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perhaps they don't want the pitch rolled twice early tomorrow ? these evening 20 min session don't seem to work especially if you don't bowl the GOAT.
It's been a very interesting day. Sure, on paper a first innings total of 400 on a shirtfront of a pitch looks par at best, maybe a bit under even. On paper AUS would settle for it.
However - from practically the first over, AUS sent boundary riders back and that to me says they are scared of Bazball. Scared enough that they have a defensive counter tactic, that they don't want England to get away. AUS have never really needed to modify their game for others - sure you have plans for certain batsman in particular but approaching the game in a defensive mindset from the off is not the Aussie way.
And despite that they still went for 400 runs in a day.
In hindsight, in my opinion, daft to declare. Could have had 30 minutes swinging this morning, added 50 odd, got the crowd going, and annoyed the Aussies. Obviously if they’d got one out last night it was genius.
Can see Aussies piling on the runs, pitch is dead. Moeen will get treatment.
The declaration seemed like a bad idea 🤷♂️
Equally likely to have been all out last night though. And it definitely had a shot at working, aussies looked nervous.
Forecast isnt great with showers next 2 days according to Google so having 400 on the board and a quick bowl last night doesn't seem like the worst idea.
It's already rained this morning 😀
I've got your number mate 😀
Broad does it again
🙋♂️
'ave it !!!!!!!!!!!!! ;D
And another
What a joy!
Plumb in front, given out on field, doesn't need to check with his partner because it can't possibly be out because I'm Steve Smith, I don't need to follow protocols.
Referral comes back with three reds - not even an umpire's call - and still he's shaking his head all the way off because despite all the evidence it just doesn't apply to me.
Steve Smith - the Boris Johnson of umpire referrals.
**** off, both of you.
I had to google what TMS was. 'Transcranial magnetic stimulation' well everyday is a school day.
I'm sorry, but if you don't know what TMS is instinctively, this thread is not for the likes of you 😉
Acchh!
Bairstow's had a good game so far, good catch earlier stood back - but that's why you want your best keeper playing
there has to be a new rule brought in for England selection. First name on the team sheet is your best keeper (even if he bats 11).
It's hard enough to take 10 wickets on these pitches, that's now 14 we need including the Broad no-ball. Not including 2 that are really hard but your best keeper just might grab, because that's what they do.
and if your going int0 a game with 3 main seamers please pick a spinner whos bowled more the 25 overs in a day this season (hopefully more than once). Such stupid selection mistakes :/
I've got a bit more sympathy with that - it was a gamble but they clearly wanted Mo, to have pursued him out of retirement. However, with pitch deteriorating he might need to bowl a few more in the second dig.
Oooh, Khawaja gone.
This is fine balance now. Take these 3 for around equality and we'd feel in the better position batting first in a one innings game. If their tail wags for another 50-odd from here, and then their bowlers are tail up ......
And now it's chin music time. Anyone that hasn't played the game at any serious level and thinks it's all cucumber sandwiches and one off the mark for you Vicar..... quicks at my level might have only nudged the 80 mark but as an opening batter I've had to sleep on my right hand side only enough times.
looks painful
Is that the equivalent of 'office hands'? Bowls so few overs these days he's turned into a soft handed office boy.
"play to resume @ 15.30" looks a tad optimistic looking at the radar !
This Graham Thorpe looks a decent prospect though
England need to be careful here. The wicket is a belter. If weather doesn't intervene, Australia will fancy knocking off <300.
It's going to take something pretty spectacular from England - or deadful from Australia - for England to get a result now. Baffling declaration.
Pessimists.
It'll be rain affected tomorrow, Aus are going to be chasing the second or third highest total in history at Edgbaston by some way - ENG chased 378-3 last year, after that it's 283 and then next best is 211.
Either way ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED!!!!!!
For all the good intentions, I’m not sure Bairstow and Ali have outperformed the players they’ve replaced. I’d rather have had 2x Foakes’ batting average and those two extra wickets his keeping would likely have got us. As for Ali, it’s a dead end - should have brought in one of the two successful young spinners from the ****stan tour.
Barmy army singing “we saw you cry on tv” at Smith is good value, however.
Either way ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED!!!!!!
Granted, it's entertaining stuff, no denying that 🙂
Barmy army singing “we saw you cry on tv” at Smith is good value, however.
I disagree. All it shows is that the level of the average England cricket 'fan' is now at the same level as the Australians 25 years ago in terms of boorishness. It isn’t a good look nor is it particularly topical any more.
