My dear old things, it's STW TMS!

There will be nothing in a public bar over piss weak at the Gaba today!!

There will be nothing in a public bar over piss weak at the Gaba today!!

And you think you’ll get a nice riesling?!?

My bet would be to smuggle some of the local brew in:

Only for lunch Zokes…

Could of had the first test down here in Hobart this week, though not normal Gaba conditions there, no fire and unpredictable movement so far. Not wanting to say it but these two look composed and calm there

You able to get to a match this time? We’ve tickets for all of the Adelaide test again.

No not managed, folks are over now so can’t get out there, Optus has come through for the coverage though. Day/Night will be a very interesting game and should be good fun too, might go for the 20/20 down here though

I’ll take that!

Now it’s back to waking with trepidation tomorrow morning!!

Yep good first session, solid work by the 2 lads there, important thing is the work being done by the bowlers. Let’s not have a rash half our later please

Exactly – only 3 quicks, all injury prone. Keep them out there!

Day/Night will be a very interesting game and should be good fun too

Yes, I’m hopeful. My parents are out here too, but I already had tickets before they booked, and it’s really my daughter they’re here to see so I doubt I’ll be missed.

Not had that gin – any good? Had a lovely citrusy one from the riverland the other night. Must try to remember its name.

Very nice and refreshing, bit of anise in it. Work is slow so might as well chill out here. I’m sure cook will have had a cold one by now. Wonder if we will see a full 4 days here if it stays slow.

and back from the rain delay, still some slow and steady overs in here. England are here to put the hours in I feel, use a the time in the middle, tire the bowlers and no need at all to rush. Play up to 8:30am GMT available so some breakfast action for you guys

Agree. As much as I disagree about playing for a draw, our record on this ground speaks for itself – we’re not likely to win. Much better to have a moral victory in a comfortable draw, tire the four man attack and push on for greater things at Adelaide next week.

Yep, some great maturity out there from the 2 guys. Really well done to stay composed after cook went a d to slowly tick the sore on. Hope one can get to 100 if not both. The quick will be getting frustrated

Morning everyone!
Well, this is a relief to wake up to. A chirpy Aggers on TMS speaking of a century second wicket partnership for England! That in itself has been a while since I’ve heard that.

Along with a sluggish track at the Gabba. Promising.

And 50’s for both of the lads! Let’s see out to tea in 15mins

Fell asleep around 4am. I’m back though and they are still in. Wonderful stuff and just the right type of innings that are required. Amazing how quickly the mood can turn.

Edit: Dropped by Paine.

Balls

Annoying to to make tea there but let’s see how root is playing today. Needs a good score and see this out till the close.

That’s much better than I was expecting to wake up to. Looking for Root to put down a marker here.

Arse a run out….

Well, it’s all got a bit interesting at tea time…

Lovely to wake up to TMS, and a pretty good start!

Re the chirpiness of Aggers, given what Mrs A has just been through, he’s got every right to be chipper!

Pardon ? 👿

Amazing how quickly the mood can turn.

just quoting myself here

Commentator’s curse. 😳

I’m happy with that. new players have done well, which was very, very important. Cook and Root can pick themselves up from that. We didn’t fold , which could have set the tone for the series.

Yup, even the moronic Channel 9 commentators seemed moderately impressed with England, and uncertain if Aus really has the upper hand. I’ll take that. Could be better, but if Heals et al are willing to give credit then it could also be a lot worse…

What a delight to finish work and climb into the car at midnight last night, put R5L on, and listen to half an hour of Tufnell and his colleague on the way home.

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).

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

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.