{"id":618857,"date":"2025-12-07T23:02:11","date_gmt":"2025-12-07T23:02:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/618857\/"},"modified":"2025-12-07T23:02:11","modified_gmt":"2025-12-07T23:02:11","slug":"second-test-talking-points-analysis-australian-selection-dilemmas-for-adelaide-michael-neser-usman-khawaja-england-bazball-failing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/618857\/","title":{"rendered":"Second Test Talking Points, analysis, Australian selection dilemmas for Adelaide, Michael Neser, Usman Khawaja, England Bazball failing"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>England will need to create Ashes history in order to regain the Urn after <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxsports.com.au\/cricket\/ashes-2025-australia-v-england-day-4-live-updates-blog-start-time-where-to-watch-scores-gabba-test-news\/news-story\/186f2f36202f64d76265d48f095152ef\" title=\"www.foxsports.com.au\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">being comprehensively beaten in Brisbane in the second Test after a disastrous effort on Saturday cooked any hopes they had.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>While English captain Ben Stokes showed grit on Sunday to force Australia to bat again, hometown hero Michael Neser enjoyed the best day of his career when snaring five wickets in an innings for the first time in a Test.<\/p>\n<p>A 96-run partnership between Stokes and Will Jacks saw England avoid an innings defeat, but they were only able to set the tourists a target of 65 runs to extend their lead in the series to 2-0. <\/p>\n<p><b>Watch The Ashes 2025\/26 LIVE and ad-break free during play with FOX CRICKET on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? <a href=\"https:\/\/kayosports.com.au?pg=cricket&amp;extcamp=fsaeditoriallinkcricket-edt-fsp-lnk-awr-grc-cri-kyo&amp;channel=fsa&amp;campaign=fsacontra&amp;voucher=\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Join now and get your first month for just $1.<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n<p>With Steve Smith fired up after a confrontation with Jofra Archer, the Aussies reeled the target in with eight wickets to spare.<\/p>\n<p>Only once in Ashes history has a team overcome a 2-0 deficit to win, with Donald Bradman helping Australia win at home in 1936-37 after a slow start to the series. <\/p>\n<p><img class=\"i-amphtml-fill-content i-amphtml-replaced-content\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/poster-fallback.png\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Fox Cricket looks at the Talking Points of the second Test of a series that will resume in Adelaide on December 17.<\/p>\n<p><b\/><b>\u2018NO DISCUSSIONS\u2019: STUBBORN ENGLAND REFUSE TO ADAPT<\/b><\/p>\n<p>England\u2019s batters have trod a fine line between bravery and stupidity, at least until Sunday when Ben Stokes and Will Jacks showed some grit when in a partnership that was disciplined and, dare it be said, the antithesis of Bazball.<\/p>\n<p>Quite the sad irony that they had to go against their entire ethos to save themselves.<\/p>\n<p>It took freakish catches from Steve Smith and Alex Carey to remove the English pair, who gave the Barmy Army something to cheer for, midway though the second session.<\/p>\n<p>But one stoic session does not make a summer, nor does it alter the atrocious batting that preceded their 96-run partnership.<\/p>\n<p><b>MORE ASHES NEWS<\/b><\/p>\n<p><b\/><b>\u2018OVER-PREPARED\u2019: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxsports.com.au\/cricket\/we-overprepared-poms-bizarre-take-on-gabba-prep-noosa-plans-as-stokes-makes-key-admission\/news-story\/2e182c3524cbb7ab60d44bfc34a64009\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Bizarre Baz claim has England legends raging<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b>2-NIL! <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxsports.com.au\/cricket\/ashes-2025-australia-v-england-day-4-live-updates-blog-start-time-where-to-watch-scores-gabba-test-news\/news-story\/186f2f36202f64d76265d48f095152ef\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Smith smokes arch rival to throw England on ropes in FIERY finish to Test<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b>AUSSIE RATINGS: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxsports.com.au\/cricket\/aussie-heros-perfect-10-as-rookies-struggles-creating-selection-dilemma-player-ratings\/news-story\/c984b75ba56696c56483496c294c2fb8\" title=\"www.foxsports.com.au\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Every Aussie rated from the second Test<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b\/><b>ENGLAND RATINGS: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxsports.com.au\/cricket\/cricket-ashes-2025-second-test-england-player-ratings-vs-australia-jofra-archer-bowling-ben-stokes-captain-zak-crawley-harry-brook-reactions-analysis-latest-news\/news-story\/78c7cb806ae61ae6c7dac481df261237\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Quicks scolded; top order in gun after SIX Ashes fails<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Safest hands in the business!