I disagree. All it shows is that the level of the average England cricket ‘fan’ is now at the same level as the Australians 25 years ago in terms of boorishness. It isn’t a good look nor is it particularly topical any more.
Smith captained the cheating. He cried crocodile tears. He’s playing in this match. Seems topical enough 🤷🏻♂️
Anyway, when your only commentary available is the bogans on channel 9, hearing the hollies giving it back raises a wry smile. Oh how I miss TMS….
280 to defend
280 to defend
Where's your money?
Feels like a perfect 50/50 to me.
Maybe, if the start is delayed by rain tomorrow and the pitch sweats a bit, it will zip around.
another miss from the keeper
Bairstow has been poor behind the stumps. The impressive catch he did take was nothing that any other half descent county keeper would have taken. But he's missed key chances. Watching him on TV and he's just not moving well at all, certainly not enough to be keeping in a test. I'm not sure he's scored enough runs either.
Bairstow has been poor behind the stumps. The impressive catch he did take was nothing that any other half descent county keeper would have taken.
I'd go further - a more natural, agile keeper would have taken that two handed and it would have looked routine. Bairstow always looks as if he comes up too early, stance is too wide.
If England lose this they need to reconsider their approach to the keeper for the second Test, Bairstow's let too many chances go by
I’d go further – a more natural, agile keeper would have taken that two handed and it would have looked routine. Bairstow always looks as if he comes up too early, stance is too wide.
Completely agree.
We watched Carey warming up at the ground yesterday and he looked so neat and compact. He keeps really low all the way until the ball hits the gloves and everything looks effortless. With him behind the stumps for England we’d be chasing 100 runs less than we are I suspect.
Definitely.
Conventional test wisdom should be taking the 3 (at least) best bowlers and the best keeper, regardless of their ability to bat.
Wanting another slice of the bazball batting frenzy pie with bairstow may be the downfall in this test
game on!
Bairstow .....for Foakes sake.....🙌
Bairstows batting was sensational last year though - he deserves his place on that basis. He looks overweight to me though, ok not exactly Mike Gatting, but it ties in with the comments about his lack of agility, relatively. But getting him in to the team as a batter only is problematic - who do you drop? Maybe one of the openers and play him there? That’d be peak bazball.
Great test match.
Aye, maybe Duckett?
Bairstow was sensational last year but I reckon he's in negative equity with his misses/drops so far. The Aussies are too good to not take every chance offered.
Catches win matches.
No amount of bazball will change that fact, no matter how entertaining to watch
You can argue similarly about picking Moeen over Liam Dawson. Moeen clearly doesn't bowl enough any more and his batting is that of a guy who will only average 25 or so from now on. I was a big Moeen Ali fan, but his time has passed. He also looks off the pace in the field.
They should have gone like for like with Dawson and had Foakes in the squad too. The trouble is Stokes and his dodgy knee. He practically had to push himself back to his feet using his bat like a crutch after sweeping Lyon. He isn’t going to be a full fourth seamer again in Test cricket, I'm afraid.
I still think Aus have a better balanced team and are broadly better player vs player. Over a five match series I think that will show. Bazball can paper over a lot of cracks, but not all of them. Smith, Labuschagne and Head will all probably deliver at some point, Carey is a better keeper by miles vs Bairstow and they can afford to leave out Starc.
dander
Full Member
Bairstows batting was sensational last year though – he deserves his place on that basis
Fascinating stat from Zaltzman on TMS that Bairstow's batting average is notably worse in the innings after he's kept wicket than in the first innings of matches, so not only is his keeping not up to scratch, it's dragging his batting down too.
Not entirely sure how one would make space for him as just a batsman though?
Not entirely sure how one would make space for him as just a batsman though?
I wonder how to rate batsmen in the Bazball era. If it's here to stay, at least while he and Stokes are in charge, then your solid batter with an average above 40 doesn't have the same value as someone like Bairstow with an average in the 30's, but double the strike rate and the potential to absolutely turn a game or take a game away and cause panic in the opposition - even if it is only 1/4 or 1/5 innings. Plus batting at the other end when someone like Bairstow or Stokes, or Buttler in the past is off on one becomes so much easier, no pressure to score, just run when told and get off strike if you should accidentally end up facing.
It wasn't my way when I played and I still rate Cook as the best batter 'of my type' - but I wonder if he'd even get a game for this team. 2 scoring shots and the patience to wait all day to use them......
I wonder how to rate batsmen in the Bazball era.
Sums up Zak Crawley perfectly. I still don't know what to make of him as a test opener. Bazball has certainly upset the applecart of norms - but is it a winning strategy in the medium to long term?
