Bit bleary eyed this morning. Pretty pleased with that. Real shame to lose Root, but the big win is that the 3 question mark batsmen have all shown a real sense of solidity. We have some thing to build on here. Can't win it on the first day but can lose it, so we are very definitely in this series and don't have to fear the Aus attack (although the pitch was benign).
[quote=spacey ]Can't win it on the first day but can lose it, so we are very definitely in this series and don't have to fear the Aus attack (although the pitch was benign).
I'll take it as a big positive that we're not already in trouble - and that's with a supposedly fragile batting lineup (ironically it's only the players who are supposed to be solid who have got out cheaply). We should at least keep Australia in the field for 4 full sessions, if not more which is a start and they don't necessarily have the most solid batting lineup themselves. A draw is as good as a win at the Gabba anyway.
Comments I've seen suggest that the pitch is still faster than anything in England, just not as fast as usual. Though it might get more tricky just in time for Australia to bat...
Cook's form is a concern mind. Not sure how big a deal it will be batting last at the Gabbotoir.
Also this article is fantastic, written by one of my favourite cricket /sports writers
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2017/nov/22/ashes-first-test-dos-and-donts-england-gabba-1986-87
howsyourdad1 - Member
Cook's form is a concern mind. Not sure how big a deal it will be batting last at the Gabbotoir.
If I'm honest the name is not deserved this year, pitch is dead, the name was from when it was the opening hostile arena for teams, watched most of today and i was sedate, of course it will chance but the 148's looked lame out there. If it's a draw then England are one up mentally - last time they lost here was 88, so lasting the day for 4 was a good thing, tie up most of day 2 and its a real positive
totz
Though it might get more tricky just in time for Australia to bat...
Moeen must be looking at the amount of turn that Lyon was getting with some pleasure. Could be a bit of a handful by day 4/5 (assuming we get that far, obviously!)
Cook has slumps - he's an opening batsman and they are the ones most likely to get one with their name on it. He is such a good judge and plays so late that he often misses the 'jaffas' as all good opening bats do (look at Langer, Hayden etc). As a bowler you have to bowl the perfect half a bat width of movement ball on a perfect length to get him most of the time. He puts the bad ball away more often than not. I don't think you can ask for more of an opener and his record is brilliant. I'm not worried about him.
So England's 'wobbly' batsmen have got off to a good start. That is very good, because it takes the focus off of them and heaps it onto the likes of Shaun Marsh. Paine has already dropped a catch, so he is under massive pressure too. I would put England as slightly ahead on this basis. They've soaked up most of the pressure and handed it over to the Aussies.
First hour tomorrow is crucial. 220 for 7 will probably mean 250-270all out. 300 for 5 will probably mean 450+ and their players under big pressure on a very un-Brisbane wicket.
Tidy bit of fielding from Lyon to get rid of Vince, though. A very under-rated cricketer, but he needs to be a decent fielder as he is a bit of a rabbit with the bat.
Anybody staying up again tonight?
Feeling good Lewis, I'm here
[img] 
[/img]
I'm more nervous today than I was yesterday. A decent start but a new ball, refreshed bowlers, we could still be rolled over for 250-odd and from a decent position and start that would feel doubly bad.
I'll be up for the first hour or so.
TOJV is right and first hour is crucial
Starts half an hour early today, late start and heading down the office to watch it. Just got to get through the smashed avo first.
Anyway, England slightly up just for the time spent out there, agree it needs to be a good start and no wickets before lunch, regardless of the score if England make it to tea they have a very good chance here though I'm not convinced they will. One of the aussie commentators said the new perth ground is also a drop in pitch which got Vaughn all happy - not having to deal with a WACA deck will be a bonus for England throw in a day night and it's an open series
Blimey, just watched the highlights. Who stole the Gabba wicket and substituted in a load of plasticine?
In years gone by it was a riot of blazing bouncers, zipping spin and shots racing across the outfield like a cannonball on a medieval battlefield. It looke more like a Rose Bowl nonentity wicket prepared for an ODI.
I'm hoping Moeen can last the initial attack with the new ball and take full toll later with Jonny.
Jimmy's nipbacker is an underrated delivery next to all his booming swing, it might well be a principle weapon on a pitch as benign as this.
good neck training for Warner keeping it upright and his eyes at head level instead of staring at the obvious distractions!!!
Strewth mate!
A nice lovely boring session please!!
Well I've had to swap back to the Channel 9 commentary as TMS/ABC was about 2 balls out from the TV, worst bit of the session so far was either KP's 15 mins or Ali sending one skywards.
Love to see those lads have to throw down 150 overs.
View from the Aussies is that they are just letting England get comfortable, which they do look. All the time the scoreboard is ticking along nicely
Good to see the Richies out there in force too
Nice and steady...
Where are the devastating spells of unplayable bowling?
Maybe we have to wait for Broad and Anderson for that, seen plenty of mouth from the bogans though.
Where are the devastating spells of unplayable bowling?
Day 3 when the pitch crisps up? Not the fault of the bowlers though, these lads are some of the fastest and most hostile in the right place so don't underestimate them.
All three batsman who were a cause concern have got 50s - bodes well.
Starc switching to round the wkt may liven things up a little.
Malan & Moeen both looking comfortable; new ball, much the same as old ball.
and Malan has gone, at least he got the 50 up, lets keep nice and settled and get Bairstow in properly, need to get past 300 here
Ah, Malan out for 56; Bairstow now on strike.
[s]and review for Moeen[/s]
Edit gone, Lyon gets one
Moeen leg before; appeal; umpires call - out.
249/6.
and here comes the mad half hour
And now Woakes goes - bowled by Lyon; 250/7.
All change in last 15 mins.
and here we go, lets at least make lunch here might have to lift Bairstow up the order one
Bye Bye Bairstow.
Time for the sloggers and the duckers!! Nice to see it hitting the rope a few time
Well looks like 300 is not going to happen, late lunch too so they can mop up
the new perth ground is also a drop in pitch which got Vaughn all happy - not having to deal with a WACA deck will be a bonus for England throw in a day night and it's an open series
The ODI is at burswood, but I thought the test was still at the Waca
I stand corrected, or I'll correct the Aussie it is the WACA, nice to see Marsh drop one there and Broad/Anderson going out swinging
Great breakthrough at the start!! Another one on the tally for broad
and still going there!! Just need rid of the Bogan
all gone to bed? Davie Warner just popped one for a catch
Woke up, ill just watch to the next wicket 😆
I didn't last long last night.
Heard alot of cricket though LOL IGMC.
10 wickets today , crazy times. Aggers and Tufnell discussing how to talk about the day's events with ABC haha
Dammit, why has today been full of meetings? Interesting day so far
Yeah off to the pub and the wickets have stopped falling
Now in the Qantas club and yup, seems the Aussies have annoyingly found out what a bat is for
runs a bit too easy currently....... I know Cook used to be criticised for being too negative but getting the next dozen rattled off to the close for 30-odd and leave them still over a hundred behind overnight would not be disappointing to me, and I sense the Aussies want to try to dominate; might cause them to push for something that isn't there.
Hope so, as currently it feels like they’ll achieve and exceed our score. Only been watching the last 90 minutes.
Well, they've had a decent acceleration in the last hour, but it's hardly panic stations yet. Shadows getting tricky and their tail is quite long ...
Close of play came at a good time. We had our foot on the throat but alas they have been saved by Smith. Very big partnership that.
If I'd been offered that scoreline with [url= http://www.bom.gov.au/qld/forecasts/brisbane.shtml ]this[/url] weather forecast two days ago, I'd have taken it.
