Ashes Thread 2023

[Dressinggown]

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[Newcastleclaret93]

Really exciting team. I think we win the ashes this year.

[Bordeaux]

Lot of runs next 5 days...400 a day maybe, but who gets them...

[TheFamilyCat]

Very excited for the Ashes. Should be a fascinating series but I fear we may come unstuck. Despite all Jimmy and Broad's experience I think their attack as way ahead of ours. Which in turn makes our approach to batting far riskier.

I think if England it win it will be by the tightest of margins but I could see Australia will win comfortably.

[roperclaret]

Very excited for the Ashes. Should be a fascinating series but I fear we may come unstuck. Despite all Jimmy and Broad's experience I think their attack as way ahead of ours. Which in turn makes our approach to batting far riskier.

I think if England it win it will be by the tightest of margins but I could see Australia will win comfortably.

Cue Jimmy and Stu skittling them out for 120 tomorrow morning

[TheFamilyCat]

Cue Jimmy and Stu skittling them out for 120 tomorrow morning

I do hope so.

[Jamesy]

I’m not worried about the batting as we are capable of piling runs on quickly as we all know. I’m worried about our bowling attack even on our pitches. The Aussies can bat a long way down the order and they have probably got 4 of the best bowlers in the world.
Really looking forward to it though and just had the email saying my Ashes replica shirt is being despatched.

[Quickenthetempo]

https://youtu.be/rT1HEXNI9c4

Bring me my bow......

[Quickenthetempo]

Two very confident sides going head to head.

The first battle will be the toss and if Australia dare bat first if they win. It should be the obvious choice, but England have chased some big scores down recently, quite easily.
They won't want to set anything under 400 for us to chase.

[jdrobbo]

IMG_7365.jpeg (198.12 KiB) Viewed 3036 times

IMG_7368.jpeg (490.92 KiB) Viewed 3036 times

It needs two teams and we’ll miss this guy in the next month or so. What a player. I think it’ll be a drawn series, so Aussies to retain the ashes.

[Jamesy]

I was at the MCG on Boxing Day, Australia v South Africa test where they made it the Shane Warne tribute day. Glad I was there even as an Englishman.

[timshorts]

As usual, only one Glamorgan player involved. Go marnus.

[jdrobbo]

As usual, only one Glamorgan player involved. Go marnus.

He’s so so good!!

[Burnley1989]

Can’t call it yet, I’ll make my call after the first test. That Aussie bowling attack is scary!

If we take them on and are successful, it will completely change test cricket imo

[Jamesy]

Best South African since Kevin Pieterson.

[Jamesy]

Can’t call it yet, I’ll make my call after the first test. That Aussie bowling attack is scary!

If we take them on and are successful, it will completely change test cricket imo

That’s what worries me, their bowling attack. I watched em dismantle a good South African batting line up with consummate ease a few months ago.

[Dressinggown]

Overall, the Aussies seem to have the better of the bowling attack.

Our lack of a top class spinner could be an issue but Moeen offers much more with the bat than Leach.

There is the factor that the visitors might want to go toe to toe with our new brand of cricket which could play into our hands. Hopefully.

Should be good stuff.

[Quickenthetempo]

I wouldn't call the Aussie bowling attack scary, but they are very accurate. They don't bowl many long hops or half volleys.
As shown last time they came.

Until you get after them. When Stokes unleashed they didn't know where to bowl.
If we get on top early and score like we have been. We could whitewash them.
Their egos won't be able to take it.

[ClaretLoup]

They’ve got Lyon with 487 test wickets, we’ve just dragged Moeen Ali out of retirement. I think this underlines the difference between the two protagonists.

[StayingDown4Ever]

Can’t call it yet, I’ll make my call after the first test. That Aussie bowling attack is scary!

If we take them on and are successful, it will completely change test cricket imo

Proper little Nostradamus waiting til after the first test.

[Taffy on the wing]

I wouldn't call the Aussie bowling attack scary, but they are very accurate. They don't bowl many long hops or half volleys.
As shown last time they came.

Until you get after them. When Stokes unleashed they didn't know where to bowl.
If we get on top early and score like we have been. We could whitewash them.
Their egos won't be able to take it.

I like your optimism!.....fingers crossed.

[CleggHall]

Difficult to see England’s bowlers getting 20 wickets against a decent Aussie batting line-up but will be happy to be proved wrong.

[Clive 1960]

We need to get of to a good start as it will be tough to beat this Aussie team as i fear our bowling attack could be left with a lot to do if we go one down and the pitches will be key , but I'm looking forward to the Baz ball cricket.

[Bordeauxclaret]

Not sure how it’ll go but it’s rare for the home side to lose a series now.
My worry is our bowling attack, I’ll be very surprised if Stokes is even 50% fit at the moment.
I think Robinson might be the main man with the ball overall, hopefully we can get Jimmy and Broad out there enough to do what they do because we know they’ll take wickets.

