The Ashes 25/26

[whufc]

Sums up the tour, really...

Dear me, I've really disappointed myself, I only just got Root's number, had never really noticed his name above it.

Same....only just got that as well haha. Not bad.

[Aerie]

Scott Boland - 19 Tests, 82 wickets @ 18.58
Ryan Harris - 27 Tests, 113 wickets @ 23.52
Stuart Clark - 24 Tests, 94 wickets @ 23.86
Bruce Reid - 27 Tests, 113 wickets @ 24.63
Damien Fleming - 20 Tests, 75 wickets @ 25.89
Doug Bollinger - 12 Tests, 50 wickets @ 25.92
James Pattinson - 21 Tests, 81 wickets @ 26.33
Paul Reiffel - 35 Tests, 104 wickets @ 26.96
Ben Hilfenhaus - 27 Tests, 99 wickets @ 28.5
Andy Bichel - 19 Tests, 58 wickets @ 32.24
Michael Kasprowicz - 38 Tests, 113 wickets @ 32.88
*Michael Neser - 5 Tests, 22 wickets @ 18.9
*Jhye Richardson - 4 Tests, 13 wickets @ 21

After playing such an important role in all 5 Tests of this Ashes series, I think Scott Boland proved what a great fast bowler he is and his record is starting to stack up.

A big part of Australia's success is when we have depth in our fast bowling line up and no more than this Ashes series has proven how critical it was to have the quality of Boland and Neser to come into the side in the absence of Cummins and Hazlewood. They remind me of Bichel and Kasprowicz during the McGrath/Gillespie/Lee era, but their records are from the top shelf.

The list above from the past 30 odd years, is a mixture of those fast bowlers who were quality depth in a strong era, those who got there chance post McGrath/pre Cummins and those whose bodies would not let them play the length of career they would've otherwise had, such as Reid, Harris and Pattinson. Perhaps Jhye Richardson gets his chance at the back end of his career, body willing, to fulfil some of that potential and join this list. Can Neser eke out another 10-15 Test matches? He deserves it.

Below is those of the same era with 200+ wickets:

Glenn McGrath, 124 Tests, 563 wickets @ 21.64
Mitch Starc*, 105 Tests, 433 wickets @ 26.51
Pat Cummins*, 72 Tests, 315 wickets @ 22.05
Mitch Johnson, 73 Tests, 313 wickets @ 28.4
Brett Lee, 76 Tests, 310 wickets @ 30.81
Josh Hazlewood, 76 Tests, 295 wickets @ 24.21
Craig McDermott, 71 Tests, 291 wickets @ 28.63
Jason Gillespie, 71 Tests, 259 wickets @ 26.13
Peter Siddle, 67 Tests, 221 wickets @ 30.66
Merve Hughes, 53 Tests, 212 wickets @ 28.38

[RB]

It is the Bazball generation after all, go big or go home

'Bazball' simply means England lose with a higher run rate.

[wenchbarwer]

#moralvictory

[Brodlach]

All about “Ronball” now

[RB]

Scott Boland - 19 Tests, 82 wickets @ 18.58
Ryan Harris - 27 Tests, 113 wickets @ 23.52
Stuart Clark - 24 Tests, 94 wickets @ 23.86
Bruce Reid - 27 Tests, 113 wickets @ 24.63
Damien Fleming - 20 Tests, 75 wickets @ 25.89
Doug Bollinger - 12 Tests, 50 wickets @ 25.92
James Pattinson - 21 Tests, 81 wickets @ 26.33
Paul Reiffel - 35 Tests, 104 wickets @ 26.96
Ben Hilfenhaus - 27 Tests, 99 wickets @ 28.5
Andy Bichel - 19 Tests, 58 wickets @ 32.24
Michael Kasprowicz - 38 Tests, 113 wickets @ 32.88
*Michael Neser - 5 Tests, 22 wickets @ 18.9
*Jhye Richardson - 4 Tests, 13 wickets @ 21

Great bowlers, with the exception of Doug the Rug - how the hell did he average under 26? Pigeon could've made runs against him.

[valleys07]

I think the to and froms will take 1 good thing from this tour, that Tongue is a find. The rest will go home thinking 'what if'.

Bethell looks a proper test match bat aswell.

[whufc]

I'm guessing Doug was a bit like Scotty Boland in that he spent a fair portion of his time being the 'third' fast bowler or the fourth in line coming in when one was injured.

