-
Bumble: "Don't jettison Bazball, just rein it in"
-
England needed to adapt to the conditions
-
Tufnell doesn't think Australia will complete the whitewash
-
It's day 12 of the World Darts Championship, read our latest tips here
This week's show sees ex-Australian fast-bowler Glenn McGrath join Phil Tufnell and David Lloyd to review England's third consequetive defeat in the Ashes and a look ahead to what is next for England now that the series is lost.
Watch the new episode of Stick To Cricket
Brendon McCullum should stay as England Head Coach
Whilst speaking on this week's episode, Phil Tufnell discusses McCullum as England's head coach:
"Baz should definitely stay as England Head Coach. Absolutely. But there will be consequences. The reason I say that is, how long has this project been going on for? Three years? We have witnessed some fabulous cricket. I've been turning up doing the commentary, it's been wonderful. Run chases, full houses for a start. I remember where we were to start with: 17 Test matches, one victory, Joe Root's lot getting dragged off, bless him, in the Caribbean."
"I think what we saw on day five in the third test with that little bit of dog and that little bit of fight was there for the captain and the coach. A little bit of, "Sorry boys, we know we've buggered up a little bit." And I think they're going to pick themselves up, and they're going to go down to Melbourne and get the win."
If England get whitewashed McCullum could be in trouble
Glenn McGrath, ex-Australian fast-bowler, thinks that in order for England to succeed, Bazball needs to learn to adapt in different situations.
McGrath continues "It goes to show you need adaptability. I like the concept of going out being positive, backing yourself, but you've got to adapt to the situation. Know when to get through this tough moment."
""Okay, let's attack now." If they can do that, I think they'll be great. They'll be up there with the world's best, but a lot depends for Baz on the next two games. If they really compete the next two, fine, great. If they lose convincingly, then it could be tough for him."
David Lloyd: "England haven't mastered Bazball yet"
On this week's episode, Lloyd discusses the sentiment towards Bazball saying "I've been round our media centre and talking to ex-players and journalists and so on. They say don't jettison Bazball. Don't jettison it, just rein it in. I'm a massive boxing fan. Sometimes you're on the ropes and you've got to cover up, and you've got to defend. Then you've got to find your moment when you come out. You've got to come out, "Right, I'm going to start throwing something now." We've not got there yet."
"We haven't recognized that this bloke Mitchell Starc doesn't allow you. Pat Cummins doesn't allow you to play that way. Nathan Lyon doesn't allow you. Nathan Lyon has an action that repeats and repeats and repeats."
What does a third Test win mean for Australia?
Phil Tufnell doesn't think they'll be able to continue on this winning streak across the entire series: "Australia won't complete the whitewash. Now they've had those first sort of two games - or we're going to call them Test matches as a bit of preparation - I think they're showing a little bit of quality now, the England boys."
"I felt it a little bit. I've been commentating for a while, but I really lived every ball. Australia might get on the old VBs. Will Australia step off the gas?"
McGrath: Travis Head opening the batting has been a revelation
Moving on to Australia's batting order McGrath says "There were doubts about Australia, and it was more around the opening batting position. The top probably two or three. And it's funny how that sorted itself out. The fact that Usman Khawaja got injured in that second innings as well and Travis Head put his hand up and said, "I want to open, and I want to take first ball." And it was that confidence. And the way he went out and played, that just had a positive impact on the rest of the team and the rest of the series."
"I think if Khawaja opened with Weatherald out there just trying to score, just trying to survive... we may be in a completely different situation. So, you know, I think Head opening has been a revelation for Australia."
England wanted the conditions to adapt to them
Where did England go wrong? McGrath believs it was down to adaptability, or lack of it: "My first thought when England were coming out, the two things I was curious about: are they going to play that way on Australian bouncy pitches? Just keep picking the line and hitting through? That was one thing. And the other one was taking bowlers on, trying to score quickly on bigger grounds."
"I think they got found out just trying to play their game instead of adapting to the conditions. It's like they wanted the conditions to adapt to their way of play. And we saw that after lunch Day 2 in Perth. The way they were hitting through balls that weren't there and getting caught behind. They were in a great position. And from that moment on, they lost all those wickets."