Ashes test 1…..

[RVclaret]

Already scored too many. Game over!

[ecc]

6-274 (I'm adapting to the local customs).

The Ashes were once sacred but today's cricket is a farce. Another day, another Test. Rest players for the next Test. What the hell is that?

[Steve-Harpers-perm]

Some shoddy efforts in the field in the last few overs. Robinson looks like he’s struggling to reach the crease in his run up.

[Burnley1989]

Stokes injured, Robinson struggling (hopefully just cramp)

Leach bowling like an amateur.

Our best two bowlers, Broad & Anderson sat with their feet up

[Steve-Harpers-perm]

Stokes injured, Robinson struggling (hopefully just cramp)

Leach bowling like an amateur.

Our best two bowlers, Broad & Anderson sat with their feet up

Broad and Anderson are firing the ball down in the Gabba nets currently according to the press. Very strange to leave them both out.

[Local cricketer]

Burns doesn’t bat and can’t catch. Can he turn his arm over?

[ChrisG]

Scoring too many here unfortunately, I can’t see us scoring 300-400 on a day 3 wicket that is still doing a bit

I can't see us getting that as a total of both innings.

[Burnley1989]

Unlike us, I can imagine the Aussies were looking forward to the new ball. Will be all done tomorrow at the rate

[Burnley1989]

Burns doesn’t bat and can’t catch. Can he turn his arm over?

I’m far from convinced that Burns is a test cricketer

[Burnley1989]

BBC Stat:


There is only one example of a bowler bowling more than 10 overs in a Test innings and going for more runs per over than Jack Leach today: Pakistan's Yasir Shah against Australia in Sydney in January 2017

[THEWELLERNUT70]

When Stokes got Warner out quite early in the day only for the delivery to be a no ball that was it for my viewing for the day.

At the time Warner was all over the show and could have gone at any moment.

[Andreshotboots]

Silverwood and Root have made some Hideous decisions in this test.

Win the toss and bat on a damp green pitch, with muggy over head conditions, a kookaburra ball that now lasts and swings for longer, a weather forecast for a hot and sunny day 2 ( perfect for batting) and a fragile batting line up.

Leaving out our tallest bowler, who has had one of their best batsmen in his pocket on Australia's quickest bounciest pitch.

Relying on Stokes to be our 4th seamer when he’s barely played a game for months.

Leach and Burns, neither should be near an England lions team let alone an Ashes tour. Burns technique is just hideous and laughable, and I said before the tour Leach would have T20 economy rates if he played, and guess what he did!!

Even the idiotic Yorkshire pair can surely see that England can’t take games deep enough to warrant a way below average spinner playing.

[Newcastleclaret93]

Silverwood and Root have made some Hideous decisions in this test.

Win the toss and bat on a damp green pitch, with muggy over head conditions, a kookaburra ball that now lasts and swings for longer, a weather forecast for a hot and sunny day 2 ( perfect for batting) and a fragile batting line up.

Leaving out our tallest bowler, who has had one of their best batsmen in his pocket on Australia's quickest bounciest pitch.

Relying on Stokes to be our 4th seamer when he’s barely played a game for months.

Leach and Burns, neither should be near an England lions team let alone an Ashes tour. Burns technique is just hideous and laughable, and I said before the tour Leach would have T20 economy rates if he played, and guess what he did!!

Even the idiotic Yorkshire pair can surely see that England can’t take games deep enough to warrant a way below average spinner playing.

You have nailed that.

Shocking management decisions.

We will be lucky to win one test.

[SalisburyClaret]

Silverwood and Root have made some Hideous decisions in this test.

Win the toss and bat on a damp green pitch, with muggy over head conditions, a kookaburra ball that now lasts and swings for longer, a weather forecast for a hot and sunny day 2 ( perfect for batting) and a fragile batting line up.

Leaving out our tallest bowler, who has had one of their best batsmen in his pocket on Australia's quickest bounciest pitch.

Relying on Stokes to be our 4th seamer when he’s barely played a game for months.

Leach and Burns, neither should be near an England lions team let alone an Ashes tour. Burns technique is just hideous and laughable, and I said before the tour Leach would have T20 economy rates if he played, and guess what he did!!

Even the idiotic Yorkshire pair can surely see that England can’t take games deep enough to warrant a way below average spinner playing.

Agree with everything except Leach - who is an excellent spinner despite coming from a country where spinning is barely allowed

[evensteadiereddie]

The odds were just better than evens for an Aussie First Test win. Now they're God knows what on.
Assuming the weather holds up, that's the easiest money I've ever made.

[evensteadiereddie]

1/20........

[RVclaret]

Silverwood and Root have made some Hideous decisions in this test.

Win the toss and bat on a damp green pitch, with muggy over head conditions, a kookaburra ball that now lasts and swings for longer, a weather forecast for a hot and sunny day 2 ( perfect for batting) and a fragile batting line up.

Leaving out our tallest bowler, who has had one of their best batsmen in his pocket on Australia's quickest bounciest pitch.

Relying on Stokes to be our 4th seamer when he’s barely played a game for months.

