O/T:- The Ashes 2023

[Notts78]

So the fact Anderson played for Lancs a few times then got injured and didn’t play again until he turned out in the test and bowled poorly isn’t reason to doubt his fitness? Jimmy has bowled well in none swinging conditions before.

It affected his preparations….

https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/crick...ashes-29981363

Reading the above suggests you think even with hindsight Ali was the best choice?

I genuinely think we have no spin resources that are good enough for test cricket.

As for Jimmy - here are his written thoughts

Legendary England fast bowler James Anderson launched a scathing attack on the Edgbaston pitch after Australia registered a thrilling two-wicket victory over the hosts in the first Ashes Test. Slamming the pitch for being unresponsive for pacers, Anderson even went to the extent of saying that his Ashes career might be over if similar tracks are dished out in the remaining four Tests. "If all the pitches are like that I'm done in the Ashes series," he wrote in his Daily Telegraph column. "That pitch was like kryptonite for me. There was not much swing, no reverse swing, no seam movement, no bounce and no pace,” he wrote.

If it’s not doing anything at all it might as well be me or you bowling. When players like Anderson get ‘injured’ are they actually injured? Or Is it the ECB saying, he has a niggle we want him rested? Didn’t Ollie Robinson have fitness concerns, hence rested against Ireland?
The biggest issue England have is the fitness of Stokes. If he can’t bowl a decent quota of overs then we simply need that extra bowler. Wood would be good for 12-16 overs in an innings. Given the Ozzies batted well past 100 overs a proper 5th bowler is needed.

As I said, no point making decisions now when no one knows what next weeks pitch will look like…. I think we can all guess it will be placid again.

[magpie_mania]

Sophie Ecclestone just took 5 wickets. Decent spinner

[Notts78]

The lad from Leics has been called up. An exciting talent but only 18. Clearly a back up to Mo if he doesn’t recover.

[The_Don_ORiordan]

I genuinely think we have no spin resources that are good enough for test cricket.

As for Jimmy - here are his written thoughts

Legendary England fast bowler James Anderson launched a scathing attack on the Edgbaston pitch after Australia registered a thrilling two-wicket victory over the hosts in the first Ashes Test. Slamming the pitch for being unresponsive for pacers, Anderson even went to the extent of saying that his Ashes career might be over if similar tracks are dished out in the remaining four Tests. "If all the pitches are like that I'm done in the Ashes series," he wrote in his Daily Telegraph column. "That pitch was like kryptonite for me. There was not much swing, no reverse swing, no seam movement, no bounce and no pace,” he wrote.

If it’s not doing anything at all it might as well be me or you bowling. When players like Anderson get ‘injured’ are they actually injured? Or Is it the ECB saying, he has a niggle we want him rested? Didn’t Ollie Robinson have fitness concerns, hence rested against Ireland?
The biggest issue England have is the fitness of Stokes. If he can’t bowl a decent quota of overs then we simply need that extra bowler. Wood would be good for 12-16 overs in an innings. Given the Ozzies batted well past 100 overs a proper 5th bowler is needed.

As I said, no point making decisions now when no one knows what next weeks pitch will look like…. I think we can all guess it will be placid again.

We’ll never know if we genuinely have no spin options if we keep bringing them out of retirement.

And Jimmy’s injury was real, don’t quite understand how you might think otherwise?!? He couldn’t play before the first test?! He wasn’t rested. In his own words :

"It [groin injury] is good. It is not too serious. I have been back bowling and running and confident I will be fit and firing soon," Anderson told the Telegraph.”

But if you feel they all made it up…..

You’ve never seen me bowl so how do you know I wouldn’t take wickets on that pitch

Joking aside, I agree entirely on Jimmys view of the pitch. You would have thought England might have known that when they picked the side though…..but still picked him. So much for home advantage.

Now, please answer the question on Ali, and tell me who you would have played or would play in the next test, there’s a good fellow.

[Notts78]

We’ll never know if we genuinely have no spin options if we keep bringing them out of retirement.

And Jimmy’s injury was real, don’t quite understand how you might think otherwise?!? He couldn’t play before the first test?! He wasn’t rested. In his own words :

"It [groin injury] is good. It is not too serious. I have been back bowling and running and confident I will be fit and firing soon," Anderson told the Telegraph.”

But if you feel they all made it up…..

You’ve never seen me bowl so how do you know I wouldn’t take wickets on that pitch

Joking aside, I agree entirely on Jimmys view of the pitch. You would have thought England might have known that when they picked the side though…..but still picked him. So much for home advantage.

Now, please answer the question on Ali, and tell me who you would have played or would play in the next test, there’s a good fellow.

I’d go the same side. Unless of course there is pace in the wicket in which case Mark Wood enters calculations.
Despite the aggressive nature of the side I can’t see Ahmed starting in place of Ali, unless injured.
Jimmy has an unbelievable record at Lords, 117 wickets.
Broad was the best bowler for England in the first test and Robbo has stirred the hornets nest but has backed it up with wickets.
As Stokes can’t and won’t bowl enough overs a batter has to be at risk if Wood is to start, though
my gut is Broad or Robbo will be ‘rested’ if Wood comes in.
As for your bowling, I’m not sure I’d struggle against it 😏

[PedroTheFisherman66]

women's cricket !? same as the women's footy its for the park not main stream TV. That is all.

[laddo]

women's cricket !? same as the women's footy its for the park not main stream TV. That is all.

Or the famous Trent Bridge.

[Notts78]

Sooooo Josh tongue in for Mo. No wood as the captain is worried he can’t get thorough 5 days having played no cricket - so why have him in the squad? He isn’t gonna play any cricket sat in the stands.

[Magpies1959]

The nutters have just tried to wreck the test at Lords. Off to the Tower I suggest. Tiresome tw*ts. What the f*ck has cricket got to do with oil. Good old Jonny Bairstow showed how to deal with these idiots.

[The_Don_ORiordan]

Sooooo Josh tongue in for Mo. No wood as the captain is worried he can’t get thorough 5 days having played no cricket - so why have him in the squad? He isn’t gonna play any cricket sat in the stands.

So no Wood because he hasn’t played in a month (same as Jimmy before the last test).

And no Mo, because he injured himself after not playing any long form for over two years.

Tongue was average at best against Ireland. It’s going to be a few long days in the field this test.

Hopefully the weather might save us.