The Ashes 25/26

[RB]

Without looking, who is the most recent English batsman to hit the winning runs in a men's test match in Australia?

[Armchair expert]

Chris Broad

I saw it on X a few days ago

[Dutchy]

An over reaction to a 2 day test? We have a couple of tests where ball dominates bat and people lose their shit, but when teams make 550 declared no one bats an eyelid.

[Lightning McQueen]

Agree with many of LM's points but labelling Australia downhill skiers is a bit harsh IMO. We've stood up pretty well when the going gets tough recently, well at least compared to our opponents.

Fair point, we show good fight when we're chasing with Cummins, Starc and Lyon batting, I was a bit harsh, perhaps my comment was aimed at one particular player that carries on a bit when we're winning but can't take the commanding role like he used to. Either way, happy to put my hand up and say my comment was unwarranted.

[am Bays]

An over reaction to a 2 day test? We have a couple of tests where ball dominates bat and people lose their shit, but when teams make 550 declared no one bats an eyelid.

Mate were in this position now after people losing their sh!t over the Boxing day test of 2017-18 which wasn't 550 declared but was a batsman friendly pitch and only 24 wickets fell across five days. Matt Page referred to this in yesterdays presser.

We've changed the pitches and balls as a result of this.

[Dutchy]

Yep give me a 2 day test over that disaster any day. It was only 2 days but it was enthralling stuff.

Its only because its a financial disaster that this is getting any airplay.

[am Bays]

Yep give me a 2 day test over that disaster any day. It was only 2 days but it was enthralling stuff.

Its only because its a financial disaster that this is getting any airplay.

You do get the link between the finances and the health of the game, no? I note you comment on salary caps in the BBL thread.

If this was a 3 day test the majority of the blame for the lost revenue goes on the players, 2 day test the majority of the blame belongs to the pitch and deserves the same scrutiny we give to poorly prepared sub-continent pitches

Cricket cant afford 2 day tests and going forward pitches need to be prepared to minimise that (noting the adroit comments on the current defensive frailties of batsmen around the world)

[RB]

Chris Broad

I saw it on X a few days ago

Correct.

England test win in Australia (how match ended):

1986/87 Brisbane (England batted 4th, Broad hit winning runs)
1986/87 Melbourne (Australia batted 3rd, failed to make England bat again)
1994/95 Adelaide (Australia batted 4th, failed to reach target)
1998/99 Melbourne (Australia batted 4th, failed to reach target)
2002/03 Sydney (Australia batted 4th, failed to reach target)
2010/11 Adelaide (Australia batted 3rd, failed to make England bat again)
2010/11 Melbourne (Australia batted 3rd, failed to make England bat again)
2010/11 Sydney (Australia batted 3rd, failed to make England bat again)
2025/26 Melbourne (England batted 4th, winning runs came from leg byes)

[Lightning McQueen]

Chris Broad

I saw it on X a few days ago

Correct.

England test win in Australia (how match ended):

1986/87 Brisbane (England batted 4th, Broad hit winning runs)
1986/87 Melbourne (Australia batted 3rd, failed to make England bat again)
1994/95 Adelaide (Australia batted 4th, failed to reach target)
1998/99 Melbourne (Australia batted 4th, failed to reach target)
2002/03 Sydney (Australia batted 4th, failed to reach target)
2010/11 Adelaide (Australia batted 3rd, failed to make England bat again)
2010/11 Melbourne (Australia batted 3rd, failed to make England bat again)
2010/11 Sydney (Australia batted 3rd, failed to make England bat again)
2025/26 Melbourne (England batted 4th, winning runs came from leg byes)

Gee, we had a pretty woeful attack in 2010/11 or they were just magnificent, take out the Perth test and first innings of the series and the Poms averaged 88 runs per wicket.

They had 6 batters average at least 43 for the series along with 6 of the top 8 runscorers for the series.

[am Bays]

Chris Broad

I saw it on X a few days ago

Correct.

