Official Ashes Thread

[MacAdder]

Re: Official Ashes Thread

I wouldn’t say that at all. Stone , Archer and Leach are injured otherwise Wood would have not played this series and you definitely wouldn’t have had a player from Worcestershire being selected. Tongue was very much unknown prior to the start of the summer.

That said test captains are part of the selection panel.

You will always get exceptions to the rule, especially bowlers (Greg Thomas and Simon Jones spring to mind from Glamorgan).

I'd liken English cricket to universities, topical at the moment with graduations.
Go to the right one and you've get the better jobs.

[MacAdder]

Re: Official Ashes Thread

Jimmy Anderson lucky to be selected for this. Hopefully he can come back to his best.

I think this was more of a romantic one.

[MacAdder]

Re: Official Ashes Thread

Final test starts this morning with another miserable forecast - first two days should be okay, then two days where there’s every chance of disruption and a potential wash out on the final day. We then have the complete comedown of the Hundred and the50 over competition for reserve teams before a few four day games in September - no test cricket after July is a shocker of a decision from an organisation that specialises in them.

It all does seem a bit anticlimactic.
There is an argument that having the tests early offers the best opportunity to see players at their peak, not knackered from busting a gut in minor forms (IMHO) of the game.

Said it before, there are too many forms of the game these days, it's all about the dollar.

[the other bob wilson]

Re: Official Ashes Thread

Anderson still doesn't go for many runs per over and England don't really have a spinner available to them who can seal up one end and maybe frustrate the Australians into taking risks up the other end - Leach might have been able to do it (I'm not convinced on that score mind), but, in his absence, Anderson is probably the best England have at doing that currently.

Whether that is enough to merit Anderson staying in the team is definitely arguable as all of the evidence of the series so far is that his days as a regular wicket taker in test cricket are coming to an end - I would have picked Tongue in front of him at Old Trafford.

[MacAdder]

Re: Official Ashes Thread

Gotta laugh at the interval coverage of the series so far.
It was the same yesterday previewing this one.
All the Headingly test!

[chrisp_1927]

Re: Official Ashes Thread

Haven't seen a single ball today due to work. Been In and out on Cricinfo. Their end of innings write up said both teams would be disappointed, with the Aussies disappointed that 283 were scored against them on a good bowling day, although that's been followed by Oz getting to a serene looking 42/0, which makes me think they may have overegged the help available for bowlers. Few good experts in this thread, how would you say the day has gone?

[the other bob wilson]

Re: Official Ashes Thread

Haven't seen a single ball today due to work. Been In and out on Cricinfo. Their end of innings write up said both teams would be disappointed, with the Aussies disappointed that 283 were scored against them on a good bowling day, although that's been followed by Oz getting to a serene looking 42/0, which makes me think they may have overegged the help available for bowlers. Few good experts in this thread, how would you say the day has gone?

The England openers and Moeen and Brook made batting look easy for a while, but it seemed a good bowling day to me. The BBC website said England were “skittled” out for 283 which I thought was very harsh and I see they’ve now changed it to bowled out.

I’ve not seen any of Australia’s reply, but it’s disappointing that they haven’t lost a wicket - if they get to the close with no wickets down, it’ll definitely be their day.

[chrisp_1927]

Re: Official Ashes Thread

The England openers and Moeen and Brook made batting look easy for a while, but it seemed a good bowling day to me. The BBC website said England were “skittled” out for 283 which I thought was very harsh and I see they’ve now changed it to bowled out.

I’ve not seen any of Australia’s reply, but it’s disappointing that they haven’t lost a wicket - if they get to the close with no wickets down, it’ll definitely be their day.

Cheers Bob. Hopefully the weather stays away and we get a good game.

[Hilts]

Re: Official Ashes Thread

Thought Marnus was going to cry there. Stop whining and get back to the changing room. Great catch by Root. Light didnt bother him.

[MacAdder]

Re: Official Ashes Thread

The Steve Smith (not) run out by Jonny Bairstow is still strangely being debated by the "expert" whether it was the correct decision.

The bails were dislodged by Bairstow's gloves a split second before he'd got the ball and Ricky Ponting says that it should be out because Smith hadn't made up the ground at the time the ball had been gathered.

I was always brought up to believe that if you hit the stump before you caught the ball on a run out, the stump needs to be pulled out.

Therefore Smith correctly not out.

Simples shirley

[Hilts]

Re: Official Ashes Thread

The Steve Smith (not) run out by Jonny Bairstow is still strangely being debated by the "expert" whether it was the correct decision.

The bails were dislodged by Bairstow's gloves a split second before he'd got the ball and Ricky Ponting says that it should be out because Smith hadn't made up the ground at the time the ball had been gathered.

I was always brought up to believe that if you hit the stump before you caught the ball on a run out, the stump needs to be pulled out.

Therefore Smith correctly not out.

Simples shirley

If both bails are off you have to pull the stump out. They werent in this case.

Think the 3rd umpire believes it was the glove which dislodged the bail when Smith was just out of his ground. Tight call probably right.

[MacAdder]

Re: Official Ashes Thread

If both bails are off you have to pull the stump out. They werent in this case.

Think the 3rd umpire believes it was the glove which dislodged the bail when Smith was just out of his ground. Tight call probably right.

[MacAdder]

Re: Official Ashes Thread

Stokes WOW!

[Harry Paget Flashman]

Re: Official Ashes Thread

Funny that the first innings of the final test has mirrored the series as a whole.

Completely on a knife edge with England playing 'Bazball' and Australia being a lot more conservative but finishing slightly ahead.

What is the most important thing style or substance? Are England the Tottenham must attack or playing the Swansea way and everyone's favourite second team, with the Aussies the evil 442 route one merchants that are Cardiff City.

[Hilts]

Re: Official Ashes Thread

Funny that the first innings of the final test has mirrored the series as a whole.

Completely on a knife edge with England playing 'Bazball' and Australia being a lot more conservative but finishing slightly ahead.

What is the most important thing style or substance? Are England the Tottenham must attack or playing the Swansea way and everyone's favourite second team, with the Aussies the evil 442 route one merchants that are Cardiff City.

Bit unfair but ive seen it called Bazball v Snoozeball today.