Batting wise, Crawley is still the risk. I hope he turns it around but I’ll be surprised if they don’t exploit him outside off stump.
The rest should be exciting to watch but they’ll not back down, I’m expecting us to get ripped out for an extremely low score at least once in the series but we’ll have to accept that.

Let’s go 3-1

[Foshiznik]

I’ve not watched cricket for about 5 years but I do enjoy a good competitive Ashes series. Are we any good? What is the likelyhood of us winning (or even just being competitive?)?

[Bordeauxclaret]

I’ve not watched cricket for about 5 years but I do enjoy a good competitive Ashes series. Are we any good? What is the likelyhood of us winning (or even just being competitive?)?

I’d say we are quite good at the moment yes. Very good to watch anyway.
This will be the toughest opponent since we’ve changed the way we play anyway so it’ll be good value.

[Quickenthetempo]

I’ve not watched cricket for about 5 years but I do enjoy a good competitive Ashes series. Are we any good? What is the likelyhood of us winning (or even just being competitive?)?

The Aussies haven't won a series over here for 20 years but are a good side and the bookies have them slight favourites.
But you have to be a very good side to win an away series in the ashes.

[ClaretTony]

Sadly, because of another commitment, I'll miss the first session but will be home by the time the afternoon session starts.

Proper cricket is this.

[wilks_bfc]

Advantage of WFH and having desk set up downstairs is that I can have the tele on in the background whilst working

[nil_desperandum]

Although this is a home series the weather and pitch conditions are not typical of an English "summer" at present, and I suspect that the Aussie bowling attack will be far more effective than ours on the pitches that we are likely to have.
I've been thinking over recent months that England would win this series, but since we've had all this "Australian" weather and having watched the Aussies against India, I fear that they will come out on top in a competitive series.
Unless there is a lot of rain later then draws are unlikely, but as others have pointed out - how many times can we expect to take 20 wickets?

[Burnley1989]

Sadly, because of another commitment, I'll miss the first session but will be home by the time the afternoon session starts.

Proper cricket is this.

Ditto, will be on in the car on my way home from Pride Park though

[Foshiznik]

Advantage of WFH and having desk set up downstairs is that I can have the tele on in the background whilst working

Same! Is it a 11am start?

[RVclaret]

Batting first. Looks a nice batting wicket and day.

[wilks_bfc]

First victory with the coin toss

We’re batting first

[wilks_bfc]

Same! Is it a 11am start?

Yep

[Foshiznik]

I’d say we are quite good at the moment yes. Very good to watch anyway.
This will be the toughest opponent since we’ve changed the way we play anyway so it’ll be good value.

Appreciate it! Who are our players to watch? I know those who played 5 years ago but genuinely haven’t a clue who the others are!

[Bordeauxclaret]

Brook looks exciting with the bat. I think he’ll be a good one.

But they’ll all have a go. They won’t hang around.

[Quickenthetempo]

Although this is a home series the weather and pitch conditions are not typical of an English "summer" at present, and I suspect that the Aussie bowling attack will be far more effective than ours on the pitches that we are likely to have.
I've been thinking over recent months that England would win this series, but since we've had all this "Australian" weather and having watched the Aussies against India, I fear that they will come out on top in a competitive series.
Unless there is a lot of rain later then draws are unlikely, but as others have pointed out - how many times can we expect to take 20 wickets?

Interesting that the Aussies are playing the two English type bowlers in Hazelwood and Boland instead of the quick Starc.
Despite it looking more suited to the quicks.

[Bosscat]

Crawley seems to have got his eye in early ...

[nil_desperandum]

As in the majority of Ashes series the first session and the first day of the First Test is likely to be influential on the rest of the series.
Let's see where we are at tea-time.

[Quickenthetempo]

Crawley has hit both opening bowlers for 4 off their first ball. Setting the tone.

The Aussies have already gone on the defensive.

[Quickenthetempo]

Have England ever scored 500 in a day against the Aussies before?

[ChrisG]

Have England ever scored 500 in a day against the Aussies before?

If they have, then the series in 2010/11 in Australia is the most likely candidate

[Bosscat]

Duckett dinks one to the keeper

[nil_desperandum]

Have England ever scored 500 in a day against the Aussies before?

Before when?

[Asbury Park]

Got the cricket on the tv on mute at work, so listening to TMS on the bbc sounds app but it’s about 30 seconds behind. Does anyone know an app where it’s played live like the radio?

[Bosscat]

Before when?

Close of play on the opening day perhaps

[Quickenthetempo]

England have won the early mind games.

Scoring easy singles with the Aussies protecting the boundaries.

[Quickenthetempo]

Got the cricket on the tv on mute at work, so listening to TMS on the bbc sounds app but it’s about 30 seconds behind. Does anyone know an app where it’s played live like the radio?

If it was a virgin box you could pause the live TV for 30 seconds to sync up.

[fatboy47]

Shirt front at Edgbaston..

No reason we can't fill our boots.