2nd Ashes Test: Australia v England @ The Gabba Thu Dec 4-8, 2025

[TheParraboy]

Dont think Marsh gets picked unless we have all our top 6 come down with ankle and elbow gout, as well as the reserves

Think its just click bait. The bloke didnt even play in the recent Shield game, tells you all you need to know

Guys like Inglis, Doggett, ONeill, Webster should be the guys drafted in when needed . Renshaw could go real well for a few years, more mature and in good nick

 

[Marshall_magic]

Balls faced in the 1st test:

Crawley - 11
Root - 18
Stokes - 23

So there is absolutely no value in a hit out against the pink ball? Even if it was just some hit and giggle?

Maybe you could argue Root is in his own class. Stokes workload with his bowling. But Crawley definately could have used a run.

I'd love to know what prep these guys did back in England. They are very certain of themselves after an absolutely terrible batting display.

I feel like Root is the problem here. Bazball for all intents and purposes needs one batsman who can steady the ship and be the glue of the inning. For England that has been Root. The problem they have is he has never been able to produce in Australia for whatever reason. Without that player the whole game plan can fall apart. When Australia played this style of game 20 years ago you had Langer who was the steady hand around a team of aggressive batsmen.

The Perth test was a must win for them. Their side will only get weaker as players drop off with niggling injuries, whereas Australia have 2 world class bowlers to bring in. The pink ball is Starc’s realm, if England lose that then Australia can really have Haze and Cummins rest and recover, as they only have to not lose 1/3 tests.

 

[Twizzle]

I agree Oozie looks done, but they won't drop someone just because he looks done. Saw an interview with Renshaw yesterday, asking his view and he said you dont drop Oozie, he is one of the best batsmen in the team. WTF.

No updates on Oozie that I've read in the last few days, injury wise.

Personally, I'd leave Head at the top as it's not as though he's a stranger to opening the batting.

It's a toss up between Slug and Inglis although I can't help but lean towards Inglis. Every time he's been given a chance he has done well.

 

[Twizzle]

Even Iceland Cricket making sense.

 

[Twizzle]

These guys are pretty funny if you follow them.

 

[simmo1]

Surely we are not entertaining picking Marsh.

 

[King-Gutho94]

Team records in Australia since the 2010/11 Ashes

England are statistically the worst side of the last 15 years to travel here

 

[Fangs]

Team records in Australia since the 2010/11 Ashes

England are statistically the worst side of the last 15 years to travel here

View attachment 108076

I don't see any morality index in these stats.

Maybe line these stats up against the relevant golf handicap of each team.

 

[mozza91]

Bazball isn’t about winning. It’s about rebellion, about political and social upheaval!

 

[blue bags]

What are England going to do

Keep the same 11


View attachment 107982

Bring dusty Barestowe back

 

[TheParraboy]

Bring dusty Barestowe back

 

[TheParraboy]

Surely we are not entertaining picking Marsh.

Would be hilarious if he was picked and destroyed the poms

 

[Twizzle]

 

[JamesRustle]

My back would make a ridiculous recovery if I was down to play with Grace Hayden

Caddy: what club sir?
Me: wood.
Caddy: you"re in the bunker sir.
Me: just wood.

 

[jargan83]

Australia have named an unchanged squad for next week’s second Test in Brisbane, with captain Pat Cummins still absent as the hosts seek to establish a 2-0 lead in the Ashes series.

The fast bowler’s recovery from a back stress injury has not been rushed and having sat out Australia’s stunning two-day win to open the series in Perth, he will now also miss the Gabba Test.

Cummins has gradually increased his workload and travelled with the team to Perth where he bowled in the nets, before backing up at Cricket NSW headquarters earlier this week. On Friday he bowled to Steve Smith with a pink ball for an hour, apparently unencumbered and at full pace.

But the match in Brisbane, which starts on Thursday, comes too soon for the pace bowler, selectors said when revealing a 14-man squad on Friday.

Cummins will travel to Brisbane with the rest of the squad to continue his preparations for a return later in the series, with the Boxing Day Test now targetted.

More at the link:

Cummins out of Australia Ashes squad as Khawaja lays into state of Perth pitch

Captain Pat Cummins’s return is on hold as Australia named an unchanged squad for the match in Brisbane, with Usman Khawaja retaining his place

www.theguardian.com

 

[some11]

Hoping Boland learned from his opening spell in Perth - needs to lock down an end to let Starc do his thing.

 

[TheParraboy]

Hoping Boland learned from his opening spell in Perth - needs to lock down an end to let Starc do his thing.

Bazball will flash at anything wide or short, or too full

Lets them hit out at a good line/lenght on the stumps, more prone to error, and if the pink ball does a bit, they are toast

Im quietly confident either side can win

 

[TheParraboy]

Australia have named an unchanged squad for next week’s second Test in Brisbane, with captain Pat Cummins still absent as the hosts seek to establish a 2-0 lead in the Ashes series.

The fast bowler’s recovery from a back stress injury has not been rushed and having sat out Australia’s stunning two-day win to open the series in Perth, he will now also miss the Gabba Test.

Cummins has gradually increased his workload and travelled with the team to Perth where he bowled in the nets, before backing up at Cricket NSW headquarters earlier this week. On Friday he bowled to Steve Smith with a pink ball for an hour, apparently unencumbered and at full pace.

But the match in Brisbane, which starts on Thursday, comes too soon for the pace bowler, selectors said when revealing a 14-man squad on Friday.

Cummins will travel to Brisbane with the rest of the squad to continue his preparations for a return later in the series, with the Boxing Day Test now targetted.

More at the link:

Cummins out of Australia Ashes squad as Khawaja lays into state of Perth pitch

Captain Pat Cummins’s return is on hold as Australia named an unchanged squad for the match in Brisbane, with Usman Khawaja retaining his place

www.theguardian.com

Wouldnt be surprised they go Nesser over Doggett here

Lose nothing in the bowling, and could get some good handy extra runs


Australia squad: Steve Smith (captain), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Brendan Doggett, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, Mitchell Starc, Jake Weatherald, Beau Webster.

 

[Marshall_magic]

accurate summary of the first test - language warning

 

[Bazal]

Boland with the pink ball is a different bowler than Boland on a Perth road.

I'd keep the same side personally, if Uzi is fit. I do think he looks cooked but I'm not sure taking out our biggest middle order weapon is the answer to that. Different if they brought in a Renshaw. Otherwise if he's not fit I'd actually look at Inglis as a stop gap option at the top.

I like Neser a lot but he's 35. I think I Doggett has a bit more zip and a bit more odd the deck too, but also more of a future