Ashes Second Test

[kentonclaret]

Problem with Broad is that he thinks every single lbw is absolutely plumb. Must make it tough for the captain when it comes to the reviews.

I agree. If Stokes had reviewed all of Broad’s vociferous appeals where he looked convinced that he had got a wicket, England would probably have no reviews left, although they would have taken 1 more wicket.

[nil_desperandum]

Problem with Broad is that he thinks every single lbw is absolutely plumb. Must make it tough for the captain when it comes to the reviews.

Not really down to the Captain though, since he isn't in the best position.
For an LBW the second best view to the umpire is the wicketkeeper. It's another error by our "part-time" wicketkeeper.
Carey for the Australians has been almost flawless in this respect.
As I recall, Foakes is very good on these sort of decisions.

[Taffy on the wing]

..................ALL IS DROSS!.....................

[Quickenthetempo]

Not really down to the Captain though, since he isn't in the best position.
For an LBW the second best view to the umpire is the wicketkeeper. It's another error by our "part-time" wicketkeeper.
Carey for the Australians has been almost flawless in this respect.
As I recall, Foakes is very good on these sort of decisions.

Buttler was the best in the world on DRS reviews.

Bairstow has been superb with the gloves this Test. Give credit where's it due.

[TheFamilyCat]

Send Bairstow out with a GoPro and a live stream to Jos. Job done.

[FCBurnley]

Stokes clearly makes all the review decisions which as Captain he should. He got 2 right and one wrong.

[nil_desperandum]

Stokes clearly makes all the review decisions which as Captain he should. He got 2 right and one wrong.

Of course, but the key man who persuades him on an LBW is the wk (Usually not the bowler).

[Casper2]

Buttler was the best in the world on DRS reviews.

Bairstow has been superb with the gloves this Test. Give credit where's it due.

But not with the bat , which is why he was picked .

[Quickenthetempo]

But not with the bat , which is why he was picked .

Yeah, but his recent successes have been in chases. Let's hope that continues.

[timshorts]

Of course we have an answer to the short ball stuff......the ball isn't going to hit the wickets so don't even try to hit it. Let it go past harmlessly for a few overs, their bowlers will soon get physically tired of banging the ball in for no result. It's called test match cricket.

Maybe, but this is Australia that we are talking about. Their fall-back position is to bowl at people's heads - as that is what works well for them at home and they are good at it. That's what makes the ashes away series so mind-numbingly tiresome.

[kentonclaret]

Maybe, but this is Australia that we are talking about. Their fall-back position is to bowl at people's heads - as that is what works well for them at home and they are good at it. That's what makes the ashes away series so mind-numbingly tiresome.

Actually, a tactic first used by England in the Ashes Series Down Under of 1932/1933 (Bodyline Series) as a way of trying to combat the batting excellence of Don Bradman.

[Dark Cloud]

Maybe, but this is Australia that we are talking about. Their fall-back position is to bowl at people's heads - as that is what works well for them at home and they are good at it. That's what makes the ashes away series so mind-numbingly tiresome.

In fairness Tim you're only supposed to bowl 1 bouncer per over and after that it's a no ball which was specifically brought in to stop continuing bouncing which actually simply led to continuous leaving and was boring as hell. Maybe umpires need to toughen up and apply the ruling properly.

[nil_desperandum]

Excellent summary of the situation by Aggers (IMO)

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/66068007

[Clive 1960]

They have got to sit down at the end of this test match and and start asking is bazball for me because if we are going to go out there and bat the way we are and try and get 500 on day one and then bowl the other team out cheaply and then make them follow on do you think our bowling attack is going to be able to bowl again straight away personally I don't think so they are not getting any younger and need to rest there bodies especially Anderson and Broad who more than likely could call it a day at the end of the series.

[Taffy on the wing]

Excellent summary of the situation by Aggers (IMO)

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/66068007

Just about to post this!..........Watching Duckett from when he was on 80no, he seemed to be trying to get out..he can't pull the ball any better than me.... but he did it over and over until they got him out...why?

....unless you've bet on Australia to win.

[ecc]

Actually, a tactic first used by England in the Ashes Series Down Under of 1932/1933 (Bodyline Series) as a way of trying to combat the batting excellence of Don Bradman.

Indeed.

[Clive 1960]

I'm afraid we are looking down the barrel and need to play sensible cricket if we can to sneak a draw and move on to next week where i expect Wood to play for either Robinson or Anderson.

[Lord_Bob]

"Baszball" won't be looking for a draw. If we have to chase 450, we will try. Get used to it, gonna be some ugly shots being played and likely fail, but ... what is they did it???

[Ric_C]

A few things have alarmed me this test, but Pope's dismissal and Ben Duckett's interview have left me shaking my head.

[fatboy47]

Brainless cricket.

With any intelligence we'd be firmly in charge of this test match now.

Actually, scrub that.....we'd be firmly in charge of the series.

If I want to simply watch a lot of inept swiping I'll watch 20/20.

[Longsidelenny1882]

That is a fantastic post fat boy 47 upthecolne

[Quickenthetempo]

Excellent summary of the situation by Aggers (IMO)

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/66068007

You would think someone of Aggers experience would have realised we lost the first Test because of the bowling.
70 runs to get 2 tail enders out was plenty.

[Clive 1960]

And also a silly declaration on day one when Root was well set .

[nil_desperandum]

You would think someone of Aggers experience would have realised we lost the first Test because of the bowling.
70 runs to get 2 tail enders out was plenty.

I assume his point was that in our 2nd innings we should / could have totally batted them out of the game.
There were also captaincy deficiencies that contributed to that final stand with Cummins.

