And if you’re not convinced by stats and data (if so, cricket isn’t for you, surely?)

Well, as I said below, look at two players from each team and their performances.

Starc and Head - injury free, fairly relaxed build up. A bit of fortune: Head in the first test. Throw him in as a surprise opener, chances his arm by going after the bowlers (“Bazball”?), gets a bit lucky and in our heads for the rest of the series. We win that game without that happening. More fortune: Starc doesn’t get injured.

Archer and Duckett - basically the polar opposite. We flogged Duckett to exhaustion, which probably contributed to his fun night out. Archer was excellent and often a real problem for them until his injury.

It’s not just Bazball (I hate that term so much, it’s reductive, cheap, easy and dismissive). Blaming that, whatever it is, isn’t looking at the bigger picture.

Posted By: APB on January 8th 2026 at 11:11:18

Message Thread

Few quick wickets, could happen (n/m) (Other Sports) - DrDublin, Jan 8, 00:08:54
- Agnew nailed it (Other Sports) - paulg, Jan 8, 07:57:09
  - Agnew (Other Sports) - APB, Jan 8, 18:03:36
  - He didn't, he's letting his frustrations with moments obscure the bigger picture. (Other Sports) - megson, Jan 8, 10:30:52
    - good points well made (Other Sports) - Chris Peacock, Jan 8, 12:18:24
      - That is true RE Cummins and Hazlewood, a fair point. (Other Sports) - megson, Jan 8, 12:57:13
    - Great stattage (n/m) (Other Sports) - Knitted Jesus, Jan 8, 11:21:13
    - And if you’re not convinced by stats and data (if so, cricket isn’t for you, surely?) (Other Sports) - APB, Jan 8, 11:11:18
      - 100% agree. That 2 day test set a narrative. There were two teams in that though (Other Sports) - megson, Jan 8, 11:29:23
      - In fact, I’d say that they copied us (Other Sports) - APB, Jan 8, 11:18:43
    - Agnew basically does this every time, except (Other Sports) - Tricky Hawes, Jan 8, 11:07:07
  - There are other ways of looking at it (Other Sports) - APB, Jan 8, 08:40:34
    - There have been mistakes and some daft shots, but ultimatly (Other Sports) - megson, Jan 8, 10:41:45
    - Preparation, fitness, fielding.... basic stuff (Other Sports) - paulg, Jan 8, 08:51:20
      - Fair enough if you can't accept it (Other Sports) - Tricky Hawes, Jan 8, 10:20:38
        
        I don’t know, that’s a bit black and white (Other Sports) - Old Git, Jan 8, 11:34:21
        
        Home advantage is huge in cricket, though (Other Sports) - APB, Jan 8, 13:20:53
        
        Yes it is (Other Sports) - Old Git, Jan 8, 13:25:09
        
        Don't disagree it could have been better, that first test was so important (Other Sports) - megson, Jan 8, 14:07:51
        
        Very true (Other Sports) - APB, Jan 8, 14:12:28
        
        Good words, beautiful words (Other Sports) - Old Git, Jan 8, 14:33:14
        
        We have been generally competitive though. (Other Sports) - megson, Jan 8, 11:37:48
        
        If you prepare well and fail, then so be it (Other Sports) - paulg, Jan 8, 10:28:45
        
        'most commentators' have exactly the same incentive (Other Sports) - Tricky Hawes, Jan 8, 11:03:24
        
        Yes, we should have played 10 warm up matches in 02/03 not just 7. (Other Sports) - megson, Jan 8, 11:31:48
      - The problem is clearly the batting (Other Sports) - Basil Wrathbone, Jan 8, 09:46:36
      - I’m not (Other Sports) - APB, Jan 8, 09:45:01
        
        If the baby is bazball, I'm all for defenestration (Other Sports) - paulg, Jan 8, 10:17:14
        
        Do you not accept that we are better now than before McCullum? (Other Sports) - APB, Jan 8, 10:54:42
        
        Oh well then, perhaps we should cancel the next tour now and save the £££ (Other Sports) - paulg, Jan 8, 11:38:57
        
        Well that’s answered my question (Other Sports) - APB, Jan 8, 13:03:30
        
        So no touring team has ever had a night out before? When Aus come her they are tucked (Other Sports) - megson, Jan 8, 11:50:49
        
        getting pissed and having a fight with a bouncer? (Other Sports) - paulg, Jan 8, 13:18:24
        
        Getting drunk? Yes 100% that happens all the time on rest breaks on tours. (Other Sports) - megson, Jan 8, 14:09:46
        
        Shit happens, they’re people (Other Sports) - APB, Jan 8, 13:43:11
        
        Or maybe just accept that we're likely to lose when we go there (Other Sports) - Tricky Hawes, Jan 8, 11:47:07
        
        Absolutely (Other Sports) - APB, Jan 8, 13:02:09
        
        they didn't prepare properly (Other Sports) - paulg, Jan 8, 13:15:08
        
        You know what I think made it a poor tour? (Other Sports) - APB, Jan 8, 13:39:21
- C’mon England!🏏 (n/m) (Other Sports) - fareastcanary, Jan 8, 00:32:27
  - Think spin has to be worth a try (n/m) (Other Sports) - DrDublin, Jan 8, 00:47:41
    - I think this will be the last we see of Snicko, nobody has any faith in it. (n/m) (Other Sports) - DrDublin, Jan 8, 00:53:31

Reply to Message

In order to add a post to the WotB Message Board you must be a registered WotB user.

If you are not yet registered then please visit the registration page. You should ensure that their browser is setup to accept cookies.