The proper analysis can wait for another day. England are about to win the Ashes, something which hasn’t happened for at least, er, two years. Actually, and in fairness, they are three wickets away from regaining the urn, for the first time since 2009. And to celebrate, I’m declaring a national holiday here at The Full Toss. For today at least, there will be no nit-picking, no complaining, no sideswipes, and no picking of holes.
Rightly or wrongly, English cricket is defined by the Ashes. The urn is both our barometer and touchstone. For most people across this land, the beating of Australia – whatever the circumstances – is an unambiguous cause for celebration. Victory over our historic rivals provides redemption, vindication, and fulfillment, especially if you came of age during the wasteland of the 1990s.
And now England have pulled off the most remarkably unexpected Ashes victory in the entire 138-year history of the contest. Alastair Cook’s side, who will now probably win 4-1, have not just defeated Australia, but beaten them to a pulp.
So go on. Fill your boots. Enjoy the moment to its fullest.
I’m curious about two things, though. When England fare badly, our posts receive dozens of comments, sometimes hundreds. But when they prosper, our boards are far, far quieter. Today has been a case in point.
Now this is true of most sports forums, including those in the mainstream press. When your team wins, there’s less to argue about, and little steam to let off. But still, the contrast is interesting.
Secondly, we know that Full Toss readers occupy a wide range of positions across the spectrum. Many of you have never swerved an inch from your unconditional loyalty to the England team, despite the traumas and controversies of the last eighteen months. But others now find it hard to feel affection for the side, or take pleasure in their success – while some have actively wanted England to lose.
What’s more, a significant number of you are from Australia, South Africa, or elsewhere in the cricketing world, and have never supported England at all.
We would be failing in our duty if we didn’t recognise that your views differ – and try to cater for everyone.
So instead of a conventional post on today’s play – and the series’ outcome – here’s a little questionnaire, instead.
If you have a moment, we’d love to hear your answers to these questions.
1. Name (doesn’t need to be your real one); where you’re from; and first Ashes series you remember watching.
2. What does England’s victory in this Ashes series mean to you?
3. Are you pleased they’ve won?
4. What are the main three reasons why England have won?
5. Nominate a ‘champagne moment’.
6. Out of all the players and management, which two people should take the most credit?
7. What will be the effect of this victory on England’s future, in cricketing terms?
8. How will it affect – if at all – the way English cricket is run?
9. Anything else you’d like to say.
Please don’t feel obliged to answer every question – nor to answer any of them in much depth. And thanks for your input – every response will be much appreciated.
1. Name (doesn’t need to be your real one); where you’re from; and first Ashes series you remember watching. Tony Bennett from England (Cheshire). First watched 1968 Ashes (on tv) and 1977 (live).
2. What does England’s victory in this Ashes series mean to you? Oddly it is hard to say – it is good, but I feel as if I’m less pleased than I would have been if the events of the last 18 months hadn’t taken place.
3. Are you pleased they’ve won? Yes.
4. What are the main three reasons why England have won? Australia have been poor batting in “English” conditions – much more so than I expected. England have got some decent energy and youth but that isn’t enough on its own.
5. Nominate a ‘champagne moment’. That’s a bit too TMS for me as a concept, but I suggest Stokes’ catch yesterday.
6. Out of all the players and management, which two people should take the most credit? Root and Broad but an honourable mention to Bayliss, albeit that we don’t quite know his influence given he’s just arrived. Picking any management figure is a bit dubious in the circumstances.
7. What will be the effect of this victory on England’s future, in cricketing terms? Probably very little.
8. How will it affect – if at all – the way English cricket is run? Not at all.
9. Anything else you’d like to say. I am happy that England have won back the Ashes (obviously they will complete that task), but this is not because of having a fabulous world beating team or leadership. It’s nice. I would want the team’s progress to be confirmed over the winter series before making any further comment!
1. Name (doesn’t need to be your real one); where you’re from; and first Ashes series you remember watching.
Sometime in the 80’s
2. What does England’s victory in this Ashes series mean to you?
Everything!
3. Are you pleased they’ve won?
Yes, absolutely.
4. What are the main three reasons why England have won?
a. Seaming pitches & lack of Aussie experience thereof
b. Jimmy & one of Stuart Broad’s special spells (only happen in England)
c. Joe Root
5. Nominate a ‘champagne moment’.
Stuart Broad yesterday.
