O/T:- The Ashes 2023

[LaughingMagpie]

Dry day with plenty of cloud cover could help us no end tomoz. Bout time we had a bit of luck in this test.

I take it you haven't seen the weather forecast.

[laddo]

Very entertaining from England.
I'd rather be Australia - predictable & winning.

That's what Australia have been pretty much since I first watched an Ashes test match thanks to a big cricket fan of a teacher at Junior school.

As for entertainment from the England cricket team? Well that's been a lot more variable and sporadic until recently. Oh and winning lots too. Great stuff.

[countygump]

I take it you haven't seen the weather forecast.

Errr, no. But I have now.

[Elite_Pie]

Why do we make their task easier by bowling so many no balls?

Australia bowled 4 in two innings, we've bowled 23 so far!

[Mark_Ross]

Why do we make their task easier by bowling so many no balls?

Australia bowled 4 in two innings, we've bowled 23 so far!

I honestly think England could have won that game.
Undeniably, Australia are a very strong side, but they are not invincible.

In my entirely non-expert opinion:
(1) Have a proper wicket keeper in the XI.
(2) Play a match-warm & fit spinner.
(3) You do not have to abandon shock /surprise tactics - but - you must "make hay while the sun shines".

[tommopie8]

I'm a bit of a novice when it comes to cricket - only tend to watch the ashes but I thought the decision to declare on day 1 was strange. Surely you could just let the last 2 batsman in solely for the purpose of trying to get boundaries and if they're out with 0 runs after 2 balls you're in no worse a position?

Stokes seems to be a lot busier at changing the field than I ever remember the previous captains doing so but like I said - I seldom watch cricket so that might not be true at all.

[PedroTheFisherman66]

never mind what went before , if only the Stokes dropped catch had stuck !!

[countygump]

Meh, 100 runs short, Engerland twere. Bat on in the 1st inning instead of a declaration and bat a bit better in the 2nd and you've got em. With the time that would have taken out of the game it would have meant Aussie needing 350+ on the last day and given us a real good chance at victory.

I'll stick with my original thoughts on this test.

[BigFatPie]

First day’s cricket I’ve watched since we were bowled out in virtually a session and a half down there 18 months ago. Heard lots about Bazball but it seemed like same old England today, snatching defeat from the jaws of victory and lacking a killer instinct when it mattered.

Still, a great game and lots to look forward to. This doesn’t look like a vintage Australian side, but they absolutely make the most of what they’ve got.

[durhampie]

Should not have declared on the first day with a couple of wickets in hand. That was just being over confident...