O/T:- The Ashes 2023

[countygump]

Perfectly poised indeed, and I believe that's been the case at times in each test match.

If England don't crumble and can chase this down, it will be huge going into the 4th test.

C.O.P: 27-0, 224 needed with 10 wiks remaining. Will we?

[Magpies1959]

Well played Crawley and Duckett to see off that difficult period. We need clear blue skies tomorrow to negate any swing. This is certainly the time for bazball cricket, as 224 looks a very small total if we put the pedal to the metal. There has been movement and bounce all through this test, and playing a more defensive game means you are just a sitting duck for the ball with your name on it. If you are going to flash, flash hard as the ball will rocket to the boundary on this outfield.

[Elite_Pie]

Well played Crawley and Duckett to see off that difficult period. We need clear blue skies tomorrow to negate any swing. This is certainly the time for bazball cricket, as 224 looks a very small total if we put the pedal to the metal. There has been movement and bounce all through this test, and playing a more defensive game means you are just a sitting duck for the ball with your name on it. If you are going to flash, flash hard as the ball will rocket to the boundary on this outfield.

Yep, we need to go for it full on tomorrow.

[Mark_Ross]

Yep, we need to go for it full on tomorrow.

England have a chance, but to me 251 looks like a very big total on this pitch versus this attack.

[SmiffyPie]

Yep, we need to go for it full on tomorrow.

It's day four tomorrow. We have gifted the first two tests by Bazball at the wrong time. See the new ball out, tire the bowlers and then Baz the bollocxs out of them. But sure as eggs are eggs they will have everyone on the boundary so we will have to nurdle one's and two's, not really suited to the Bazball idea.

[countygump]

It's day four tomorrow. We have gifted the first two tests by Bazball at the wrong time. See the new ball out, tire the bowlers and then Baz the bollocxs out of them. But sure as eggs are eggs they will have everyone on the boundary so we will have to nurdle one's and two's, not really suited to the Bazball idea.

Sounds like a plan to me. 2 days, allowing for bad weather is plenty of time to nurdle 225 runs. But will we? Seems to me we have very little in the discipline department.

[SmiffyPie]

The Aussie bowlers are too clever to be phased by a few 6's. The more we try to Baz the bounced ball the more they will do it looking for the mis h i t (ffs). I get the attacking positivity but to my mind that is an attacking mindset more than a chasing one.

[Magpies1959]

Why can you not have an attacking chasing mindset. When I used to play cricket, I used to bowl far better against a batsmen who was happy to defend, and just hit the long hops, rather than someone who was looking to attack most balls. It is a fine line when playing the short ball,, you can go from hero and zero very quickly, so shot selection is *****, and something we need to look at, as there is only a certain amount of short stuff you can bowl, before tiring yourself out. If we can get the balance right, it will go a long way to getting us over the finishing line.

[SmiffyPie]

Why can you not have an attacking chasing mindset. When I used to play cricket, I used to bowl far better against a batsmen who was happy to defend, and just hit the long hops, rather than someone who was looking to attack most balls. It is a fine line when playing the short ball,, you can go from hero and zero very quickly, so shot selection is *****, and something we need to look at, as there is only a certain amount of short stuff you can bowl, before tiring yourself out. If we can get the balance right, it will go a long way to getting us over the finishing line.

Which is exactly what I said. You can attack sensibly and at the right time/shot, just don't throw wickets away because you should be playing Bazball (2nd innings first test?). Bazball is great at the right time.

[keldsyke]

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