The Ashes 2019

BarryD2 · 04-08-2019 2:16pm

bilston wrote: »

Hard to know until Lyon bowls whether the wicket will be as hard to bat on as England may fear.

However showers are forecast from about 4pm today and tomorrow looks a washout until lunchtime.

I'd back a draw from here.

Another ton for Smith. He is incredible.

Two great innings from Smith, two great centuries. I wonder will the forecast come into play and how reliable is it.. If it holds true, maybe an acceleration now from Aus, declare when it starts to change and let Eng take their chances?

bilston · 04-08-2019 2:20pm

BarryD2 wrote: »

Two great innings from Smith, two great centuries. I wonder will the forecast come into play and how reliable is it.. If it holds true, maybe an acceleration now from Aus, declare when it starts to change and let Eng take their chances?

Australia would surely want a lead of 250-300 before declaring with a full days play left. They are still some way of that. So yeah they'd need to accelerate.

BarryD2 · 04-08-2019 2:30pm

bilston wrote: »

Australia would surely want a lead of 250-300 before declaring with a full days play left. They are still some way of that. So yeah they'd need to accelerate.

They won't want to lose from this position but I suppose the question is, do they want to win?

Adamcp898 · 04-08-2019 2:46pm

Plenty of time left for Aus to decide how they want to tackle this. they’ll bat the day at the very least and I can’t see England scoring 250 runs in a day on this pitch without taking significant risks.

Iirc, the win predictor had it at 75% for England when Steve Smith came to the crease yesterday and now we’re talking about how badly do Aus want to win.

namloc1980 · 04-08-2019 2:52pm

Smith is some player. Has complete control over his game. Australia in control of this now but a draw is most likely I think

BarryD2 · 04-08-2019 3:13pm

Two consecutive century partnerships is pretty convincing batting it has to be said.

BarryD2 · 04-08-2019 3:16pm

New ball - next ten overs or so will tell. If things go the way they are, surely Aus will see if Wade can get his ton and a lead of 300+, then head off?

padd b1975 · 04-08-2019 3:42pm

namloc1980 wrote: »

Smith is some player. Has complete control over his game. Australia in control of this now but a draw is most likely I think

Totally unflappable, apart from the loose swish that got him out.

SharpshooterTom · 04-08-2019 3:58pm

Wickets aren't easy to get on this pitch and they shouldn't be easy for Australia either if England bat sensibly, a draw is very realistic providing England don't behave like headless chickness.

Lyon's a good bowler but aint Warne or Murali. This is a slow pitch as well so plenty of time to see the ball.

If Matt Wade, a scrub test batsman who averages a paltry 28, has the look of getting a century then England really have no excuses.

cosatron · 04-08-2019 4:11pm

ThomasFlynn wrote: »

Wickets aren't easy to get on this pitch and they shouldn't be easy for Australia either if England bat sensibly, a draw is very realistic providing England don't behave like headless chickness.

Lyon's a good bowler but aint Warne or Murali. This is a slow pitch as well so plenty of time to see the ball.

If Matt Wade, a scrub test batsman who averages a paltry 28, has the look of getting a century then England really have no excuses.

In all fairness to wade, the captaincy and bowling from England is poor, like root is on for a bowl with a five over new ball, like wtf

BOHtox · 04-08-2019 4:17pm

I love cricket. When I was about 9, my family went on a family holiday to Chester in 2003. The cricket world cup was on and was on in all the bars we went in to for some grub and in the hotel bar etc. Everyone was getting mad in to it. Ireland Cricket wasn't even on people's mind at that stage. Then the 2005 ashes came and as a young lad off school I watched nearly every ball. Even hogging the radio on our family holiday in France to listen to it on Long Wave when we were driving places. Irish Cricket got big around 07 obviously with the qualification for the world cup. The ashes is different gravy though. One of the best events in the sporting calendar in any given year. The GAA is on today, as is the community shield but it's the ashes on in my gaf.

