Yeah but unfortunately he has been proven right to an extent. England really have had the chance to kill them a few times but played really sloppy cricket and let it go. Before the series I thought that Australia were by far the superior team but over the three tests they have not been that great and really shouldn’t be 2-1 up
English cricket thread
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Yeah but unfortunately he has been proven right to an extent. England really have had the chance to kill them a few times but played really sloppy cricket and let it go. Before the series I thought that Australia were by far the superior team but over the three tests they have not been that great and really shouldn’t be 2-1 up
I entirely disagree, I think Australia would've performed miles better had they not been so negative.
Cummins was going at 5’s which is more than Boland and Marsh. And I think Murphy was trying too hard because he was acutely aware of the fact he wouldn’t get much margin to settle into his spell.
Fair play to Brook he really stepped up today,yes I know it wasn't a massive target but huge boost of confidence to get it without significant contributions from Root or Stokes
That’s a fair point but I meant more in terms of them relying on England being silly. Like I love Brook and he played so so well today but wtf was that shot he got out to. Just really frustrating that we don’t stamp them down properly when we are ahead
I don’t see any point in moving Ali up. He hasn’t got the defence to play against the new ball and it’s a waste of quick runs that could be gotten lower down. In situations like today, it was fine to give it a go because the openers had done well, but imagine losing a wicket in the first over and then it’s Ali coming out.
Bairstow could be given a shot if he’s staying in the team, or even Foakes, at least he seems to be a bit of a grinder which might work at three (probably not for Stokes though).
Ultimately, we have to start thinking of Stokes as a pure batsman, which means solving the number three from within this group of players, rather than bringing in someone like Lawrence, as I don’t see how it’s possible to drop anyone to make space. The most logical in terms of ability to play there is Root.
Can’t see Jimmy not playing at Old Trafford although he’s not been in the greatest of form in this series.
Random analytical angle to selecting Jimmy, when’s the last time he won an Ashes test?
2015 Ashes 3rd test.
Weirdly I don't think Jimmy has ever bowled at his best for England at OT. Not sure I'd be bringing him back in for the 4th test.
Pretty simple that England had the best conditions all test (and all series) and only just scraped a win.
Right now England are holding on by the skin of their teeth and Ben Stokes producing the goods. Without the latter, this series wouldn’t be a contest. It’s like Ole‘s United with Bruno.
The tears are so sweet
Bloody all the luck England. Ali couldn't bowl first test, Robinson couldn't bowl in this test, Pope couldn't walk in the second test. Leach out of the series. Complete fluke.
Enjoy your Sunday. I certainly am !
If England scraped a win today, what did that make Australia’s win in the 1st test?
If England play 4 seamers and Ali then Stokes has to bat at 3 for me.
Right now I am not sure Bairstow is adding much value with either bat or gloves
Right now I am not sure Bairstow is adding much value with either bat or gloves
Is this unusually late for the highlights not to be on iPlayer?
Can’t see that happening. I think it’s either going to be Root moving up or Bairstow will come in at 3
Lyon is indeed a huge loss.
But England would have won the first test with Wood. It evens itself out.
England have also lost Archer for the whole series, mind.
Or a fully fit Ali - potentially
That’s alright, I’ll just do a Baz special and claim the moral victory. Sounds very scouse mind you.
Even Anderson and Robinson haven't really been 100%, Pope's suffered a dislocated shoulder during a crucial test, while Leach and Archer have been ruled out. Woakes and Wood weren't available for selection until after the first test/second test and Stokes can't bowl.
Lyon is a big miss for Australia but it's one player they've had injured.
So whatever 'luck' England have had with overhead conditions doesn't really compute.
Only reason I want to see Tongue picked is because pace is halfway between Broad & Wood,however still don't see Jimmy missing out on his home ground in his final Ashes series
Another comedic post from an England hater.
It doesn’t count if anyone wins against England. We have to make lots of excuses when England win because it helps fit their narrative. How some people can be so bitter rather than appreciate great cricket is beyond me.
