The Ashes 25/26

[dedja]

Australia to win the Centenary (& a half) Test by 45 runs

[Jim05]

Australia to win the Centenary (& a half) Test by 45 runs

Yeah that too

[Lightning McQueen]

Fair enough you give him credit when it is due, but you also have been wanting him out of the side for the last 5-6 years. At least you've got your way for the rest of this series by the looks of it.

I wouldn’t say 5-6 years, only this series as he’s not called the GOAT for nothing, he was valuable last summer with the bat on occasions as well as the ball.

I didn’t “get my way”, the way he bowled this test I was fine to eat my words, no other spinner would’ve got some of the wickets he took, the Brook & Stokes wickets were exceptional, if his body could hold up I’d be more than happy for him to carry on for a few more years but it’s a gamble to be able to play 5 day games at his age being suspect to soft tissue injuries.

I’ve always wondered why he doesn’t play more white ball cricket as he can be economical as well as a wicket taker, I guess it’s been player management to ensure that he’s ripe for real cricket

[LaughingKookaburra]

The Barmy Army aren’t what they used to be, however I laughed today when they sung “God Save The King” to Travis Head today when fielding in front of them

[dedja]

Ladies and gentleman , well may we say God Save the King because nothing will save the English Test team.

[heater31]

Never understood starting the day with a pacer bowler. Sure, you want Lyon on at that end - I would've had one over of pace though.

Kookaburra ball sometimes hardens up and reacts like a much newer ball.

I can remember the SACAs struggling at the end of day one a few years back. Morning of day 2 Chadd Sayers and co had it bending around corners. They thought the umpires lacquered it up overnight!

[LaughingKookaburra]

Never understood starting the day with a pacer bowler. Sure, you want Lyon on at that end - I would've had one over of pace though.

Kookaburra ball sometimes hardens up and reacts like a much newer ball.

I can remember the SACAs struggling at the end of day one a few years back. Morning of day 2 Chadd Sayers and co had it bending around corners. They thought the umpires lacquered it up overnight!

Kookaburra balls have changed since then though.

[spell_check]

Fair enough you give him credit when it is due, but you also have been wanting him out of the side for the last 5-6 years. At least you've got your way for the rest of this series by the looks of it.

I wouldn’t say 5-6 years, only this series as he’s not called the GOAT for nothing, he was valuable last summer with the bat on occasions as well as the ball.

I didn’t “get my way”, the way he bowled this test I was fine to eat my words, no other spinner would’ve got some of the wickets he took, the Brook & Stokes wickets were exceptional, if his body could hold up I’d be more than happy for him to carry on for a few more years but it’s a gamble to be able to play 5 day games at his age being suspect to soft tissue injuries.

I’ve always wondered why he doesn’t play more white ball cricket as he can be economical as well as a wicket taker, I guess it’s been player management to ensure that he’s ripe for real cricket

Unfortunately negativity often gets stuck in my mind, so yes it's been way longer than this series for sure. I could go searching for comments, but the 'stalker' tag comes out. It's also not just you either, and not just on this forum.

I definitely agree with you re. saving him for 5 day cricket. Anyway, I do wish anyone well who will come in for his spot for the 4th and 5th Test; I've been wondering how Rocchiccioli will go if given a shot this time.

[LaughingKookaburra]

Good time for Jake to take his first test catch.

England
Back to Nossa for more R+B !!!

If Baz has a job before the next Test I’d be gob smacked. The spin that comes out of that camp is the biggest load of nonsense I’ve ever seen from a professional team. He deserves to lose his job on the preparation alone. Imagine if they played 2 warm up games (3-4 days each) before Perth. They played far better in Adelaide but that’s 3 games too late. As a team their temperament is terrible and they struggle to bat 100 overs. Pure arrogance and a team who think they are a lot better than they are.

We have more A Graders than them and our A Graders are better than theirs.

That’s a fair call Col.

I also think they have done themselves a disservice over the last 4 years. England was the heartland of good Test wickets between bat and ball. They have sold their soul in doctoring roads and reducing field sizes to allow for going the tonk. This has completely blown up in their face in Australia where grounds are bigger and pitches have some life in them.

[Lightning McQueen]

We have more A Graders than them and our A Graders are better than theirs.

That’s a fair call Col.