Emailing Australian mates
6. Out of all the players and management, which two people should take the most credit?
Joe Root throughout, Stuart Broad yesterday and….Alastair Cook.
7. What will be the effect of this victory on England’s future, in cricketing terms?
F*ck all. We’re only as good as our last win. Bring on S.A.
KP definitely won’t play again.
8. How will it affect – if at all – the way English cricket is run?
No change. We’ll still be outside cricket. The to$$ers have been vindicated and we’ll lap it up.
9. Anything else you’d like to say.
Would love to see KP play for England again. All hail Joe Root…..He’ll be made skipper not too far down the line and his batting will fall off a cliff. Always happens.
1. Name above.
2. Far, far less than any Ashes victory I have ever seen (I go back to 1981).
3. No. Because it will be seen as vindication for the last 18 months and way too much credit will be given to Alastair Cook.
4. Joe Root, Stuart Broad and the most unspeakably awful Australian batting in three decades.
5. Stuart Broad yesterday, obviously.
6. Joe Root and Stuart Broad.
7. Not a lot when they go to UAE and SA and face sides that don’t play like lemmings.
8. Not in the slightest. Vindication (see 3).
9. I think 1958/59 was way more unexpected, and only hindsight puts this ahead of 1989. And a PS for people who find these views unpalatable or churlish – I can’t help it. Series against India and Australia have become hopelessly uncompetitive, yet we’re getting more of them courtesy of the money- grubbers. If you think this is great news I pity you.
Fair point about 1958/59, although I vividly remember 1989 feeling utterly inevitable. Even though we held the Ashes, we’d been walloped by West Indies during the previous year’s four captains debacle, while Australia had won the World Cup.
But I can’t imagine that in either of those years, the side who eventually won began the series with expectations as low as England’s in 2015.
1. Name (doesn’t need to be your real one); where you’re from; and first Ashes series you remember watching.
Rich
2. What does England’s victory in this Ashes series mean to you?
Satisfying
3. Are you pleased they’ve won?
Yes absolutely
4. What are the main three reasons why England have won?
– Australia’s inability to cope with English batting conditions and arrogance/stubbornness in insisting on attacking approach
– England’s long batting order mostly in decent form
– Mitchell Johnson proving he’s a Bouncing track bully
5. Nominate a ‘champagne moment’.
– stokes’ catch to get voges on 1st innings.
6. Out of all the players and management, which two people should take the most credit?
– joe root
– Paul farbrace
7. What will be the effect of this victory on England’s future, in cricketing terms?
– possibly negative (see below)
8. How will it affect – if at all – the way English cricket is run?
– in no way whatsoever, does the ecb/icc/murdoch-ocracy notice anything apart from money?
9. Anything else you’d like to say.
While winning ashes is obviously great (as someone born in 1984 and remembering nothing but humiliation until 2005 I have truly learned to appreciate it), the fact is we have won them a lot recently so this home victory against a fairly poor batting line up inevitably does mean slightly less. I want to see England aim for special achievements. E.g winning in Australia again (or even competing please), challenging south Africa, and being great at one day cricket. A strong consensus after the 5-0 walloping last time was “we need to learn to play fast flat pitches, we can’t just get back to England, clean up on green tops with the duke ball and think everything is alright”. I’m concerned that is exactly what’s happened.
Sorry for long post and negativity!
1. English. Late 1980s, not sure which.
2. Sort of pleased. Mixed feelings. Imagine it will be used as justification for all the mismanagement. Which means…
3. Not sure. Would like to be.
4. Australian incompetence and new, good English players taking over from the old guard.
5. Stuart Broad, yesterday, and actually liking this team again.
6. Joe Root. Ben Stokes.
7. Nothing. Will be seen as justification for Alastair Cook and the ECB. Time will remove the former and we will have the best of the next generation, but the ECB will still screw it up.
8. Not at all (see above)
1. Name (doesn’t need to be your real one); where you’re from; and first Ashes series you remember watching.
Richard Hardman – 2005 Ashes series. I’m 22 years old and I was never really much of a fan of cricket before that series.
2. What does England’s victory in this Ashes series mean to you?
Quite a lot, it’s always wonderful when we win the most important series of matches in cricket.