&#8221; | 01:04<\/p>\n<p>Ahead of the Ashes campaign, countless pundits and former players warned the tourists to be wary of Australia\u2019s bouncy decks. Driving on the up early in your innings is hazardous, they cautioned.<\/p>\n<p>During the series opener in Perth, multiple of England\u2019s batters ignored the advice, pressing at deliveries they could have comfortably left alone and edging towards the slips cordon.<\/p>\n<p>And through nothing but pure stubbornness, they continued falling into the same trap at the Gabba this week until the adjustment on Sunday.<\/p>\n<p>Ollie Pope\u2019s painful knock on Saturday was a challenging watch. His dismissal, spooning a return catch back to seamer Michael Neser, felt like an inevitability, yet he reacted as though he was hard done by, throwing his head back in disbelief.<\/p>\n<p>He received no sympathy from the British media, who tore the Surrey product to shreds for his refusal to adapt to conditions.<\/p>\n<p>Vaughan: &#8216;England have Not got it right&#8217; | 00:47<\/p>\n<p>Opener Zak Crawley and wicketkeeper Jamie Smith were guilty of the same error as England suffered a horror collapse of 5-38 under floodlights, a farcical effort that looked even worse when Stokes and Jacks got stuck in on Sunday.<\/p>\n<p>Speaking to reporters at stumps on Saturday evening, England batting coach Marcus Trescothick was asked whether the tourists had discussed the risks of driving on Australia\u2019s bouncy pitches. His response raised plenty of eyebrows.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo discussions took place about driving on the up,\u201d he said, adding there was \u201cno need to have a knee-jerk reaction\u201d following the team\u2019s poor start to the series.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe are trying to play the way we want to play. We don\u2019t always get it right, of course,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI don\u2019t think you should be looking too much at what the guys are trying to do. We are trying to apply pressure, and put bowlers off their lengths. We have done that really well in the time this team has been together.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s been tested so far, but we will keep working at trying to make that better.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Trescothick said there were lessons to take from the first two Tests, but said this was a team that was good enough to succeed.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe have built the way we want to build the team, and trusting the guys we have in the team, that are good enough to do that,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe have been put under pressure in various places in the last two days, and of course that has been challenging. We are always trying to respect the situation and respect the game.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>&#8216;Challenging Day&#8217; Trescothick on England | 06:54<\/p>\n<p>Trescothick\u2019s remarks, understandably, went down like a lead balloon among many former cricketers from both countries.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m laughing,\u201d former Australian opener Phil Jacques said on ABC Grandstand.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cEvery player that has played at the WACA or Gabba knows that you do not drive on the up at those venues. To not even speak about it is craziness.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Bazball\u2019s supporters are dwindling. England\u2019s fans will want heads to roll if Australia retains the Ashes urn in Adelaide next week.<\/p>\n<p>Speaking on Fox Cricket commentary, former Australian spinner Kerry O\u2019Keeffe called for a change to England\u2019s top order for the third Ashes Test at Adelaide Oval, backing all-rounder Will Jacks to serve as an opener.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019d open with Will Jacks, I\u2019d drop Ben Duckett, I think he\u2019s unfit,\u201d O\u2019Keeffe said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDuckett doesn\u2019t look right for this tour to me (whereas) Jacks has the technique of an opener \u2026 I think they should consider this fella, he could be wasted at eight.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><b>MICHAEL VAUGHAN WOULD LIKE A WORD \u2026<\/b><\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s the debate that won\u2019t seem to leave England alone.<\/p>\n<p>The tourists have copped heavy backlash for their preparation ahead of the Ashes tour, which included an intra-squad match at Perth\u2019s Lilac Hill and a handful of net sessions.<\/p>\n<p>Previous generations had the luxury of participating in multiple tour matches before the series opener, facing state sides and second XI teams to adapt to Australia\u2019s conditions, but due to the sport\u2019s crowded calendar, it\u2019s not possible for today\u2019s Test squads. Many of England\u2019s multi-format stars, for example, were in New Zealand last month for a white-ball tour.<\/p>\n<p>Regardless, Ben Stokes\u2019 men have been scrutinised for their inadequate preparation ahead of the first Test in Perth and this week\u2019s pink-ball contest, including the decision to skip the Prime Minister\u2019s XI match in Canberra.<\/p>\n<p>Speedster Jofra Archer had only bowled five overs in day-night Tests before this week, while wicketkeeper Jamie Smith had never played a pink-ball match of any kind. Elsewhere, Ollie Pope averages 15.80 in day-night Tests. Their inexperience was apparent in the Queensland capital.<\/p>\n<p>England batting coach Marcus Trescothick was, not for the first time, asked about the team\u2019s preparation at stumps on day three, declaring he was \u201cvery happy\u201d with the touring program.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis question comes up all the time and it\u2019s the same answer, this is the way tours are nowadays,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s not unique for us coming to Australia that we haven\u2019t played three (Sheffield) Shield games like you\u2019d expect we\u2019d done 20 or 30 years ago. Not that that made any difference.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s the same when Australia comes to England, it\u2019s the same when we go to India, it\u2019s the same when Pakistan comes to England.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>However, former England captain Michael Vaughan was not impressed with Trescothick\u2019s response, declaring he would like to have a \u201cquiet drink\u201d with his former teammate.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe only time that England have come down here with a genuine chance, in my time, was 2010\/11 \u2026 they prepared correctly &#8230;&#8230;for that group of players,\u201d Vaughan said on Kayo Sports\u2019 live Ashes coverage.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo one can tell me that this England management has given this England team the best chance with the tools that they\u2019ve got to win in Australia.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI get worried that the message clearly from the dressing room always has to be positive, and they have to always protect what they\u2019ve done. But so far, they\u2019ve got to be brutally honest and they\u2019ve got to look themselves in the mirror. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cThey have not got it right, and they\u2019ve got a long way to come back from.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Former Australian batter Mark Waugh agreed, claiming that England\u2019s bowlers look \u201cunderdone\u201d during the Gabba Test, particularly during Saturday\u2019s two-hour partnership between Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThey probably could have played one or two more games,\u201d Waugh said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cPhysically they don\u2019t look ready for this series. They don\u2019t look like they\u2019ve done the big miles in their legs to cope with the heat.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Speaking to Fox Cricket at the Gabba, former Test bowler Brett Lee also attributed the struggles of England\u2019s quicks to a lack of match preparation.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTheir preparation, in all honesty, hasn\u2019t been the best,\u201d Lee said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThey haven\u2019t played a lot of cricket leading up to this \u2026 you can bowl as much as you want in the nets \u2013 you can bowl 10 years in the nets \u2013 it\u2019s not going to help you out in the middle.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Elsewhere, Lee identified that the speed of Archer, who was sledged by Steve Smith in a feisty confrontation late in the match, dropped off considerably after his opening couple of spells.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m a massive fan of Jofra Archer. I want to make that very clear, and I love watching him bowl,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBut he bowled a couple of spells where they were in 140s and then started spells at 128, 130. We\u2019re watching speeds very closely. Mitchell Starc, in contrast, he starts at 140 and goes to 145 consistently.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><b>A GOOD PROBLEM TO HAVE<\/b><\/p>\n<p>Think things are bad for England? The news only gets worse, with Australia\u2019s captain fantastic Pat Cummins to return to the fold for the Adelaide Test fresh and ready to fire. <\/p>\n<p>This is a good problem to have but it does pose a selection nightmare for the Australia, not the panel led by George Bailey will mind.<\/p>\n<p>Who, exactly, will be left out from an Australian squad that has the hosts on the brink of reclaiming the Urn just six days into the series?<\/p>\n<p>The logical position is that it will fall between Brendan Doggett and Michael Neser, who have both enjoyed some fine moments in the first two Tests of the series in Perth and at the Gabba. Neser, in particular, was brilliant on Sunday on his home track.<\/p>\n<p>In Doggett\u2019s favour is that he has been used in both Tests to date, which included a five wicket haul on debut in Perth. He was challenged on the opening day in Brisbane and finished with 1-81 from 15 overs, with the wicket tailender Jofra Archer.<\/p>\n<p>But the Toowoomba-raised quick was asked to bowl shorter than he usually does, as per the case in Perth, as Australia pursued a short-ball theory. With Mitchell Starc, Scott Boland and Neser in control on Saturday, he was sparingly used.<\/p>\n<p>Doggett is returning to Adelaide Oval, the ground where he has bowled himself into the Australian team with superb consistency over the past two years, and is a local favourite.<\/p>\n<p>Neser, meanwhile, proved superb in his first Test in three years and demonstrated that he has an outstanding reserve for Australia have, with his efforts to remove Stokes and Jacks on Sunday another demonstration of his excellence. <\/p>\n<p>Similarly to the position Scott Boland has filled in recent years when the Big Three are fit, to have someone of Neser\u2019s quality sitting on the sidelines is a luxury. And clearly he treasures every opportunity he gets to play for his nation.<\/p>\n<p>The 35-year-old, who opted against heading to County cricket through the winter to ensure he gave his hamstring time to recover properly after issues last summer, revelled in the day-night Test. <\/p>\n<p>&#8216;Should be right for Adelaide&#8217; Cummins | 01:25<\/p>\n<p>He bowled tightly on Thursday when snaring 1-43 from 14 overs, which included three maidens. The Queenslander than combined with Carey for a very handy 53-run partnership that swayed the momentum his nation\u2019s way on Friday night.<\/p>\n<p>When given the ball on Saturday night, he was a menace, snaring two England batters caught-and-bowled as Australia put its foot on the throat. On Sunday he snared the crucial wickets on Jacks and Stokes on the way to his first Test \u201cfive for\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>Either man will be stiff to miss out on the squad given their contributions so far, with Australian great Brett Lee telling foxsports.com.au on Sunday that both had performed soundly for their nation. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m all praise for Doggett and Neser. I think they\u2019ve done a terrific job. They\u2019re big shoes to fill, let\u2019s be honest \u2026 trying to step into the shoes of Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood, who are world-class bowlers,\u201d Lee said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI think that partnership when they bowled in unison yesterday afternoon, even though Doggett didn\u2019t pick up a wicket, he did his job. He backed up Neser and employed the pressure from both ends. They were both bowling really, really tight lines.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThey bowled stump to stump, you know, and asked a lot of questions to the batsman.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Of course, it is unlikely either will be called on in Adelaide unless something untoward happens over the next ten days given the return of Cummins and Nathan Lyon.<\/p>\n<p>The latter was furious to miss out on a chance in Brisbane and could have been handy late on the opening day. There appeared to be enough bounce to suggest he would have been more than handy, but his absence did not alter Australia\u2019s dominance.<\/p>\n<p>But with Starc and Boland bowling superbly, and Cummins and Lyon to return, Neser and Doggett will have to bide their time.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI think the conditions up here suits Neser. He was called in to play that role because they knew the pink ball would swing and they knew that the seam in the first two days would be there. He\u2019s a stump to stump bowler, so the conditions suit him well,\u201d Lee said. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cBut Doggett was first picked, so you could assume that Doggett would get the nod, but once again, it could come down to conditions. And if they feel that either Doggett or Neser is more suited for Adelaide, that\u2019s a call they\u2019ll make. And Neser adds a bit more to the batting as well.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><b>SPEAKING OF SELECTION CONUNDRUMS \u2026<\/b><\/p>\n<p>The call on the bowling attack is straightforward, though Lyon will attest there is no such thing as a certainty having been left out in two of the past three Tests.<\/p>\n<p>More difficult will be the decision surrounding whether Usman Khawaja returns to the top of the order, provided he has been able to overcome the back injury that hindered him in Perth and forced him out of the Brisbane Test.