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

[zefarelly]

Graham Thorpe is actually on the balcony FFS!

Alongside a selection of planks.


Sorry, couldn't resist that.

 

[maltaseagull]

Graham Thorpe is actually on the balcony FFS!

"England batting coach Graham Thorpe says his charges will focus on building partnerships as they look to survive day five and thwart Australia's Edgbaston advantage"

Perhaps he should have been watching Australia bat and pick up a few tips!

 

[Weststander]

Other than some great England batting line ups in the ‘Matt Prior’ era, England have had this propensity to collapse for the last 30 years on and off. It’s always just around the corner. That exception contained a load of players like Prior who could tough it out mentally, in the mould of Aussie batsmen such as Smith, Border, Gilchrist, Ponting .... they could break the morale of any bowling attack.

Going to be a tough summer.

Perhaps our dodgy weather will come to the rescue, with favourable bowling conditions?

 

[BensGrandad]

Shame Ian Bell is injured.

Wasnt it said that he would be available in August for The Ashes.

 

[colinz]

Indiscretion? Taking sandpaper out on the field?

It wasn't him though was it. He took responsibility for what someone else did.

 

[The Wizard]

Just don’t know what i’d do for the 2nd test, at least we have 9 days between the tests to try and resolve the issues.

Burns
??
Root
??
Roy
Stokes
Buttler (WK)
Woakes
Broad
Archer
Leach

 

[Cheshire Cat]

I am prepared to come out of retirement should the call come. [emoji967]

 

[Pavilionaire]

1. Foakes in to keep - Denly dropped.
2. Leach in - Moeen dropped.
3. Archer in - Anderson rested.
4. If selectors not prepared to pick Foakes then Morgan (on his home pitch) in for Denly.

 

[Eeyore]

Just don’t know what i’d do for the 2nd test, at least we have 9 days between the tests to try and resolve the issues.

Burns
??
Root
??
Roy
Stokes
Buttler (WK)
Woakes
Broad
Archer
Leach

I would have Foakes as keeper, if fit. Bairstow and Buttler are not at his level. I always say keeper first and batting credentials second.

It's no good having a keeper who would drop Smith in a half chance on 6 and then him get a century. Those extra 15 runs an innings count for nothing then.

Unfortunately, selector after selector begs to differ.

NB- Burns is not a Test opener. Too many defects in his game.

 

[Sussex Nomad]

It wasn't him though was it. He took responsibility for what someone else did.

Liar and cheat.

 

[Garry Nelson's teacher]

Depressing thought: we have almost half the team who are either out of (red ball) form or simply do not have the class to play test cricket: Denley, Roy, Buttler, Bairstow, Moeen. (And our greatest bowler is crocked.)

Rather more depressing thought: there is hardly a queue of obvious replacements.


Really depressing thought: the Aussies are looking rather good and have the best Test batsman in the modern era and can afford not to play Starc.


Anyone for darts?

 

[colinz]

Liar and cheat.

At least he doesn't have to resort to cheating to play well against England. Biggest punishment he got was being easily beaten by the South Africans when he did cheat.

BTW what did you think of Atherton & his pocket full of dirt ?

 

[big nuts]

Depressing thought: we have almost half the team who are either out of (red ball) form or simply do not have the class to play test cricket: Denley, Roy, Buttler, Bairstow, Moeen. (And our greatest bowler is crocked.)

Rather more depressing thought: there is hardly a queue of obvious replacements.


Really depressing thought: the Aussies are looking rather good and have the best Test batsman in the modern era and can afford not to play Starc.


Anyone for darts?

And I remain unconvinced about Burns to. Not sure he has the technique to score runs consistently. A 4-1 defeat feels inevitable.

 

[Bold Seagull]

At least he doesn't have to resort to cheating to play well against England. Biggest punishment he got was being easily beaten by the South Africans when he did cheat.

BTW what did you think of Atherton & his pocket full of dirt ?

That we know of. I note Warner didn't walk when he clearly nicked it. You'd think he'd try to rebuild his reputation and start walking like Gilchrist used to, show a bit of honesty over and above the call of duty given what he'd done. Not a chance.

 

[hans kraay fan club]

That we know of. I note Warner didn't walk when he clearly nicked it. You'd think he'd try to rebuild his reputation and start walking like Gilchrist used to, show a bit of honesty over and above the call of duty given what he'd done. Not a chance.

In BOTH innings.

 

[big nuts]

Great article

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/b...faces-neglecting-test-cricket-ashes-australia

 

[Rodney Thomas]

Lets hope Jofra can get through his 2nd XL game today. For those interested he is bowling now:

 

[The Wizard]

Lets hope Jofra can get through his 2nd XL game today. For those interested he is bowling now:

Bowling some really nasty stuff, imagine turning up to play a second XI side and having to face 90+ mph teeth smashers from Archer

 

[mikeyjh]

Lets hope Jofra can get through his 2nd XL game today. For those interested he is bowling now:

Credit where due, he got a bat on that last one off the over

 

[Rodney Thomas]

Credit where due, he got a bat on that last one off the over

He got some bat on that one too

He certainly seems to be running in properly. Its not easy to tell with this angle but I'd guess he's bowling mid to late 80s comfortably.

(I'd rather he wasn't standing at 2nd slip though!)