ASHES. FIRST TEST

[Buxtonclaret]

We'll have to bat all/most of the day and set them a good few more than 200...

Smith played a superb innings for them.
We need someone to mirror what he's done for us.

[tybfc]

Agree with Buxton. We must occupy the crease all day but I can't see it happening and Smith is so good on his own pitches that he would eat into a small lead in no time.

We could do with an Atherton v South Africa innings.

[Bin Ont Turf]

I can see the match ending today.

We need Joe to get a big score and Moeen to hang about a bit.

[Brunlea]

Bit of a champagne cricket fan-only watch the ashes. Loving this game at moment. Have to say that the standard of commentary is good and at times funny. The honestly especially by people like Boycott is refreshing he can be harsh but very entertaining and generally for someone like me it’s great to listen to people who actually know what they are talking about. My cricketing career was as a number 6 batter, outfielder and very occasional bowler. I went to Burnley Grammar and remember how the cricket square was like hallowed ground overseen by Ron ‘the general’ Parry. Happy days!

[HunterST_BFC]

Stoneman 100+
Root 100+ + bowlers knackered
2-0 to BFC both Corkers or Ref assisted

Perfect Sunday

[Buxtonclaret]

Stoneman 100+
Root 100+ + bowlers knackered
2-0 to BFC both Corkers or Ref assisted

Perfect Sunday

That'll do me.

[The Enclosure]

Stoneman gone for 27... caught Smith bowled Lyle...its going to be a long day.

[bfccrazy]

That'll do me.

That'll do me.

Had to go there didn't you!!!

[bfccrazy]

Stoneman 100+
Root 100+ + bowlers knackered
2-0 to BFC both Corkers or Ref assisted

Perfect Sunday

That'll do me.

Had to go there didnt you !!!

[ClaretDiver]

Had to go there didnt you !!!

[HunterST_BFC]

BUGGER.....
revised plan for Sunday.

"HunterST_BFC wrote:
Stoneman 27ish
Root 100+ + bowlers knackered...
... Malan 90+

3-1 to BFC - All Corkers or Ref assisted CMON!

Still A Perfect Sunday"

[tybfc]

It will be a long day losing a wicket in the first hour on the fourth day.

You know that the Aussies will have our bottom 5/6 batters sussed out and what their weaknesses are before they step foot on the pitch as they showed in the first innings. They have done it for years.

I hope I am totally and utterly wrong when I wake up in the morning.

[bfccrazy]

It will be a long day losing a wicket in the first hour on the fourth day.

You know that the Aussies will have our bottom 5/6 batters sussed out and what their weaknesses are before they step foot on the pitch as they showed in the first innings. They have done it for years.

I hope I am totally and utterly wrong when I wake up in the morning.

Got a feeling Ali will play a huge role in this now both batting and bowling. Just hope i'm right.

[bfccrazy]

BUGGER.....
revised plan for Sunday.

"HunterST_BFC wrote:
Stoneman 27ish
Root 100+ + bowlers knackered...
... Malan 90+

3-1 to BFC - All Corkers or Ref assisted CMON!

Still A Perfect Sunday"

DON'T !!!

[The Enclosure]

Malan out for 4 off Lyle.

[tiger76]

Got a feeling Ali will play a huge role in this now both batting and bowling. Just hope i'm right.

Ditto hope you are right going to bed now just need someone to stay with Root for a while,the positive for England is batting is not easy if we can put a target on the board chasing may not be simple for the Aussies problem is putting the runs on the board first.

[bfccrazy]

Ditto hope you are right going to bed now just need someone to stay with Root for a while,the positive for England is batting is not easy if we can put a target on the board chasing may not be simple for the Aussies problem is putting the runs on the board first.

Anything around 200 will be competitive but getting another 150 is a way off yet ... Lyon's getting some cheap wickets and we look scared at the crease with downside being in our position we cant afford to massively attack now either.

[tiger76]

we just need one good partnership to tilt this game though hopefully these two can bat for a couple of hours,whatever the result of this test Australia clearly have problems to solve as do England thus far Steve Smith has been the difference the Aussies are not superman decent team at home yes but definitely not unbeatable just hope the injuries to Anderson and Mo are not long-term.

[claret wizard]

Need to bat the day out because this pitch is still a flat track. If we capitulate before those cracks develop then it doesn’t matter if we sre 150+ ahead the Aussies will rattle them off.

[The Enclosure]

Root gone for 51...lbw

[The Enclosure]

All out 195 at tea

[RammyClaret61]

Would help if they could paint a straight consistent line.

[The Enclosure]

They are calling it the wobbly line test series.The Aussies are 87 for 0 so it is looking very ominous now for England.

[Caernarfon_Claret]

First part of a 5-0 win for the Aussies.

kookaburra ball renders our bowlers practically useless.

[The Enclosure]

Bring back Harold Larwood.Never mind wobbly line lets give them some body line

[CleggHall]

Simply not good enough but no surprise there. Weak batting line up and the bowlers are short of pace. Jimmy seldom performs overseas.

[Steve-Harpers-perm]

Bit harsh to say he ‘never performs overseas’ when he’s obviously not fit. Other problem is the other bowlers apart from Broad don’t look like taking wickets. Bet they are regretting the decision not to take Stokes now.

[Quickenthetempo]

Simply not good enough but no surprise there. Weak batting line up and the bowlers are short of pace. Jimmy seldom performs overseas.

Test cricket is about 90% won by the home team. You need a top team playing at their best to win away.

[nil_desperandum]

Bit harsh to say he ‘never performs overseas’ when he’s obviously not fit. Other problem is the other bowlers apart from Broad don’t look like taking wickets. Bet they are regretting the decision not to take Stokes now.

There was no decision to take was there?
Obviously they would have taken him if available for selection.
Apart from the obvious problem with picking him. Would he even in fact be able to obtain a visa to enter Australia whilst under police investigation?
It's not as though he could sneak under the radar as some people manage to do.
I don't think there's much to choose between two weak teams, and both teams would most likely win on home soil.
A big factor in this series however is that it has come at the wrong time for England, with preparations impeded by injury and stupidity (Stokes).
Poor selection policy at the top of the order during the summer ended up with is not knowing what our best batting line-up is, and the strength of our team (the all-rounders) has been devastated by the behaviour of Stokes, and the injury to Moeen leading up to the series, and indeed during the match.
Add to this, James Anderson doesn't appear to be fully fit, and it's clearly advantage Australia.

[Buxtonclaret]

Not even a wicket, so far.

[Buxtonclaret]

10 wicket loss is pretty crushing.
Hate it when it turns out like this.

[Steve-Harpers-perm]

There was no decision to take was there?
Obviously they would have taken him if available for selection.
Apart from the obvious problem with picking him. Would he even in fact be able to obtain a visa to enter Australia whilst under police investigation?
It's not as though he could sneak under the radar as some people manage to do.
I don't think there's much to choose between two weak teams, and both teams would most likely win on home soil.
A big factor in this series however is that it has come at the wrong time for England, with preparations impeded by injury and stupidity (Stokes).


Poor selection policy at the top of the order during the summer ended up with is not knowing what our best batting line-up is, and the strength of our team (the all-rounders) has been devastated by the behaviour of Stokes, and the injury to Moeen leading up to the series, and indeed during the match.
Add to this, James Anderson doesn't appear to be fully fit, and it's clearly advantage Australia.

He’s not been charged with anything has he and seems to be a lengthy investigation. Anyway Bairstow might be joining him at home if the reports are to be believed!