Obviously it's not a topic worth getting in to but we had Rankin, Morgan and Joyce play for England. Even Porterfield tried but couldn't manage it. But we can produce good cricketers. Very good cricketers. I'm sure we have more people playing cricket now than we did at the time Stirling and Morgan etc started playing. So you'd think the chances of us producing world class players is higher.
It's a pity the world cup is reduced to 10 teams as even 12 would have had us there and the public would have been exposed to the sport and more people play.

It would be great if we could establish ourselves in the 8th to 10th best test cricket nation in the world, fair enough we're a bit away from that. Would be great if every so often we had a 3 match series against England the nation could get behind, a mini ashes so to speak and we were even somewhat competitive.

Similarly if Scotland and the Netherlands could push on it would be great for cricket in Europe. This T20 series between the 3 is a great step forward.

SharpshooterTom · 04-08-2019 4:17pm

cosatron wrote: »

In all fairness to wade, the captaincy and bowling from England is poor, like root is on for a bowl with a five over new ball, like wtf

Broad is probably f*cking knackered with England being a bowler down since the morning on day 1.

And with Ali's figures being 107-1 I can't blame Root for turning to the part timers.

BarryD2 · 04-08-2019 4:25pm

ThomasFlynn wrote: »

Wickets aren't easy to get on this pitch and they shouldn't be easy for Australia either if England bat sensibly, a draw is very realistic providing England don't behave like headless chickness.

Depends on how much play there is, doesn't it. Lead heading towards 300 very quickly. Another quick 50 and declare with an hour to have a go at Eng top order?

Another fine century, though Wade gave up a stumping chance at one stage didn't he.

BarryD2 · 04-08-2019 4:50pm

Wade falls - I wondered were they trying to make a third century partnership? Really dispiriting for any bowling attack. Surely Aussies must attack now for a few overs and declare.

BarryD2 · 04-08-2019 5:14pm

Surely Paine has to declare soon - not to do so would be cowardice

jobeenfitz · 04-08-2019 5:15pm

What time is cricket ending?

BarryD2 · 04-08-2019 6:08pm

Paine gone OTT and played too safe, should have stuck Eng in at least half hour ago. Outside fear of losing has overcome desire to win. Sad. Won't have any sympathy if they come up short tomorrow.

Guffy · 04-08-2019 6:12pm

Sorry for being a dunce but why wouldn't Australia want to win?

Adamcp898 · 04-08-2019 6:15pm

A little late alright in declaring but, on the plus side of it, by posting an entirely unachievable total we get to see all the odd fields resplendent with slips, a gully, and several silly individuals because they don’t have to worry about giving up runs.

Inquitus · 04-08-2019 6:43pm

It's all set up for the inevitable England collapse tomorrow now, unfortunately. Smith is some talent, he has singlehandledly put his team in a position to win this match.

Strumms · 04-08-2019 6:45pm

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....

Inquitus · 04-08-2019 6:49pm

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.

jobeenfitz · 04-08-2019 7:09pm

BarryD2 wrote: »

Paine gone OTT and played too safe, should have stuck Eng in at least half hour ago. Outside fear of losing has overcome desire to win. Sad. Won't have any sympathy if they come up short tomorrow.

Everybody prob right, more than likely too consertive by Aussies. If England's top order take shine off ball and England Batted very well and we're 240 or 260/3 ish at tea time, people might say, mmm, shuda batted longer.

Maybe he shuda declared earlier but as captain he has a lot more to weigh up. Some of England's batsmen can score fast.

BarryD2 · 04-08-2019 7:16pm

Guffy wrote: »

Sorry for being a dunce but why wouldn't Australia want to win?

It's more a question that the fear of losing seems to have outweighed the desire to win. They could have declared with a c 340 lead in & around 5pm and had 20+ overs against Eng at close of play. Instead Paine has played safe, staying longer at the crease, scoring more runs that he needs, just to put the loss out of the equation. Bit like Trappatoni's tactics for our soccer team when he was about

But who knows, cricket can throw up all sorts of improbable results. If they get a full days play tomorrow, Aussies still have a reasonable chance of securing the 10 wickets. Eng will have to balance batting too defensively against being a touch too reckless, so will require a lot of patience on their part. Eng could also throw caution to the winds for a while and go for it, with attacking fields they could score boundaries easily, but always with the chance of losing wickets...

nice bit of green · 04-08-2019 7:48pm

So an English win at a ground they expected to win at is nigh on impossible so Australia is doing well. They get a draw at worst, although i’d love to see a winner tmw either way. Decent start from Oz. Smith is quality.
I have expressed boredom at test cricket in the past, and surely will do so in the future, but the ashes has been off to a flier. Impossible to pick a winner thus far.

cosatron · 04-08-2019 8:05pm

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

WishUWereHere · 04-08-2019 8:12pm

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....