England test win in Australia (how match ended):

1986/87 Brisbane (England batted 4th, Broad hit winning runs)
1986/87 Melbourne (Australia batted 3rd, failed to make England bat again)
1994/95 Adelaide (Australia batted 4th, failed to reach target)
1998/99 Melbourne (Australia batted 4th, failed to reach target)
2002/03 Sydney (Australia batted 4th, failed to reach target)
2010/11 Adelaide (Australia batted 3rd, failed to make England bat again)
2010/11 Melbourne (Australia batted 3rd, failed to make England bat again)
2010/11 Sydney (Australia batted 3rd, failed to make England bat again)
2025/26 Melbourne (England batted 4th, winning runs came from leg byes)

Gee, we had a pretty woeful attack in 2010/11 or they were just magnificent, take out the Perth test and first innings of the series and the Poms averaged 88 runs per wicket.

They had 6 batters average at least 43 for the series along with 6 of the top 8 runscorers for the series.

Bollinger, Hilfenhaus, Siddle, Johnson and Harris last three were relatively early in their careers which arguably speaks to the notion that you need 2-3 years at least to become a good test player as the last three dominated 2013-14 but we had found a decent spinner by then - Lyon compared to Doherty and Beer (yuk)

But yeah Cook, Petersen and Strauss with 4 + years under their belts cashed in

[Lightning McQueen]

Bollinger, Hilfenhaus, Siddle, Johnson and Harris last three were relatively early in their careers which arguably speaks to the notion that you need 2-3 years at least to become a good test player as the last three dominated 2013-14 but we had found a decent spinner by then - Lyon compared to Doherty and Beer (yuk)

But yeah Cook, Petersen and Strauss with 4 + years under their belts cashed in

Ryno missed the first two tests, him and Mitch cleaned up in Perth.

[Dutchy]

Yep give me a 2 day test over that disaster any day. It was only 2 days but it was enthralling stuff.

Its only because its a financial disaster that this is getting any airplay.

You do get the link between the finances and the health of the game, no? I note you comment on salary caps in the BBL thread.

If this was a 3 day test the majority of the blame for the lost revenue goes on the players, 2 day test the majority of the blame belongs to the pitch and deserves the same scrutiny we give to poorly prepared sub-continent pitches

Cricket cant afford 2 day tests and going forward pitches need to be prepared to minimise that (noting the adroit comments on the current defensive frailties of batsmen around the world)

If we go back to run fest test matches then test match cricket loses it appeal and costs the game even more and the long term damage is irreparable, the nature of the way the game is played now there is going to be short test matches and this risk needs to be factored into financial modelling, Id be very surprised if it isn't already.

[Jimmy_041]

Green.............

I would love to ask him where he thought that ball was going to go
It's almost like he was doing catching practice

[amber_fluid]

The Adelaide Test was the perfect Test in every way
Get Houghie to prepare the pitch in Melbourne

[am Bays]

If we go back to run fest test matches then test match cricket loses it appeal and costs the game even more and the long term damage is irreparable, the nature of the way the game is played now there is going to be short test matches and this risk needs to be factored into financial modelling, Id be very surprised if it isn't already.

I think run fests/block a thons have gone the way of hypercolour t-shirts, and $2 Pints. When was the last time we saw 2-3 runs an over in a days play in Australia?

With the modern game/batting (as much as we all bemoan it and it is a factor in the length of this last test) putting too much spice in the pitch is going to lead to heavy impact on the game finances and not to mention the effect it has on the spinners.

Interesting to listen to Gerald Whately this morning the last time the grace was this long was against NZ in 2020-21 (I think) 11 mm. That game was over by lunch time day 3. Once he knew it was at 10 mm he was ringing home I'll be home by day 3. That test should have been the warning to Matt Page and that having it at 10 mm was risky and that a more prudent cut would have been 8 mm (hindsight is wonderful).

[am Bays]

The Adelaide Test was the perfect Test in every way
Get Houghie to prepare the pitch in Melbourne

^
This

[Dutchy]

I found it interesting that the curator said he kept it long due to the warm forecast on Day 4 & 5, why worry about those days when the pitch will be deteriorating by then anyway?

[Lightning McQueen]

I found it interesting that the curator said he kept it long due to the warm forecast on Day 4 & 5, why worry about those days when the pitch will be deteriorating by then anyway?

That's why women should be curators, they'd have it as short as possible knowing it's going to be in use for the next 4-5 days.

[am Bays]

Surprise Surprise, rain forecast (shower or two 0-5mm) for day one of Sydney...

At this stage

[mighty_tiger_79]

Hopefully 12mm of grass so we get a result