I also think they have done themselves a disservice over the last 4 years. England was the heartland of good Test wickets between bat and ball. They have sold their soul in doctoring roads and reducing field sizes to allow for going the tonk. This has completely blown up in their face in Australia where grounds are bigger and pitches have some life in them.

Totally right, our ovals stuff their game plan where mis-hits can go for 6.

[Lightning McQueen]

Unfortunately negativity often gets stuck in my mind, so yes it's been way longer than this series for sure. I could go searching for comments, but the 'stalker' tag comes out. It's also not just you either, and not just on this forum.

I definitely agree with you re. saving him for 5 day cricket. Anyway, I do wish anyone well who will come in for his spot for the 4th and 5th Test; I've been wondering how Rocchiccioli will go if given a shot this time.

Fair point, I’ve always loved the guy but have questioned his value in the team over other potential younger players, his endeavour, commitment and self belief is 2nd to none and I can appreciate your loyalty to him, I was rapt to see him do well and seeing his craft live yesterday made me appreciate just how good he is, I actually love being proven wrong when it comes to player selection, they know more than I do.

I would love to see Corey Alphabet get the next spinning gig, especially now we can have more confidence in our batting, I reckon they’ll lean towards Kuhnemann though.

I was never keen on Trav opening but he’s become the new Warner, I got that wrong, it’s been aided by the resurgence of Marnus and how far Carey’s batting has come, I felt that we were too vulnerable between 3 & 6. I can understand the love for Green, they’ve placed a lot of focus and pressure on him and I’d persevere with him, maybe move him to 7 with Carey & Webster to occupy 5 & 6 in either order.

Having secured the Ashes now we can tinker with the team make up for the dead rubbers in the quest for moving forward.

I appreciate and value your thoughts on here, I throw mine out there and I’m not that pig headed to feel as though mine are more valid than others, we all want the same thing and everyone is entitled to their own opinion.

[spell_check]

Unfortunately negativity often gets stuck in my mind, so yes it's been way longer than this series for sure. I could go searching for comments, but the 'stalker' tag comes out. It's also not just you either, and not just on this forum.

I definitely agree with you re. saving him for 5 day cricket. Anyway, I do wish anyone well who will come in for his spot for the 4th and 5th Test; I've been wondering how Rocchiccioli will go if given a shot this time.

Fair point, I’ve always loved the guy but have questioned his value in the team over other potential younger players, his endeavour, commitment and self belief is 2nd to none and I can appreciate your loyalty to him, I was rapt to see him do well and seeing his craft live yesterday made me appreciate just how good he is, I actually love being proven wrong when it comes to player selection, they know more than I do.

I would love to see Corey Alphabet get the next spinning gig, especially now we can have more confidence in our batting, I reckon they’ll lean towards Kuhnemann though.

I was never keen on Trav opening but he’s become the new Warner, I got that wrong, it’s been aided by the resurgence of Marnus and how far Carey’s batting has come, I felt that we were too vulnerable between 3 & 6. I can understand the love for Green, they’ve placed a lot of focus and pressure on him and I’d persevere with him, maybe move him to 7 with Carey & Webster to occupy 5 & 6 in either order.

Having secured the Ashes now we can tinker with the team make up for the dead rubbers in the quest for moving forward.

I appreciate and value your thoughts on here, I throw mine out there and I’m not that pig headed to feel as though mine are more valid than others, we all want the same thing and everyone is entitled to their own opinion.

That's all good.

We shall see who they pick, as you said, this is the right time to test the water with new personnel/line ups. I'd be still confident they will win even with the series done and other players. We've been able to do it not a full strength anyway.

[RB]

I think Head achieving his century with Carey at the other end was the fourth occasion on which a South Australian has reached 100 in a test at Adelaide Oval, with another South Australian at the non-striker's end:

1898 Joe Darling v England with Clem Hill at other end
1995 Greg Blewett v England with Peter McIntyre at other end
2024 Travis Head v India with Alex Carey at other end
2025 Travis Head v England with Alex Carey at other end

It has never happened in a limited overs international.

When Bradman reached his 200 v South Africa in 1932, either Bert Oldfield (NSW) or Clarrie Grimmett (SA) was at the other end. One blog site suggests it was Oldfield but I'm not sure on the source. The Cricinfo scorecard only confirms that it was either Oldfield or Grimmett. When Oldfield fell, Bradman + sundries = 210 runs, but there were 23 sundries scored for the innings, and so Bradman could theoretically have been anywhere between 187 and 210 when Grimmett walked out.

