It really is no surprise any long SG, people forgive and forget with a few wins and a bit of optimism, then Venkys pop the heads above the parapet and its back to square one. Lambert was brought in and promised money to rebuild - He was lied to and walked. Warnock was lined up before Coyle, owners went for Coyle.....the cheap option and Warnock took Cardiff up on a shoestring. Mowbray was given funds, but when push came to shove the owners pulled rank, stopped him selling to buy and the rest is history. Last seasons managerial debacle - Plenty of decent names came forward, plenty of names pulled out due to lack of funds and no ambition. JDT has been s**t on twice from a great height in his first year as manager, I'm surprised he's still here to be honest. Allowing players to walk for free when we're skint is unforgivable. That is just off the top on my head....... This doesn't get any better until Venkys sod off.

In all the euphoria and back slapping after the game yesterday, it never dawned on me until this morning that England took 7 wickets after the rain delay yesterday, 7 wickets! What time did they come back on? 4.30pm'ish? That is some going that against the best side in the world.

I've not lived locally for many years now, but the Nabs Head was a staple for us, run by Michael, a Rovers fans, who used to manage The Royal Oak at Riley Green before branching out himself. No idea what has happened to the pub, we were thinking about dropping in last season after the Norwich game but it never happened due to a crash on M6.

Great scenes - Shout out for Moeen too, who came out of retirement to serve his country and he’s been brilliant.

Agnew definitely said Woakes wasn’t risked due to a niggle.

This has to be one of the best Ashes series ever, it’s had everything. Any chance we can play another 5 tests to decide the winner?

Just watched that Bairstow catch again, unbelievable reaction time to take that.

He had a niggle apparently, that was the reason for his omission.

Two very good captains no doubt about that Jim. Just on Stokes, he took over an England side that had won 1 game in 17 and with virtually the same players, that side was 10 wins in 11 and not now 11 wins in 17, some record that. The Times cricket journalist, Mike Atherton, calls this transformation astonishing, never witnessed before in English cricket.

I'm saying nothing.......OjF 👍

Mike Atherton in the press over night talking about Ben Stokes going down as one of Englands best captains, given time. Praise indeed from a former England captain who knows his onions. Rain falling in London right now, but it looks like we may get some play today 🤞

Manchester City are the finished article right now, they need very little tinkering, Pep provides the philosophy, the tactics and style play, the finished article. English cricket is very much a work in progress, we have Crawley, Brook, Ducket, Pope and Archer, with Stokes, Key and Brendon providing the philosophy, tactics and style of play. Plenty of places up for grabs, a work in progress.

You’ve just described a work in progress as far as I’m concerned, but do stick around to see how this plays out.

It’s still a work in progress, no doubt about that, but the game has been shook to its core, by an English side breaking records and bucking convention. (Everyone is welcome on this thread Matty, stick around, India next)

Absolutely, we are by no means the finished article, but the signs look good. With the current line up, built on making quick runs, Foakes doesn’t get in.

I know you don’t spend much time on this side of the forum to understand context, but we’ll let you off. Let me be clear, I was talking about the best English side.

I got it completely wrong last season….. I felt after a managerial appointment shit show and another dysfunctional pre-season, I thought we’d finish below mid-table, but I was wrong and we had a comparatively good season! So what about this season….. Well the owners have realised JDT has something about him, so have immediately cut his budget to make things harder to get promoted….. 13th this season, if we are lucky. Venkys out!

You've nailed your colours to the mast during this series matt, you want traditional cricket played in the traditional way and nothing wrong with that. Having been a cricket fan for more years than I care to mention, I'd much rather watch us play wining cricket, as we have been doing more recently, than getting hammered in West Indies by 10wkts trying the same old traditional approach.

Thanks Ewood Ace, I thought Jim was making stuff up again…

Where have you been for the past 15 months? This side have won 11 tests out of 17 under Stokes as captain, including a historic 3-0 win in Pakistan, which has NEVER been achieved by any England side in the history of cricket. They’re undoubtedly the most entertaining England side ever and given time could prove to the best side ever. It’s a great time to be an English cricket fan.

Talking of swimming pools, it’s pelting down in London, can’t see any further play today.

I went last year to the Royal London cup game in Sedbergh, sadly it rained all day, but a great place to watch cricket when the weather stays fine.

This rain delay could work in our favour, we need to regroup, we lacked ideas with the ball for the most part today. Long way to go yet.

If you think about the snakes involved before Waggott, ticking along is probably the best we can hope for sadly and only promotion will grow the club under these owners.

Saw this on Twitter recently, great picture of the Brazil team leaving Boltons training ground 1966, you can see Pele in the window: