Ashes

• The wrap-up dissects the trends and events that have dominated headlines this year.
• View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231218000575/en/
  The ten artists touring in the UK in 2024 who have sold the most tickets on viagogo as of 1 December 2023.
• The F1 British Grand Prix climbed from fourth to second most popular live sporting event in the country.
• British artist Elton John’s Farewell Yellow Brick Road kicked off in September 2018 and only wrapped in July 2023 in Stockholm, Sweden.

• The last Essential Voice poll in June gave “yes” a 60–40 lead, in contrast to a 51–49 “no” lead from Resolve in a poll conducted at the same time.
• The trajectories of Resolve and Newspoll are similar, while Essential has been the most friendly pollster for “yes”.
• While Essential still has “yes” ahead, there is now a clear down trend in “yes” support in this poll.

Other Essential results: Labor leads by 51–44

• In Essential’s two party measure that includes undecided, Labor led by 51–44 (52–42 last fortnight).
• This is Labor’s narrowest lead in Essential since March.

Be sceptical of claims of existential crises for current opposition parties

• But when the Coalition unexpectedly won the 2019 election, there were claims of an existential crisis for Labor.
• Internationally, there were claims of an existential crisis for United Kingdom Labour after the Conservatives won a clear majority at the UK 2019 election, but Labour is leading in current UK national polls by about 20 points.
• This is occurring despite the generational effects the CIS paper claims will damage the Coalition.

Last fortnight’s Essential poll

• In last fortnight’s Essential poll, voters were asked to rate Albanese, Dutton and Greens leader Adam Bandt from 0 to 10.
• Ratings of 0–3 were counted as negative, 4–6 as neutral and 7–10 as positive.
• Relieving cost of living pressures had the highest score for not enough (75% not enough, 20% enough, 5% too much).

LNP leads in Queensland Freshwater poll

• An April YouGov Queensland poll gave the LNP a 51–49 lead, although Resolve still had Labor ahead, but Resolve has skewed to Labor federally and in state polls since the May 2022 federal election.
• Read more:
  Labor gains in Newspoll but Voice support slumps in other polls; NSW final results and Queensland polls

  Labor has governed in Queensland since early 2015, but federally, Queensland is the most conservative state.

• The Poll Bludger reported Sunday that “no” to the Voice led in this Queensland-only poll by 50–36 including undecided, or 58–42 excluding undecided.

• It is one of the leading biannual international Test cricket series in the world.
• This year’s series has added intrigue, as England head coach Brendon McCullum’s “Bazball” style of play pits itself against the old foe for the first time.
• England were humiliatingly outplayed when losing the most recent series 4-0 in 2021-22, capitulating with Australia retaining the Ashes in just 12 days of cricket.

The emergence of ‘Bazball’

• His approach was influenced by members of the great Australian team of the 1990s and early 2000s, who were relentlessly positive.
• He also drew inspiration from the success of the Michael Vaughan-led England side, which regained the Ashes in 2005 by aggressively taking on the opposition.
• What ensued was the highest batting total ever achieved by a New Zealand team, at an astounding run rate.
• They hit a world record number of sixes in a Test innings, to square the series.

The psychology underpinning Bazball

• Bazball is a term used to describe the revitalised playing style of the England Test team under McCullum.
• McCullum feels the term downplays the amount of thought that goes into the Bazball approach to play.
• It develops confidence to allow freedom of expression which is so fundamental in Bazball, guides attention and concentration and facilitates motivation.
• Bazball offers group members psychological safety.
• And, as we have seen with Bazball so far, exciting, high-level performances.

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