The Ashes 2023

VillaMad

England vs Australia

First Test - Edgbaston - June 16th-20th

Second Test - Lords - June 28th-July 2nd

Third Test - Headingly - July 6th-10th

Fourth Test - Old Trafford - July 19th-23rd

Fifth Test - The Oval - July 27th-31st

England squad: Stokes (captain), Ali, Anderson, Bairstow (wk), Broad, Brook, Crawley, Duckett, Lawrence, Pope, Potts, Robinson, Root, Tongue, Woakes, Wood

Australia squad: Cummins (captain), Boland, Carey (wk), Green, Harris, Hazlewood, Head, Inglis (wk), Khawaja, Labuschagne, Lyon, Marsh, Murphy, Renshaw, Smith, Starc, Warner

Furze99

Aussies looking really strong in both batting and bowling departments at the moment. Depth and resilience. Wouldn't be too surprised to see them whitewash England. This Bazball thing might well come crashing down.

VillaMad

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120708799#Comment_120708799

Indeed. Australia look even stronger than the last ashes which was a routine win for them. England's new approach has been a revelation but this a huge step up in class.

Their Bazball approach has been to get bowlers off their lengths and for the opposing captain to lose his head as the score spirals away in the distance, but I'd love to see how they can hit Boland out of the attack as he hits the same length time and time again.

On the opposite side, that Australian batting line-up just has big scores written all over it. Going back to the last Ashes in England, the big storyline was Archer coming us against them and now with him gone and Anderson and Broad another 4 years older, it looks a good deal less threatening than then. Bringing in Ali might make sense in the short-term but he has struggled previously against the Aussies and hasn't played a first class game in almost 2 years. Then Stokes looks like he has big problems with his knee and I'm not sure whether he will bowl at all, which means England have to change the nature of the side. Then you bring in the issues around the fitness of Anderson, Wood and Robinson.

Australia are big favourites for me due to their settled side. All they are questioning is whether to bring in Hazlewood or not which isn't an issue at all. England have to start quick in this series or Australia could get away from them. One way or another, it should be entertaining.

dohboy

I fancy England. I'd be scpetical enough about the Aussie batting line-up, outside of Smith and Labuschagne, in England at any rate. I expect they will target Moeen though, and that could be a big problem for England. I'm fully expecting it to be a wildly entertaining series and am suitably hyped.

selwyn froggitt

I've tickets for day 2 at Old Trafford, hope the series is still alive when I get there.

dohboy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120709731#Comment_120709731

I went to two days in Cardiff back in 2013. Great occasion but I couldn't hack the Barmy Army much more. Went to three days of the Headingly test against New Zealand last year and it was much more palatable while equally as raucous. They go much easier on the New Zealanders than the Aussies.

dohboy

Broad and Anderson starting on Friday.

https://twitter.com/ESPNcricinfo/status/1668982500884971522

Gillespy

I know there are people out there hoping Bazball finally gets exposed but I’m not one of them. Always have to give Australia a chance but it’s basically the same side that only drew four years ago and they’re coming up against a settled confident team playing unbelievable cricket this time.

England last time were a shambles with Roy opening, Denly no 3 and Anderson out after only bowling four overs. Root and a prayer basically. Cameron Green is a significant addition and Carey over Tim Paine improves them a lot as well. Should be a fantastic series

VillaMad

First morning of the Ashes.

Hazlewood and Boland are marking out their run-ups which looks like that means they are leaving Starc out. I can understand that as although Starc can take wickets on the flattest pitches, he can be expensive. Hazlewood hasn't bowled a whole lot this year, but then England have the same issue on their side.

Looks a bat first pitch although Stokes like his England side to chase in the fourth innings.

Lionel Fusco

England win the toss and bat first God I love the Ashes here's hoping for an Australian whitewash victory🤞

MFPM

Nice toss to win for England, big chance for their openers to get some confidence early on and Crawley needs runs.

Big call to leave Starc out given Hazelwood hasn't played much. Big calls for England too, not convinced going back to Mooen is right but perhaps they had no choice.

Australia should win - better balanced team but it could be a really good series.

MFPM

First blood to Australia Duckett goes for 12. 'Aggers' and ' Tuffers' losing the run of themselves after three England boundaries! 🤣

Gillespy

Very good start by England. Runs and little damage but more importantly they’re exerting themselves and their philosophy. Scoring quickly off all the bowlers with relative ease.

MFPM

Australia already regretting leaving out Starc I'd say. They're too defensive though nothing in the pitch for the bowlers - even Stokes wasn't tempted to put the opposition in as he normally does..

MFPM

Poor bowling by Australia, Crawley under no real pressure.

Luckycharms_74

Has anyone got any help hw to listen to BBC 5live or 4LW for the audio commentary?

I have a premium sub for VPNunlimited but it's buffering this year, all other years were perfect. Damn BBC and their geoblocking 😣

MFPM

There's a 'listen to TMS overseas' link on BBC website- top of the live reporting page that works in Ireland

MFPM

Pope gone, Australia needed that.

cosatron

Kevin Peterson is insufferable on commentary.

Strumms

Pitch looks super batsman friendly.

the one wicket fell courtesy of of a bad shot. As I type, so does the second. No idea why Pope played that shot. Maybe thought it pitched outside leg which I initially thought myself but he’s gone…

looks like if England keep up this positivity they’ll have about 130 on the board by lunch.

going along at just a shade under 5 per over.

dohboy

Might turn on TMS while Captain Turncoat is on Sky 🤮

Lionel Fusco

Crawley gone now losing 3 wickets on that pitch is pretty poor tbh

VillaMad

Crawley gets a jaffa from Boland and gloves it to the keeper. Umpires not had the greatest of mornings somehow didn't give it out on the field.

