Chastening day at HQ for the lads. Seeing the conditions, it never really looked good for a second innings of nearly 200. England’s bowlers were on form today too so…ah well. It was fun for a couple of days. I can go back to ignoring stickball now. 😀
Bonkers test. Murtagh will always have his first day and coming in with a decent enough chance to win was as much as Ireland could have hoped for.
Fwiw,Junior J (nearly 7!)has attended a cricket “camp” this week. He loved it .
I’m delighted , least of all becauseI can now give my bloody knees a rest from the football!
Operation Cricket has begun; hosts in Birmingham now prepared for 15 guests for two days and three nights.
Magnums of red and white packed in car for the hosts.
Tickets at the ready for Thursday and Friday.
Edgbaston here we come.
WooooHoooo!
I can feel myself weakening – best part of August off work….. I could just get the Now TV Sky sports subscription for a month……..not seen live test match cricket for 14 years……but then again I could just listen to TMS on headphones and actually get stuff done.
England XI: Rory Burns, Jason Roy, Joe Root, Joe Denly, Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler, Jonny Bairstow, Moeen Ali, Chris Woakes, Stuart Broad, James Anderson
Moeen Ali ????? I know the Aussie don’t like off spinners but really ?
if they get through the top order it’s bit crash bang wallop from 5 down… so it’s smash 300 as fast as possible and hope James Andersion is bending it round corners.
I’m definitely worried about Englands chances in this series they look very fragile and unlike other Ashes series Australia have had an XI squad in the UK since before the World Cup getting used to ‘English conditions’ which is very often Englands advantage. The openers issue has not been solved. Root is having to change his favoured position to compensate for this and our bowling threat is old. I think Pattinson and Starc will be salivating over the new ball and for some reason Nathan Lyon always seems to cause the England side problems, much more of a wicket taking threat than Moeen Ali.
Really looking forward to it and desperate for England to do well.
Wicket described as being ‘….like a cat’s skull’ – apparently an Aussie expression meaning it’s hard.
Combine that with forecast of cloud and the ball is likely to move in the air and bounce.
Neither side have a strong top order so – win toss and bowl first; that applies to both teams.
I’m tipping Woakes for a fifer.
Into New Street by 9.30am, bus or walk to ground, soul limbo and acapella Jerusalem; then we’re off and Sir Geoffrey is back on TMS so all is right with the world.
….and did these feet in ancient times……
Bat first but then what do i know. Christ i’m nervous. Too close to call, Best bowling attack wins, therefore I’m backing England but I imagine it will be close. Goosebump madness watching sky.
Jimmy is going for a scan on his calf after feeling some tightness. Come on Woakes and Broad.
This is not good news.
Boycs – could do without him tbh. He only has about a dozen points and ‘jokes’ he rotates through and I’ve heard them for over 20 years now. Too many intelligent past cricketers of a more recent generation and of a more palatable disposition to need his input.