[Booney]

Whilst I'll see plenty of the next two tests it's taken the 'must watch' viewing edge off it being series over.

[dedja]

I’ve enjoyed the daily wrap by these 2, thought today’s was worth sharing.

https://youtu.be/GjAluJTRfZM?si=SSLQbE8s3KADldT4

[The Dark Knight]

https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/stat ... es-1516633

Test Stats-
18 Consecutive Test matches for England without a win in Australia, a streak that began with their 5-0 drubbing in the 2013-14 Ashes. It is now the longest winless streak for any team in Test cricket in Australia, levelling New Zealand's 18-match streak between their wins in 1985 and 2011.

The last time England won a Test in Australia was back in 2011 at the SCG. England's match aggregate of 638 at Adelaide was their highest in Australia since that SCG Test. Their total of 352 in the chase is their highest in Australia since the 2017-18 MCG Test.

4719 Balls bowled in this Ashes series so far, the second fewest before the series winner was decided in any Ashes series that consisted of five or more matches. The fewest being 3991 balls in the 2001 Ashes, where Australia had a series-winning lead of 3-0 at the end of the third Test.

The 1950-51 Ashes is the quickest going by the number of overs bowled - 648 eight-ball overs - when Australia went 3-0 up, but 5184 balls were bowled by then.

4 Consecutive Ashes series wins for Australia at home, a streak that began with the 2013-14 series. Australia clinched the series by the third Test itself on all four occasions, after winning the first three matches.

Only once have Australia had more successive Ashes series wins at home - five between 1990-01 and 2006-07. Australia, in fact, have taken a series-winning 3-0 lead by the third Test in six of the seven Ashes series at home since 2000.

The 2010-11 series was the only exception, which they lost 3-1 either side of Australia's longest Ashes series-winning streaks at home.

7 Consecutive Test wins for Australia at Adelaide Oval, since losing to India in 2018. Australia have won 12 of the 13 Test matches they have played at the venue since the beginning of 2013, with their defeat to India the exception.

Only two teams had longer winning streaks at a venue in Tests: 12 by West Indies at Barbados and 9 by Australia at Melbourne.

1 Alex Carey became the first wicketkeeper to score a century and a fifty for Australia in the same Test match. Carey scored 106 on Wednesday, making him the first wicketkeeper to score a hundred on the opening day of a men's Test for Australia.

Carey also had seven dismissals in the match, including five in the first innings. Only two other players have done the treble of a hundred, fifty and five dismissals in an innings in a Test match - South Africa's Denis Lindsay against Australia in 1966 and England's Matt Prior against New Zealand in 2013.

Only once have Australia had more successive Ashes series wins at home - five between 1990-01 and 2006-07. Australia, in fact, have taken a series-winning 3-0 lead by the third Test in six of the seven Ashes series at home since 2000.

The 2010-11 series was the only exception, which they lost 3-1 either side of Australia's longest Ashes series-winning streaks at home.

7 Consecutive Test wins for Australia at Adelaide Oval, since losing to India in 2018. Australia have won 12 of the 13 Test matches they have played at the venue since the beginning of 2013, with their defeat to India the exception.

Only two teams had longer winning streaks at a venue in Tests: 12 by West Indies at Barbados and 9 by Australia at Melbourne.

1 Alex Carey became the first wicketkeeper to score a century and a fifty for Australia in the same Test match. Carey scored 106 on Wednesday, making him the first wicketkeeper to score a hundred on the opening day of a men's Test for Australia.

Carey also had seven dismissals in the match, including five in the first innings. Only two other players have done the treble of a hundred, fifty and five dismissals in an innings in a Test match - South Africa's Denis Lindsay against Australia in 1966 and England's Matt Prior against New Zealand in 2013.

4 Number of player-of-the-match awards for Carey in Test cricket, the equal-second-most for a wicketkeeper in the format, behind only Adam Gilchrist's seven. Andy Flower, Kumar Sangakkara and Quinton de Kock also have four awards apiece.

Carey is also only the third wicketkeeper to be player of the match in a men's Ashes Test. The previous two were also Australians - Ian Healy at Nottingham in 1997 and Gilchrist at Birmingham in 2001.

