The Ashes 2023

Inquitus

This could be an epic ashes series, seem pretty evenly matched.

Xander10

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120736124#Comment_120736124

He's done it

lbunnae

Great innings by Boland haha

kowloonkev

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120736213#Comment_120736213

He did really well in fairness. I think Australia should do it. All they need is one good partnership and they'll be in the home stretch. Khajawa is a rock.

lbunnae

It would be very ominous for England if they lose with Smith and Labuschange getting 35 from their 4 innings.

Inquitus

Well surely England would take it as a positive they just proved their plans and made a dent in both their averages?

dohboy

Think England will get this. Bit of weather around, and expect Jimmy to get in wickets if there's cloud cover. Think it'll be tight though. Cracking test.

Strumms

First session is going to be huge. England need to be on it from ball 1… the pitch is not currying favour with England bowlers.

Stuart Broad even in the middle of the test match he’s playing in took the unusual precedent of completely lambasting it in the media .

https://www.reuters.com/sports/cricket/broad-frustrated-by-soulless-edgbaston-pitch-2023-06-18/

It is very consistent regarding bounce and didn’t seem to have much pace, no bowler got much help out of it… the number of wickets falling to bad shots vs good deliveries, ok some were a mixture of both…but there are no demons…

In both English innings, only on 3 occasions did one of their batsmen make 50 plus runs. Lots of good solid starts…English lose it will be 100% the sense of ‘missed opportunity’ I think.

first session will be fascinating, England need a positive mindset though. Got to be on it from ball one, aggressive, reasonably attacking…got to make it difficult for the Australians, put pressure on, build pressure, doubt and unsettle.

I think England takes two wickets in the morning it’s par, three they have a slight advantage.

Australia put on 75 and just lose one wicket it’s really theirs to loose

one thing I stick with is the declaration by Stokes/England was dumb,, won’t matter if they win but if they lose Stokes will be lambasted… he’s already picked up loads of negative comments by the media far and wide for it …. Really seemed like a bravado statement as opposed to a properly considered and thought out approach…

when you have the likes of Michael Vaughan, an ex teammate, ex ashes winning captain completely lambasting the current England captain for this decision.

Furze99

Scotty Boland presumably will try and have a good thrash, take his chances and see if he can pile a few on before departing. A tail ender nightwatch like that can easily tip, bash & edge 20 runs off the total, with no pressure on them and luck. Could also be gone first few balls, a lot of pressure on Khawaja again either way. Head, Green & Carey all capable of big scores, so if they get past the first dozen/ twenty overs with limited loss - Aussies could sow it up comfortably. Seems likely a rain delay and presumably humid conditions initially when they do get going.

TrueDub

Lashing down in Bermingham this morning. Hoping for some play after lunch, but it's fairly grey there right now.

kowloonkev

Good news for me. Can finish up a bit of painting and enjoy the afternoon cricket.

Inquitus

The weather should be very favourable for the bowlers, would expect some decent swing, the bookies say:

Eng evens

Aus 7/5

Lionel Fusco

There might be no play at all lads.

Inquitus

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120738780#Comment_120738780

BBC - There's a smattering of spectators around the ground but the majority of them do not have their umbrellas up. The word is it will have totally stopped by around 12:30 BST. You sense there is still enough time to get a result here.

Seems hopeful.

Strumms

Rain has stopped and no more forecasted im reading but the same breaking news segment says there will be a significant cleanup as a lot of water is lying on the covers and outfield. Umpires are out without umbrellas apparently surveying the state of the situation.

obvious thing would be to take an early lunch and be ready.

Be nice instead of sky just rolling the highlights that they could be going back to the studio and let the info be shared when there is an update… ‘Day 5, start delayed’ is kinda just stating the obvious.

Inquitus

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120738950#Comment_120738950

Aye lunch is at 12:30

BBC - The covers are coming off

Good news! Some of the larger covers are being removed to cheers from the growing Edgbaston crowd.

Not too long to go now (hopefully!).

Xander10

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120738759#Comment_120738759

Bookies have the draw at big odds, so a win expected either way despite weather delays

Inquitus

Play to begin at 14:15 BST

Strumms

Play resumes…. Good first over by Anderson, on the money. Bit of swing from the get go and it’s a maiden. Continues in his second thick outside edge falls safe he has it going around corners here.

VillaMad

On any normal day, Australia should win this as the pitch isn't doing a whole lot and they have plenty of firepower to come.

The pressure of the situation however can do silly things.

Gillespy

Boland gone. Did his job well.

Strumms

Aussies still slight favourites but not much in it now.

Another wicket soon that all changes.

Royale with Cheese

It's gonna be a draw if Australia keep batting at this pace.

iffandonlyif

Another thing to lament about ‘Bazball’ is that Alastair Cook on TMS is commentating on Khawaja’s strike-rate as though it’s improbably slow. Cook, that’s test cricket!

Royale with Cheese

To be fair his strike rate is 31, it needs to be up near 50 for them to knock these runs off by the close of play. I know they're just biding their time but they'd want to get going eventually.

15 runs off the last 10 overs, a good portion of which were extras.

VillaMad

Ali squares up Travis Head. Super ball. 143-5.

Strumms

what’s the max number of overs left ? Several sources differ on their estimates.

Xander10

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120740268#Comment_120740268

35 overs

Strumms

Thanks, 47 from 103 balls on the screen. But loads of others saying different

so wickets needed yet he’s bowling Joe Root and when he’s bowling seamers he has one slip.

everything is adding to making this quite easy at the minute for Australia.

as I type, Green gone, a useful 28. Well bowled.

Xander10

Wicket!