Poms meet Aussies ‘in nightclub’
England captain Ben Stokes claimed a lengthy presentation was to blame for failing to have a post-series beer with Australia.
England captain Ben Stokes claimed a lengthy presentation was to blame for failing to have a post-series beer with Australia.
The day began with the sun shining and Stuart Broad being feted by friend and foe. It ended amid gloom with England flat, Broad wicketless and Australia striding towards an unlikely victory.
The intelligent, empathetic leader is far removed from the stereotype of his nation’s cricketers. And not even the Lord’s drama has soured him to England fans.
Now it gets interesting. The Ashes of 2023 has already been of exceptionally high quality – and also strewn with mistakes.
Jonny Bairstow’s stumping should be seen in context, going all the way back to the Bodyline tour, when a mean-spirited English aristocrat executed the most unsportsmanlike strategy ever deployed.
The behaviour of members of the Marylebone Cricket Club, with its public school puerility and reek of entitlement, suggest that the buck needs to stop with Marylebone rather than start with it.
A magical turn with bat and ball from Tahlia McGrath has seen Australia take first points in the Women’s Ashes, with a nine-wicket win in the opening T20 match.
Tasmania insists the fifth Ashes Test will be held in Hobart, with the government appearing open to a pragmatic application of Covid requirements.
The misreading of pitch conditions and odd selections have presaged two awful performances in the opening Tests.
The skipper and a key bowler finished the series with injuries that should have sidelined them.
It’s going to be an uneasy night for our best cricketers, ahead of a brutal squad announcement.
Cameron Bancroft is closer a reunion with his former top order partner David Warner.
Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/topics/ashes/page/11