Surely the powers to be and decision makers dont need convincing after this shambolic tour as to what is now needed to hopefully get back on track.
WE all can clearly see that change has to start with the restructuring of the County game, but also those other mickey mouse competitions that was introduced so as to realise possibly just where one of the main problems stems from, get that right first and then look at sorting out the problems facing England on the pitch.
It should not take too long to implement the new systems, but in the meantime kick start it by getting the replacements for Giles and Silverwood this Spring for starters ,and then take a long hard look at the Team.
Firstly, We all realise areas to focus on which is a priority, then put the focus on encouaging emerging Young talent but also with a mix of experience in the side to offer a better balance. Yes we know it is a major task as the cupboard is fairly bare when it comes to genuine quality, but young players with true ability can be improved on but also crucially able to cope with the pressure of Test match cricket, which will only come with regular playing experience.
This could see us struggle for a year or Two as we get it right, but long term we will have a side to be proud off and return to Australia and wipe those smiles off their faces i seeing our players humilated as we have just experienced.
Now is that not a lovely thought?

England play the West Indies in a three Test series in March

The good news is that they are almost as bad as we are, the bad news is that nothing will have been learned from the Ashes debacle and it will be more of the same for players selected to play

The re-structuring of County Cricket always flounders on the same course of action. Someone's actually got to go into the dogs' home and administer a lethal injection to cute puppies like Northants, Gloucs & Sussex - because they can't be found a home. No-one's ever done it and no-one ever will.

Spot on. You can add Derbys, Durham & Leics to that list, too.

But the problem has been solved. You just ban Aussies from playing for counties.
The problems solved. Ashes are as good as yours in 2023!

So do we need to scrap 'County' cricket and move to elite franchises, a bit like American Rules? A sort of Cricket Premier League, with an elevated 'club' structure below it?

Doesn't immediately solve the problem of the quality of available players, though, but it could give a strucure to enable improvement. The downside is possibly making the 'second tier' an afterthought, but any cricketer worth his salt would hopefully strive to move up?

Play the long format when the weather is best. And leave Bish-Bash-Bosh or, god forbid, The Hundred (:veryangry) to its own league, like the IPL. One or the other, but not both. They only need one day or a few hours.

Does this discussion now belong in the Cricket Thread?

Nah leave it here and add the final score to the thread title! :p

We will get you lot one day, Jim :D

Behave yourself!


Yes, it does :p

Yeah but then blow it in the morning session on the next day.

You have to admit it was the most ludicrous response to a cricket problem ever documented.

Let's not forget. Australia haven't won an Ashes series over here for over 20 years. India, South Africa (twice), Sri Lanka & New Zealand have all managed it since the Aussies last did... :p

Yeah, especially as Tom Harrison has decided the answer to all our problems is to beg for our lot to be allowed to play Sheffield Shield :supergrin:

Yet when the Aussies decide an Englishman is good enough to play Shield cricket (Matt Parkinson, NSW) the England brains trust algorithmatron disagrees.

Exactly. Until the drawn series in 2019, home advantage was enough for you guys.

*but are generally competitive - which cannot be said of England in Australia.

All comes down to money. Counties need income and get most income from T20 and other short-forms of the game. The last thing they want is to play T20 in April/May/September as the English climate means more chance of rain....and therefore no such income (a problem less pertinent in the Southern hemisphere perhaps). They want to play the money matches when there's least chance of being rained off. Unfortunatety the English weather cannot be changed and people seem to spend more money at T20.

If you're a 20 year talented cricketer, you must surely be blinded by the bright lights and £££ of the IPL rather then the pat-on-the-back for scoring 12 off 190 balls to save a Test. Announce now that Englands test players will get £1m bonus each for winning in Australia in 2025/26 and it might become more of a priority.

Exactly this. They always give us a good game and win 1 or so per series at least.

The last 5 series in England.
2-1
2-1
3-0
3-2
2-2.
That suggests a level of competitive spirit and talent lacking from 4 out of our 5 last ventures over there (not a single win). And a couple of the draws were fairly tight affairs!

I asked the thread title to be changed to reflect the score, and the mods kindly done it

I think we have to own this :(

You're all completely right, guys. But, jeez - gimme a break - I was just trying to find a single positive in this whole sorry affair :p