Pitch inspection ongoing.
Squeaky bum time for both sides now.
Absolutely enthralling test this has been.
This is on a knife edge! Khawaja digging in, need him out.
Australia being patient to get past the worst of the weather. The more it dries out the easier it should be to bat.
EDIT and they've still scored 50 runs. Soon the target will be down to double figures. Oz are favourites unless England can get Khawaja soon.
English bowling is very good and khawaja seems to have nerves of steel.
Could go either way this
with this tail its effectively 2 wickets to win it, with one of the current partnership, and then Carey. Khawaja might have the nerves but does Carey?
bookies currently favouring Aus, will be interesting to see how that turns following a wicket.
with 38 overs remaining seems the draw is out of the picture unless the weather intervenes.
if England had a proper keeper, fit spinner and a bowling all rounder they'd have won this match at a canter.
with this tail its effectively 2 wickets to win it
Cummins is pretty handy with the bat.
That wicket of Green was vital. It puts more heat on Khawaja to get on with it a bit. Or does Carey have a look then press the pedal?
what we haven't done (yet) in this innings is something that England have been good at recently....and that's get one followed by another and cause a bit of panic. I think it'll happen yet. New ball in 8 overs as well.
KHAWAJA!!
Stokes makes things happen!
there's a odious yorkshire man nodding with approval @ that innings from Khawaja
Advantage England.
Come on!
Carey is going to do something daft soon.
required run rate creeps above 3! an over 😀
Carey needs to be the hero or go down trying. A half arsed attempt at both going for the win and the draw will probably acheive neither. Edit - seems he is starting to attack Root.
Hard to give Khawaja any stick when he has done what he has so far in the game to get them to this position, but I reckon he threw it away there.
ROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOT!
3rd times a charm! 😀
Nathan Lyon is very good in tense situations near the end of an Ashes match!
What price a run out?
🙂
It's not over yet...
If one or two fly with the new ball it could get interesting again.
Yes, but are we entertained yet?
My arse is like a little rabbit's nose
Got to take the new conker, surely?
They'll scruff and cloth and kick the old ball around with (relative) ease.
bad decision for the new ball, too easy to time.
What a tense finish! Australia are gonna get this aren’t they…
Yup - England played too aggressively and the first day declaration has come back to haunt them.
Chuffed for Cummins - hopefully that'll silence some of the knuckleheads who criticise him at the slightest thing.
England dug themselves a hole with the short stuff - it got to the point where they could not take a wicket unless the Aussies took it on.
Great game, though.
Disagree. 6 or 7 missed / dropped catches and stumpings cost them.
The declaration was a gamble but has not been the difference.
Hell of a final partnership from the Aussies. Oh well, win some, lose some!
The declaration was a gamble but has not been the difference.
Whilst I agree about the missed chances I'd say the declaration very definitely did cost them this time. Obviously the England first innings might have only lasted another 2 balls but it 'probably' would have lasted 5 or 6 more overs and 20 runs. That would have made this games a draw.
I just have a feeling that's the last close one (unless we get some weather). Australia won without their batting engine room firing this time - that's not going to happen too many more times.
Stokes the player currently compromises the team.....the Bazball way maybe should be to do the unthinkable and drop him.
I think the first day declaration played a big part. If it was overcast conditions and the wicket was offering something to the bowlers it would’ve been a very good choice to throw the ball to Jimmy and Broad for the last 30min or so. Trouble was the wicket was a belter to bat on, Root was seeing the ball like a balloon and could’ve easily added another 40 runs. It’s all ifs and buts but that possible 40 runs might’ve changed the result ? Who knows. Still a cracking game though, bodes well for the rest of the series
I never go for that logic. If we'd batted on then maybe we'd have scored 20 more but then everything shifts and eg: Broad wouldn't have had a late go at the Aussies at the top of the second innings and got Smith and Labuschagne with the boozed up crowd behind him, they'd have been on the back of a good night's rest, or whatever. It was a gamble, and yes it's easy to point at what 'might' have happened, but the missed catches did happen, and cost us dearly.
you don’t choose to miss a catch - the declaration was a choice and it was the wrong one and cost the match
nobody said the catches were missed by choice, but we did choose to pick a fill in keeper and those are the consequences of that. That decision has cost the game.
you don’t choose to miss a catch – the declaration was a choice and it was the wrong one and cost the match
I agree. The most charitable thing you can say about it was that it was a gamble that didn't pay off. Personally I think it was more costly than that this time with Root playing the way he was.