<\/p>\n<p>That gave the selectors an easy out, with Travis Head remaining at the top of the order alongside Jake Weatherald, who has been promising in the infancy of his career and scored a maiden Test half-century on Friday in an enterprising innings.<\/p>\n<p>The Head and Weatherald partnership proved a matchwinner in Perth and set the tone on Friday, though the former was especially scratchy in the infancy of his innings at the Gabba after a matchwinning century in the west.<\/p>\n<p>While he said prior to the Brisbane Test that he wanted the role, there are some including Aussie great Mark Waugh who believe he remains better suited at No.5, where he can take advantage of the softer ball.<\/p>\n<p>But he said Australia clearly has a decision to make given the manner with which Head and Weatherald are combining.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf they want to pick him for Adelaide, he has to open. But do they say to Khawaja, \u2018Thank you for your great career, but this is the way we are going?\u2019 It is a tough call for selectors,\u201d Waugh said on Kayo Sports\u2019 coverage of The Ashes.<\/p>\n<p>Khawaja out! Who comes in for Australia? | 02:20<\/p>\n<p>Lee, too, believes Head is well suited to batting in the middle order.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWith Usman Khawaja, look, he\u2019s been such a great asset to the Australian cricket team. (Yes), his age is there, but if he\u2019s scoring runs and he\u2019s fit, then you\u2019d assume that he\u2019d play in Adelaide,\u201d Lee said. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf he\u2019s fully fit, which would mean that Travis Head would go back down the order, and then Pat Cummins comes in, you\u2019d expect that Nathan Lyon would have to play. So that\u2019s where my mind says what will happen, that Khawaja will come back in the top, Head will slide down to where he normally bats and then Cummins and Lyon will come in.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The absence of Khawaja in Brisbane allowed Australia to call on Josh Inglis, who batted at No.7 behind the inform wicketkeeper Alex Carey. While Inglis was out for 23 when bowled by Stokes. <\/p>\n<p>Then there is Beau Webster who, despite his brilliant deeds for Australia since earning a Test cap, is shaping as one of Australia\u2019s unluckier cricketers.<\/p>\n<p>That Tasmanian has not done a thing wrong but with Cameron Green the preferred all-rounder, the brain fade on Friday night aside when he was set, there does not appear to be a role for Webster at the moment.<\/p>\n<p><b>\u2018NOT ABOUT ME\u2019: ROOT\u2019S WORRYING DROUGHT CONTINUES<\/b><\/p>\n<p>It was a performance 12 years in the making.<\/p>\n<p>An undisputed modern great of the game, Joe Root\u2019s century on day one of the Gabba Test ticked off a glaring flaw in his otherwise sparkling resume. In fifteen prior Tests in Australia, he had no hundreds. The record is corrected.<\/p>\n<p>To be fair to the champion, on his three previous Ashes tours, Root did not bat poorly. He was England\u2019s leading run-scorer during the 2021\/22 series, and he had already notched nine Test fifties down under.<\/p>\n<p>But ahead of the summer, multiple pundits and former players declared that to be considered among the highest echelon of Test batters, he needed to be capable of reaching triple figures in all conditions. That has bee ticked off.<\/p>\n<p>Root\u2019s Gabba hundred was his 40th in Tests. Only three cricketers have managed the feat more often \u2013 India\u2019s Sachin Tendulkar, South Africa\u2019s Jacques Kallis and Australia\u2019s Ricky Ponting. <\/p>\n<p>He\u2019ll almost certainly leapfrog the latter, while Tendulkar\u2019s record of 51 centuries could also be in jeopardy if he can continue to maintain his form.<\/p>\n<p>Starc claims the Wicket of Root for 15 | 00:38<\/p>\n<p>But asked about what the milestone meant to him while speaking to reporters on Friday evening, Root shrugged his shoulders.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI think I\u2019d be more equipped to tell you at the end of the game,\u201d he responded.<\/p>\n<p>The England No. 4 was reminded of the support he had received from his adoring fans, both back home and in attendance at the venue. They had been spurring him on for over a decade, desperate to see him succeed against the Ashes rivals in their own backyard.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat\u2019s lovely to hear that. It\u2019s really nice to hear. I\u2019m very grateful for that support,\u201d he continued.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBut this tour\u2019s not about me. It\u2019s not about me scoring a hundred in Australia. It\u2019s about us trying to win the Ashes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Despite his achievements and personal milestones, Root will not be satisfied with his Gabba hundred because it didn\u2019t result in a win for England.<\/p>\n<p>And while his century drought has been well-documented, his victory drought in Australia should be more concerning \u2013 16 matches, four tours, zero wins.