly they drop a a bowler of course. 

Reminds me when I played Club Cricket...always stated the batting was the 'strength' and was always the bowlers that got moved about when the team kept getting rolled for under 200.

For some reason, batters get reputations that last for games and series upon series, bowlers get cut after one hit and miss game. 

zebthecat wrote: ↑15 Dec 2025, 19:38

Westham67 wrote: ↑15 Dec 2025, 09:39 The only change is Tounge in for Atkinson

As ever with England when the batting fails repeatedly they drop a a bowler of course. 

Khawaja turns 39 during the Test and has been left out. Probably the end for him. 
Wetherald & Head to open & Josh Inglis retains his place
Cummins & Lyon in for Doggett & Neser as expected

Big Bash has now started so no opportunity for anyone to force their way in with red ball performances 
Perth Scorchers open with a win in a shortened game against Sydney Sixers with future Test player Cooper Connolly getting them home 

Westham67 wrote: ↑15 Dec 2025, 09:39 The only change is Tounge in for Atkinson

Pope carries on & Bashir sits and watches
Adelaide tends not to be as lively as Perth & Brisbane. 
Believe Lyon has the most Test wickets at Adelaide of any of the Australian attack & should be some spin later in the Test
Forecast for Day 1 is 36 degrees & 39 for Day 2 so pitch should dry out nicely 
Australian team not announced yet

The only change is Tounge in for Atkinson

southbankbornnbred wrote: ↑13 Dec 2025, 12:11 Definitely Archer, Tongue and Stokes as three of the seamers in the next test. But Atkinson and Carse have been off form (Atkinson more than Carse) and haven't bowled the right lengths on Aussie wickets. Not sure who you pick as the 4th seamer. Probably got to play a spinner in Adelaide, too, but the options are shit because of the obsession with Brand Baaz. I guess that will be Jacks, who is not a red-ball bowler (he averages 42 per wicket in the domestic multi-day game).

Bashir has been a waste of a plane ticket.

This has been a plastic toy tour never to be repeated.

Far Cough UKunt" wrote: ↑13 Dec 2025, 15:58 What a sad sad cսnt Ian Chappell was and still is

Hes no man in the proper sense is he.
 

[quote=Westham67 post_id=502310 time=1765717242 user_id=9865]
The England team and coaches have all been downing Bazball Kool-Aid between tests. Unlikely a change of batting line-up and no change of approach, they need to execute their plan better than the last four batting shit show
[/quote]
[justify]Well the delicate little  darlings have now  had their nice little break with their families...now back to what they're paid very handsomely to do...play a game of competitive test cricket ...
I won't hold my breath like[/justify]

Far Cough UKunt" wrote: ↑13 Dec 2025, 15:58 What a sad sad cսnt Ian Chappell was and still is

The England team and coaches have all been downing Bazball Kool-Aid between tests. Unlikely a change of batting line-up and no change of approach, they need to execute their plan better than the last four batting shit show

What a sad sad cսnt Ian Chappell was and still is

When.Jacks has concentrated on red ball in CC seasons, he's actually done a pretty good job asked of him with the ball. He should probably have been the one England really invested in as the spinner, rather than Bashir, who has not been able able to regularly in a CC team, let alone perform well at any time.