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

[domus]

Ashes already taking it's toll me, been so tired in the mornings, if we're looking like winning though, might have to stay up..

I try to switch off but I lie in bed wondering if we have grabbed another wicket or lost one depending on who is batting and have to reach for the phone to check! I want to beat those arrogant tossers so badly. Their constant smug smirks in the coaches box and on the field every time they successfully belt another unorthodox four or six is grating. "Aren't we the trend setters? We are just so daring and innovative!" That smirk when Crawley hit a four off the very first ball of the test said it all.

 

[domus]

I can feel it... Boland to ton up like our last First Nation player as a night-watchman

He has already done very well. Another 20 would be sensational. They claim we have three number 11's and they are probably right but I'd love to see Boland shove it up their backsides with a handy innings that sets us up for a win.

 

[Bedi]

Buckle yourself in, this is going to go right down to the wire. You just know we're going to lose, but it'd be nice to be surprised. Either way, I'm shitting myself.

 

[StingBitten]

Wonder if the tail will be the difference at the end of this. England tail scrapped another 45 runs at 8 fer whereas our lads fell in a bit of a hole.

It's going to be down to our batsmen - Khawaja, Head, Green and Carey to make this work. Something tells me Green and Carey will be the ones to hang on and get us over the line.

 

[Jamurp]

I try to switch off but I lie in bed wondering if we have grabbed another wicket or lost one depending on who is batting and have to reach for the phone to check! I want to beat those arrogant tossers so badly. Their constant smug smirks in the coaches box and on the field every time they successfully belt another unorthodox four or six is grating. "Aren't we the trend setters? We are just so daring and innovative!" That smirk when Crawley hit a four off the very first ball of the test said it all.

I didn't hate the whole 'Bazball' thing before this series, but I already hate it now, definitely a superiority complex about it, saying results don't matter in a results based sport? Strange stuff. I'm all for good vibes, but maybe pick an opener who averages more than 30, or a proper wicketkeeper, or a proper spin bowler..

Really hope we can do it tonight.

 

[BGman]

Bairstow

Pommie selectors rolled the dice and lost. They banked on him at least being relatively tidy with the gloves while fitting in with their aggressive approach with the bat, which he has done. His keeping has been mediocre and may cost his team a Test match.

 

[western royboy]

I think it’s more so to do with Bairstow’s prep than his ability. He has been a useful keeper in the past, but he is massively underdone, he’s only going to get better. I think it was a mistake to pick him as keeper, and it may cost them a test, but now he’s done it it would be silly to drop him when realistically he’s probably going to improve with a game or two under his belt.

Appreciate your opinion but in my view yes a poor keeper always has been and is not going to get better - Foakes must be spewing

 

[danstar]

100% chance of a draw, rain will take us through to halfway through 2nd session, then we just bat time.

 

[JackOutback]

I wish Smith was still captain. He was aggressive and proactive. Cummins seems to be very conservative and slow to react.

This is revisionist history at its best. Smith was not a good captain.

 

[smish]

Maybe KP can talk at us for 2 hours lol

EFA

 

[western royboy]

100% chance of a draw, rain will take us through to halfway through 2nd session, then we just bat time.

Then at $8 I’d say get set - my lad claims the rain is supposed to be gone by start time / he’s just up the road

 

[deanc]

I can feel it... Boland to ton up like our last First Nation player as a night-watchman

Ha ha, that would uphold my bold prediction when England were 8-260, being Australia would 'knock off 100 runs tonight and win by 7 wickets tomorrow' - refer post #10,246.
Although (like most) I didn't expect both Labuschagne and Smith to fall cheaply, accordingly my updated prophecy is Australia by 5 wickets...

 

[hoopla]

Well blame Cummins for bringing Boland back to bowl medium trundlers when he should have brought himself back. It’s cost us 30 runs at a minimum. I know they were tough but smith not taking Broad early hurt too, tough catch but one he’d expect to take himself

Boland was bowling 140kmh consistently. So not medium pace at all. He may have been more effective bowling medium pacers like Broad, Anderson and Robinson. Strangely, their medium pacers look more dangerous on this pitch.

