The Ashes 2019

[Senor Moto Gadili]

You bloody beauty!!!

[stan]

I'm up, we are home. Great stuff!

[northerner]

Australia retains the Ashes.
England's excellent resistance cant quite hang on.
A couple of inspired bowling changes eked out the last two wkts.. Paine turned to Marnie to get Leach out and then returned to Hazlewood for the last wkt.
Steve Smith the worlds best bat is the hero.
Pat Cummins the worlds best bowler outstanding.

[Armchair expert]

**** yeS

[whufc]

Jofra for Man of the Series!

Brought Labuschangne into the test side.
Yapped off at Smith which worked really well didn't it.

Thank you from all of Australia.

[The Dark Knight]

We did it!!!!!!!
After 18 years and 4 unsuccessful attempts we did it. **** all the negativity that people consistently and constantly dish out at our team and players, I am one very proud Australia cricket supporter, couldn't be happier.

Now to win the series.

[northerner]

Cummins and Smith are the stars clearly with support from Marnie and the bowlers.

And kudos for Paine. He has had struggles with thw DRS and appeared to panic in the last hour of the last Test but he had an excellent day and a solid Test. A well timed declaration and proactive management of his bowlers. He made things happen with his decisions today. The decision to replace Lyon with an over from Marnie to winkle out Leach with 16 overs to go was a match winner. He stayed calm all day and once again led by example for his team by never dropping his head and never resorting to intimidating tactics of yore.
On top of that he kept well and Steve Smith was the only batsman on either team who scored more runs than him in this Test.
When many a man would have fallen apart after the last Test he once again showed why he has been a perfect leader for the current situation.

[batmanbegins]

Congrats lads been far to good all series. Smith is super human and your bowling attack is one of the best ive seen.

We fought hard but simply not good enough. Big mistakes were made in the 1st innings with the ball and drpped catches/no balls. Be interesting to see our team for tge 5th test.

[whufc]

Cummins and Smith are the stars clearly with support from Marnie and the bowlers.

And kudos for Paine. He has had struggles with thw DRS and appeared to panic in the last hour of the last Test but he had an excellent day and a solid Test. A well timed declaration and proactive management of his bowlers. He made things happen with his decisions today. The decision to replace Lyon with an over from Marnie to winkle out Leach with 16 overs to go was a match winner. He stayed calm all day and once again led by example for his team by never dropping his head and never resorting to intimidating tactics of yore.
On top of that he kept well and Steve Smith was the only batsman on either team who scored more runs than him in this Test.
When many a man would have fallen apart after the last Test he once again showed why he has been a perfect leader for the current situation.

I think your giving to much credit to Paine and underestimating the Smith effect.

No surprise Paine captained better, was calmer and made better DRS decisions when he had Smith five metres away from him.

Coincidence I think not.

[northerner]

Cummins and Smith are the stars clearly with support from Marnie and the bowlers.

And kudos for Paine. He has had struggles with thw DRS and appeared to panic in the last hour of the last Test but he had an excellent day and a solid Test. A well timed declaration and proactive management of his bowlers. He made things happen with his decisions today. The decision to replace Lyon with an over from Marnie to winkle out Leach with 16 overs to go was a match winner. He stayed calm all day and once again led by example for his team by never dropping his head and never resorting to intimidating tactics of yore.
On top of that he kept well and Steve Smith was the only batsman on either team who scored more runs than him in this Test.
When many a man would have fallen apart after the last Test he once again showed why he has been a perfect leader for the current situation.

I think your giving to much credit to Paine and underestimating the Smith effect.

No surprise Paine captained better, was calmer and made better DRS decisions when he had Smith five metres away from him.

Coincidence I think not.

Yeh but he did a good job right? Batted well also. Two useful innings that were perfect in both instances. And hows that bowling change with Marnie... well done skipper.
I am not alone i recognising his efforts. Check out Mark Taylors post Test review on Paines captaincy. I reckon he should know great captaincy when he sees it

[whufc]

On the surface he did do well but lets be honest me and you could have done well captaining if we pretty much had Smith making all the decisions.

Every time the camera cut to Smith in the field he was in the ear of Paine, giving hand signals to the bowlers, moving fielders.

TBH im surprised the English media haven't made more of it.

Paine is only captain at the coin toss and even then he would be under instruction.

Paine is just the good guy who wont 'dob' them in.

[whufc]

Anyone else seen the footage of Smith shadow batting left handed in the middle with his glasses on!!!

[northerner]

Yes he clearly would need a wise head as a sounding board. Every captain needs one. Clearly Root does.

And what of his batting? Only Smith scored more runs this Test.. from either side. Reckon he did alright fir an imbecile who shouldnt be selected for the 5th Test.

[Lightning McQueen]

Yes he clearly would need a wise head as a sounding board. Every captain needs one. Clearly Root does.

And what of his batting? Only Smith scored more runs this Test.. from either side. Reckon he did alright fir an imbecile who shouldnt be selected for the 5th Test.

I'm not understanding any of that?

[whufc]

Oh so it was all Smith? Thats your opinion not fact.. but yes he clearly would be a wise head. Every captain needs one. Clearly Root does.

And what if his batting? Only Smith scored more runs this Test.. from either side. Reckon he did alright fir an imbecile who shouldnt be selected for the 5th Test.

Paine batted well in this test. If you throw enough darts eventually you hit the bullseye.

Paines incompetency was found out in the fourth test when he didn't have Smith by his side, it was then reinforced with his fifth test performance.

He played a role when we needed him, we can now move past him and look to the future and being the number 1 test nation for the next ten years. His continued selection now Smith is back in the side is holding us back from becoming a future powerhouse.

[DOC]

Holding us back?

WE just won the Ashes.

[whufc]

Holding us back?

WE just won the Ashes.

So we cant perform any better.

Don't kid yourself Smith won us the Ashes, without him we lose 100%, just like we did when he didn't play.

Don't let victory cover the cracks.

[Booney]

[Booney]

[am Bays]

First Test :

Steve Smith 137
England 154
Steve Smith 203
England 139

Australia win by 47 runs just before lunch on day 3.

EFA