The Ashes 2023

Labuschagne and Marsh playing OK, can't imagine the rain will be away too long, critical these two stay together and Australia carry as many wickets into tomorrow as possible. It seems there will be play tomorrow but into the afternoon.

Anderson getting a warning for running across the wicket - pretty cynical.

They've settled in well and starting to knock it around. Labuschagne with an excellent century.

Huge deflection, massive, how did the umpire not see that… ? 😟

just when the win started drifting away from England …. Get another quick wicket and it could be doable.

Brook puts a difficult chance down, but a chance it was, certainly.

Yep, after playing so well - didn't really need to be hitting it either. Though with his eye in, trying to take whatever runs on offer.

True, that innings should stand to him heading to the Oval.

Something that baffles me about Cricket:

Bee obvious since Wed, that bad weather was expected over the weekend. Why dont they allow extra time over Days 1-3 to allow for this, and if the bad weather doesnt come (unlikely), finish early on Day 5?

Also slow over rates, supposed to be 15 pr hour, 90 per day........if the rates are too slow then 10 instead of 11 fielders for bowling side, or if the likes of Warner is taking off his gloves after every ball to waste time, then a 100 run penalty to batting side.

There should have easily been another 10 plus overs bowled over the 3 days

I think it was last summer they started earlier, but it was the days after the weather. If you know the weather is coming, an extra 30-45 mins * 3 days isnt much to ask, in the interests of getting a result, is it....and if the weather doesnt come Day 5 is shortened

Too much chat and field changes, ball by ball at times....its too much. The game can be sped up a bit. A team shouldnt have to bowl 30 overs of spin to make the rate, but if its 15 per hour, and 24/25 are bowled in a 2 hr session, then the rate is wrong or teams are slow playing too much....and its not just bowling teams.......batters walking down the pitch between balls is nonsense too

Slow over rates :

100 run penalty would be overly harsh. Extra time ? Difficult…. Lots of other people impacted by that.

Bowling side : absolutely agree about the fielders, tell them to lose one.

Batting side : a warning for slow play / delaying… 20 run penalty first warning, 30 run penalty second warning and so on….

no team representative is allowed onto the field of play during play accept a physio or doctor.

no unofficial drinks breaks. no glove changes… this extra glove change is tactical, gloves… drink… break… tactics update etc..

play - drinks - play - lunch - play - drinks - play - tea - play - drinks - stumps

it’s ridiculous at this stage..

the game is so stop start.

I think given that the Aussies will almost certainly chase down the England lead and make them bat again (if weather allows) then Stokes can't really be blamed for not declaring earlier. In hindsight at least, he wasn't wrong.

But surely delaying tactics are part & parcel of the test game and have been around a long time. It's suits the Aussies in the present match situation to slow things down a bit and limit their exposure. But you can be as sure as hell is hot, that Eng would be doing just the same is positions were reversed. You play with what you're presented with.

Then there's the issue of player safety which has come more to the fore. Wood et al decide to bowl bouncers and hit a helmet, there has to be a concussion and helmet check. Whereas previously it would be pick yourself up and carry on.

If a player is hit in the head yes, obviously it’s important to get it looked at but every niggle now where it seems the doctor, physio, 12th man and whoever else makes an appearance… players getting hit in the head is rare so it’s not going to impact.

tactics and piss taking are two different things. Too often play is being held up for silly reasons.

covers coming off but still a pretty grey sky. Hope Stokes has the nouse to go all out attack..

Don't think we'll get any play today tbh...

Whatever, but something needs to change. Limit batter glove changes etc.

But slow over rates are a joke. Make some change. Playing endlessly all day is tough on umpires for example who have to stand out there all day.

Yeah it’s absolutely chucking it down again. 2.10 pm now… it’s done Australia have the Ashes… the intensity of the rain you are talking a two and a half hour cleanup / setup at ‘best’… outfield will be waterlogged again….sorry IS waterlogged actually…just saw a pic…

Bad leadership here cost England the Ashes….

Should have forgotten about Bairstow’s ton….should have forgotten about posting a score of 8 runs shy of 600 ffs…..needed to be aware of the forecast.

But old matey Ben Stokes as captain… ? Piss poor…. A mega misjudgement for the ages… bad captaincy has cost his side the ashes…

I’ve said it before , in sport, the captain / management only need be loyal to one thing… the result and winning…. The captaincy… hmmm

Joe Root was way too conservative, now Stokes Billy big bôllocks thinks he can defy weather and let his mates score tonnes… what’s McCullums role here…. . ?