3. Are you pleased they’ve won?
Definitely!
4. What are the main three reasons why England have won?
The pitches and the English conditions and the brilliance of the Sheffield lad himself – Joe Root.
5. Nominate a ‘champagne moment’.
Broad’s amazing spell 9.3-8-1
Stokes’ bowling performance today as that was when we finally realised that the game was over and that we’d won the Ashes.
6. Out of all the players and management, which two people should take the most credit?
Joe Root, without a shadow of a doubt and Stuart Broad for his excellent bowling throughout the series
7. What will be the effect of this victory on England’s future, in cricketing terms?
Well, the management will take this Ashes victory as a sign that KP is completely out of the picture and he’ll never, ever be seen in an England shirt again. In my honest opinion, this isn’t exactly a bad thing.
My biggest concern is that people will accept that this England team is actually a world beating team.. Yeah, they are good and on their day, they can be exceptional. But we’ve struggled to find an opening pair that works. The Number 3 position is still a very scary spot and there is no way that I trust Bell to stay there and deliver despite his accolades. There has been too many times this year where we find the team on 22-3 or 43-4 or whatever because the top order has failed to function properly.
As for the spinning department, I’m not sold on Moeen Ali, we’ve struggled to find a spinner who can do a job nearly as good as Swanny since he retired.
All in all, I’m hopeful for the future, but I’m not counting my coins just yet.
8. How will it affect – if at all – the way English cricket is run?
The ECB are run by a bunch of bureaucratic swines and the appointment of Strauss shows that, they’ll see this result as their decisions being vindicated and will continue the way they have been operating for the last few years.
9. Anything else you’d like to say.
Joe Root is just an exceptional player, without him in the team, we’d be absolutely doomed. I’d love to see James Taylor given another chance in the team and would be sort of mildly curious to see what Alex Hales could do if we give him the licence to play a similar sort of innings that Warner plays for Australia. Ben Stokes is going to play a big part for England in the years to come, he’s incredibly talented and I’d go as far as saying that he’s better than Freddie ever was.
My name is Alex , a female cricket fan who always regretted the fact that cricket was not available for girls to play at school in the 1970s. I can remember that 1975 Test Match against the Aussies when vandals poured oil on the pitch in a protest about some man called George Davis. I remember watching the 1977 home Ashes on TV, as well as the unforgettable 1981 series. I am pleased that it looks certain England will regain the Ashes tomorrow, barring something remarkable from Australias@ tail and Voges. However, I do feel the Ashes has been diminished by the fact that the schedule was rearranged to accommodate the World Cup, meaning 15 Eng v Aus test matches in a two year period. I hope that never happens again. None of the matches has been really close in this series, and at times there has been some poor cricket on view.
England have won because of the Aussie batsmens inability, most of the time, to cope with lateral movement of the ball (Rogers excepted). Stuart Broad has bowled well throughout, amazing spell here, and we have now seen Stokes, Anderson and Finn each have a key bowling spell at various times in the series. Joe Root has been essential to England’s success too, when he failed twice at Lord’s, we lost. There appears to have been a better team spirit in the England camp. You sense divisions among the Aussies. I don’t like the way the ECB run things and deplore the way KP was axed, now they will hope that we forget about all of those disgraceful goings-on. I for one can’t stop supporting England, even though I don’t like the clique that runs the game. Champagne moment for me would be Broad’s spell yesterday, and the look of almost embarrassment on his face as he skittled out the Aussies, closely followed by Root’s cover drives. Paul Farbrace must take some credit, he oversaw England after Moores went, and we did a bit better thatn usual in the ODIs v NZ. Bayliss deserves credit for having said he would prefer pitches which helped our bowlers, and his pre series camp in Spain clearly had some positive effects. The players deserve most credit, everyone has contributed somewhere along the line, and even though Lyth and Buttler have low series averages, Cook and Bell not that brilliant either, this hasn’t mattered.
I do wish KP were still in the side, but I fear we will never see him play for England again. What a waste of a man with over 8000 test runs at an average of 47.28, bettered only by the superb Joe Root in the current team. Will be fascinating to see how England get on in UAE and South Africa, these will be real tests. If we do win tomorrow, then I could see Australia relaxing a bit at the Oval and maybe even winning what would be a dead rubber.
