[Stairs]

This all took me by surprise and I had no idea it was a test match until yesterday, Not sure why.

So many wickets falling and so looks like a 4-day and a result. Modern test cricket!

[Ska'dForLife-WBA]

Does anyone else think we have the wrong 2 openers?

Duckett's obviously there to just Baz it, and as in previous series, when it works it looks great and when it fails it's a joke (much like Bazball in general). As long as we're using the strategy, I think he's a necessary tool in the arsenal. But Crawley, I'm afraid, is drinking in last chance saloon: technique way too flawed to ever be a consistent Test opener, and only keeping his place due to the experience he's racked up compared to the potential replacements.

[Ska'dForLife-WBA]

Lo and behold, a pair for Crawley. And a taxi to follow soon enough.

[themaclad]

Just on catch, they have just been bowled out, thing about yesterday, full days cricket and 16 overs went unbowled

---

To be fair to Crawley, that some catch by Starc

[themaclad]

Two day defeat, get in three extra days, golfing, Bazball is nonsense

[Ska'dForLife-WBA]

Stayed up late to watch most of the first session, went to bed feeling bullish about our three-figure lead and nine wickets in hand. Lovely Saturday lie-in, then woke to a stream of notifications on my phone and the news we'd lost in two days. Even for England, it's pathetic.

[spireitematt]

If we continue playing Bazball then we will end up losing the series 5-0. What's surprising is there has been no proper warm up matches except the match against the Lions. I feel sorry for fans who have gone out there and had tickets for day 3/4/5. This was a test match and both innings lasted a total of 66 overs, this isn't the hundred or T20. If you lose 3 or 4 wickets early on then it's on the players to build up a partnership by getting 1s and 2s and not this hit and hope rubbish.

Travis Head getting 123 off 83 balls has to be applauded though he has played England at their own game.

I'm surprised that Luis Reece at Derbyshire didn't get called up because he took 10 wickets for the first time against Gloucestershire 6/52 and 4/45 at the start of the season and in the last match of the season against Kent he scored 211 and took 5/63 or I might just be biased by saying that. The England selector/s in my opinion are picking the wrong players. There are a lot of decent players in Division 2 and even some at Division 1 county teams getting overlooked.

[themaclad]

Good post Matt, the team appears to be a mates club, if you get my drift.

The Telegraph this morning

Sir Geoffrey

I cannot take this stupid team seriously anymore

Oliver Brown, Chief Sports writer

Vacuum of leadership coupled with empty headed shot making laid platform for one of the most bleakest most bruising defeats in Australia

Diabolical batting an affront to Test cricket and loyal supporters

This is the most relevant quote

Fiasco threatened to produce a mutiny from those who have cashed in life savings and pensions to watch England


Meanwhile South Africa 431-8 in 138 overs, batting for that length of time is never going to catch on.


Finally it will be the County Championship to blame, suggestions to reduce number of games also all games now to be 2 day affairs.


Strange isn't really some of these half wits rarely play in proper cricket, in a way the reduction of the Championship to an after thought is too blame, we have pushed it to each end of the season to play a surfeit of meaningless one day sh@@e

[spireitematt]

The England players aren't playing in the pink ball game against the Prime Minister XI in Canberra. Josh Tongue, Matthew Potts and Jacob Bethell who weren't part of the test in Perth will be playing in the game with the England Lions.

It's mind boggling. The next test is a day-night test in Brisbane with the pink ball and they aren't going to practice with it.