O/T:- The Ashes 2023

[Magpies1959]

Cannot se it being 5-0, even more so if Lyon is ruled out for the series, as he is key to tying up and end so the quicks can get a rest. Along with that he is a rather useful spinner. I think on balance, we haven't had the rub of the green in this test so far, and with better catching/keeping in the first test we could have been one to the good.

I do think we have to modify the bazball approach though against these Sheep shearers.

[KintoreMagpie]

Cannot se it being 5-0, even more so if Lyon is ruled out for the series, as he is key to tying up and end so the quicks can get a rest. Along with that he is a rather useful spinner. I think on balance, we haven't had the rub of the green in this test so far, and with better catching/keeping in the first test we could have been one to the good.

I do think we have to modify the bazball approach though against these Sheep shearers.

Agree with your last sentence, but not sure I do when you say we haven’t had the rub of the green so far. We won the toss, decided to bowl in perfect English seamer conditions and failed to make inroads. We then batted in sunshine and, due to our inflated egos, threw away the great situation we found ourselves. Yesterday morning when bowling conditions were good Australia, helped by more poor shot selection, ran through our late middle order and tail like a dose of salts. Those seamer friendly conditions were still there for the Australian second innings but we haven’t profited. Perhaps there is not much difference in talent other than Australia have much quicker bowlers and are adapting better to the game situations. It’s why they are world Test champions and why I hope England refine their cavalier approach to add a bit of intelligence and sense to their game when required. Otherwise they might win one of the remaining tests but get well beaten in the series.

[i961pie]

Agree with your last sentence, but not sure I do when you say we haven’t had the rub of the green so far. We won the toss, decided to bowl in perfect English seamer conditions and failed to make inroads. We then batted in sunshine and, due to our inflated egos, threw away the great situation we found ourselves. Yesterday morning when bowling conditions were good Australia, helped by more poor shot selection, ran through our late middle order and tail like a dose of salts. Those seamer friendly conditions were still there for the Australian second innings but we haven’t profited. Perhaps there is not much difference in talent other than Australia have much quicker bowlers and are adapting better to the game situations. It’s why they are world Test champions and why I hope England refine their cavalier approach to add a bit of intelligence and sense to their game when required. Otherwise they might win one of the remaining tests but get well beaten in the series.

Let’s face it our tail starts at batsmen 8 theirs at number 10. Once Bairstow goes that is virtually it. It’s ok playing the way we do against lesser teams but the Aussies are different breed.