So what was the point in Murphy then? Lad bowled 9 overs... You can say it wasn't a spinners pitch, but there is zero chance Lyon is bowling only 9 overs if he's fit.
Pretty clear Cummins doesn't trust him (though you could argue he only really trusts himself and Starc...) but then what's he going to do? Just not bowl any spin?
Pretty clear Cummins doesn't trust him (though you could argue he only really trusts himself and Starc...) but then what's he going to do? Just not bowl any spin?
The Aussies didn't put enough on the board to warrant giving too many overs to him, in either innings, to be fair.
If they were defending a 350+ total, I'd have thought he'd get more overs in.
You think we see more of him at OT? I don't see him getting through anywhere near the work that Lyon does.
With England more than the runs you have to look at the overs. This team generally bats at best 80 overs so you have to use your spinner more to try & extend your seamers from the other end. It’s difficult though because Murphy obviously is new and could have been torn apart. Australia for me lost the test in session 2&3 on day 2. Letting England get those 95 runs and then batting in perfect batting conditions at like 2.5 an over while losing 4 wickets was brutal
It’s been a really close series, nip & tuck, each match so far little things have made the difference. I would say the Aussies are still favorites, their bowling & fielding in particular making the difference. But if England can keep Wood fit for the final 2 test he could be the difference.
Australia are still favourites for me, mainly because I don’t trust the weather to hold out for the results that England will need. It’s okay if the pitch is like Headingley, but clearly forcing a result at Lords or Edgebaston would have been really tough on those pitches if we’d have lost a day due to rain.
Doesn't feel like England have the courage to make the straight Wicketkeeper swap
I think it depends on a few things - if Aussies are defending a big total, I can see him getting a lot more overs. If it's like Headingley, he'll barely be used. But agree on your latter point - Lyon is levels above Murphy.
The 1st test England really should have won - they only have themselves to blame for losing it. Declaring on day 1 was such a dumb decision. Leach missed the series, but so has Lyon. It's not like Ali is some unheard of entity. The man has 200 test wickets! There's only 2-3 spin bowlers that have more for him than England.
This 'everything is against us' schtick from you England fans is so misplaced.
The 2-3 hours was what the test hinged on. If day 3 was a washout, you'd have imagined the Aussies would have put on a 2nd innings total and England would have made a good fist of chasing it.
You guys were lucky that the 2-3 hours of play we did get on day 3 was when it was overcast, and perfect bowling conditions.
But there's not much in it between the sides, and as I said yesterday, I'm glad the Ashes is still alive as a neutral watching.
We are going to have to agree to disagree on what you think was the crucial point in the match.
Agreed, doesn't seem like they will. If Stokes could bowl then you'd simply have Bairstow as a batsman, Foakes in for the injured Pope, and play one less bowler. But with Stokes as a specialist batsmen I think England need Ali+Woakes+ 3 bowlers for a balanced lineup.
They might not do it in the middle of the Ashes but I suspect after this series Foakes will be given the gloves permanently. Bairstow will have to compete with the other batsmen for a starting spot in the middle order, or volunteer to move to the tricky number 3 spot, or pack in red ball and play franchise cricket and International white ball. His batting record throughout his entire test career whilst keeping has been poor, yet seems like 5 or 6 times he's had the gloves taken away from him, then put in some good performances with the bat either in test or white ball, then he's given the gloves again, rinse and repeat. It just doesn't work.
As a neutral
Nothing against us mate. I literally said that's how it goes in reference to you saying everything was against the Aussies...
Anyway, will let you crack on.
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Yeah like you say almost certainly they won't be making that change until after Ashes
Eh?
Literally two or three posters have mentioned England's injury and fitness problems to counter the suggestion that Australia have had rotten luck in the series with the weather and losing Lyon to injury.
The point being that England have had their fair share of misfortune as well.
Not really what amounts to an 'us against them' siege mentality, is it.
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To be fair, I believe they're actually an Aussie, rather than one of the various inappropriately adversarial Indian supporters we have.