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

[vegster]

Ooooh ! Naughty Langoustine !

 

[Simster]

250-odd would be a decent if not spectacular score. With a good atmosphere and taking our chances (stumpings/catches) is it very doable to beat them

I'd call it a sub-par score. We need 300 IMO. Anything less and really this game is done.

 

[DJ NOBO]

Well, those criticising the declaration had us adding at least 50 with only 2 wickets left and a new ball in 2 overs time....

If arguably England’s greatest ever batsman hadn’t been at the crease, you’d have a good point there.
That said the wacky declaration is not top of the list of reasons why we will probably lose this match. Bairstow’s fumbles have been disastrous.
Still, in Robbo we trust.

 

[Triggaaar]

.

I'd call it a sub-par score. We need 300 IMO. Anything less and really this game is done.

Well we ain't getting 300 so you might as well move on

 

[Simster]

Well we ain't getting 300 so you might as well move on

Indeed. I think we're well out of the game tbh.

But let's face it, I'm hardly likely to turn it off am I? It's Ashes cricket on a work day. Have a word with yourself eh?

 

[PILTDOWN MAN]

Ooooh ! Naughty Langoustine !

It's beyond naughty it's claiming a catch after he scraped the ball for over 8 inches along the ground. To me the match ref should be having a word for such cheating.

Also can we have some English commentators on for longer than 5 minutes.

 

[Triggaaar]

Indeed. I think we're well out of the game tbh.

But let's face it, I'm hardly likely to turn it off am I? It's Ashes cricket on a work day. Have a word with yourself eh?

I didn't know you could watch at work. I can't.

 

[Si Gull]

Nice lead building up......

 

[vegster]

It's beyond naughty it's claiming a catch after he scraped the ball for over 8 inches along the ground. To me the match ref should be having a word for such cheating.

Also can we have some English commentators on for longer than 5 minutes.

Yes, not in the Spirit of The Game....there is only one Aussie commentator, Jim Maxwell...who is extremely annoying..it seems worse because of Gillespie as summariser.

 

[KZNSeagull]

Jimmy reverse sweeps Lyon for 4 first ball

 

[Kinky Gerbil]

Well, those criticising the declaration had us adding at least 50 with only 2 wickets left and a new ball in 2 overs time....

Even 20 or so would put us in a much better place.

Root had just hit 2 6s and was in his groove.

It was a stupid decision.

The fact we only had 2 wickets made it even worse

 

[dazzer6666]

Even 20 or so would put us in a much better place.

Root had just hit 2 6s and was in his groove.

It was a stupid decision.

The fact we only had 2 wickets made it even worse

Only with hindsight - one or two wickets and it would have been wholly justified.

 

[Kinky Gerbil]

Only with hindsight - one or two wickets and it would have been wholly justified.

Disagree, even at the time it was a declaration for the sake of it.

 

[nwgull]

Only with hindsight - one or two wickets and it would have been wholly justified.

Yeh, it was a gamble that didn't pay off. Worth a go to make a statement of cinfidence in your strike bowlers if nothing else.

 

[Bozza]

Even 20 or so would put us in a much better place.

Root had just hit 2 6s and was in his groove.

It was a stupid decision.

The fact we only had 2 wickets made it even worse

In hindsight it was the wrong decision, as we didn't take any wickets at the end of Day 1.

But that doesn't make it a stupid decision.

This England team plays high risk, high reward cricket. Not everything they try will come off - that's the nature of the beast - but they will keep trying.

 

[Muzzman]

Whilst the early declaration was a little aggressive, if Broad didn't foot fault when bowling out Khawaja, we'd be leading by 40-odd more runs.

 

[The Wizard]

Nearly 280 now, still a tricky chase, especially with conditions forecasted tomorrow

 

[dazzer6666]

In hindsight it was the wrong decision, as we didn't take any wickets at the end of Day 1.

But that doesn't make it a stupid decision.

This England team plays high risk, high reward cricket. Not everything they try will come off - that's the nature of the beast - but they will keep trying.

Agree - brilliant to watch

 

[The Fits]

Well done Ollie, decent score now you'd reckon.

 

[Titanic]

9 10 J added 49 between them

England 273 all out

281 to win.

Aussies favourites, but not by much.