I love Scotty Boland but he has played one test in the sub continent and took 0/34. A few more tests over there and a few 1/115's will stuff that average a bit.

Doug Bollinger was exactly the same. One test in the sub continent albeit he took 5/81 over the match but im sure if he played a few series there that would have blown out.

[dedja]

Baz didn’t like being questioned, and didn’t give any decent answers.

https://fb.watch/Ew9wLcBckk/?fs=e

[The Dark Knight]

I'm guessing Doug was a bit like Scotty Boland in that he spent a fair portion of his time being the 'third' fast bowler or the fourth in line coming in when one was injured.

I love Scotty Boland but he has played one test in the sub continent and took 0/34. A few more tests over there and a few 1/115's will stuff that average a bit.

Doug Bollinger was exactly the same. One test in the sub continent albeit he took 5/81 over the match but im sure if he played a few series there that would have blown out.

When Bollinger did play he bowled first or second during his test career, he never bowled third or forth (first or second change).
https://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engin ... pe=bowling
Boland hasn't bowled first, bowled second 5 times, third 17 and forth 4 times in his 19 test matches.
https://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engin ... pe=bowling

[gadj1976]

I think the to and froms will take 1 good thing from this tour, that Tongue is a find. The rest will go home thinking 'what if'.

Bethell looks a proper test match bat aswell.

Averaging 9 in the first dig. That's concerning.

[dedja]

https://theshovel.com.au/2026/01/09/eng ... uidelines/.

[RB]

McCullum: “It is not about ripping up our script completely. From when we took over to where we are now, we are a better cricket team..."

I'd like to see this claim challenged a bit more. When it comes to results, they appear to have gone neither forwards nor backwards, winning the series they generally win, and losing the series they generally lose. I'm not sure what evidence there is that they've improved. (This is not to say I think England have regressed since Baz took over.)

[dedja]

McCullum: “It is not about ripping up our script completely. From when we took over to where we are now, we are a better cricket team..."

I'd like to see this claim challenged a bit more. When it comes to results, they appear to have gone neither forwards nor backwards, winning the series they generally win, and losing the series they generally lose. I'm not sure what evidence there is that they've improved. (This is not to say I think England have regressed since Baz took over.)

Stokes admitted in the presser after Sydney day 5 that they had slipped in the past 18 months or so. I guess the issue in addition to results is whether the team as selected should be performing better. On paper, yeah which is meaningless, they have some serious talent. Brook in particular, and the question is whether he is maximising his ability. On evidence of this tour, the answer has to be no. Jamie Smith is a better player than the results here suggest, but like Brook, gets himself out regularly with dumb shots.

[carey]

Give that England line up to the best coach in the history of Cricket to they win this ashes series. No

How many of the English side get a game in the Aussie line up? Very few. Root and Stokes?

Facts are, Australia are a much better side than England. Simple as that.

They also probably have the worst keeper and spinner in world cricket.

[valleys07]

Give that England line up to the best coach in the history of Cricket to they win this ashes series. No

How many of the English side get a game in the Aussie line up? Very few. Root and Stokes?

Facts are, Australia are a much better side than England. Simple as that.

They also probably have the worst keeper and spinner in world cricket.

I'd have Josh Tongue ahead of Neser and would find a spot in the side for Bethell, who I think has loads of talent.

Outside of those 4, I struggle to mount a case for the rest.

[dedja]

I agree Jamie Smith is a poor keeper, that’s unlikely to change anytime soon, so my point was about his batting.

It begs the question though, in the main, excluding Alex Carey who is up there as a very good one, are the days of a specialist keeper now a bygone era?

It goes to some of the previous commentary, are cricketers being raised for Test cricket or the riches in the other forms of the game which are dominating because of the cash cows they are to not only the players, but to the cricket boards and the tournament operators.

[The Dark Knight]

https://youtu.be/9qQ55X2G-6U?si=fKe99kY5jUZpUHMb

[The Dark Knight]

Beau Webster or Cam Green? Twice- 39 seconds and then 3 mins and 40 seconds in.

https://youtu.be/zX-M9ljaL4E?si=E93BBjkN4nvSy7Iy

[Dutchy]

Beau Webster or Cam Green? Twice- 39 seconds and then 3 mins and 40 seconds in.

https://youtu.be/zX-M9ljaL4E?si=E93BBjkN4nvSy7Iy

hahah ******* hell, they really do put the work experience journalists on at this time of year