Maybe there is no chance of a result in this Test anyhow, I believe the weather is awful for tomorrow around Birmingham. Perhaps that's why the Aussies decided on batting so long?

Edit: BBC forecast for Birmingham tomorrow: https://www.bbc.com/weather/2655603

Strumms · 04-08-2019 8:28pm

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.

Strumms · 04-08-2019 8:36pm

WishUWereHere wrote: »

Maybe there is no chance of a result in this Test anyhow, I believe the weather is awful for tomorrow around Birmingham. Perhaps that's why the Aussies decided on batting so long?

Edit: BBC forecast for Birmingham tomorrow: https://www.bbc.com/weather/2655603

Thanks, yeah going by that link the weather has improved greatly, look like any rain is extremely improbable.

Beasty · 05-08-2019 10:45am

It has the potential for a cracking day if England can buckle down in the first session

Adamcp898 · 05-08-2019 11:14am

Burns done by a bit of extra bounce. Caught up on him and couldn’t get out of the way of it.

Could be a cracking day alright.

Strumms · 05-08-2019 11:16am

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.

Strumms · 05-08-2019 11:26am

Jesus 12 excellent overs so far from an Aussie point of view. On point each delivery with line and length and fast too. Even singles looking difficult now to get.

Hodors Appletart · 05-08-2019 11:57am

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

very bad calls in this test

BOHtox · 05-08-2019 11:58am

Two dreadful calls this morning tbf

Adamcp898 · 05-08-2019 11:58am

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.

Hodors Appletart · 05-08-2019 12:01pm

...and the umpire gets done by root there he made no attempt to play that shot

Strumms · 05-08-2019 12:08pm

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.

Adamcp898 · 05-08-2019 12:16pm

Strumms wrote: »

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.

Yeah it’s something I can’t recall him doing as much of before the World Cup. In the shorter forms you sometimes see the umpires getting a bit more involved and relaxed with their attitude which I think is fair enough but I think he’s carried the habit with him. You’re seeing him point to the leg side the odd time now whenever he feels the ball is slipping past the wickets on leg before calls.

All that said, I don’t have a massive issue with it myself.

Dave0301 · 05-08-2019 12:18pm

Poor by Roy there.

Adamcp898 · 05-08-2019 12:19pm

Jason Roy forgot he was playing a test match too......

VillaMad · 05-08-2019 12:19pm

Dear oh dear, Jason Roy. What was that?

Strumms · 05-08-2019 12:27pm

Adamcp898 wrote: »

Yeah it’s something I can’t recall him doing as much of before the World Cup. In the shorter forms you sometimes see the umpires getting a bit more involved and relaxed with their attitude which I think is fair enough but I think he’s carried the habit with him. You’re seeing him point to the leg side the odd time now whenever he feels the ball is slipping passed the wickets on leg before calls.

All that said, I don’t have a massive issue with it myself.

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.

Strumms · 05-08-2019 12:30pm

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.

VillaMad · 05-08-2019 12:40pm

Terrible review by Denly. It was a thick edge.

Can't see England surviving the day, Australia are bowling too well.

Adamcp898 · 05-08-2019 12:45pm

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”.

BOHtox · 05-08-2019 12:49pm

Is that Kumar Sangakkara commentating? Very impressed by him.

Strumms · 05-08-2019 12:53pm

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.

BarryD2 · 05-08-2019 12:57pm

Eng in deep doo-daa now - only weather can save them, you'd think at this stage.

cosatron · 05-08-2019 1:03pm

BOHtox wrote: »

Is that Kumar Sangakkara commentating? Very impressed by him.

Yea. His excellent. Very insightful

The Ashes 2019

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