CRICKET

[Cassandra]

I think its the place where quick bowlers go to die. I played in India once and that could be heartbreaking for 85mph seamers too. The ball sometimes would only come up 9" off the pitch and many of us were out to 'grubbers'.

[Michael Rolls]

I remember that FST never went there - don't blame him! Incidentally - the ECB set a b=new record by shoehorning five tests into 45 days - no wonder the seamers were on their uppers - at the end of the Oval test, Stokes said Mark Wood could hardly walk!

[Cassandra]

I remember that FST never went there - don't blame him! Incidentally - the ECB set a b=new record by shoehorning five tests into 45 days - no wonder the seamers were on their uppers - at the end of the Oval test, Stokes said Mark Wood could hardly walk!

Ridiculous unsustainable, ill conceived statistics. How well it worked 60 years ago, 5 summer long tests the tourists playing the counties so they could revolve their squads etc. Nowadays like everything today, no consideration for the players bodies.

Example England in (Australia) 1961
Arrived by boat to Tilbury April 15th

Ist Test Edgbaston played 8th June, 2nd Test Lords June 22nd, 3rd Test July 6th Headingley, 4thTest July Old Trafford, 5th & final test Test and tour match The Oval 16th August. In between they played the MCC and 8 of the counties (3 day fixtures). This year 2023 for England 6 tests in as many weeks. Australia (India) at Lords the same. Plus 3 0ne day and 3 T20 games to boot. 35 days of matches in 7 weeks - crazy!

My father knew both Richie Benaud and Alan Davidson well, from his work and they loved the trip to 'the old country'.. restful cruise to get here and bond as a team, a full but unrushed programme with plenty of time for sight seeing and golf. Memories of me as a 15 year old in '61, playing Richie and Davo, huge men in great big green V necked sweaters in our net at home. I wanted England to win, but with 'uncles' Richie and Alan taking all the wickets! Dear days

[Michael Rolls]

lovely memories! If I remember correctly, one of the first games used to be against Lavina, Duchess of Norfolk's XI.
Idling time whilst my cleaning lady was doing her stuff, I compared the bowling figures in the Ashes for Mooen Ali and Joe Root and was rather surprised.
Root. 53.1 overs, 8 maidens, 167 runs, 6 wickets, average 27.83 strike rate 53.17
Ali 122-15-463-9- 57.44-81.33
In fact, Root's average is, by a tiny fraction, better than Broad's!

[Michael Rolls]

Oh, and Root was even more economic - 3.14 against 3.80.
Hadn't realised until watching the replay that Wood's 94.6mph dismissal of Khawaja was a full toss! Reminiscent of Malcom-Haynes!

[Michael Rolls]

Some interesting tit-bits from the series. Firstly, Jimmy is saved the embarrassment of having the worst return of any bowler in the series – that 'honour' goes to Mark Boland, whose five wickets in two games cost 115.50 each. Strange for a bowler who, if memory serves aright, was pretty effective last time and seemed well suited to English conditions. If one ignores Smith and Labuschagne, who bowled one over each, costing respectively 1 and 3 runs, every Australian bowler conceded more than 4 an over, whereas every England  bowler conceded less than 4.
How much did Australia miss Lyon? Unable to bowl in the second innings of the second Test, up to then he had taken 9 wickets at 29.44, with a strike rate of 44.00 , whereas Moen Ali, his opposite number, also took 9 wickets, but in four matches rather than one and a half and at a cost of 51.44 per wicket and a strike rate of 81.33. To be fair, Lyon's replacement, Murphy did pretty well – in two matches 7 wickets at 25.86 and the best strike rate of anyone on either side – 32.86.
Would the first two Tests have been lost had Wood and Wokes been playing? They certainly revitalized England's attack from the third Test on, taking 16 at 17.94 and 18 at 19.17, with strike rates of 33.25 and 37.78 respectively – the only bowlers on either side to average under 20. Wood's comparative frailty is well known – but might it not have been better to start with the  aggression he can offer rather than waiting until two defeats have been suffered?
Still, a fascinating series – and if only it hadn't rained at Manchester....

[Cassandra]

Some interesting tit-bits from the series. Firstly, Jimmy is saved the embarrassment of having the worst return of any bowler in the series – that 'honour' goes to Mark Boland, whose five wickets in two games cost 115.50 each. Strange for a bowler who, if memory serves aright, was pretty effective last time and seemed well suited to English conditions. If one ignores Smith and Labuschagne, who bowled one over each, costing respectively 1 and 3 runs, every Australian bowler conceded more than 4 an over, whereas every England  bowler conceded less than 4.
How much did Australia miss Lyon? Unable to bowl in the second innings of the second Test, up to then he had taken 9 wickets at 29.44, with a strike rate of 44.00 , whereas Moen Ali, his opposite number, also took 9 wickets, but in four matches rather than one and a half and at a cost of 51.44 per wicket and a strike rate of 81.33. To be fair, Lyon's replacement, Murphy did pretty well – in two matches 7 wickets at 25.86 and the best strike rate of anyone on either side – 32.86.
Would the first two Tests have been lost had Wood and Wokes been playing? They certainly revitalized England's attack from the third Test on, taking 16 at 17.94 and 18 at 19.17, with strike rates of 33.25 and 37.78 respectively – the only bowlers on either side to average under 20. Wood's comparative frailty is well known – but might it not have been better to start with the  aggression he can offer rather than waiting until two defeats have been suffered?
Still, a fascinating series – and if only it hadn't rained at Manchester....

Wonderful research Mike. Wood and Woakes were magnificent we both thought here, as was Josh Tonge to a lesser but from a poorly supported position. We should have won 4 / 1 had Manchester (a winning draw) concluded. That said well played the Aussies, without the best off spinner in the world for the last 2 and a bit Tests. I n my opinion after that event the definite under-dogs. As you say fascinating overall and a supreme effort by all concerned, in light of ridiculous physical and mental demands, shame on the ECB. I think I'd not bother with a specialist slow bowler if Joe is happy to be our "go to" spinner. First time I saw him bowl I remarked to my pal that he was good. He gets real revs on the ball and doesn't bowl the guaranteed 4 ball that Moeen offered for want of experimentation every over almost.

Pat Pocock, (lovely. lovely man) who could turn it square was similar. 5 dots and then a 'try one of these ball'! He has hands like buckets and I once umpired him in a 'Taverners' game and he literally made it hum. My friend says Phil Edmonds was the same and like Joe can bowl you a 75mph bouncer off 4 paces with very little change in action.

Either would walk into this side today and what price for 'Deadly' Derek Underwood!

What a super game it is!

[Michael Rolls]

can't remember what game it was, but I do remember Phil being called for a bouncer!

[Michael Rolls]

apologies - I didn't notice a typo in Boland's figures - he took three wickets, not five

[Cassandra]

can't remember what game it was, but I do remember Phil being called for a bouncer!

Yes my pal captained him on a tour once and said some umpires, in his opinion very unfairly called him for 'pinging' his bouncer. David Lloyd (Bumble) who was very fussy about such things following the mauling he got from Lilley and Thompson, was always very reticent when facing Phil!

[Michael Rolls]

I vaguely remember Phil saying something about having action problems due to practicing indoors with a low ceiling