Ashes 2025-26.

[Durhamfootman]

15 months between Perth and his previous test match, seemingly. I know he hasn't played for Durham in that time. What's a central contract worth for a multi format cricketer? a Mill or half a Mill a year? To work on a dodgy knee.... I know I'd want to see that contract out. Could be another 2 years he has on that

[sussexpob]

Seems Wood intends to keep playing Tests

Even is Mark Wood was physically crippled in a freak accident, he will never retire. The 2nd year of his deal only kicked in recently, retiring at this point would essentially be akin to setting fire to a guaranteed 1.9 million quid to do essentially the exact same thing that he has done for over a year; basically nothing. So he will limp on, sometime in the distant future he will bowl 10 overs and go back home for a year to recover, and in October 2027 after the last cheque has cleared he will fade off to spend all that hard earned money.

[sussexpob]

The more you look it, the more the ECB really need to explain why they gave Wood this huge deal. The justification for multiple year deals was to stop people buggering of to Franchise cricket, but Wood has played 4 T20 games outside England in his career, and not long before being given his contract had already publicly ruled himself out doing so for the reminder of his career. And that's before we look at his performance in the year he was awarded it, which was woeful in all forms, and the fact he is one of the least reliable players in English history turning 35 when they gave him it.

Almost like it helps having your life-long best mate in a position of large influence on these decisions. Let's be honest here, Stokes was looking out for his mates financial future - there is no objective performance reasons to have given him that deal. I'd Imagine if I were running a company and I gave my best mate who never turned up for work the largest guaranteed salary ever rewarded to anyone in my field, I'd probably end up having to explain that in court.

[sussexpob]

Matt Fisher will replace him

Sound planning again, it seems. Lets pick the guy who was Surrey's worst full time bowler last year, he is after all on fire so far this tour. Average of 130 per wicket across 3 games, and just got taken for a wicketless ton by Australia's B team.

Nothing says potential success like that. Especially when he was taken apart by the legendary Jermaine Blackwood on test debut.

Are England's selectors actually watching these games?

[Slipstream]

Matt Fisher will replace him.

Seems Wood intends to keep playing Tests.

Well, if he is still playing them.

Fisher!!!??? has been crap for the Lions.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Well, apparently Sonny Baker is injured.

If you want Josh Hull, just say so!

Maybe Fisher hasn't been over-training.

Not likely to play, anyway.

[sussexpob]

I think I have vented enough about the past, moving onto the future.....

The series is almost certainly gone with England in miracle street, and unless that miracle occurs I can see no way McCullum survives the fallout. Even if England rapidly improve significantly, the die has been cast - the narrative will be that it took two games to get an undercooked side into gear if that were to occur, and that will fall at the feet of the coach. What he said in the last few days was stupid, but in his position did he have a choice? He could either double down or admit to having made a fatal error in preparing the team.... both lead to the same result in the eyes of the press and public. Its 3-2 or the job centre for Bazza. He's dug his own grave and now its time to lie down in it.

Stokes on the other hand has a chance to come out and set the tone for what the future will bring. And to be fair to Ben, if anyone apart from Root comes out of Brisbane deserving some praise, then its Stokes for his gutsy rear-guard of 150 off balls. It's hard to change an engrained culture, especially when you are resting on a beach and not working on it 100% 24-7 given the time frames, but that innings with Jacks could be significant for an adapted blueprint on the horizon. If Stokes can set the example and bat like that again at Adelaide, and can bring some of his team-mates to follow his example, then I think he can save his own job. The irony is, if Stokes tries to set the example and his team-mates burn up in a blaze of glory, to me anyway this doesn't say much for his influence and leadership in the dressing room. And one thing he does need is his VC not being the leader of the idiot shot brigade. Brook has to show leadership and set examples too, after all he will be the next leader assuming Stokes can't flip the disaster train and doesn't survive the bomb throwing in January.

England won't win 3, maybe not even win 1, but there is no reason they cannot close the gap in quality and make Australia work for each test victory. Adelaide should be the closest pitch to the CEO dialled in ones England ordered last summer. They have to score runs in this test, and given Adelaide's history of being a slower, docile pitch for the first 3-4 days, there is no reason they cannot. And I am not talking about batting out 550 like they have in recent series on the deck, even a 350-400 that puts some overs into the legs of Australia's pacemen will do. Australia's quick attack has two matches, a few injuries, and is old.

Adelaide was England's biggest chance pre-series, they have to at the very least take this game to 5 days and narrowly lose it. The problem is, the positives have to be viewed in proportion to the negatives. If the pitch is calm, then how does this bowling attack take wickets? What happens late on Day 1 or 2 when the opposition are getting a score and you have to turn to a spinner to put in the overs...

In that respect, I think England need to prepare to go to toe to with the Aussies. If you concede 500, you have to score 500 or take 2 days out the game for the draw. As 2006/07 showed, those types of Adelaide games occur, and then the pitch changes late and a result can go from certain draw to opportunties to win. South Africa some years after also showed if you get outplayed and pitch remains ok to bat on, you can still bat out a draw if your mindset is there.

And my god would England snap your hands off for a draw at this point....