1st Ashes Test England v Australia June 16-20 1930hrs @ Edgbaston

[JackOutback]

Think England are clear favourites at this point but we can get this done. We need two good partnerships to win this and I'm not convinced the opening stand was one of them. So Khawaja needs to stay in and get 100 and one of Head, Green or Carey 50. The rest will make up the difference.

 

[Browney2006]

It's the weather that will decide it, if it's seaming all over the place because of the conditions, we ain't even getting to lunch let alone 173

Sounds like excuses, it’s flat as a pancake

 

[Ephemeral Hope]

Smith would be on some harder stuff than that I reckon. He’s surely got some form of ADHD and def on the spectrum. Would be on some form of prescription uppers

Still I don’t think even the hard stuff is lasting 5 days when you need to be this focused. Maybe if you need to stay functional at an office job not 8 hours of test cricket

 

[swanssince2002]

Not gonna doubt Marnus batting yet, yes definitely some luck when he started out his career (still remember the 5 lives he got in Adelaide in 2020 against India especially when a few dollies got put down).

But yeah he would want to put up a score soon.

 

[RookiePick]

if the guys made a hundred every innings they would be bradman not smith/labs. Smith just made 150 in the last test. He is going fine.

Labs has been disappointing for awhile, particuarily away from home.

The pair contributed 35 runs for the test.

Even in our most pessimistic planning we would have expected 80-100 runs. Especially with Smith in seemingly imperious form.

The English card with starts all the way down will hopefully give our middle order and tail some confidence.

 

[Adelaide Hawk]

I was really confident at 8/229, but those extra 44 runs for the final 2 wickets could prove the difference. Imagine allowing Anderson to make 12 runs, how embarrassing. Losing Labuschange and Smith with only 13 runs between them has tipped the Test England's way. Can Khawaja do it again, Carey and Cummins look in good form, and here's a real chance for Cameron Green to make a name for himself.

 

[Belnakor]

The pair contributed 35 runs for the test.

Even in our most pessimistic planning we would have expected 80-100 runs. Especially with Smith in seemingly imperious form.

The English card with starts all the way down will hopefully give our middle order and tail some confidence.

smith was unlucky in the first innings but yeah their shots in the 2nd innings were poor.

Labs was going really well in country cricket, not sure why he is suddenly nicking balls he doesn't need to play.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Tick off the little targets. Chasing 281 in the 4th innings of the first away Ashes test is hard. Bite-sized chunks are easier so break it down. Currently 174 to win. Next up is 150 to get. We reach 141 and we're over halfway to the score. 100 to get. Get our score to 200. Then 50 to get. Team score 250

View attachment 1717292

I'd go further than that and it's cliche but take it ball by ball, and the runs will come surely Moen and his pies are on soon too. Just need to do it in small targets if you think the 281 it's going to end badly.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

smith was unlucky in the first innings but yeah their shots in the 2nd innings were poor.

Labs was going really well in country cricket, not sure why he is suddenly nicking balls he doesn't need to play.

Unlucky? He missed a straight ball that was hitting middle. I know we have hit the rush end of the pineapple with DRS but that was so dead, do feel we'll see Smith get LBW a fair bit in the back end of his career, he does give his stumps away.

 

[Belnakor]

I was really confident at 8/229, but those extra 44 runs for the final 2 wickets could prove the difference. Imagine allowing Anderson to make 12 runs, how embarrassing. Losing Labuschange and Smith with only 13 runs between them has tipped the Test England's way. Can Khawaja do it again, Carey and Cummins look in good form, and here's a real chance for Cameron Green to make a name for himself.

honestly i think those extra 44 runs told me we can get the runs. The pitch is doing absolutely nothing. Harry Brook was playing shots off the backfoot against the spin - This is a concentration game. There isn't going to be a shooter or stuff rising off a length taking guys gloves. if we want this we can do it.

 

[Belnakor]

Unlucky? He missed a straight ball that was hitting middle. I know we have hit the rush end of the pineapple with DRS but that was so dead, do feel we'll see Smith get LBW a fair bit in the back end of his career, he does give his stumps away.

nah it was more it just didn't bounce. Looked pretty plumb tbh.

 

[Around the Wicket]

if the guys made a hundred every innings they would be bradman not smith/labs. Smith just made 150 in the last test. He is going fine.

Labs has been disappointing for awhile, particuarily away from home.