Leach and Burns, neither should be near an England lions team let alone an Ashes tour. Burns technique is just hideous and laughable, and I said before the tour Leach would have T20 economy rates if he played, and guess what he did!!

Even the idiotic Yorkshire pair can surely see that England can’t take games deep enough to warrant a way below average spinner playing.

Agree with everything here, though I don’t think Leach is that bad. And who else do we have to open if not Burns?

[tiger76]

Funny that Australia managed to score runs on this seemingly bowler friendly track, mind you England didn't help themselves, the dropped catch, and the no ball being notable examples.

Ollie Robinson as expected impressed with the ball, and England did well until tea, however due to the attack tiring the wheels then came off big style.

Terrible selection picking Stokes as one of 4 quicks with his injury history.

Be all over by tea tomorrow, unless the weather comes to England's aid an innings defeat looms large.

[TheFamilyCat]

Agree with everything here, though I don’t think Leach is that bad. And who else do we have to open if not Burns?

Who else than Burns? I honestly don't know the answer to that. What I do know is that there is zero to be gained by continuing to pick someone who over 30+ games has proven himself to be not good enough.

[RVclaret]

Funny that Australia managed to score runs on this seemingly bowler friendly track, mind you England didn't help themselves, the dropped catch, and the no ball being notable examples.

Ollie Robinson as expected impressed with the ball, and England did well until tea, however due to the attack tiring the wheels then came off big style.

Terrible selection picking Stokes as one of 4 quicks with his injury history.

Be all over by tea tomorrow, unless the weather comes to England's aid an innings defeat looms large.

Weather forecast = normal service resumed (clear skies 30 degrees) from here

[Andreshotboots]

Agree with everything except Leach - who is an excellent spinner despite coming from a country where spinning is barely allowed

I'm probably being harsh on him, but my point is he shouldn't have been near the team for this game, and how many tests will we take into the 4th and 5th days with our batting where conditions may be more favourable for him?

The Aussies always hotorically target a bowler, usually a spinner and smash them out of the attack so the quicks have less rest and have a heavy workload.

It was not rocket sceince they would do this again,and will do it in the next 4 tests, whether it be Leach or Bess who would be the target.

That left us with 3 quicks, one of which Wood is injury prone and needs to bowl short, sharp bursts, and the 4th option of Stokes who hasn't played any cricket for a considerably long time.

[Andreshotboots]

Agree with everything here, though I don’t think Leach is that bad. And who else do we have to open if not Burns?

Malan could open and Root up to 3, and Bairstow back in as an option. At least Malan plays straight and has some sort of technique.

I don't buy this Root should be at 4, we're so crap that he's always in within the first few overs anyway so it makes little difference. He very rarely comes in at 100 for 2 after 40 overs and a softer ball to face.

[Milltown1882]

Who else than Burns? I honestly don't know the answer to that. What I do know is that there is zero to be gained by continuing to pick someone who over 30+ games has proven himself to be not good enough.

Sam Robson had a good season but hasn’t played a test since 2014. Jake Libby potentially too but untried and an Ashes series probably isn’t the place for him.

[Milltown1882]

Alex Lees is also already out there with the Lions squad if they choose to go that direction.

[Milltown1882]

Only once in test match history has a bowler who has bowled more than ten overs in the innings gone for more runs per over than Leach in this innings. That’s a horrible stat!

[Quickenthetempo]

Finally bowled them all put for 425 after putting down another handful of chances.

Time to bat long now.

The bowlers need a lot of rest in such hot conditions.

[HunterST_BFC]

Have a bit of faith chap's.

Not over yet, draw possible...

[Burnley1989]

All I wanted was a good game when I realised we wouldn’t win it.
It would be nice to score 400+ and at least have something to bowl at.

Bowlers have been good and I think we’d all agree these two need to be scoring big in this series if we are to win any game

[TonbridgeClaret]

Blimey! Just woken up to 203/2, a very pleasant surprise!

[RVclaret]

Excellent fight by Malan and Root. When there's Root there's a chance. Good thing is that he's converted 6/7 half centuries this year. Just as I say this he seems to be struggling with his knee.

[bfccrazy]

Pleasantly surprised this morning - fighting back to have a decent go anyway which is something.

[claretonthecoast1882]

We stand a really good chance of getting to day 5 which is a surprise

[Steve-Harpers-perm]

Excellent fight back by England. Expected to be more or less over by this morning.

[The Enclosure]

Ignoring he is a Yorkshireman Joe Root is a joy to watch when he is batting well.

[Covclaret]

What chance we get a lead of 200+ and Jack Leach takes a load of wickets to win the game? The locals have gone a bit quiet this afternoon.

[Newcastleclaret93]

What chance we get a lead of 200+ and Jack Leach takes a load of wickets to win the game? The locals have gone a bit quiet this afternoon.

That would be an incredible turn of events. This is the joy of test cricket.

Certainly going to be an interesting day tomorrow. If we can get a 200 plus lead there is a chance.

[Andreshotboots]

What chance we get a lead of 200+ and Jack Leach takes a load of wickets to win the game? The locals have gone a bit quiet this afternoon.

