To ask you what has happened in the Ashes? As I don’t get cricket …

[Radiator981]

What has happened? Everyone seems to be talking about it and I don’t get cricket…

Basically England managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.
As they often do.

England got a thrashing in Australia.

First of five matches, so more to come, no doubt. It's going to be a painful winter.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/articles/cy7v6zy5ev7o

I don’t know how this works, but I’m surprised at the amount of people talking about it, my husband said he knows soMeone flying in from Hk to watch it but they might not get a game now?

England were awful! Aus weren’t much better. What should have been a 5 day match was over in less than 2! Rather than a “winner” it was the one who lost less cos they were both awful. And even though Australia won I don’t think they’ll be bragging about it

Bazball didn't work. Zak Crawley is not the player his dad was and has had too many chances. We need Bethel in at 4 or 5. Mitchell Starc is showing they don't need Cummins or Hazlewood. Head is brilliant on his day, and it was his day. Labuschagne still scares me if and when he gets going.

It was a hilarious shitshow.

my husband said he knows soMeone flying in from Hk to watch it but they might not get a game now?

Probably had a ticket for the 3rd, 4th or 5th day which now won't be happening. Always a risk you take with cricket. Even if the match doesn't finish early, there's always a chance of it being rained off. (More so in England than in Aus, of course. Even snowed off on the odd occasion.)

He’s definitely not the player his dad was, as his dad was a carpet fitter turned trader turned one of the richest men in the uk. Who then paid for Rob Key (current England selector) to be his 13 year old son’s coach.
He isn’t related at all to John Crawley, pretty decent cricketer from the 90s.

Why are you surprised? It's the national team playing a really popular sport. It's not as big as football or rugby but it's hardly niche.

I flew out to Australia for one series. We lost 5-0 and had lost the series by the time we landed in Melbourne. It was still a great trip.

Fair point, he looks so like John I'd assumed he was!

I went to the cricket in Australia with a now ex in Jan 2003 while I was travelling for a year , England avoided the white wash (we went to the last day and were next to the barmy army). It wasn’t till about 5 years ago that my mum told me I had been to the Ashes. I was completely oblivious to the fact it was anything more than a normal cricket game!!!!

Well and you’d like to think that maybe there was some misplaced theory that his heritage meant he might perform at some point. As opposed to there being some sort of financial bribe (which is the only thing I can come up with to explain why he keeps getting picked)!!

Saddo cricket geek here.

England threw away a potentially winning position by batting very poorly indeed this afternoon. Three of our most experienced batsmen got out within 7 balls while the team’s score was 76. Nobody was prepared to stand up, show some leadership & take responsibility for leading the team to a competitive score. It was a pathetic, spineless display from a team which too often combines incompetence with arrogance.

Australia then batted brilliantly to win the game. Travis Head played one of the finest innings I have ever seen in decades of following the game.

England lost. That's not particularly surprising but what hurts us that they gave us hope first before losing.

First post nailed it, as they often do! Such a frustrating listen on TMS, I’m hoping the next game is an improvement but possibly not…

it was a shambles, it's quite unusual for a test match to be over so quickly.

We fell asleep Friday night listening to TMS (not particularly a cricket fan but it’s perfect to drift off to). Then woke up to an extremely grumpy DH. Just hope there’s still something left to play for by the Boxing Day test.

The Ashes is a hugely important series of five Test matches, played every two years or so, between Ben Stokes and Australia. Ben had an off couple of days. He'll be back for Brisbane 💪

Haha re Ben Stokes and Australia v good.

I hope we can win at some point.

His "dad" John also got a double duck in Perth in 1995. So even if they're not related maybe there's a Crawley curse!

Luckily I was ready for this to happen as I went into the Women's Ashes with high hopes earlier this year and they got rinsed 16-0. This is much the same.

That said I reckon the hammering they're getting in the press will foster a bit of an attitude and get a win in Brisbane. DH is Australian so I very much hope so anyway, he's unbearable at the moment!

England batted averagely
Australia batted very poorly
England battered averagely but prematurely figured it was good enough to win
Australia came out and batted much better than their first innings

Australia won narrowly as a result.

I haven't watched it myself, but based on what DF said, they stand around a lot and one man has to wear all the wooly jumpers. I think he is called the 'Jumpire'. Then someone tries to hit a ball with a wide stick thing to avoid the ball hiiting some thinner sticks. Then they all mill about a bit, after that they meander off to the Pavillion for sandwiches and tea. The team that eats the most sandwiches in the shortest time is deemed the winner. That's it.
Oh, and Australia usually eat the most sandwiches.

I know this lol. But people are talking more than usual both my kids play cricket at school and we’ve done some cricket at the club. Without knowing who they were I met a few England cricketers in a night club in Bham lol! But I don’t know how the Ashes work, how it’s a big deal I didn’t know it was 5 days etc

Thank you!

The Ashes are a big deal because they only happen every couple of years. In cricket there’s nothing else like it (from an England cricket fan point of view). I still remember the joy of the 2005 Ashes which is when I started to get into cricket.

The test finished in two days whereas they should usually last 5. England looked to be in serious trouble on day 1 (when I woke up) but by the time I’d started work, they’d bowled most of the Aussies out. So it was game on. Unfortunately England do what England do best and lost it all. But there are 4 more tests to go.