Ashes Second Test

[nil_desperandum]

Brook and stokes have got to go big tomorrow.

We really don’t have much left in the batting line up.

However I think this is perfectly set for a stokes special.

Maybe, but it's Bairstow who could really swing the game in England's favour if he has one of his rapid big knocks.
That's an IF of course.

[equinox]

It's why Bairstow is in the team though, everyone knows it's not for his ability behind the stumps, it's for this situation and he rarely let's us down.

If the tail stays with him he'll score big.

[Tricky Trevor]

Strange if the injury is so severe. He didn’t look good at all but he was barely jogging in as it wasn’t a run saving situation.

[summitclaret]

Weird in the extreme and in particular Root should know better. All we had to do is bat like Stokes did for an hour or so and we would have been in control of this match. This is the Ashes ffs, not 20 20 ****.

[equinox]

Root batted like Stokes, Stokes batted like Root...what difference does it make? we are where we are.

Root will make amends in the 2nd innings, make no mistake.

[Bordeauxclaret]

Just wondering if there was as much criticism of the style last summer or over the winter?

[dandeclaret]

Brook and stokes have got to go big tomorrow.

We really don’t have much left in the batting line up.

However I think this is perfectly set for a stokes special.

Brook, Stokes and Bairstow…. Almost half of our key batsmen oin our top order….. and Robinson can hold a bay, and B-road comes off 1 on 20….

[dandeclaret]

Strange if the injury is so severe. He didn’t look good at all but he was barely jogging in as it wasn’t a run saving situation.

Pulled calf seems to be the word everywhere….

[CoolClaret]

Brook, Stokes and Bairstow…. Almost half of our key batsmen oin our top order….. and Robinson can hold a bay, and B-road comes off 1 on 20….

I can tell you’re posting off an iPhone because mine also keeps autocorrecting Broad to ‘B-road’

[dandeclaret]

I can tell you’re posting off an iPhone because mine also keeps autocorrecting Broad to ‘B-road’

You are correct…. I am. Autocorrect gets worse doesn’t it?

[Tricky Trevor]

Pulled calf seems to be the word everywhere….

Not as bad as first calls. Comms were surmising ACL, tendon damage, etc.,
Mind you I had to stop running with a calf problem so it’s not as simple as………

[JarrowClaret]

That’s how I saw it. Smith cheating as ususl

How was he cheating? He wouldn’t know the ball touched the floor if it did that is. We all know that stills make it look something it isn’t quite often Ben Mee tackles spring to mind. He thought he caught it so is entitled to claim and the umpires checked it and decided it was out just move on.

[Clive 1960]

Interesting day coming up later today, will we get a lead of some sort and how will Australia go about it after losing Lyon all to play for.

[Hbclaret007]

We have to get a lead to have a realistic chance of winning. Conditions could be more difficult today.

[Lancasterclaret]

We threw away wickets yesterday unfortunately

Nothing to do with Bazball, just ludicrous shot selection by players who should know better

[Ric_C]

We threw away wickets yesterday unfortunately

Nothing to do with Bazball, just ludicrous shot selection by players who should know better

Exactly this. I'm all for positive play, but not reckless play. Tbh Duckett was playing very positively without taking huge risks. Surely we should evolve this moving forward? I'm all for having a bit of fun and playing "entertaining cricket". But not when you are still 250 behind in an ashes series.

The Aussies had almost given up at around 200-1. Pitch doing nothing, ball getting soft, then Pope tries a glory shot with all the fielders on the boundary, just brainless and not playing to the match situation.

[Ric_C]

Pulled calf seems to be the word everywhere….

So around 7/8 years ago I tore my calf playing football, just running and stretching for a loose ball. I felt a twang and collapsed to the floor. I could hobble off the pitch but very gingerly. Took around 5 months to heal properly.

I'd say Lyons was either a slight tear, or as you say more likely a pull. But the way he hobbled off would mean he could be out for at least 3-6 weeks depending on the severity.

And anyone who says it is unfortunate for the Aussies, well it is, but they didn't give us much sympathy in 2019 when Anderson injured himself and missed the entire series.

[Quickenthetempo]

On a positive note.

If we have another session like any of yesterday's, we will be level score with 6 wickets down at Lunch.

How good would that be?

[claretonthecoast1882]

Score 140 a session first 2 sessions, another funky declaration with a lead of 150 bowl them out today for 140 then sit back and watch Lancs pump the puddings out the 20/20 tonight with the series level and us with momentum

[Rileybobs]

Put a quick 15-20 runs on the board in the first couple of overs this morning and then declare.