Won’t happen. To me this fight back makes the decision to play him and bowl first even more ridiculous as this pitch has been batter friendly after the first day with a bit of variable bounce kicking in.

It’s certainly not breaking up which would be ideal for a spinner.

With a hypothetical lead off 200, I’d 100% prefer the extra bowler to be Broad hitting the deck from height rather than a finger spinner.

I said on another post, they will target Leach in every innings, in every match and look to smash him out of it even if they lose a couple of wickets. It’s what they do, especially in their home country to prevent the quicks from having any rest.

Fair play to Root and Malan for the fight back, but the rest of the order have to show some backbone now too. Couple of early wickets in the morning, which often happens after a big partnership the previous day and we’re back in trouble again..

[RVclaret]

Btw, I think it was suggested by NewcastleClaret that Root wasn't one of our best ever batters and that he wouldn't have got into the side that won in Australia, among with others.

He has just set a new record for the most Test runs in a calendar year from an English batter.

[claretonthecoast1882]

Btw, I think it was suggested by NewcastleClaret that Root wasn't one of our best ever batters and that he wouldn't have got into the side that won in Australia, among with others.

He has just set a new record for the most Test runs in a calendar year from an English batter.

That is only because there are no good test bowlers anymore

Had Bell, Bopara, Collingwood and Trott been playing now Root wouldn't be in this side

[Burnley1989]

That is only because there are no good test bowlers anymore

Had Bell, Bopara, Collingwood and Trott been playing now Root wouldn't be in this side

Exactly

[The Enclosure]

That is only because there are no good test bowlers anymore

Had Bell, Bopara, Collingwood and Trott been playing now Root wouldn't be in this side

[Newcastleclaret93]

Btw, I think it was suggested by NewcastleClaret that Root wasn't one of our best ever batters and that he wouldn't have got into the side that won in Australia, among with others.

He has just set a new record for the most Test runs in a calendar year from an English batter.

Imagine what KP or Cook in there prime would have done against the dross bowlers that Root faces at Test level.

Again I’m not knocking Root I think he’s a great batsmen just not as good as our batsmen from 2005-2011 era

[TheFamilyCat]

Imagine what KP or Cook in there prime would have done against the dross bowlers that Root faces at Test level.

Again I’m not knocking Root I think he’s a great batsmen just not as good as our batsmen from 2005-2011 era

Dross bowlers? You really are talking shite. Stop digging yourself deeper into it.

[Newcastleclaret93]

Dross bowlers? You really are talking shite. Stop digging yourself deeper into it.

Come on the bowlers of this era are knowhere near the level of previous eras.

You could argue the quality of test cricket as a whole has dropped massively.

[Andreshotboots]

Come on the bowlers of this era are knowhere near the level of previous eras.

You could argue the quality of test cricket as a whole has dropped massively.

I think this batch of Aussie quicks are every bit as good as anything they've had over the years.

The big difference is there's no Warne, I'll give you that.

Imagine seeing off Bret Lee and his buddies, then you having to cope with the World's best ever spinner..

However I don't think Roots class can ever be in doubt, he's a superb player of pace and spin and would score heavily no matter what era he played in.

[nil_desperandum]

Won’t happen. To me this fight back makes the decision to play him and bowl first even more ridiculous as this pitch has been batter friendly after the first day with a bit of variable bounce kicking in.

Exactly this.
Insert Australia and play Anderson and / or Broad and this game could have had an entirely different complexion with England batting on days 2 and 3 and hopefully chasing a relatively low total on a flat pitch in good conditions in the 4th innings.

[ClaretTony]

The big difference is there's no Warne, I'll give you that.

And what a difference Warne made. I recall his final test match against England in Sydney when Justin Langer and Glenn McGrath were also playing for the final time. Nasser Hussain was on commentary and was asked how the Aussies would cope without them.

He said:

Langer - very good opening batsman who can be replaced
McGrath - world class opening bowler who can be replaced
Warne - irreplaceable

[Quickenthetempo]

Exactly this.
Insert Australia and play Anderson and / or Broad and this game could have had an entirely different complexion with England batting on days 2 and 3 and hopefully chasing a relatively low total on a flat pitch in good conditions in the 4th innings.

Of course it could turn out different but no captain in the world would bat 2nd with our fragile batting line up. The pressure chasing a 4th innings total of over 150 would be too much. Was it 240 we refused to chase on the last day against NZ?

In truth the seam bowlers did well and with luck on side and better fielding would have been well in the game.

I can see why he went with the spinner even though I don't rate him, big ground, need someone to bowl one end to give the quicks a break and if there's any turn on the last day.
It was expected he would make more use of the bounce but the Aussies never let him settle.

[ClaretTony]

Of course it could turn out different but no captain in the world would bat 2nd with our fragile batting line up.

Root has done often enough and there is no doubt that we all but handed this first test to Australia in the first session.

[Steve-Harpers-perm]

We might get better results if they get rid of some of these meaningless one day games they play through the year. I may have misheard but sure Agnew said Leach has only played 6 competitive red ball games since last winters tour of India.