Labs averaged 36 over a 9 years First Class career prior to making the Test team, it was unrealistic to think he'd stay averaging 60

 

[Around the Wicket]

And I still have Australia as heavy favourites here, the pitch is still good

 

[Outshined]

Kicking myself for not staying awake but credit's due to Warner, he put up more of a fight than I thought he would/could. So disappointing to get **** all from 3 and 4 across both innings though. Probably the biggest difference between it being 50/50 and Aus having a firm grip on the test.

Agree that we can absolutely get the runs either way, assuming there's enough play tomorrow. Unless the pitch changed drastically in that last session it would appear that it's still fairly placid. Boland and Anderson have made 25 runs between them.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

nah it was more it just didn't bounce. Looked pretty plumb tbh.

He still played right around it and Stokes skids it, so why is he playing back in the first place. You are asking to be given LBW

 

[BG32]

Would take a draw especially if we lose a couple of wickets quickly

 

[Antzzz]

Great game so far … hoping like hell we can hold on … but if Broad gets it moving around we are in trouble …. Sick of hearing about this so called Bazball …

 

[Outshined]

honestly i think those extra 44 runs told me we can get the runs. The pitch is doing absolutely nothing. Harry Brook was playing shots off the backfoot against the spin - This is a concentration game. There isn't going to be a shooter or stuff rising off a length taking guys gloves. if we want this we can do it.

This is what gets me about all the criticism on the 'wait for mistakes' strategy. England batsmen have predominantly got themselves out this test. Most batsmen across both teams have looked comfortable bar a couple of nasty sessions here and there.

It's a road with the very occasional misbehaving delivery. I'd be ropeable if we were setting defensive fields on a greentop but this pitch has been made purely for England to feel comfortable swinging at everything. Cummins definitely overdid it a touch at times but when you've got world class players getting out charging down the wicket to length balls, it's fine to limit the boundaries imo.

 

[Belnakor]

Kicking myself for not staying awake but credit's due to Warner, he put up more of a fight than I thought he would/could. So disappointing to get * all from 3 and 4 across both innings though. Probably the biggest difference between it being 50/50 and Aus having a firm grip on the test.

Agree that we can absolutely get the runs either way, assuming there's enough play tomorrow. Unless the pitch changed drastically in that last session it would appear that it's still fairly placid. Boland and Anderson have made 25 runs between them.

yeah i've been wanting Warner dropped for ages but i've been fairly happy with his performance so far in the WTC/Ashes.

 

[Trojan90]

We are well positioned to win this. Khawaja needs to lock down and build partnerships with the others like last innings. Obviously Head is in great form and can take a chunk out of this margin very quickly, if he gets going he can win this in a flash. Anything can happen with Green, but my expectations are low.

It's Carey i think can get us over the line if required. Take out his debut series and he's averaging 48 and that's with the reverse sweep which he's hopefully put away and 11/16 of those tests have come overseas. Seems to score runs in pressure situations too. Side-note, add in his keeping performances, this guys position in the team should not be in question.

Could just as easily see Broad rip through us for nothing. Basically we have guys in the middle and waiting in the shed that can win this. Conditions will be tough, but that's what tours of England are about. The team that performs today will deservedly win. In the event of a draw, i feel like that will be a fair outcome too.

 

[Jimthegreat]

Be good to snare another 20ish runs from this partnership before Boland is out. Getting to 130 puts us close to half way to the target with Head coming in. You'd feel more confident then.

 

[gtrxuone]

Birmingham 2005 second test.England won by two runs.

 

[Ephemeral Hope]

We are well positioned to win this. Khawaja needs to lock down and build partnerships with the others like last innings. Obviously Head is in great form and can take a chunk out of this margin very quickly, if he gets going he can win this in a flash. Anything can happen with Green, but my expectations are low.

It's Carey i think can get us over the line if required. Take out his debut series and he's averaging 48 and that's with the reverse sweep which he's hopefully put away and 11/16 of those tests have come overseas. Seems to score runs in pressure situations too. Side-note, add in his keeping performances, this guys position in the team should not be in question.

Could just as easily see Broad rip through us for nothing. Basically we have guys in the middle and waiting in the shed that can win this. Conditions will be tough, but that's what tours of England are about. The team that performs today will deservedly win. In the event of a draw, i feel like that will be a fair outcome too.

It’s so odd Carey without the reverse sweep is one of our most consistent and calm bats but with it he’ll randomly get out and throw his wicket away. Don’t know which one we’ll get

 

[darcytiger]

I’m so tired, one night to go. I might go to bed early and set an alarm for midnight.

 

[BGman]

Labs was going really well in country cricket, not sure why he is suddenly nicking balls he doesn't need to play.

I see it as he is getting mesmerized by this new Pommie way of playing Test cricket, even Smithy drove at a ball he'd normally show a full face to.