The Ashes 2023

MFPM · 13-07-2023 01:38PM

It looks like Bairstow is here to stay, they are obviously banking on him getting fitter as he plays each match though even fitter he's simply not as good a keeper as Folkes, if he keeps dropping catches and England lose the series they may regret it, though it should be said Root has dropped quite a few easy catches and hasn't received the amount of criticism as Bairstow.

Interesting to see if Warner plays at OT, I suspect he will though he doesn't merit based on form, not just in this series for a while now. He intended to retire at the SCG test next year, but there's been speculation he might announce his retirement at the end of the series. If he fails at OT and the Oval hard to see him playing against Pakistan never mind making it to January 3.

Strumms · 14-07-2023 01:38PM

England have to win to win back the Ashes.

lose this test , they’ve lost the series and the ashes, draw and the best thing they can do is draw the series in the last test… Either scenario sees the Australians going back with and retaining the Ashes. So you want your best team. England have to win !

Bairstow hasn’t and isn’t performing with the bat or gloves. So simple sporting / cricketing logic at this stage … going into the fourth and absolutely crucial test, must win test, you pick a player in form…. Ben Foakes… to replace the guy not in form.

if I’m an Aussie bowler I’d be licking my lips at the prospect of Jonny Bairstow coming down the steps to bat….he wouldn’t even have his helmet on and I’d be screaming for an extra slip, short fine leg and another close fielder.

This simply has to come off. If it doesn’t the faux captains sheet of ‘bazball’ and the results will be turned against him ….

Don’t forget he lost the series vs South Africa, only drew with New Zealand…. He might be about to lose the Ashes. The victory in Pakistan seems a long time back now.

Gillespy · 14-07-2023 02:04PM

Only drew away in New Zealand. You must know that’s not a bad result. And considering the manner they lost the game there as well, one run.

England won the South Africa series 2-1. Beat NZ at home 3-0. Beat India to finish the series from the year before 2-2. What they managed to do in Pakistan was nothing short of remarkable. The two games they lost in this series were super close and could easily have gone the other way.

And to put all that into perspective, before Stokes and McCullum took over England won one out of 17. Yeah I don’t think there’s chance of ripping up the game plan and starting again if they don’t win the Ashes.

Strumms · 14-07-2023 08:25PM

Yeah they won Vs SA … my memory, 🙈 it was the T20s they lost…

I think ripping up the gameplan is one thing, but certainly tempering it, becoming a bit more savvy to the match situation….

England are still ranked above NZ in tests …..so you’d really envision a victory especially with the aging NZ bowling attack… most of them are in the early to mid 30’s. NZ pitches encourage good scoring, so. ..🫣

MFPM · 17-07-2023 10:38AM

Anderson replacing Robinson the only change for England. Ali listed to bat at 3.

Dr. Bre · 17-07-2023 03:47PM

weather forecast not great for the weekend .

Strumms · 17-07-2023 09:21PM

Yes it’s not looking brilliant in terms of there probably being enough cricket to get a result. My guesstimate in terms of play on seeing the forecast.

Wednesday … 4 hours

Thursday … full day

Friday … 4 hours

Saturday and Sunday, at present look like a major write off, probably zero play. Hourly forecast suggests when there is a break in the rain the cleanup time between showers won’t leave time for play. youd do well to get a second innings started. You sure as heck won’t get 4.

So England regaining the Ashes looks like an even tougher get…. Shame as the momentum they regained pulling it back to 2-1 really had the series set up very nicely, regardless of what outcome you were rooting for.

hopefully that forecast changes somewhat.

Gillespy · 18-07-2023 04:56PM

Australia make a couple of changes, out go Murphy and Boland and in come Hazlewood and Green. Bit negative isn’t it. Playing for the draw batting that deep and hoping a lot of the last two days are lost.

VillaMad · 18-07-2023 06:13PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120867519#Comment_120867519

I think I can understand it on that basis. A conventional pitch won't probably come into the equation that much if there is lots of rain as that would lessen the importance of having a spinner on days 4 and 5. They are probably looking at England naming their oldest bowling attack since 1928 I think and just hoping to pile the overs into their legs with that really deep batting line-up.

