Print

[tim2000s]

For the third time, England have been utterly terrible in their batting with little resistance and almost no application, and faced with the pace of Johnson, don't have an answer.

Is it that England are playing badly, Australia are playing really well, or that there is something else amiss with the England team? From the win in the summer to what is looking like it could be a whitewash in the winter, what has gone wrong?

[jamielsn15]

A combination of all three I think Tim.

Putting aside the playing, back-to-back Ashes must be so intense and we all know that England's players are the only ones who play year round, year on year.  The bowlers look tired, the batsmen making poor decisions.  They all look mentally tired.

Australia have the adrenaline rush of playing at home, are used to the conditions and are not 12,000 miles from familiar surroundings.  That and Johnson is terrifying them!

[procricket]

England relied on super strength to mask some mediocre but when the super strength is average the rest is exposed..

Australia are playing better cricket in the 4 phases . with the main one luck on there side.

Fair play

[UCCAlbie]

In some ways I hope England do get whitewashed, maybe it will give them the kick they need to play without arrogance, and at least try, they are batting too slow and putting pressure on themselves and playing silly shots, like root and KP.

Fair play to the Aussies using some aggression and putting England on the back foot, how long before johnson makes half of them leave with stress related illnesses??   

[Ayrtek Cricket]

we look totally unprepared for facing anything over 90mph, this cannot be something that hasnt been worked on it nets etc but its like bringing a knife to a gun fight when our "batsmen" walk out to the crease.

few players have the mental strength to stick it out and even Monty's 2 from 34 balls showed what needs to be done. KP shot is inexcusable given the situation. Prior is totally out of form with the bat and has been for some time and the rest are classified as the bowlers.

that said i fail to see why Aus didnt enforce the follow on to maintain the upper hand and put us back in whilst confidence is low, if we can eek a draw out of this it will be Cardiff all over again and could go towards boosting team morale and (clutching at straws) be the turning point we need.

Hats of to Aus some great cricket summed up for me by Warners catch that broke what needed to be a big partnership between Bell and Carbs.

[Number4]

Looking at today's efforts all that was needed was for someone to hold an end up and let Bell bat... They couldn't do it.... Bell knew it and batted like he had no confidence in his team mates up at the other end... He then tried to score quick runs before he ran out of partners.... At the moment it looks like only Carberry and Bell are going to score runs... Cook and KP can pull one out of the hat but it's not happening at the moment.

Every player apart from Bell looks to be petrified to face Johnson...

[procricket]

In some ways I hope England do get whitewashed, maybe it will give them the kick they need to play without arrogance, and at least try, they are batting too slow and putting pressure on themselves and playing silly shots, like root and KP.

Fair play to the Aussies using some aggression and putting England on the back foot, how long before johnson makes half of them leave with stress related illnesses??

Bit more to it than that fella leave the stress illnesses out of it hey!!!!!!

[UCCAlbie]

Bit more to it than that fella leave the stress illnesses out of it hey!!!!!!

There may be more to it, but its embarrassing and quite frankly I have no interest in supporting them, well only the batting side. The bowlers are trying and bowling fairly well. And the stress illness, maybe it was too far, but it wouldn't suprise me, with the "cooks ashes" etc. Everyone is entitled to an opinion

[mdg20]

how long before johnson makes half of them leave with stress related illnesses??

Real classy that

[Ayrtek Cricket]

Ah the armchair fan, you have to love us.

When things go well were all behind the team, when the chips are down were more than happy to put the boot in too....we have to take the rough with the smooth and things might not be going as we as fans would want currently but if your going to stop following your country when form is down then you may as well stop supporting England s we have experienced this in every sport we play as a nation.

As for the mental illness, as Dave says its not the case of Trott not fancying the challenge of facing a few quick deliveries. If you think that then your being naive and a bit short sighted about how deep it goes.
 

[procricket]

England have to find positives Bell and Carberry.

Every dog has his day ours will come again....

Just might take 20 years hahah

I support them every last one even Root the Yorkshire lad we can bash them but there our boys out troops.  Pick up your tools and fight on

[Buzz]

we have not had proper match prep.

our batsmen are out of form due to not playing matches enough and lack confidence.

none of the players have worked out a method to deal with Johnson who has been riding the wave of form, but he is also a very awkward player to face.

dropping catches has also really hurt us, this is am indication of a lack of confidence.

[iand123]

I find it hard to believe that they didn't prepare for the bowling Mitchell Johnson has given them. I'm
Not taking anything away from Johnson, he has been exceptional, but England knew he was going to be hostile towards them and it would be quick and short. Granted there aren't many bowlers like that in England but surely having mills from Essex around the squad is about as good as they will get?

To me they look like they are running on empty. Hard to blame he schedules but to me they look tired. Saying this is jumping on the bandwagon somewhat but I wonder if this is the first real signs of this team being on the wane. Swann has looked ineffective and the batting has been awful. I can see flower quitting at the end of this series meaning they'll need a new coach (no doubt some support staff too) and the team will be pretty low.

Didn't we play the same prep games as last time this year? Can't even blame that!

[UCCAlbie]

Not in anyway did I doubt Jonathons illness, what I was suggesting that with them all struggling to find form and struggling to please the English fans, the stress from the pressure that is exerted from all the fans, could cause it, with johnson being the bowling that is making them struggle. I am aloud to question things, this is a forum and I aired a view. Maybe some people took it the wrong way, no offence was meant.

[e4sby]

Dropped catches has hurt us big time in this test. Dropping Clarke (tough chance) and Haddin wouldn't made a massive difference.

I just don't see how we will make 200 never mind 400. Cook looks mentally shot, not surprising the time we've spent in the field. Root and KP need to stand up and be counted and god knows who has stolen Matt Prior's batting ability.

Are bowling attack looks pedestrian and the rub of the green isn't going our way.

Other than that I'm enjoying the sun and beer - even tho it's 7 bucks a shot!