51 Wickets for Mitchell Starc in Tests in 2025. Starc became the first bowler to reach 50 Test wickets this year. This is the second time he has done that in a calendar year, after taking exactly 50 in 2016. Starc's bowling strike rate of 28.7 in 2025 is the best for any bowler with 50-plus wickets in a calendar year.

567 Wickets for Nathan Lyon in Test cricket. He is now the sixth-highest wicket-taker in the format and the second-highest for Australia, going past Glenn McGrath's 563 with the twin strikes in his opening over in the first innings.

170 Travis Head's second innings score is the highest by an opener for Australia at home in the Ashes since Justin Langer's 250 at Melbourne in 2002. Only Chris Rogers (173 at Lord's in 2015) had a higher individual score among Australian openers in the Ashes since 2002.

Head now has a hundred in each of his last four Test matches at the Adelaide Oval. Only Michael Clarke has had hundreds in four consecutive Tests at this venue before him.

151 Wickets for Pat Cummins in Tests as captain. He is only the second player to complete this milestone, after Imran Khan, who has 187 wickets as captain for Pakistan.

17 Number of Tests that Joe Root has played in Australia, all during England's ongoing winless run. These are the second-most matches for any player in a country without a win. South Africa's Dudley Nourse played 20 Tests in South Africa without winning any, and lost 11.

Root has been part of 15 defeats in those 17 Tests, the joint-most by any player in a country, outside of home, alongside James Anderson and Alastair Cook, also in Australia.

190.1 Total overs batted by England at Adelaide, the most by them in a Test match since Brendon McCullum took over as head coach. The previous highest was 182.4 overs against India at Headingley earlier this year.

6 Men with multiple 50-plus scores and six-plus wicket hauls in a Test series, including Starc in this Ashes series. Starc followed up his 77 at Gabba with 54 in the first innings at Adelaide, the first instance of him scoring successive fifties in his Test career.

Starc has a total of 22 wickets in this Ashes, to go along with his 150 runs, including two fifties. Aubrey Faulkner (vs England in 1910) is the only other player with as many wickets and multiple 50-plus scores by the end of the third match of a Test series. Only three other players have scored 150-plus runs and taken 22-plus wickets across the first three matches of a Test series.

[The Dark Knight]

I’ve enjoyed the daily wrap by these 2, thought today’s was worth sharing.

https://youtu.be/GjAluJTRfZM?si=SSLQbE8s3KADldT4

Yep I've enjoyed their daily's along with Ed and Corbin's on the ABC Cricket Pod and The Grade Cricketer guys aswell of course.

It will be another good week (well five days) on the socials, how f**king sweet is it that the Aussies are 3-0 up!!

[whufc]

Whilst I'll see plenty of the next two tests it's taken the 'must watch' viewing edge off it being series over.

Yeah same sadly. Looks like im getting roped into some boxing day shopping for european holiday items. That would not of have happened if the series was still alive.

[Aerie]

I’ve enjoyed the daily wrap by these 2, thought today’s was worth sharing.

https://youtu.be/GjAluJTRfZM?si=SSLQbE8s3KADldT4

Yep I've enjoyed their daily's along with Ed and Corbin's on the ABC Cricket Pod and The Grade Cricketer guys aswell of course.

It will be another good week (well five days) on the socials, how f**king sweet is it that the Aussies are 3-0 up!!

There's some great cricket podcasts going around. My favourite is The Final Word with Geoff Lemon and Adam Collins.

[Aerie]

There was always a bit of a gap to the Boxing Day Test, but with Adelaide creeping closer to Christmas, seemingly for the foreseeable future, the three big Test matches of Adelaide > Melbourne > Sydney will just about go back to back to back, meaning more player management, especially fast bowlers.

It seems Cummins is certain to at least miss Boxing Day as he manages his comeback from stress fractures. What a brilliant performance by him in Adelaide. I doubt we would've won without him.

The other certain changes are Lyon out with injury and Smith back in.

Smith in for Khawaja
Webster in for Inglis
Rocchiccioli in for Lyon
Neser in for Cummins

Head
Weatherald
Labuschagne
Smith
Green
Carey
Webster
Neser
Starc
Rocchiccioli
Boland