It will be interesting to see what the pitch will be like. I imagine with rain around over the 5 days that it will be overcast for long periods.

MFPM · 18-07-2023 06:21PM

I think Cummins happy with all seam attack, but Smith, Head and Labuschagne can bowl some spin. If Lyon was fit he'd play, I don't think they fully trust Murphy yet. Boland really hasn't delivered, he's been OK but not really threatening.

Strumms · 19-07-2023 12:46AM

OT

50% - team batting first wins

30% - team batting second wins

20% - draw

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120864422#Comment_120864422

Weather has improved tomorrow but still looking iffy if a result is attainable……

kowloonkev · 19-07-2023 10:52AM

England win toss again!

Iwastimthe · 19-07-2023 11:24AM

Usman Khawaja gone for 3!

MFPM · 19-07-2023 11:26AM

They really should consider changing the toss in Test Cricket. Either the away team gets choice or else they toss at first match and then simply rotate a la tennis.

Khawaja gone early, good boost for England.

Furze99 · 19-07-2023 12:22PM

Better from Warner but not a hugely solid start from Aussie opening. Smith had better get his shy*e together here or he'll land big pressure again on middle order.

Strumms · 19-07-2023 01:08PM

Neither side with an advantage at lunch...

Aussies lost two wickets but scored a good number of runs.....they'd have taken that before play probably..

VillaMad · 19-07-2023 01:08PM

First session to Australia. England sort of forced to bowl first due to the weather forecast but it's been a decent toss to lose for Australia and they have looked confident for most of the morning.

kowloonkev · 19-07-2023 01:23PM

If one of these two gets a century plus you'd feel that'll do it for retaining the Ashes with the forecast as it is.

MFPM · 19-07-2023 01:52PM

Australia marginally ahead at lunch, England would have hoped for one more wicket. They need inroads in the afternoon, if Australia batting at stumps with a few wickets in hand, it would be a tall order for England to win given the likely weekend washout that seems to be on the cards.

Gillespy · 19-07-2023 02:04PM

Wood gets Smith by way of a review. Goodness knows why it wasn’t given by the umpire.

dinorebel · 19-07-2023 02:12PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120870758#Comment_120870758

Yep didn't seem to be any doubt at all.

Mysterypunter · 19-07-2023 02:15PM

Batting time is a dying art, probably more exciting but slogging a quick 20 is the norm now, fred boycott on twitter wouldn't be impressed

Strumms · 19-07-2023 02:24PM

Wood was apoplectic that wasn’t given on the field he was convinced.

don’t like seeing that… Wood hits Head on the helmet… over with an apology and a tap on the shoulder to see if he is he alright.

too much of that in modern cricket…. The Merv Hughes, of this world would just have ambled back to their mark…same again..maybe a comment “fancy another ?”

Strumms · 19-07-2023 03:29PM

Fûck me. What a review. That looked like it had zero going for it in real time. Much needed by England. Need more now.

VillaMad · 19-07-2023 03:32PM

Boy did England need that and just before the tea break.

Only 46 overs bowled today so far and we are almost at tea. I know the game has changed now somewhat with DRS slowing things down and cricket in general is more attacking which delays things a bit more, but it's getting out of hand.

MFPM · 19-07-2023 03:33PM

Labuschagne will be disappointed with that having just got to 50. England struggling for wickets, Wood getting no movement, Anderson as he has shown all series, tries but very ineffective.

Head could take game away from England if he gets going.

Burkie1203 · 19-07-2023 04:08PM

Awful from Head

MFPM · 19-07-2023 04:10PM

Head gone now, 4 batsmen getting decent starts but none getting a big score. 1/2 more wickets and England will feel their in control.

VillaMad · 19-07-2023 04:54PM

Key innings by Mitch Marsh again here and Australia have now brought up 250.

Burkie1203 · 19-07-2023 05:02PM

Marsh needs to go big here and Carey needs to stick around

The Ashes 2023

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