OV9

What a roller-coaster!

Disaster more like, that was a must win.

English cricket turned to ash again.

Part of the problem here is hoping to see a lead. Australia had more than a day to post their total and we would need similar. I just hoped to have not lost too many wickets rather than be leading already. That said, 6 of the 8 wickets were to defensive shots, either good balls or bad luck, not the cavalier stuff from the previous tests.

Still, it shouldn't have taken 2 tests to realise that they needed to pack in the cavalier stuff..

I feel like that aggressive style has been ingrained in the team over a number of years, I don't think it's something you can just switch off in a couple of days. It's almost worse because when you're making split second decisions, you're going to question yourself. At that speed you really need muscle memory. That's my theory anyway on why the batting hasn't really improved despite a change in approach.

I have enjoyed lots of parts of the bazball era, and I still see some merit in it, but I think they've oversimplified it at test level.

duncs500 wrote: Thu Dec 18, 2025 9:55 am but I think they've oversimplified it at test level.

They seem to have forgotten the art of the 5 day format

unzippy wrote: Thu Dec 18, 2025 10:51 am

duncs500 wrote: Thu Dec 18, 2025 9:55 am but I think they've oversimplified it at test level.

They seem to have forgotten the art of the 5 day format

How little did we all know!