2025-26 Ashes

47 overs bowled in two sessions. Was there a delay, just ridiculously slow, or is the night session longer in a day/night match?

This looks like a great opportunity for Root to get his elusive century in Australia. 29 needed.

Two wickets in 4 balls...England were going along broadly untroubled.

Nice century by Root.

Now the English can badger us all with something only they were obsessing over.

Root gets his century, hard fought knock. Starc has 6, Australia so reliant on him without Cummins and Hazelwood..

Terrible bowling by Australia, had the opportunity to keep England under 300, but bowling rubbish at Root and Archer on 28 off 19 balls..

It's not really slow if there's no spinners is it?

Surely they're looking at a wtc points deduction. 74 overs with only 9 wickets falling and no long delays for injuries. Pink ball test of course is when they could say you have to bowl the 90 overs, no matter how long it takes.

the over rate is a disgrace, if a member of the fielding team picks up a run the mill injury there shouldn’t be any on field treatment. 12th man should be in the stand, fully ready for action and the injured player leaves immediately for treatment or leaves to be permanently replaced.

I think a major issue there was the weather. Around 30°, so what should happen is in advance an extra mini drinks break added to each session once temperature goes 26°+. But literally just enough time for each player to neck a bottle of water, change gloves / shirt if required and dry themselves. 3/4 minutes…. That wouldn’t be a big deal a DRS review and subsequent change of batsman might take roughly the same time.

Losing 16 overs in a days play for no good reason ? 😵‍💫🤦🏻‍♂️….almost 18% of the scheduled overs not bowled , wtf, umpires, players come on the fukkk, stop short changing people.

be interesting to see how long Root and Archer can hang about for and how many they can put on. Also be interesting to see if England can manage to create a first innings lead…. Interesting test so far….

Guerilla Cricket is available online. Witty and knowledgeable punditry.

Saw an interview with Nathan Lyon now that was recorded just before play on day 1 with a domestic broadcaster and a very savvy reporter asked him when he found out he’d been dropped and what his reaction was. He said he found out 20 minutes after getting to the ground that morning and he described his own reaction to that decision as ‘filthy’. He was still filthy going by his attitude in the interview 😵…. That and the rest of the chat quite direct and candid from Lyon….. wonder is there a bit of an issue behind the scenes beyond being dropped that he felt the needed to be so frank..

90% of the time, “ well there is great competition for places, but naturally disappointing to not to get the nod as I love playing for Australia and…. “

After very slow start, Australia moving along now, scoring around 5 an over, Weatherald getting some runs.

Aussies cruising... scoring quickly.. rate is 5.71 an over… inexperienced Weatherald with 50 off 45.. been far too easy for Australia.. England bowling poorly.. 17 off Carse's 5th over, desperate... Cook rightly very critical on comms, Aussies throwing the bat at anything short / wide of which there is plenty… run rate 6 an over now.. jeez ..

Big wicket for England, Stokes having being knocked around the park gets Labuschagne who was batting well. Aus 138 behind.