Did feel like a box ticking exercise. The success of Abbas and Philander shows that archetype of bowler can have Test success but I can't see Cook getting another chance unless the house gets completely cleaned

I love that no matter what the build up or planning, England seem to end up with a Rankin/Borthwick type playing by the 5th Test of every Ashes in Australia.

The only logical conclusion is being cursed

I think the upside of picking the fastest bowler in the world, who doesn't need a ramp up period, has bowled well in Aus before, and when you have another squad also in the country was worth the risk.

I do think this could be the end of Wood's Test career though

Picking a guy for a one off Test on a flat wicket that didn't do much for any bowler and discarding them is great process 😅

I know England put all their apples in winning this series but being 2-0 down is as much about their own inability to seize the moment as being bad + needing to change tactics.

If Eng had traditionally been successful in Aus then maybe there's some merit but we've been battered blocking it 🤷🏻‍♂️

Getting the field spread so you have easy singles is a great tactic. It's just that no one has played like that historically that causes outrage.

I prefer players trying to score rather than getting into a bunker

Other than managing to convert it into a century, I'm not sure how much more you could want from your opening batter.

After a pair in the 1st Test, many an opener would have been a mental wreck and would follow it with another low score

Jumping on Comms and calling Crawley's wicket "inevitable" when he has batted really well seemed a little harsh too

I always feel like I end up defending Eng's brainless batting even though their shot selection and choice of when to play drives me mad 😂

Those 4th innings wins only happen because of the mindset of this style. IMO those highs are worth watching Crawley nick off + gives us stuff to talk about 😅

For sure and I think Sibley especially would be better placed now than his 1st try at Test cricket.

It feels like England bring in a new opener ahead of every Ashes in Aus so giving Crawley this series after they picked him 5 years ago for this, is worth it (even if/when he fails)

🤞🏻 someone in the England team makes a match winning contribution.

I think it's a fascinating discussion. Who was the last player who was such a lightning rod for discussion?

I think we get too caught up in batting aggressively Vs sensibly. Batting is shot selection + execution but it's always outcome based.

Pope, Root and Brook crunch their 2nd innings balls for 4 and Eng win, then it's Aus getting stick.

Eng defend 205 then Aus batting style also failed 🤷🏻‍♂️

I guess I sort of understand the rationale of why England have gone down this route. They won 1 game in 17 prior to McCullum because players got out and the score didn't advance + poor defensive technique

It's bloody hard to defend against the quality of bowling worldwide right now IMO

You're right and that includes the other options including Sibley + Hameed.

I'm sure England viewed Crawley similarly in style to Hayden. Big stride and bullying drives but can cut/pull if you bowl short. Hasn't panned out and maybe they move on after this series to a McKinney/young option

That's very much the traditional view. I think England saw Crawley as a Matthew Hayden style opener and it hasn't translated.

By comparison Duckett has faired well as an attacking opener with an average of 40ish.

Sehwag was dominant with a SR of 80+

They took a flyer when they selected Crawley (and to some extent Duckett as he wasn't opening).

Everything seems to have been built for this Ashes series and selections made with that goal. I don't agree with all the choices but I'm not sure there's a glaring alternative

England's management have often talked about his ability to play match winning innings and to play the fastest bowlers well. I'm not sure how true that is.

The other factor is a lack of other options. In any other England era, he'd have been dropped ages ago but no one has made a compelling case

Agreed. They can't use the workload excuse given they have 3 days extra rest they didn't expect to have.

I shouldn't be but I am surprised how negative people are after this Test

Not sure any amount of practice will save this England team from Starc with the pink ball.

Would at least give the media one fewer stick to beat them with