3rd Ashes Test: Australia v England @ Adelaide Oval Dec 17-21, 2025

[Twizzle]

Am I the only one who completely disagrees with the Ben Stokes glazing? The bloke is a massive hypocrite.

He spends his time talking up Bazball, saying their batsmen need to play with intent, and how they're there to entertain and put pressure back on the bowlers, etc.

Encourages his teammates to play aggressive then criticises them when they get out cheaply.

Then, comes in and plays traditional test cricket, at a low strike rate - and gets all the plaudits for his "toughness" and people talk up why others should "go with him".

Hello???? They've been brainwashed to think the other way is the only way. They don't have the latitude being captain allows.

Stokes can get in the bin with the rest of the English muppets.

I think that's more to do with big Mac and Stokes is just being loyal to his coach.

Who knows really ?

 

[Fangs]

Am I the only one who completely disagrees with the Ben Stokes glazing? The bloke is a massive hypocrite.

He spends his time talking up Bazball, saying their batsmen need to play with intent, and how they're there to entertain and put pressure back on the bowlers, etc.

Encourages his teammates to play aggressive then criticises them when they get out cheaply.

Then, comes in and plays traditional test cricket, at a low strike rate - and gets all the plaudits for his "toughness" and people talk up why others should "go with him".

Hello???? They've been brainwashed to think the other way is the only way. They don't have the latitude being captain allows.

Stokes can get in the bin with the rest of the English muppets.

He certainly doesn't need the praise.

They've lost their first 4-5 wickets too quickly all tour. So he has played more conservatively. Its just normal cricket really.

In their second dig he should bat higher tbh. He looks a cut above the rest of their top 3. Ollie Pope in particular is all over the place.

 

[King-Gutho94]

Am I the only one who completely disagrees with the Ben Stokes glazing? The bloke is a massive hypocrite.

He spends his time talking up Bazball, saying their batsmen need to play with intent, and how they're there to entertain and put pressure back on the bowlers, etc.

Encourages his teammates to play aggressive then criticises them when they get out cheaply.

Then, comes in and plays traditional test cricket, at a low strike rate - and gets all the plaudits for his "toughness" and people talk up why others should "go with him".

Hello???? They've been brainwashed to think the other way is the only way. They don't have the latitude being captain allows.

Stokes can get in the bin with the rest of the English muppets.

I have been thinking this as well.

But i suppose the game situation has left him with not much choice.

Stokes has a great defensive technique when he wants to just batten down the hatch he can block for hours and barely look like getting him out.

His last 3 innings he was run out, then shut up shop and barely looked troubled in the 2nd dig in Brisbane before a great piece of work from Carey.

Then yesterday

He really should be batting at 3 and grinding the bowlers down then lift the tempo which he can do with the middle order once the bowling attack starting to tire.

Imagine Harry Brook coming in at 3/150 off 45 overs with Stokes on 35 not out.

They can both get it up to 3/250 very quickly from that point.

 

[Twizzle]

He certainly doesn't need the praise.

I think he has less ability but way more between his ears than thier other batsmen.

 

[yobbo84]

They've lost their first 4-5 wickets too quickly all tour. So he has played more conservatively. Its just normal cricket really.

But i suppose the game situation has left him with not much choice.

This is my point. The game is in the situation it is when he comes in exactly because his batters are playing the way they are told to, only for him to have the leniency from the coach to bat differently.

 

[Twizzle]

Root didn't; he was beaten by a f**king good ball from Paddy.

Personally, I think they play too much white ball cricket over there because $$$$. They need more 4 day country cricket games.

 

[Bazal]

Am I the only one who completely disagrees with the Ben Stokes glazing? The bloke is a massive hypocrite.

He spends his time talking up Bazball, saying their batsmen need to play with intent, and how they're there to entertain and put pressure back on the bowlers, etc.

Encourages his teammates to play aggressive then criticises them when they get out cheaply.

Then, comes in and plays traditional test cricket, at a low strike rate - and gets all the plaudits for his "toughness" and people talk up why others should "go with him".

Hello???? They've been brainwashed to think the other way is the only way. They don't have the latitude being captain allows.

Stokes can get in the bin with the rest of the English muppets.

Yeah he's certainly not walking the talk he was vomiting out earlier.

Tbh I think he's doing the right thing in some ways, but it's at odds with what he's saying and that results in the optics of him hanging his mates out to dry and playing selfishly.

I think the real reason is a tacit acknowledgement that Bazball has failed, at least in Aus. He's jammed himself well and truly between a rock and a hard place - either he comes out and says that, and looks a twat, or he does what he's doing and looks a twat.