Fascinating responses – thank you.
1. Name (doesn’t need to be your real one); where you’re from; and first Ashes series you remember watching.
From India, 2005 [watching that series while growing up and following it really give me fond memories, that will always be my best memories of england cricket, also that bunch of flintoff harmy, kp, vaughan was unmatchable they were very likable not that i dont like the young eng cricketers now but they were sort had that little extra thing going for them.
2. What does England’s victory in this Ashes series mean to you?
To me i like ashes the best for great individual performances mostly often people stepping up.
As a series i would like it to be competitive like 05 but that’s going to be really rare in this era were players dont seem to adapt outside
3. Are you pleased they’ve won?
ofcourse well deserved by eng, now people may have things against ECB for all the nonsense they have done the past year but the players have certainly earned the victory and it wouldn’t seem fair if that’s not appreciated.
4. What are the main three reasons why England have won?
Australia suck against seam and swing, Peter moores, bowlers and root
5. Nominate a ‘champagne moment’.
for this series anderson’s 6 fer was the one that broke aussie back.
6. Out of all the players and management, which two people should take the most credit?
root and all the bowlers.
7. What will be the effect of this victory on England’s future, in cricketing terms?
In cricketing terms it looks good especially with root, stokes finn all setting the tone for next gen, i would also say these young cricketers were put under enormous pressure from both board and viewers the last year due to failings of senior players and the board itself after KP, this should make them a bit relaxed as at least now they can sttle down without worrying for being taken out of their spot.
8. How will it affect – if at all – the way English cricket is run?
This is a bit of a problem in the way like i say the players should be given full credit and accolades for winnings this one, likewise ECB shouldn’t be let of the hook just because the players one the ashes, the lack of accountability and transparency should always be an issue.
9. Anything else you’d like to say.
Great blog as a neutral i still find this blog to be much grounded and have realistic views than normal reports. The english or Aus news journals or too biased , cricinfo while not biased doesn’t have that soul this blog has and is too drab at times most pundits there bar a few talk in stats. also the various comenter’s here are really gem and add lot of value with their opinions and instead of normal on-line troll comments that infest other sites.
Keep it going!
Thanks for being so kind. It means a great deal. Thanks to everyone who comments and makes our blog worthwhile :-)
Yo…Im from Dublin, Ireland.First Ashes series was the 86/87 Mike Gatting team and I remember Noel Edmonds interviewing the side!
I’m delighted England won as I’ve supported England ever since 86/87
Champagne moment was Stokes’ catch in this test
Reasons why England won
1. Better team spirit
2.More inspired bowling
3.Joe Root’s genius
4.Winning the toss at Trent Bridge!
5.Michael Clarke’s demise
An England victory will have zero impact in how the game is run especially in light of the serious plight facing the sport highlighted by the documentary Death of a Gentleman
1. Name (doesn’t need to be your real one); where you’re from; and first Ashes series you remember watching. –
Giles; Deal, Kent; 1968 – on TV (free to view! Otherwise I’d never have seen any cricket!); live – 1972.
2. What does England’s victory in this Ashes series mean to you?
Bragging rights on our first ever visit to Australia later this year!
3. Are you pleased they’ve won?
Of course.
4. What are the main three reasons why England have won?
a) Australia’s team is past it – too many players over 30.
b) We have produced good individual performances when it matters (Anderson, Broad, Stokes, Root etc.)
c) We have prepared pitches that suit our bowlers…except at Lords!
5. Nominate a ‘champagne moment’.
Stokes catch at Trent Bridge, first innings, to dismiss Vosges
6. Out of all the players and management, which two people should take the most credit?
Farbrace & Cook
7. What will be the effect of this victory on England’s future, in cricketing terms?
Confidence going into next winter…maybe not much more!
8. How will it affect – if at all – the way English cricket is run?
Not at all, I suspect
9. Anything else you’d like to say.
We should always prepare pitches that suit our bowlers – after all other countries do AND if this year was on Free to View TV like 2005 this would be seen as just as great a series, and the whole country would have come to a stop on Thursday, ‘Broad day’!
I’m an Irish cricket fan and first test series I remember is 1981. I don’t care who wins but enjoy the whole spectacle of seeing great players like Willis, Botham, Gower, Stewart, Anderson and Flintoff go head to head with Border, Waugh, Lillee, Lee and Warner to name but a few.
