creeeeeeeekeeeeeet

[BWFC_Insane]

We'd class Bumrah as one of the best bowlers currently out there and India batsmen being certainly above average, yet their bowlers struggled too in the first innings, apart from Bumrah, and batting they made 6 more than us. We need to move on from Broad and Anderson, I doubt they're coming back any time soon, but that said, I hear you, it could be a long 12 months from here...

Woakes has pushing 200 test wickets - but not notably very good in Aus.
Tongue and Carse both pretty new - with Carse doing well in NZ - but it all feels a bit wing and a prayer.

Well yes we absolutely have to move on - but the reality is that even at their ages they are better than what we’ve got.

Woakes is 36. He’s a decent bowler in English conditions but on these more modern pitches that offer less movement and with his pace dropping his threat is lessening.

We’ve got a few injured who would come in and help, Atkinson, Wood Jofra. But then these are often injured..which is another issue. And not sure any are a complete answer.

I thought Carse bowled ok but feels to me like a 3rd change seamer rather than a premium new ball test option.

Woakes offered little and hasn’t been too accurate either. Tonge is young but I’m really not seeing much. Stokes is a ‘bring him on and make something happen sort’ and I mean he has a knack of breaking partnerships but I’d not put him in a list of good test bowlers.

Indias attack bar Bumrah is equally as insipid as ours tbh. Obviously jadeja on a turner would be up there and we’ve not got anything close. But their other seamers aren’t anything special.

The difference is that they will win a lot in their own conditions - we on the other hand are finding English conditions helping less and less and our bowling skill is not really keeping up.

I fear for us down in Australia. I do think we’ve somewhat lost the plot a bit though. We need line and length bowlers who can keep it in the right areas. For all the stuff about Australia and the wickets metronomic accuracy and discipline matters most and I fear that’s what we lack most. Atkinson would help. And maybe a jofra to rough them up but I’m not convinced by his test ability really. And wood is the same - always injured and not sure he’s really a test bowler on a consistent basis.

I do really think the ashes down there could be very embarrassing. I mean all the Aussies need to do seemingly if we get a partnership going is go short ball tactic and a clatter of caught on the boundary wickets will fall.

[Worthy4England]

I think Jofra made "yet another comeback" in red-ball last week? I agree that both he and Wood are very vulnerable to injury, but I think we're going to look a bit sparse down under without either - unless a new name comes to the fore.

Jimmy/Broady weren't brilliant in Aus, Cummins averages 22, Mcgrath was 23, Siddle under 30, Jimmy was 34 as was Broady - I mean it's a chunk better than Woakes at 50+

Last time we won in Aus, Anderson, Tremlett and Bresnan - Jimmy got 24 at 26 per, Tremlett got 17 at 23 - think he only played in 3 tests, and Bresnan got 11 at 19 per. So Jimmy had a good series as anchor and one of the three, but Tremlett and Bresnan absolutely necessary. Finn added 14 at 33 and Swan added 15 at 40.

[BWFC_Insane]

Well stokes wanted to chase. Have a go at 370 odd. Massive test really. If they chase it fair play. If not he looks to be struggling to me.