I respect him as a player but as a captain he's failing a lot of tests ATM

 

[King-Gutho94]

I think he has less ability but way more between his ears than thier other batsmen.

I think if Ben Stokes was an Aussie player he would be lauded as a greatest all-rounder since Keith Miller in this country.

Stokes biggest asset is when he gets in he generally goes big like he has 14 test 100s means he is no slouch.

He also saves his best for better opposition but also in pressure moments when the game is on the line where he actually doesn't really cash in with the bat against weaker opposition.

10 of his 14 test 100s have come against India, Australia & South Africa.

That's probably the frustration with Cam Green atm he just hasn't kicked on when he has got starts.

At the same age that Cam Green is now

Ben Stokes had 6 test 100s and averaged 35 with the bat & 98 wickets @ 33 with 4 x five wicket hauls.
Cam Green has 2 Test 100s and averages 33 with the bat & 37 wickets @ 36 with 1 x five wicket haul

Stokes only had 7 more tests then Green as well at this stage of his career.

Green is not converting anything into 100s

 

[Twizzle]

This nearly made me bring up my lunch yesterday

 

[yobbo84]

I think if Ben Stokes was an Aussie player he would be lauded as a greatest all-rounder since Keith Miller in this country.

Stokes biggest asset is when he gets in he generally goes big like he has 14 test 100s means he is no slouch.

He also saves his best for better opposition but also in pressure moments when the game is on the line where he actually doesn't really cash in with the bat against weaker opposition.

10 of his 14 test 100s have come against India, Australia & South Africa.

That's probably the frustration with Cam Green atm he just hasn't kicked on when he has got starts.

At the same age that Cam Green is now

Ben Stokes had 6 test 100s and averaged 35 with the bat & 98 wickets @ 33 with 4 x five wicket hauls.
Cam Green has 2 Test 100s and averages 33 with the bat & 37 wickets @ 36 with 1 x five wicket haul

Stokes only had 7 more tests then Green as well at this stage of his career.

Green is not converting anything into 100s

0% criticism from me of Stokes the cricketer.

100% criticism from me of Stokes the hypocritical captain.

 

[Marshall_magic]

Am I the only one who completely disagrees with the Ben Stokes glazing? The bloke is a massive hypocrite.

He spends his time talking up Bazball, saying their batsmen need to play with intent, and how they're there to entertain and put pressure back on the bowlers, etc.

Encourages his teammates to play aggressive then criticises them when they get out cheaply.

Then, comes in and plays traditional test cricket, at a low strike rate - and gets all the plaudits for his "toughness" and people talk up why others should "go with him".

Hello???? They've been brainwashed to think the other way is the only way. They don't have the latitude being captain allows.

Stokes can get in the bin with the rest of the English muppets.

He lost he in Brisbane. After the game was gone he went against the mantra and tried to grind out an inning. He got praise heaped on him then after the game took a swipe at his team with his “weak men” comment. That’s all well and good but they’re playing the game you have drilled into them and hasn’t worked.

For context, I’ve had someone who knows about this tell me when your league team loses by 40 and the coach is praising the players what it often means the game plans and tactics were wrong, so they’re not bagging the players for doing what they were told, they’re blaming themselves for coming up with a shit plan. Stokes has come up with a bad plan and is bagging the team for sticking to it.

 

[TheParraboy]

Both Archer and Stokes to ton up after lunch

Nothing surer

Ashes ALIVE !!!!

 

[Desert Qlder]

Enough already with the crowd shots of ugly English urchins singing. Puts me off breakfast.

 

[jargan83]

Ben Stokes: "We're in the entertainment business"

Also Ben Stokes: Bats slower than Geoffrey Boycott

 

[TheParraboy]

If Stokes says the plan was to play an anchor role this innings, while letting other "express" themselves

Then he needs to bat in the top 4, not when 4 down

 

[Chins]

Paddy mate you're the best bowler in the side, bowler yourself first merkin.

 

[TheParraboy]

Paddy mate you're the best bowler in the side, bowler yourself first merkin.

thank christ your not the captain

new ball due in 10 overs

 

[Chins]

thank christ your not the captain

new ball due in 10 overs

If they are still here in 10 over we have failed

 

[TheParraboy]

If they are still here in 10 over we have failed

Could have said that all last hour yesterday

Deck is a road, you want you best bowlers on the new pill

 

[TheParraboy]

Lyon had 2-2 off 2 overs
Now 2/58 - 24 overs