The Ashes 2023

Big call as if he bombs it will be on the selectors / management.

Wood had an average Ashes in Australia in 21/22, taking 17 wickets actually I’m reading… but never exactly owning his opposition. He’s an ok bowler. Only averaged 3.4 wickets per test. Needs to be averaging that per innings.

Problem is the big guns didn’t fire, two aging frontline bowlers. Wood doesn’t step up he’s not that quality.

Ali & Root bowled 69 overs between them in the first test…. That can’t happen… you can’t rely on part time bowlers to that extent and expect results … Broad and Anderson 83.1…. So only 14.1 overs in the difference over a test between say your A team and D team…

I think the English bowling lineup post Ashes will see Anderson & Broad call it quits. I’d have sacrificed Broad before this series. Have Anderson bowl three four over spells a day plus three over spells either side of lunch. Manage him.

England win the toss again, they will bowl, ideal bowling conditions for their attack. Seems Australia bringing in Starc for Boland though I think Boland would bowl well here certainly if the conditions persist.

Chances few and far between then Pope drops Warner.

not a gimme, an awkward height and it went fast off the edge but Pope never seemed set…. Might have been better trying to make a one handed grab. Got himself in a bit of a mess.

run rate is certainly conservative but the English bowlers not causing too many problems for the watchful Aussies…. Some swing certainly but the wickets column is still reading zero.

not a great start from tongue, letting usman release a bit of pressure. gone for 24 off 3 overs

That was needed big time. Very good delivery but not a shot / leave Khawaja will look back at with any pleasure…

would have been a real downer for the English to finish the session wicketless.

Tongue got the wicket but he’s been real expensive…

96/2. tongue gets his 2nd. warner gone for 66. odd that both were bowled

Wonder how serious the injury to Pope is ?

looked like his shoulder or upper arm… not as if a runner can mitigate that problem..

That's the second bizarre umpire call today in favour of England. Never looked LBW in a million years.

Look at the English bowlers…

Tongue - looks good, fast - medium, consistent. Constantly challenging the batsmen.

Anderson - Medium / medium fast, swinging it, but looking pretty playable. Doesn’t have the electric threat but not going for many.

Broad - hitting a reliable enough line, length, but not causing any difficulty to the batsmen. Bowling some deliveries under 80mph.

Robinson - just not threatening

Stokes - looks injured / knackered. 3 overs one was a maiden and conceded 21 off the other 2 overs.

Pietersen lambasting the England team, absolutely slating them. Their attitude…. Have to say I agree with him 100%.

Interesting stat.…every England seamer averages under 82mph aside from Tongue….

Still 24 overs due to be bowled today…and it’s 17.38 😒

Umpires happy for multiple glove changes, unofficial drinks stoppages.. and unnecessary interruptions and carry on …

Australia 288/3 with Smith and Head absolutely flying! Why isn’t Cummins declaring?? 🤔🤔

England's dibbly dobblers being put to the sword here. Anderson looking his age in back to back tests probably for the first time since he started his career.

You have to go back to 1989 to the last Ashes series where England failed to win a single test in a home Ashes series.

I wonder could a repeat be on the cards. If they don’t try do something about their bowling attack.

that said Root with a wicket, needs to be followed by another couple tonight. Another one, Root again 🤯 it’s all coming alive.

Time for the Aussies to declare... get 10 mins at the England openers 🙃