Cook, Bayliss and Strauss deserve credit for this victory but the main kudos must go to Anderson, Broad, Finn, Root and Buttler who have excelled.
This series win will be a morale booster for English cricket but the big challenge is to follow this up with victories over India, Pakistan and South Africa.
Finally, don’t write off the Aussies who will be already plotting revenge in the return series down under.
Credit also to Maxie and the team for consistently excellent blogging through the series.
:-)
The thoughts of Maxie’s co-editor.
1. James Morgan. 1985. Gower’s 215 at Edgbaston.
2. For me it’s about the emergence of a couple of new players that could be superstars. Joe Root and Ben Stokes. I love both these cricketers.
3. Absolutely yes. This team slowly won me over this summer. With Downton and Moores gone, I felt more inclined to look forward. The ECB is still a massive issue, but I hate the RFU too. Won’t stop me wanting us to win the rugby World Cup.
4. The pitches. Joe Root. Australia’s middle-order’s lack of good technique on English wickets. And (a 4th reason) we’ve had all the luck … starting with Ryan Harris’s injury.
5. Shane Watson’s LBW in the second inns at Cardiff. Just kidding. It has to be Broad’s 8-15.
6. Root and Farbrace. Cook also deserves credit for working on his captaincy although his batting returns have been disappointing.
7. I don’t think it actually means that much. We normally win the Ashes at home.
8. The game will continue to be run poorly, with major decisions based on short term financial gain, and I think this would’ve been the case regardless of the result.
I think it will end the KP debate too, which is probably a good thing imho. There are more important things to criticise the ECB for (see Gentleman, Death of A). The focus needs to be broader and will resonate more than grumbling over a polarising cricketer. As soon as you mention Pietersen’s name, a lot of people simply won’t listen. More people will take notice if the argument is about corruption and greed.
9. I don’t think this result is necessarily the start of a golden era for England. With Bell set to retire soon, we need to find 3 new specialist batsman and a spinner before we can compete around the world. I would replace Buttler with Rashid at The Oval and let Bairstow keep. Mo has scored important runs at important times so keeps his place as an allrounder for now.
Hi Janes. Thanks to you too for great blogging. I remember watching that Gower knock on tv in Dublin. Classic Gower who is still my favourite cricketer of all-time. Root and Stokes look light llke the real deal but they will face tougher tasks ahead.
Cheers Colin. Gower was glorious in that series. I didn’t know anything about cricket when watching that innings (I was 9 years old!) but I remember that I loved the way this golden curly haired bloke did things. Such style! I still think that’s why I’m a sucker for elegant batsmen.
1. Name (doesn’t need to be your real one); where you’re from; and first Ashes series you remember watching.
Ian. UK. probably 85 and unfortunately not 81.
2. What does England’s victory in this Ashes series mean to you?
I’m an England fan and this is against an Austrailian team that has just beaten us 5-0. So a huge amount. As James said, I want England teams to win irrespective of my views on the ECB, RFU, FA etc
3. Are you pleased they’ve won?
Er yes. A team only learns to win by winning.
4. What are the main three reasons why England have won?
Australian have looked cluesless when batting in English conditions and haven’t learnt at all.
Root has had a big series.
Some interesting selections by the Aussie (as the selectors)
5. Nominate a ‘champagne moment’.
So far Stoke’s catch and Broads reaction. Say a lot about this squad.
6. Out of all the players and management, which two people should take the most credit?
Difficult on this. Several players have come to the party – Broad, Anderson and Root. But many of the rest have made timely interventions e.g. Ali, Stoke’s, Finn, Bell…
However, the coaches deserve a mention. Gibson has clearly helped Broad, Farbrace start the change in England’s approach, and Bayliss too. Whilst it’s not yet clear what the Bayliss effect is, given the critiscm of Moores he should take some credit for the changes.
Finally, and I’m going to take some flack here, Andrew Strauss. He recognised that something needed to changed and sacked Moores immediately creating the opportunity for change that has occoured with the approach (even if player lead, the apparently stifling data driven cricket was gone). I know many won’t like this but if you set aside KP, this was Strauss’ other big action.
