[Cricket] The Ashes- England v Australia- 1st Test, Birmingham, June 16 - 20, 2023

[The Wizard]

Pope

 

[dazzer6666]

Fascinating stuff so far

 

[Simster]

I agree with the comparisons with the way England are playing cricket to De Zerbi has got Brighton playing.

From the leadership comes innovation, positivity and a complete lack of fear. The result is compelling enthralling viewing. Sometimes it won't come off. But over the long term, you get the impression it will win us more than it loses.

This is why I won't criticise the declaration, even though it may cost us the match. You can't look at it in isolation, it's part of a wider way of thinking.

I've wrestled with my thoughts on that declaration and my conclusion is the same as yours. I don't agree that we left 50 runs out there. It could easily have been 15 (or less as it was with the Aussie final 2 wickets). In contrast, we had battered nearly 400 on a very hot day and Australia had a tricky 20 minutes to bat out. Obviously we didn't take the wicket so it was a gamble we lost, but to draw any further conclusion than that is a stretch.

As for today, the cricket is very, very watchable as England's style of play is likely to engineer a result. It's hard not to be happy that such a consistently bold batting strategy has tended to be rewarding. When you think how utterly shit England were until Bazball was taken up. We were as bad then as we are good now.

 

[Simster]

Bollocks

 

[dazzer6666]

Got lucky there, that never hit his bat. Crowd now bellowing Howzat every ball

 

[The Wizard]

Corrrr that was sweaty palm time, Stokes survives.

 

[Nobby Cybergoat]

Absolutely nothing in this match in my view. I could easily see any 3 (or 4) results.

And for this series. No way is it going to be 4-0 to anyone. Both sides look well matched to me. Both sides with the odd weakness but many more strengths.

In this one the Aussies will fancy chasing anything under 250. Any lead over 300 puts us in a great position.

My main concern is that Stokes is moving with all the youthful freedom of Boris Karloff's Frankenstein

 

[Nobby Cybergoat]

Got lucky there, that never hit his bat.

Missing anyway

 

[vegster]

Getting a bit hairy atm, score seems to have frozen and still only 140 ahead with 6 wickets in hand.

 

[nwgull]

Absolutely nothing in this match in my view. I could easily see any 3 (or 4) results.

And for this series. No way is it going to be 4-0 to anyone. Both sides look well matched to me. Both sides with the odd weakness but many more strengths.

In this one the Aussies will fancy chasing anything under 250. Any lead over 300 puts us in a great position.

My main concern is that Stokes is moving with all the youthful freedom of Boris Karloff's Frankenstein

Interesting, as I'd fancy us to defend anything over 200 on a 4th innings pitch. Last 9 wickets have fallen for about 200 runs, and it's not going to get any easier.

 

[Nobby Cybergoat]

Interesting, as I'd fancy us to defend anything over 200 on a 4th innings pitch. Last 9 wickets have fallen for about 200 runs, and it's not going to get any easier.

Historically 200 would win you more than you'd lose.

But I think this pitch looks fine and I don't look at Moeen and he that he's going to pick up 8-50 on the last day to win us a test (decent enough player that he is)

If it's only 200, Aussies will be firm favourites

 

[Titanic]

Doesn't look like we will be declaring.

150-5, lead 157

 

[Eeyore]

Brooks wicket was fair enough. Root's foolish.

 

[Bold Seagull]

Every single time in this match we have them where we want them we give them a wicket or don't take one. Is this just a case of Australia being a very good team!?

 

[Bold Seagull]

Bairstow needs a big innings here.

 

[nwgull]

Brooks wicket was fair enough. Root's foolish.

Can't complain about either. Root was probably under instruction to spread the field and to keep the pressure on the bowler. Also, 46 runs from a batsman is a handy contribution in a 2nd innings regardless of how he got out.

 

[Titanic]

Pope got a good ball. You see dismissals like Root and Brook on village greens around the country every weekend.

JB out... reviewing but seemed like it was out to me... on the stroke of lunch.

Crikey that was lucky!

 

[dazzer6666]

Huge relief

 

[Titanic]

Lunch... England 155-5, leading by 162.

 

[vegster]

This is excruciating !