 

[Woody15]

100% chance of a draw, rain will take us through to halfway through 2nd session, then we just bat time.

Paying $8.00 for the betting enthusiasts amongst us

 

[smish]

Paying $8.00 for the betting enthusiasts amongst us

I'm not a huge betting man but I feel like that is excellent value

 

[philreich]

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

I definitely wouldn't have us as heavy favourites. Yes it's a good pitch, but the pressure out there in the heat of an Ashes battle would be immense, and people can do dumb things in such circumstances. The prize on the end of it is a 1-0 series lead: if we can pull it off, it places huge pressure on the Poms to win the series.

 

[El Doederino]

I try to switch off but I lie in bed wondering if we have grabbed another wicket or lost one depending on who is batting and have to reach for the phone to check! I want to beat those arrogant tossers so badly. Their constant smug smirks in the coaches box and on the field every time they successfully belt another unorthodox four or six is grating. "Aren't we the trend setters? We are just so daring and innovative!" That smirk when Crawley hit a four off the very first ball of the test said it all.

Just like KP (I think) going on about Root owning the game and Australia running scared, to which Ponting replied "well he's out, and he only got 40".

 

[Anzacpaul]

She's fine if you like a non-stop flood of (usually) inappropriate cliches

Mellie Underwood

 

[Gavin Excell]

I try to switch off but I lie in bed wondering if we have grabbed another wicket or lost one depending on who is batting and have to reach for the phone to check! I want to beat those arrogant tossers so badly. Their constant smug smirks in the coaches box and on the field every time they successfully belt another unorthodox four or six is grating. "Aren't we the trend setters? We are just so daring and innovative!" That smirk when Crawley hit a four off the very first ball of the test said it all.

Had Root been bowled first ball last night trying that crazy shot, I wonder if they would have the fortitude to stick with the bazball theatrics

 

[Belnakor]

1:30am in bed, about 3:30am the thunder starts and the dog decides it needs to see if the thunder is still under the bed.

bloody dogs woke up my son about then

 

[kickazz]

Wonder if the tail will be the difference at the end of this. England tail scrapped another 45 runs at 8 fer whereas our lads fell in a bit of a hole.

It's going to be down to our batsmen - Khawaja, Head, Green and Carey to make this work. Something tells me Green and Carey will be the ones to hang on and get us over the line.

I think this is a big part of why they are preparing quiet pitches.

Our actual batting is better, if proper test conditions are present. But they have a more even spread who don't value their wickets but can bat a bit of t20 style. It makes things a bit more random for them for sure, but they are backing their 11 to be better at this than ours.

 

[western royboy]

Had Root been bowled first ball last night trying that crazy shot, I wonder if they would have the fortitude to stick with the bazball theatrics

Would have been fantastic but to retreat this early would be to admit defeat of all the people to play the ramp Root was the longest odds but rather than put it away he knew the risk was minimal in terms of getting out and it had the desired effect in putting Cummins on the back foot immediately

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Boland was bowling 140kmh consistently. So not medium pace at all. He may have been more effective bowling medium pacers like Broad, Anderson and Robinson. Strangely, their medium pacers look more dangerous on this pitch.

The short pitched stuff was most dangers so what does he trundle in doing..line and length...against Broad, etc...never going to be that effective. Get the ball short of a length. Cummins and Haze should have been bowling.

 

[Outshined]

I try to switch off but I lie in bed wondering if we have grabbed another wicket or lost one depending on who is batting and have to reach for the phone to check! I want to beat those arrogant tossers so badly. Their constant smug smirks in the coaches box and on the field every time they successfully belt another unorthodox four or six is grating. "Aren't we the trend setters? We are just so daring and innovative!" That smirk when Crawley hit a four off the very first ball of the test said it all.

It's a real shame the rain didn't hold off for at least another hour or so late on Day 3.

They looked completely lost the moment the conditions weren't 100% batsman friendly.

 

[Belnakor]

List of batsmen to bat on all five days of a Test match

Flintoff managing to bat all 5 days is one of the weirdest setups. almost all the other players who have done it were openers or no3.