[Cricket] **** England v Australia, 1st Specsavers Ashes Test, Edgbaston. Official match thread ****

[big nuts]

Chance of rain is less than 30% before CoP tonight, so Root won’t be factoring that into his thinking at all. Pitch is a bit dead and Smith is basically helping himself (as usual). Get him out and we’d still be very much in with a decent chance - but chasing anything over 250 is pretty much out of reach in any normal test match. Aussies will be c250 ahead at tea if they carry on as now, but wouldn’t be declaring until they get close to 400 and are totally safe from defeat (close of play or thereabouts), leaving a difficult day tomorrow against Lyon’s spin to survive (chances of rain are again limited to about 30%) with zero chance of winning.

Fascinating, I bloody love test cricket.

If they are 250 ahead at tea I’d expect them to hit out for 20 overs of the session to have a little dart at England (c.8 overs) before close of play.

 

[BensGrandad]

I cannot believe that Root will seriously be considering an England win as a possibility., hopeful but not realistic.

 

[BensGrandad]

If they are 250 ahead at tea I’d expect them to hit out for 20 overs of the session to have a little dart at England (c.8 overs) before close of play.

It all depends on how fast Smith can score and someone stays with him.

 

[Kinky Gerbil]

Archer has to start at Lords.

 

[maltaseagull]

Well yes. Look at SA without Steyn at the World Cup.

They screwed themselves by picking an unfit front line bowler. We're still in the game, and the series. Even if that's Jimmy done. Our greatest bowler ever.....

People love talking England down.

We'll win this series.

Not unless Smith gets injured or we find a way to get him out for less than 50 every time he bats.

 

[Horton's halftime iceberg]

Archer has to start at Lords.

Not sure its his sort of ground, rest him till he is completely fit (Sussex then get him) and play Sam Curran instead.

 

[The Wizard]

Denly on, lots of faith being shown Moeen

Can’t imagine he’ll be in the side next time out.

 

[The Wizard]

This pitch is absolutely dead quite honestly, I don’t think the Aussies would even consider declaring at any point, it looks like a flat tracker. Not helped by the English pace bowlers having to make up Jimmys overs.

 

[big nuts]

This pitch is absolutely dead quite honestly, I don’t think the Aussies would even consider declaring at any point, it looks like a flat tracker. Not helped by the English pace bowlers having to make up Jimmys overs.

Smith and poor bowling are making it look flat. A decent spinner like Lyon will fancy his chances and they’ve got 3 very good and well rested seamers. We’re bang in trouble. Our body language is terrible now.

Guaranteed Australia will have at least 8 overs at us tonight. I’d be amazed if they didn’t declare as they’d be around 350 in front. We ain’t chasing that in a day.

 

[dazzer6666]

Smith and poor bowling are making it look flat. A decent spinner like Lyon will fancy his chances and they’ve got 3 very good and well rested seamers. We’re bang in trouble. Our body language is terrible now.

Guaranteed Australia will have at least 8 overs at us tonight. I’d be amazed if they didn’t declare as they’d be around 350 in front. We ain’t chasing that in a day.

Agreed.....plot has been lost. Doesn’t bode well for the series - we literally have no idea how to get Smith out.

 

[The Wizard]

England just look super flat out there, Smith has sucked the belief out of the bowling attack and the rest of the team.

NOT taking the new ball? Roots captaincy is really strange at times, could understand if Ali was bowling well and ripping it but definitely not the case

 

[vegster]

This Test has already gone, nothing less than a consecutive Bowling AND batting miracle can save us.

 

[The Wizard]

Moeen ‘Judge me on my bowling’ Ali

Ok, you’re out pal.

 

[dazzer6666]

Moeen ‘Judge me on my bowling’ Ali

Ok, you’re out pal.

That. Ripping pitch and he’s chucking it up like a 55 year year old fat bloke in the Sussex Invitation Division 7.

 

[BensGrandad]

Now a matter of what target they will set us.

 

[dazzer6666]

New ball, will score faster.........

 

[big nuts]

Moeen ‘Judge me on my bowling’ Ali

Ok, you’re out pal.

As much as I don’t like changing teams so early in a series, Ali is almost certain to be replaced by Leach. The other one for me who looks bereft of confidence is Bairstow. Keeping and batting all at sea. Foakes seems the obvious replacement.

Could be a very different England team next test if Anderson is injured.

 

[The Wizard]

LOL there’s no way that’s out

 

[dazzer6666]

Another terrible decision......always looked way too high

 

[Hugo Rune]

we literally have no idea how to get Smith out.

Seems the only plan to get him out is to put him in a position where he has to declare.