The Ashes

buffybegood

First Test in this summer's Ashes series. Almost certainly a very good toss to win, and England have chosen to bat.

A real test of Bazball against such a strong Australian attack.

buffybegood

Not a great shot by Duckett tbh, 22-1.

OldCastleSwift

Surprisingly passive start from Australia. Thought they come out and try to match England's aggression but they've not even tried.

Early days, obviously, but a more comfortable start than I was expecting, to be honest.

buffybegood

92-2, Pope lbw to Lyon on review.

buffybegood

50 for Crawley, off 56 balls.

buffybegood

Crawley out in the last over before lunch, 124-3, caught off the glove again on review.

That makes it Australia's session in my eyes on this wicket.

OldCastleSwift

buffybegood said:

Crawley out in the last over before lunch, 124-3, caught off the glove again on review.

That makes it Australia's session in my eyes on this wicket.

Given the pitch and the conditions, I agree. At this rate, we're looking at a 300-350 which is well within Australia's reach.

IronHerb

Is it a good pitch? Some keeping low, Crawley caught off one that jumped. Time will tell.

buffybegood

Too casual by Brook, but he luckily gets dropped by Travis Head, who seemed to take the catch diving forward only for it to pop out of both hands as he skidded along the ground.

buffybegood

So unlucky for Brook, it bounces up really high off him, it then hits him again on the way down and bounces onto the stumps. 175-4.

OldCastleSwift

Not sure why he didn't cover his stumps. Instinct should have kicked in there I would have thought

OldCastleSwift

Stokes gone now. Turning into Australia's day

buffybegood

OldCastleSwift said:

Stokes gone now. Turning into Australia's day

Yep, 176-5, not the start we needed. Fortunately we bat deep with Bairstow and Mooen Ali at 7 and 8, but a big ask to get the 400+ we would have been targeting as a bare minimum.

OldCastleSwift

Problem is, both haven't had much red ball game time of late. Like you say, big ask for those two to carry this innings.

Bazball was always going to be tested against this bowling line up. After a slow start Australia are getting on top and slowing it down.

buffybegood

OldCastleSwift said:

Problem is, both haven't had much red ball game time of late. Like you say, big ask for those two to carry this innings.

Bazball was always going to be tested against this bowling line up. After a slow start Australia are getting on top and slowing it down.

Root is still there though, and has reached his 50 now.

buffybegood

Root survives an lbw decision thanks to a review, it just glanced his glove before hitting his pad.

buffybegood

240-5 at lunch, even second session imo, 116 runs for the loss of 2 wickets. Australia still the happier of the two teams atm I woulda thought.

IronHerb

OldCastleSwift said:

Problem is, both haven't had much red ball game time of late. Like you say, big ask for those two to carry this innings.

Bazball was always going to be tested against this bowling line up. After a slow start Australia are getting on top and slowing it down.

They’re slowing it down alright. 15 minutes after tea they’ve bowled 56 overs and Lyon has 18 of them. 🤷‍♂️

OldCastleSwift

Bairstow's One Day innings is over.

A good 78 but a century was definitely on.

Slacker

Been out most of the day baby visiting and got back in time to see Bairstow putting Aussie to the sword then off he goes. Oh well good to see him back and taking up where he left off.

Just love Test Cricket.

ValiantIron

England declaration! This Is Outrageous!

OldCastleSwift

It's brave, certainly. Cook wouldn't have done it. Root wouldn't done it. I wouldn't have done it.

420+ was on with a tiring Aussie team and I think I'd rather have the runs on the board.

I get this is what Bazball is all about, but I'm not convinced it's the right decision today.

buffybegood

Very unusual to have a declaration below 400 in the first innings of a non-rain affected first Test in an Ashes series.

Obviously want to have 2 goes at the Aussie openers, but with Root still there we could have added another 50 odd runs.

OldCastleSwift

I could understand it if the ball was hooping around, but it's a decent pitch and there's very little movement.

No real threat in these opening overs and I can't help but think we've just lost 30-50 runs with that decision.

IronHerb

What I found odd was with Bazball in full swing we went all old school and declared so we could have a few overs at them.

BubblesNeverDies

England have a history of losing tailend wickets cheaply on the 2nd day of their innings, so maybe the choice of getting a wicket while the Aussies were tired vs potentially not many more runs was a worthwhile gamble.

OldCastleSwift

Some cheap runs given away already this morning. Ball isn't doing a great deal and, as with last night, very little threat to Warner and Kuwaja.

Until Warner plays on... 😄

buffybegood

Broad gets Warner, perfect 😊

I know he's a pantomime villain, but I really dislike both him and Smith over sandpapergate.

OldCastleSwift

OldCastleSwift said:

Some cheap runs given away already this morning. Ball isn't doing a great deal and, as with last night, very little threat to Warner and Kuwaja.

Until Warner plays on... 😄

Broad now on a hattrick.

I know my cricket.

buffybegood

2 in 2, Labuschagne out for a golden duck.

Slacker

OldCastleSwift said:

OldCastleSwift said:

Some cheap runs given away already this morning. Ball isn't doing a great deal and, as with last night, very little threat to Warner and Kuwaja.

Until Warner plays on... 😄

Broad now on a hattrick.

I know my cricket.

Can you predict a 5-0 whitewash to Aussie please?😉😂