Cricket

They gave Pakistan a sniff in both the first two games with some bold decisions/brain-faded batting. You do feel a better team would have taken advantage of both.

It took me a while to get into this, but I'm a total BazBall convert now. Grew up in an era when England were being humiliated regularly and more often than not folded meekly under any kind of pressure, so if the new approach scares the shit out of the opposition, is largely successful and sees the side go down fighting now and then when it does go wrong, I'm OK with that.

"or blaming the bowling attack for another batting collapse..."
Just reading that is frustrating, imagine having to play under that.

Yes - agree with this. Though, like you, have the long-embedded feeling that something is always on the verge of going wrong (collapse, unable to knock over 9/10, unable to ever get out Smith/Labuschagne/Williamson/Kohli for less than 150, another collapse). It's hard to shake even in the light of recent evidence.

I think in my head that if they'd have prodded and poked in the old manner they'd be out for 100 odd every bloody time.

Will be interesting to see who gets picked for NZ, especially that D/N test

Really enjoying England’s approach but is the difference between Bazball and Gilchrist era Australia 15 to 20 years ago that England have a number of batters who can relentlessly attack?

This Tailenders ep. offers insight into the current England approach from Bairstow and Anderson

Previously losing a home Test to South Africa by an innings would have had Michael Vaughan advocating the replacement of the bowlers with the ghost of Fred Titmus and this year's Simon Kerrigan.
Key/McCullum/Stokes just shrugged it off and won the series 2-1.
It is the 'No draws' diktat that appeals most to me.

And pundits wondered why Anderson & Broad were a bit spiky during matches.

Still pondering Bazbal philosophy
Seems that the principles are:

1. Have fun, enjoy your work
   
2. Entertain the punters
   
3. Play to your strengths and style
   
4. Git good in a manner that suits you (practice as required by you)
   
5. You'll have a job if you fail sometimes
   
6. Believe we will win
   
7. You are part of a team
   
   

All underpinned with sound analytics and technical coaching.

I would add utter clarity on what the team is trying to achieve at any point in the game

e.g.

• score as fast as possible to free up time in the game

• take 10 wickets by any means humanly possible

• knock off the target before close of play

Yes clarity of aim at any moment is often mentioned by players. Key element.

The whole approach is kind of clichéd and gimmicky, success through positive thinking....

On another note its kind of impressive that tickets for pretty much all Ashes tests this summer have sold out despite the absurd ticket prices. Only doing The Oval and Old Trafford this year, with a possible Day 5 at Lords if it gets that far...

I've got a day 4 at the oval with a view to get a cheap day 5 if it gets that far. I'm really looking forward to it, already.

Jofra's back...

I’ve got tickets for Day 2 of Ireland at Lord’s. Suspect it will not be as good as Day 1 of our last Test there, which was one of the greatest days in sporting history.

For those with a poor, or deliberate loss of, memory.

has he slipped a disk?

Very good. And shhhh, don't even breathe on him.

I remember missing out on a 50 quid refund by 4 balls!

4 balls

Always knew there was something special about you!

^ must be tough finding a good saddle

You're labouring under the misapprehension that anyone on here actually rides a bicycle?

a bicycle

A new variation ?

Yes, I forgot this is a cycling forum. Please accept my profuse apologies.

*How do you fit them in a box?

Good money from the IPL.