Ashes 2023

[Mibbes Aye]

.. and any half-decent Scottish player played for England :greengrin

Mike Denness... arguably Tony Greig.....

... and that's about it. :cb

Tony Greig, the South African-born English Test player who qualified for Scotland :greengrin

Gavin Hamilton is a Scot who played for England. Very decent swing bowler at county level, who could bat a bit. Got capped by England once - innings defeat in South Africa, took no wickets for a bundle of runs and batted for a pair! Though in fairness, SAF pitches did not suit him (as was apparent)

[Mibbes Aye]

Rain worked in England's favour this time round but they'll feel they deserved to draw the series.

I was, overall, a bit disappointed by Australia. Not as mentally resilient as I expected and I'd suggest England maybe overestimated them. In saying that, the loss Lyon so early in the series was a major blow for the tourists.


I get where you are coming from with australia. Enough of them weren't firing on all cylinders consistently abd in fairness, England are a very good side who seem to have solved a lot of their batting order issues.

Having said that, Australia had to play 20% more top-level cricket, having faced India in the World Test Championship, over five days, the week before the First Test. They put down 120-130 overs in that match and that was always going to catch up with the bowlers.

I think you are right about Lyon, his importance to the Australians can't be overstated - his ability to not just hold down an end, but prosper at an end, allows them to rotate three different quicks at the other. This underpins so much of their success. I have high hopes for Murphy as Lyon's long-term replacement - hes got a lot to learn bowling-wise but it seems clear he can bat better than number 10. His challenge is that for most of my lifetime, Australia have had at least a couple of fast bowlers who fancy themselves as top-order batsmen and have the chops to get runs.

By the same token, England dealt with the loss of Pope well. And they got through a series looking like the same opening pair will start the next one :greengrin. The big challenge for them is going to be the bowling attack. Barring injuries, England could field an entire team of good pace bowlers. The important two words in that sentence were "Barring injuries". Olly Stone and Jofra Archer - I can easily see neither of them playing Test cricket again, Woakes and Wood are at the age where those injuries just take longer and longer to come back from, Robinson is now a worry with regard to his back. We could see a very raw England attack by the time the India tour comes round- the Overtons, Tongue, Mahmood?

Anyway, a series draw feels about right. But that's not due to the rain in Manchester - England won the Headingley Test in less overs than were played at Old Trafford.

[He's here!]

And once again test match cricket shows just how exciting it is and why it will always be the pinnacle of the sport. Great series

One of the pinnacles of sport in general. I personally enjoy watching a good day's Test cricket more than a football match these days.

[Scottie]

Been a great ashes. One of the best ever for me.
:agree: Loved watching every session. Every session over the 5 tests had something special about it. Chuffed for England to get a draw it was the very least they deserved.