[Quickenthetempo]

I assume his point was that in our 2nd innings we should / could have totally batted them out of the game.
There were also captaincy deficiencies that contributed to that final stand with Cummins.

We would all do things differently at times as captain, but people should point them out rather than just slating BazBall.

[TheFamilyCat]

A few things have alarmed me this test, but Pope's dismissal and Ben Duckett's interview have left me shaking my head.

Absolutely. The "battle" he was referring to was one of egos rather than the battle of winning the game.

[Quickenthetempo]

And also a silly declaration on day one when Root was well set .

The two 6's Root hit, after being told he would declare probably took us to the total you would expect us to make if Root batted normally and they got to Bowl at our tailenders.
Not many would have declared but most know why he did.

The Aussies were big favourites to win every Test and the series with the bookies beforehand.

Stokes is trying things, some are just not coming off.

[Clive 1960]

The two 6's Root hit, after being told he would declare probably took us to the total you would expect us to make if Root batted normally and they got to Bowl at our tailenders.
Not many would have declared but most know why he did.

The Aussies were big favourites to win every Test and the series with the bookies beforehand.

Stokes is trying things, some are just not coming off.

Nothing as come off to be honest , they have been in the box seat in periods of both games just to throw it away against the no1 team.

[IanMcL]

If you play one day cricket, in a 5 day Test Match, you will often get 1 day results.

However the intention, there are times to play shots and times to hang in there.

[kentonclaret]

Very thick cloud cover and drizzle in the air again this morning. Perfect conditions for bowling.
Will England take advantage?

[daveisaclaret]

Ultimately what's happening here is we're behind in a test series against a team which is loads better than ours. We don't have the bowling to get 20 wickets against Australia in enough time to win the matches we've played. People may have their feelings about the approach to the game but I doubt they'd be any happier if we were seeing the same results, or even holding out for draws, while playing normal test cricket with the bat.

[TheFamilyCat]

Nothing as come off to be honest , they have been in the box seat in periods of both games just to throw it away against the no1 team.

Exactly this. It's not as if we've been bravely swashbuckling away while being hopelessly second best. We've got into good positions then blown them.

And "oh well, nobody expected us to win anyway" is the language of losers.

[Vino blanco]

Peterson in the Third Man pundit seat has just come up with an interesting stat...the player, who has played most defensive, blocking shots in the series so far is Khawaja: he is also the series top scorer and has spent more time at the crease than any other player. He wouldn’t get into the England team with that mentality, would he?

[gandhisflipflop]

I can’t understand why England are trying to bring in a twenty 20 style into test cricket. Test cricket imo is the greatest format of cricket and England don’t need to adopt this style for the sake of ‘more entertainment’

[Longsidelenny1882]

Our tactics this morning look like we are playing for a draw and try and stay in the series upthecolne

[Vino blanco]

Our tactics this morning look like we are playing for a draw and try and stay in the series upthecolne

I would be delighted with a draw.

[StayingDown4Ever]

I can’t understand why England are trying to bring in a twenty 20 style into test cricket. Test cricket imo is the greatest format of cricket and England don’t need to adopt this style for the sake of ‘more entertainment’

That’s just the way we play now!

[RVclaret]

I can’t understand why England are trying to bring in a twenty 20 style into test cricket. Test cricket imo is the greatest format of cricket and England don’t need to adopt this style for the sake of ‘more entertainment’

Well we’d won 11 of the last 12 tests…

[Rileybobs]

Well we’d won 11 of the last 12 tests…

Funny isn’t it. I can see the point that there are periods within matches where we need to adopt a different approach and we’ve certainly been guilty of not doing, but this approach will seemingly win us more matches than it will lose us as our record under McCullum and Stokes shows.

Who’s to say that we would be in any different a position had we plodded at 3 runs an over?

[CoolClaret]

Smith showing our ‘batters’ exactly how to play a pull shot

Regards to the style

No one is suggesting that we shouldn’t be aggressive

We’re suggesting playing the short ball like we did yesterday and the night before is just wreckless

[Newcastleclaret93]

Smith showing our ‘batters’ exactly how to play a pull shot

Regards to the style

No one is suggesting that we shouldn’t be aggressive

We’re suggesting playing the short ball like we did yesterday and the night before is just wreckless

Mental and illogical.

Our foot was on their throat playing solid cricket shots. All of sudden the entire batting line up decided to attack every short ball.

[Vino blanco]

Funny isn’t it. I can see the point that there are periods within matches where we need to adopt a different approach and we’ve certainly been guilty of not doing, but this approach will seemingly win us more matches than it will lose us as our record under McCullum and Stokes shows.

Who’s to say that we would be in any different a position had we plodded at 3 runs an over?

3 runs an over in a test match is not plodding.

[RVclaret]

Khawaja and Smith both fall to the hook shot.

[Vino blanco]

Anderson drops Travis Head on nought, then Smith out next ball.

[Newcastleclaret93]

I really like Tongue he looks a great addition to our test squad

[CoolClaret]

Smith showing our ‘batters’ exactly how to play a pull shot

Until now

Wow - I can’t believe how many batters have thrown their wickets away lazily taking on the short ball

[Newcastleclaret93]

Jimmy has dropped a couple of dolly’s this game

[Vino blanco]

Poor shots from both Khawaja and Smith, though they are 280 ahead with 7 wickets standing.

[Jamesy]

Jimmy has dropped a couple of dolly’s this game

He has. Fine margins.

[Rileybobs]

3 runs an over in a test match is not plodding.

What would you describe it as?