<\/p>\n<p>No cricketer has played more Tests on Australian soil without tasting victory, something even his parents are aware of.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s nice for him to (get a hundred). But this is his fourth series in Australia and he\u2019s yet to win a Test match here,\u201d Root\u2019s father Matt told Fox Cricket on Friday.<\/p>\n<p>England has not won a Test match in Australia since 2011. The nation\u2019s record since has been 17 matches, 15 defeats, two draws and zero victories.<\/p>\n<p>Ben Stokes\u2019 men touched down in Australia last month confident they had the best English touring party in a generation. But six days into the series, it\u2019s starting to look like a familiar story.<\/p>\n<p><b>Most Tests in Australia without a win<\/b><\/p>\n<p>16 \u2013 Joe Root (ENG)<\/p>\n<p>12 \u2013 Daniel Vettori (NZ)<\/p>\n<p>11 \u2013 Ben Stokes (ENG)<\/p>\n<p>10 \u2013 Dawid Malan (ENG)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"England will need to create Ashes history in order to regain the Urn after being comprehensively beaten in&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":618858,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4101],"tags":[2740,6025,521,186,22631,88625,124132,76935,192744,192776,191752,88616,172976,36269,84072,192772,192748,183964,111209,192756,22422,192740,17892,3851,192747,192767,192754,159193,1406,25397,393,192777,192738,192753,299,192773,192751,88615,192742,192770,192769,730,192745,168001,172980,66285,66284,26414,88620,192759,192775,181060,192774,192760,5038,165711,79354,47005,192762,192761,192755,70215,704,17670,22617,94807,29003,13573,568,192746,192771,192757,192758,13691,15787,15616,99825,192750,88623,192752,192739,2196,88632,88628,79,192764,192765,172982,192763,11438,16,15,85691,192768,192743,569,192766,192749,192741],"class_list":{"0":"post-618857","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-cricket","8":"tag-africa","9":"tag-alex-carey","10":"tag-asia","11":"tag-australia","12":"tag-australia-and-new-zealand","13":"tag-australian-batter","14":"tag-australian-capital-territory","15":"tag-australian-cricket-team","16":"tag-australian-opener","17":"tag-australian-soil","18":"tag-australian-spinner","19":"tag-australian-squad","20":"tag-australian-team","21":"tag-beau-webster","22":"tag-ben-duckett","23":"tag-bowling-attack","24":"tag-brain-fade","25":"tag-brendan-doggett","26":"tag-brett-lee","27":"tag-brilliant-deeds","28":"tag-brisbane","29":"tag-british-media","30":"tag-cameron-green","31":"tag-canberra","32":"tag-captain-fantastic","33":"tag-century-drought","34":"tag-county-cricket","35":"tag-courtney-walsh","36":"tag-cricket","37":"tag-daniel-vettori","38":"tag-england","39":"tag-england-batting","40":"tag-english-touring","41":"tag-enterprising-innings","42":"tag-europe","43":"tag-facing-state-sides","44":"tag-familiar-story","45":"tag-george-bailey","46":"tag-hamstring-time","47":"tag-horror-collapse","48":"tag-inadequate-preparation","49":"tag-india","50":"tag-intra-squad-match","51":"tag-jacques-kallis","52":"tag-jake-weatherald","53":"tag-jamie-smith","54":"tag-joe-root","55":"tag-josh-hazlewood","56":"tag-josh-inglis","57":"tag-kerry-okeeffe","58":"tag-marcus-trescothick","59":"tag-mark-waugh","60":"tag-match-preparation","61":"tag-match-winning-century","62":"tag-matt","63":"tag-michael-neser","64":"tag-michael-vaughan","65":"tag-mitchell-starc","66":"tag-multi-format-stars","67":"tag-multiple-pundits","68":"tag-multiple-tour","69":"tag-nathan-lyon","70":"tag-new-zealand","71":"tag-northern-europe","72":"tag-oceania","73":"tag-opening-day","74":"tag-pat-cummins","75":"tag-personal-milestones","76":"tag-perth","77":"tag-phil-jacques","78":"tag-pink-ball-contest","79":"tag-pink-ball-match","80":"tag-quality-sitting","81":"tag-queensland","82":"tag-ricky-ponting","83":"tag-sachin-tendulkar","84":"tag-scott-boland","85":"tag-selection-nightmare","86":"tag-series-opener","87":"tag-short-ball-theory","88":"tag-slips-cordon","89":"tag-south-africa","90":"tag-southern-africa","91":"tag-southern-asia","92":"tag-sports","93":"tag-stubborn-england","94":"tag-tasting-victory","95":"tag-the-gabba","96":"tag-the-head","97":"tag-travis-head","98":"tag-uk","99":"tag-united-kingdom","100":"tag-usman-khawaja","101":"tag-victory-drought","102":"tag-way-tours","103":"tag-western-australia","104":"tag-white-ball-tour","105":"tag-wicket-haul","106":"tag-wicket-tailender"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"","error":"Validation failed: Text character limit of 500 exceeded"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/618857","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=618857"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/618857\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/618858"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=618857"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=618857"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=618857"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}