The Ashes 2019

Strumms wrote: »

The late declaration is a pretty poor mistake. England chase 398 ? Nooo, chase 350 ? Noooo chance so what the fûck is the Aussie captain and management team doing wasting scores of overs, they should have set a realistic target 320 say and got stuck properly into England tonight. If England were 70-3 tonight at stumps Australia are thinking....we fancy this, and they should. But as a cricket fan they have pissed me off....

Agree 100% declaration was way too late if chasing a win, an England collapse remains a possibility, but they could have easily declared, as you say, leaving England with a nominal 320-350 and had a good go at them tonight.

Before the test I had this marked down as an easy England win as this aussie group haven't won in edgebaston since 2001 and at 122/8 it looked only a matter time and now we have lads giving out cause of the big declaration. I say the Aussies are delighted, it's a ground they hate, they got spanked in the world cup so to get a draw at worst is a great result with a fresh Mitchell starc to come in

cosatron wrote: »

Before the test I had this marked down as an easy England win as this aussie group haven't won in edgebaston since 2001 and at 122/8 it looked only a matter time and now we have lads giving out cause of the big declaration. I say the Aussies are delighted, it's a ground they hate, they got spanked in the world cup so to get a draw at worst is a great result with a fresh Mitchell starc to come in

Yes, it’s pretty unlikely or extremely unlikely that Australia can loose. There is a chance although somewhat unlikely too that Australia could win. The Aussies are holding the cards, they know pretty much they can’t loose so they should just go out tomorrow and for the first hour ATTACK. If they can rattle out three English batsmen before lunch there will be nerves a plenty. I don’t think the English can do any more then say...”ok we’ll go out, throw the bat at it for 45 and put a few runs up hopefully no wickets down and see.

If it’s say 100-3 at lunch I think it’s game over, too risky to try and force the type of run rate needed from there. I’m all for risk and adventure but with 3 recognized batsmen left its suicide.

I think knowing Root he will be prepared to waste a couple early but after that it’s defend. The result puts a huge momentum to whomever wins IF anyone wins which is why going to bed tonight, the draw will be a comforting thought to both captains.

Still....if Anderson hadn’t had got injured and the rest of the lads were more potent here it was all England.

A real good shorter delivery to get rid of Burns, no too much he could have done aside from play attacking shot, seemed to misread the bounce like he thought it kept lowerthen the length suggested.

that second root review how has the upmire given that out it was a clear inside edge

very bad calls in this test

Umpires are just guessing LBW calls this whole test.

It’s as if they’re getting used to the technology being there to save them.

I don’t like the sight of Aleem Dar explaining to Nathan Lyon on the back of an ‘aggressive’ appeal why he didn’t give it out. Gesturing and explaining with his arms that a shot was being played and inviting a comeback from Lyon which he got. A shake of the head, not out, ignore any further interaction and if Lyon keeps at it, remind him where his match fee might be going.

Poor by Roy there.

Dear oh dear, Jason Roy. What was that?

VillaMad wrote: »

Dear oh dear, Jason Roy. What was that?

Rush of blood to the head, I can’t fathom what he was attempting to do, especially given how the game is poised...if England somehow should loose here I’d say there would be a few dirty looks his way.

Strumms wrote: »

By doing it he is setting a precedent, not just this match but the sport. If I’m an umpire colleague of his at home watching with a beer in my hand I’m shouting ‘Dar tell him to STFU’ knowing well that he is only putting pressure on the rest of his umpire colleagues. It’s not in the spirit of the game, I don’t like to see it, it’s not sporting. Umpire says no, get back to your mark and go again.

I think it could be part of the efforts to make Test cricket more of a spectacle for the viewer. Umpires arguably have a bit more name recognition already than they used to, and having them show their own personality could be seen as a way of adding an extra layer to it. You see something similar in rugby. I’d fall on the side that the referee/umpire should be as inconspicuous as possible and allow the game to hold its own but I’m sure there are others who feel differently.

Pure conjecture from myself with nothing to base it on I should stress, but the ICC have responded in other ways to the apparent decline in Test cricket interest outside the big 3 markets. They obviously can’t tinker too much with the rules otherwise it’s no longer Test cricket, but they can “borrow” some things from the shorter forms to try and make it appear more “modern”.

Adamcp898 wrote: »

I’d fall on the side that the referee/umpire should be as inconspicuous as possible and allow the game to hold its own but I’m sure there are others who feel differently.

Pure conjecture from myself with nothing to base it on I should stress, but the ICC have responded in other ways to the apparent decline in Test cricket interest outside the big 3 markets. They obviously can’t tinker too much with the rules otherwise it’s no longer Test cricket, but they can “borrow” some things from the shorter forms to try and make it appear more “modern”.

Truth, like any sport the umpires and officials are there to enable the game, enforce the rules and ensure fair play. Really to drag them into some kind of ‘entertainment role’ Not for me, the players have that responsibility.

As regards Lyon, I’ve listened to him being interviewed and seems like quite a nice guy, but I’m no fan of his on field persona.


England really needed to get to lunch only three down, yet another poor shot.

BOHtox wrote: »

Is that Kumar Sangakkara commentating? Very impressed by him.

Yea. His excellent. Very insightful