7. What will be the effect of this victory on England’s future, in cricketing terms?
Hopefully it will give the team some belief (they didn’t look so self confident against the Kiwis) that they can match some of the better sides. Hopefully they don’t get too carried away as there are still some weakness and inexperience in the side.
I expect Cook to remain skipper for a bit longer, and too be fair to him he’s look better this series, and this should allow more time for Root to mature as a test cricketer.
As for the ECB, the KP decision will remain and that is probably that. Whilst I’d love to see KP play again, there is probably too much history and you sense the team has moved on. Hopefully the ECB will focus on what is good for cricket in the round. I’d rather see a less money in England cricket if it meant world cricket was stronger.
8. How will it affect – if at all – the way English cricket is run?
Hopefully the ECB will focus on what is good for cricket in the round. I’d rather see a less money in England cricket if it meant world cricket was stronger.
Hopefully it will also mean that cricket decisions are left to the Director of Cricket, the coaching set up and the Captain.
9. Anything else you’d like to say.
Think I might have said it all.
Two great points there Teece. Gibson has been a big upgrade from Saker. England’s bowling plans have been excellent.
Re: Strauss I think you make a great point. His reasons for keeping KP out were spurious but the decision to axe Moores was absolutely crucial. I don’t think we would’ve won the Ashes without that decisive action.
1 Ian, First series 1989
2/3 It does mean a lot this victory although weirdly not as much as it should do and I am pleased thy have won.
4 Joe Root and Stuart Broad. Broad has been pretty good all series and culminated in the perfect spell on Thursday. Australia batting.
5 Stokes catch of Broad
6 Root, Broad, to a lesser extent Finn, Anderson, Ali
7 I worry this victory will be see complacency and things that need to be improved despite victory will be ignored. The victory will mean little to mean if we fare badly this winter.
8 No change to how cricket is run as this victory will be repeatedly used to say everything is great with English cricket and nothing needs to change.
9 Thursday morning I loved the 60 all out. It was exciting seeing the wickets tumble, the catches but as it effectively ended the match, the inevitable move to victory has just felt strange. I went to the 1st day at the Oval last year when India were dismantled as a fed up team who looked like they wanted to go home and this doesn’t feel much different. I wonder how much of an achievement this actually is compared to 05,09 or 10/11.
1. Name (doesn’t need to be your real one); where you’re from; and first Ashes series you remember watching.
Paul from Northants. First time I remember being interested in cricket was the 2003 World Cup. First Ashes series, 2005.
2. What does England’s victory in this Ashes series mean to you?
I’m pleased England have won, but it has been rather tempered by the fact the quality of cricket on display has been rather poor at times. It is highly worrying to me that a lot of players nowadays have great difficulties outside of their home country in conditions that are unfamiliar.
I think I’m starting to come to the realisation that I’m more of a fan of good cricket, rather than a fan of the England team through thick and thin per se. In that respect this series has been quite disappointing.
3. Are you pleased they’ve won?
See above.
4. What are the main three reasons why England have won?
Australia have been poor in 3 of 4 tests. They have had too many passengers, with an extremely frail middle order that couldn’t step in when the top order had difficulties. Their bowling has also been very inconsistent.
Stuart Broad bowled extremely well all series, so in that respect the 8-15 was a long time coming. Good contributions from all the England bowlers at times.
5. Nominate a ‘champagne moment’.
Not sure it’s a champagne moment, but Haddin dropping Root at Lords was vital.
6. Out of all the players and management, which two people should take the most credit?
Moores being sacked seems to have had a galvanising effect so perhaps Mr Strauss, despite the way he handled the KP situation.
7. What will be the effect of this victory on England’s future, in cricketing terms?
Well, England tend to play well in home conditions. Tougher tests await abroad and question marks still hang over the heads of quite a few players. Cook still needs an opening partner, I don’t think Bell or Anderson have much time left as international cricketers and Buttler doesn’t look quite so impressive in the long form. But we do now have two of the most exciting young cricketers in the world in Joe Root and Ben Stokes. It will be interesting to see what happens.
And finally, I hope Stuart Broad can continue bowling like this because when he gets it right he is genuinely world class.
8. How will it affect – if at all – the way English cricket is run?
As has been mentioned above, I believe the ECB will see this as vindication for their past actions.
