Official Ashes Thread

[MacAdder]

If only Root hadn't dropped that catch. The Aussies would be in huge trouble.

The first one, yes.
This is a poor an England fielding side I have seen for a while.
The mistakes have been regulation catches too.

Aussies throwing the bat at it now, and why not.
Even if they are bowled out, the current conditions are favouring the bowlers.

Hope Wood gets his five.
Looks like the natural successor to Anderson.

[Des Parrot]

10mph quicker than anyone else, that’s decent & gets results

[Undercoverinwurzelland]

Quite a collapse. England have to take advantage of they're going to get back into the series

[Hilts]

The first one, yes.
This is a poor an England fielding side I have seen for a while.
The mistakes have been regulation catches too.

Aussies throwing the bat at it now, and why not.
Even if they are bowled out, the current conditions are favouring the bowlers.

Hope Wood gets his five.
Looks like the natural successor to Anderson.

Brilliant from Wood. Hes 33 and unable to play regularly due to injuries. Hes no successor to Anderson though. Totally different option as player.

Ideally one of our express place bowlers would always be available ( Wood , Archer , Stone) but they are all sadly injury prone.

[TWGL1]

Brilliant from Wood. Hes 33 and unable to play regularly due to injuries. Hes no successor to Anderson though. Totally different option as player.

Ideally one of our express place bowlers would always be available ( Wood , Archer , Stone) but they are all sadly injury prone.

Australia tail couldn’t cope with his searing pace. - if only ….

[Hilts]

England close 67-3. Australia could and probably should have been blown away for 150 if it wasnt for the dropped catches.

England need someone to get a big score.

[Eric the Half a Bee]

England close 67-3. Australia could and probably should have been blown away for 150 if it wasnt for the dropped catches.

England need someone to get a big score.

It would be somewhat ironic if Australia had a first innings lead through someone adopting the Bazball strategy while England are being more defensive!

[Swiss Peter]

So, there is no funding for cricket without the ECB. There is no investment in facilities and the sport dries up.

I've played cricket since I was 7, and the entire time all I wanted to do was play for England. It has never been an issue for me, and every single kid I played with (be it for my club or county) had the same ambition. Cricket is not football, it is a closed shop due to the insane decisions of the ICC (and BCCI). I love cricket, it is a special sport in worse hands than football.

I remember playing an age group final in Aberdare in 2005, we'd finished by the time Giles hit the winning runs and everyone went mental. There were hundreds there, everyone went bonkers. I often see this issue on twitter etc and it is almost always started by people who fundamentally don't like cricket. "Maybe I'd be interested if Wales had a team" etc. Bollocks.

Nice story which illustrates your point really well.

[MacAdder]

Brilliant from Wood. Hes 33 and unable to play regularly due to injuries. Hes no successor to Anderson though. Totally different option as player.

Ideally one of our express place bowlers would always be available ( Wood , Archer , Stone) but they are all sadly injury prone.

33. He's only a pup compared to Jimmy mun!

Agree they are different types of bowlers entirely, I meant as their talisman.

England's problem (apart from their awful fielding) is that they don't have a top spinner like Lyon who can hold his end up and give these guys a breather.
They get over-bowled and end up on the treatment table.

Anderson mind is a freak.

[Pedro de la Rosa]

33. He's only a pup compared to Jimmy mun!

Agree they are different types of bowlers entirely, I meant as their talisman.

England's problem (apart from their awful fielding) is that they don't have a top spinner like Lyon who can hold his end up and give these guys a breather.
They get over-bowled and end up on the treatment table.

Anderson mind is a freak.

England's problem this summer (apart from the injury to Leach), is they've been so sloppy. They've done enough to win games and they keep shooting themselves in the foot.

[MacAdder]

Root gone second ball of the day

[Hilts]

Root gone already. Great player but hes had a mare this test.

[TWGL1]

Root gone already. Great player but hes had a mare this test.

Bairstow has had a nightmare series - gone for 12

[Hilts]

Yeah terrible from Bairstow. Wonder if his dismal displays behind the stumps is getting to him.

[TWGL1]

Yeah terrible from Bairstow. Wonder if his dismal displays behind the stumps is getting to him.

I think so , been skittish all series , perhaps his injury effects his mobility behind the stumps

[Undercoverinwurzelland]

Quite a collapse. England have to take advantage of they're going to get back into the series

Oh well

[The Bloop]

If this continues and England are 80 ish behind, they will still fancy themselves to chase 300+ in the 4th innings.

[Harry Paget Flashman]

If this continues and England are 80 ish behind, they will still fancy themselves to chase 300+ in the 4th innings.

Based on what?

They've had all the conditions in their favour in all tests so far and have failed.

Catches win matches.

[poc]

Based on what?

They've had all the conditions in their favour in all tests so far and have failed.

Catches win matches.

exactly and picking players that are fit might help

[Hilts]

Brilliant from Stokes. Hes given England a chance.

[G rangetown Blue]

Same old Aussies...always winning!

Bairstow should stick to bullying little protesters!

Love all the salty England fans hating on Cummins, Smith and Carey ! Embarrassing.

[The Bloop]

Based on what?

They've had all the conditions in their favour in all tests so far and have failed.

Catches win matches.

Based on them chasing similar totals recently and having no option really if they want to stay in the series.

[Grangenders]

Looks like this one might have provided an exciting conclusion, but tomorrows rain will produce a draw

[rich munn]

Looks like this one might have provided an exciting conclusion, but tomorrows rain will produce a draw

There have been 2 days.

The match lasts 5 days.

Doh!

[Harry Paget Flashman]

Based on them chasing similar totals recently and having no option really if they want to stay in the series.

Just not as recently as the last two tests.

I think they'll win if the weather holds out but would take weekend of bad weather to stop them winning.