So for all England's quick scoring and Australia's defensive fields, it hard not to argue that it hasn't been Australia's morning since that pitch is quite flat apart from maybe 2 or 3 deliveries. It looks to me to be a 450-500+ pitch and the Australian bowlers are so good that they always find a way to get a wicket.

Lionel Fusco

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120722160#Comment_120722160

Absolutely disgraceful umpiring for the third wicket it was clear as day and even the second one was pretty obviously out as well.

Strumms

True, it’s a featherbed. 124 runs, scoring is easy, but to ship 3 wickets and in the manner they were lost, on that pitch.

Crawley wicket was weird I’d have put money on him scoring a ton. He looked unstoppable… don’t know if he lost focus but what did he have to gain playing at that delivery ? Just hung the bat out there and it must have been about 8 inches away from finding the middle of his bat…

MFPM

Important wicket that for Australia, Brooke was playing more aggressive and trying to push the rate on.

Lionel Fusco

Brook gets away with being dropped but that obviously used up all his good luck considering the farcical way he got out off the hip up in the air and down onto the stumps!

MFPM

And another one, Stokes gone and a wasted review!

Strumms

Big hour this.

england need to get 320/330 on the board

martingriff

So much a Stokes battle as per Sky

Luckycharms_74

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120721940#Comment_120721940

Thanks for that. I thought I used that in the last but didn’t have it bookmarked. I do now

Lionel Fusco

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120722663#Comment_120722663

Looked a walking wicket the minute he came out.

dohboy

Stokes batting average as captain must be terrible, he's been poor for a stretch now. Add in that his knee looks banjaxed and it's debatable how much he can bowl, he's evolving into Mike Brearley.

Gillespy

Bairstow picking up where he left off.

Royale with Cheese

I thought giving Stokes the captaincy might be too much for him. He doesn't bowl anymore, can't seem to bat lately and now doesn't play ODIs either. This guy has been their best player for years.

His captaincy has been a big success to date but if that dries up too will they start asking questions about him?

dohboy

I can see him retiring after this series anyway. His body is breaking down.

iffandonlyif

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120722012#Comment_120722012

Morgan? Christ, you’re pathetic.

y0ssar1an22

Broad just gone for 16. 350 for 8

MFPM

Enthralling day so far, England started strongly, Australia were too defensive and leaving Starc out was a mistake. They fought back well but the partnership between Bairstow and Root was excellent. England should get 400 now, Australia will be under pressure but it's a good batting surface and you have to think Smith and Labuschagne should get be able to score big on this pitch.

Gillespy

Root is a pleasure to watch, particularly against spin. No one makes it look easier I think.

Xander10

Didn't expect the declaration

iffandonlyif

I really can’t understand that declaration on a historically flat pitch. Do they think their total is more imposing than it is? At least go out swinging and pick up another few runs.

Royale with Cheese

I'll never get these declarations. His best batsman was at the crease and scoring with ease, if he'd just said hit out how many could they have got before the close and possibly still been there tomorrow morning. He's given that up for what, 4 overs at Australia tonight on what is supposed to be a fairly placid pitch?

byronbay2

Bit of hubris by Stokes there: crazy declaration!

I hope the Aussies go out and score 600 tomorrow!

lbunnae

Can't understand that declaration at all.

Gillespy

It is what it is, Stokes said he was going to do it and he did. His calls haven’t been too wrong so far.

What will be more concerning for him is how easy that little session was. Gambling Broad getting Warner cheaply but having no pace to deal with the rest could bite them.

Lionel Fusco

I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks the declaration was insane. Why not bat out the last 4 overs???? What possible advantage did they get? Australia are 40 odd runs closer than they should be. Just bat out the day ffs

lbunnae

Just did it to be different and edgy.

Gillespy

Having a short spell before stumps is a well established tactic. Gives them two shots with the new ball. Didn’t work this evening, might work in the morning. On a flat pitch, it was worth a shot. Crowd going, Broad to Warner it would have been amazing cricket.

It’s very rare to be arguing about declaring too early. Nice change.

Strumms

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120723759#Comment_120723759

Nutsville. A sub 400 declaration…. Stokes acting like a billy big bôllocks is all that was. Literally nothing tangibly gained from doing it in the current match scenario …misplaced bravado is my thinking. Joe Root 118* and playing absolutely superbly, but no, declare. Literally zero logic to that declaration…

if he has 3 young 88-92mph quick bowlers and a wicket taking spinner on a bowler friendly pitch, you’ll say… “ ok, risky but have at it “. Some logic to that mindset, maybe. He doesn’t have that luxury. He has an aging, slow, predictable pace ‘attack’… on a pitch offering SFA.

his spinner IS a 36 year old not very prolific all rounder. 195 wickets in 64 tests… so that’s an average of 3 wickets per test, 1.5 wickets per innings . Coupled with a batting average of 28, it’s a peculiar selection . Almost like he was selected to chip in with the possibility of a bonus 25 runs down the order..

bat out the last 4, take the runs and get bowled out tomorrow.…440 all out is a lot better then 393/8d

Furze99

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120723794#Comment_120723794

Seems the most likely explanation. If it works, he'll be hailed a genius. If it doesn't, then historically stupid!