9. Anything else you’d like to say.
Alastair Cook has captained reasonably well this series.
Ryan Harris was a huge loss for Australia.
Michael Clarke has been a brilliant player, extremely sad for him to go out like this.
Sorry, small mistake above. Haddin dropped Root at Cardiff, not Lords.
1. SimonH; a few memories of 1975 but mostly 1977.
2. Ask me after the winter tours.
3. Pleased for some individuals who’ve been through tough times (Stokes, Finn, Bell, Broad).
4. Points already made by others. One (churlish) point I’d add is Woakes and Jordan getting injured. I strongly suspect England would have played them ahead of Finn and – possibly – Wood. Both have one-day futures for England but I can’t see them as Test quality bowlers (except in ultra-helpful conditions).
5. Bit too TMS for me as someone said earlier. My memories of this summer will be from the NZ series (as they were last year from the SL series).
6. Strauss removing Moores is a fair point. Ottis Gibson’s role is also a fair point although he did preside over the disastrous NZ second innings at Headingley.
7. Again, ask me after the winter tours.
8. The way this is going to be treated as vindication for everything that has gone on the last 18 months – and longer – is the issue I can found no way through (or over or under or round). Anyone else remember how 1981 was presented as vindication for whoever was chairman of the TCCB? Or Brearley’s redemption? Me neither.
9. Many thanks for all your hard work in keeping the blog running. Don’t take absence of comments as a lack of interest – sometimes there’s nothing much more to be said!
From an occasional TFT contributor:
1. Garreth. I have vague memories of 1985 – the clearest one being Wayne Phillips caught off Allan Lamb’s boot! But 1989 is the first series I remember in full.
2. Lots. I still think we are a bit too obsessed with the Ashes to the detriment of the team as a whole, but having gone 18 long years without the urn, beating Australia still means the most.
3. Delighted. No doubt about it. It doesn’t change my view the ECB are clowns, but that doesn’t take anything away from what the players have achieved.
4. Australia not adapting to English conditions – mainly because they play less county cricket than in the past. Root’s batting. And Stokes’ development allowing us to field a four man pace attack which gave Australia no let up.
5. Stokes’ catch off Broad to dismiss Voges at Trent Bridge.
6. Root and Broad.
7. England are still a work in progress – but we knew that anyway. Still questions over the openers – Lyth looks out of his depth and Cook’s form is much below his best. Also still concerned if Moeen really is our best spinner, however handy his batting has been this series. But we are making progress, and Finn’s rebirth has been the feel good story of the series.
8. Not much – though a loss or draw wouldn’t have done so either. But if it finally puts the divisive KP issue to bed, it would allow fans to unite behind a campaign more closely focused on the ECB’s more serious institutional failings.
Many thanks for all your responses – and for your kind words.
We haven’t beat South Africa at home since 1998. It will be 19 years in 2017 when they next visit. Winning that series would represent a much greater achievement than beating this extremely mediocre Australia team.
1. Andy – first Ashes test was Old Trafford 89 when word got out that some players playing in that test had signed up to a rebel tour of SA
2. Nothing can match 2005 and there is a sour taste after the hatchet job Giles Clarke and Andy Flower have done on Pietersen. I am just glad the England team are playing positive cricket. Cooks change in outlook this summer doesn’t say a lot for Moores and Flower.
3. I am pleased/surprised and had a great Friday at Edgbaston but worry that the Ashes will rarely see any away wins in years to come. Australia were shockingly poor in the last two games though.
4. Englands change of outlook through Farbrace/Bayliss.
Haddin being dropped seemed to cause issues within the Australian squad
Joe Root v Steve Smith – one clear winner
5. The first few overs at Trent Bridge on day one
6. Farbrace clearly has had a huge impact and Joe Root
7. It don’t actually think it will make a huge difference. The winter tours will be very tough. England are a very good side at home but have a lot to prove abroad.
8. It will vindicate the ECB for their despicable running of the game especially over the past 18 months.
9. There should be far more criticism in the media of Peter Moores hapless spell in charge and the last part of Andy Flowers reign. To see the team suddenly transform under Farbrace at the beginning of the summer says a lot about the previous two coaches. I also despise the cover up over Pietersen. The way the ECB have attempted to remove any mention of his name is like something from George Orwell’s 1984.