[Andreshotboots]

This new style of cricket really does divide opinion.

It can go from sublime, to school boy stuff in the blink of an eye, just like that spell yesterday.

I'm pretty split on it, I applaud the attacking intentions but in my opinion there's a time in every game where you've just got to hold back. If we'd have weathered that bouncer barrage, and just left all those short deliveries the Aussies would be in a really poor spot now. Not only would be less wickets down, but that ball would have been scuffed to pieces with all the short stuff as it's almost impossible to hit the seam when bowling bouncers and we'd have still had loads of wickets in the tent that they'd have to use this battered ball against.

However, I've got to admit it's damn entertaining to watch and if it's putting bums on seats, so be it..

Just on a different topic, Bumble was on the radio yesterday and he was saying when he was the England coach, and it happens to this day now as far as he's aware, the captain's wishes for the type of surface they'd like are ignored.

The groundsman are basically instructed on the surface to prepare to try and make the game last, therefore raking in the £'s. That must only happen in England surely, and such a shame if that's the case..

[Clive 1960]

Doesn't look good for Nathan hobbling around on crutches I would be very surprised if he plays any more part in the Ashes.

[Newcastleclaret93]

Doesn't look good for Nathan hobbling around on crutches I would be very surprised if he plays any more part in the Ashes.

From what Ponting was saying I doubt he will play again this year

[ClaretTony]

Wicket after just to balls - Stokes gone

[RVclaret]

Oh dear.

[CoolClaret]

Bloody hell Stokes

[Quickenthetempo]

Stupid dismissal

Stop playing defensive shots

[claretonthecoast1882]

Stokes hasn't looked right at any stage of this series for me

[ClaretTony]

And first runs of the day with Bairstow getting off the mark with a four

[Clive 1960]

Stokes hasn't looked right at any stage of this series for me

He's been playing cricket not bazball and it's cost him is wicket unfortunately. Up ti the two Yorkshire lad's to steady the ship.

[CoolClaret]

And first runs of the day with Bairstow getting off the mark with a four

Beaut cover drive that - normally a good sign

[Flying Without Ings]

Stokes may become a dilemma. He’s the captain and the man behind this new style (along with McCullum) but he rarely bowls now because of his knee and his batting has been patchy.

[alwaysaclaret]

Stokes may become a dilemma. He’s the captain and the man behind this new style (along with McCullum) but he rarely bowls now because of his knee and his batting has been patchy.

No idea what the problem with his knee is but maybe time to get it fixed, until he does he's probably only 75/80 % of what he should be, he clearly has a lot of strapping so not a minor thing. But in to 3rd morning still 129 behind, can't see us winning from this position.

[Ric_C]

Have probably missed it in dispatches, but i thought Archer would be close in this series. Is he injured again?

[jdrobbo]

Despite him playing for the White Rose county, this lad seems to have the lot. He’s going to the very top and for a long time, isn’t he?

Wonderful looking cricketer.

[jdrobbo]

Ps… if he gets out in the next 10 minutes, I really will admit to being the curse of all curses when it comes to cricket.

[daveisaclaret]

Not sure on the use of the word "despite" there as there has always been a correlation between being from Yorkshire and being good at cricket

[Bosscat]

Ps… if he gets out in the next 10 minutes, I really will admit to being the curse of all curses when it comes to cricket.

[jdrobbo]

Not sure on the use of the word "despite" there as there has always been a correlation between being from Yorkshire and being good at cricket

Now, Now, Dave…

[alwaysaclaret]

Here we go again, Cummins firing the bouncers in, and wouldn't you just know it, brooks is rising to it, jeez

[theduke]

Its absolute pathetic this

[ClaretTony]

And Brook gone - awful shot

[onewillieirvine]

Words still fail me.

[claretburns]

Ps… if he gets out in the next 10 minutes, I really will admit to being the curse of all curses when it comes to cricket.

Well that worked out well

[alwaysaclaret]

I just don't get it, it's actually as if we don't want this little urn

[jdrobbo]

8 minutes 🫣

[RVclaret]

Pathetic shot

[CrosspoolClarets]

Been a long time since I have seen such braindead batting from what are decent players.

Boycott shaking his head. Not the only one of us.

[DAVETHEVICAR]

Bairstow gone playing this crazy cricket against the best team in the World
Pope Root Duckett and Bairstow all out to dreadful shots
Can’t see us winning a Test against these Australian super team
Ok against mediocre sides but not against these
The Asnes are so important for 5 day Test cricket

[Lancasterclaret]

The tactics of Bazball are spot on, the players shot selection is bloody awful