The Ashes 2019

[kabbes]

Rory Burns, all is forgiven

 

[Idaho]

What lead do we need? Has to be 100+ doesn't it?

 

[kabbes]

What lead do we need? Has to be 100+ doesn't it?

Yeah, anything less and I think we’re fooked.

100 lead, get them out for less than 250 and run chase of less than 150 — that’s all doable

 

[Argonia]

Excellent day for England

 

[planetgeli]

Haven't seen a ball, been out. Unlike England. I might even enjoy these highlights in 20 mins.

 

[Monkeygrinder's Organ]

An innings like that from one of the openers would have been top of England's pie in the sky fantasy wish list this morning. Fantastic - hopefully sets him up for the rest of the series.

 

[OzT]

Well it has to be England's day today. Let's hope tomorrow the aussies make it more interesting (well for me anyway)

 

[planetgeli]

Burns looks very lucky - and very ugly in his style - from the highlights so far. Just read he’s played and missed 34 times so far in this innings. I ain’t getting excited yet.

 

[planetgeli]

Under edging for four to the end.

Cemented his place for the series. Let’s get to the end, take away this innings, and see what his average is then. (Happy to be proved wrong). I can’t get excited by a Surrey boy who makes Peter Willey look elegant.

Lyon moved the ball too much. Move it 18 inches and the batsman will play and miss. 6 inches and you’ve got the chance of an edge. I can actually see Moeen doing alright in the second innings.

 

[Santino]

Miserable buggers.

 

[Pink Panther]

Amazing all the moaning about Burns "looking ugly" at the crease. If you look like David Gower then get out you're accused of giving your wicket away with a careless shot, or lacking concentration or something. If you play and miss at least you're not going to give a catch. Steve Smith "looks ugly" but has 24 Test hundreds and an average of 61. Shiv Chanderpaul "looked ugly" but scored 30 Test hundreds at an average of over 50. I'm not getting carried away yet, I wouldn't be totally surprised if that turns out to be his only Test hundred (anyone remember Adam Lyth? Sam Robson?) but he's earned his chance by scoring 1,000 first class runs in all of the last five seasons, which I don't think anyone else has achieved. He's also achieved something that none of Alastair Cook, Marcus Trescothick, Mike Atherton or Alec Stewart managed - an Ashes century on home soil. I may have misheard but litening to TMS on the radio yesterday I'm sure it was stated that 6 of the last 8 Test centuries for England openers were scored by Alastair Cook and the other 2 by Keaton Jennings, and before that you have to go back to Lyth against NZ at Headingley in 2015. The cupboard is pretty bare right now if anyone wishes to replace Burns with someone else who "looks better".

I'll be pleasantly surprised if he can push on to 150 and beyond, mainly as batsmen who've batted all day for a hard earned ton invariably go swiftly the following morning, but he's given us the platform for Stokes, Bairstow, Ali and Woakes to hopefully secure enough of a lead to press for the win now.

 

[planetgeli]

If you play and miss at least you're not going to give a catch.

What a ridiculous statement. If you play and miss, 34 times, you are showing you don't have much idea of the line and, without the bucketful of luck he had yesterday (including the Aussies not reviewing when he was out LBW in the 20s), he's going to connect pretty soon with one of those 34 chances.

It was the scratchiest century I've seen in a long time. But hooray for numbers eh? Let's not think about how he got them.

 

[Lord Camomile]

hooray for numbers

I think this is a sentiment we can all get behind. Numbers are great

 

[Mogden]

TMS reported Jimmy warming up gingerly this morning. No one is quite sure if it's psychological, ie sending intimidating messages to the Aussies. England have said he's available to bat later if needed.

Nice gentle start though although I want a bloody curry now. Thanks Tuffers!

 

[Zapp Brannigan]

First innings lead, currently at 9.

Movement and turn off the pitch already, batting last will be a minefield - the obvious solution is to win by an innings. 50s from Bairstow, Moeen and Woakes with another 50 from Burns should do it.

 

[kabbes]

I'll be pleasantly surprised if he can push on to 150 and beyond, mainly as batsmen who've batted all day for a hard earned ton invariably go swiftly the following morning

 

[Argonia]

Wickets falling like confetti

 

[Lord Camomile]

Uh-oh...

 

[Lord Camomile]

 

[Lord Camomile]

 

[kabbes]

Unsurprising if gutting

 

[Lord Camomile]

282-4 to 300-8; three wickets in eleven balls, with just the four leg byes inbetween.

I'm no cricket expert, but that's... not good?

 

[Casual Observer]

What we need is a Rory Burns batting at both ends.

 

[planetgeli]

So which was the more surprising?

Burns edging one?

Moeen not playing at one?

Bairstow doing...what he does?

Vote now for a chance to win tickets to the 5th day at Lords.

 

[D'wards]

282-4 to 300-8; three wickets in eleven balls, with just the four leg byes inbetween.

I'm no cricket expert, but that's... not good?

Its facking appalling

 

[D'wards]

 

[Spymaster]

View attachment 179603

Fancy dress dickheads are amusing for about 10 seconds.

 

[D'wards]

Fancy dress dickheads are amusing for about 10 seconds.

Especially for the fellas sitting behind

 

[D'wards]

Fancy dress dickheads are amusing for about 10 seconds.

I was at Edgbaston for a test a couple of years ago wearing shorts. I got splashback all over my legs at the urinal from a nun

 

[Casual Observer]

I got splashback all over my legs at the urinal from a nun

A nasty habit.