The Ashes 2023

[kabbes]

It's not really though is it. Australia are still a very good team, do they think they can bowl them out for 189? If not then take the runs now when there's less pressure and you can afford to lose wickets.

That seems like good logic

 

[littlebabyjesus]

It's not really though is it. Australia are still a very good team, do they think they can bowl them out for 189? If not then take the runs now when there's less pressure and you can afford to lose wickets.

Yeah it's getting greedy, like with the declaration in the first test, that comes back and bites you. Aus bowled pretty well this morning, but they still took them for five an over. Good job.

 

[WhyLikeThis]

I can see that, but if they are going to bowl the Aussies, they have to do the bulk of that today.

Mark Butcher just made a good point, if England need to bat again and there’s a time pressure, Australia can control the over rate. Better to let Bairstow play out his innings then bring them in.

 

[Monkeygrinder's Organ]

Yeah it's getting greedy, like with the declaration in the first test, that comes back and bites you. Aus bowled pretty well this morning, but they still took them for five an over. Good job.

Yes exactly. Some people are talking as if running up a huge score at over a run a ball and then knocking Australia over cheaply is really easily done, and it's not is it. They took a pasting yesterday but they're still the number one ranked team in the world and have been good enough to win two of the last three tests against England. Bazball or not you still have to respect your opponent's qualities.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

Mark Butcher just made a good point, if England need to bat again and there’s a time pressure, Australia can control the over rate. Better to let Bairstow play out his innings then bring them in.

Not sure they can bowl them any more slowly than they currently doing, mind you. 12 an hour in that session.

 

[Wilf]

I think they judged it well. Took the singles on offer when the men went back. We saw with Brook's dismissal that a wicket was likely to fall if they tried to clear the boundary riders. Forced Aus to take the new ball, which has produced wickets but also a few runs.

No good slogging from the off and collapsing in a heap to allow Aus to knock off the deficit by teatime. At least now, even if they bat on for 20 minutes after lunch, they have the equivalent of two full sessions at Australia.

It's not really though is it. Australia are still a very good team, do they think they can bowl them out for 189? If not then take the runs now when there's less pressure and you can afford to lose wickets.

Can't disagree with any of that, I just suppose England are in a bind here. Fantastic performance but the weather will probably beat them unless a couple of (obvious) things fall into place. They'll almost certainly need a couple of hours cricket or more on Sunday and they'll also need to get Australia out. Tough call whether to press on after lunch, with Broad coming in (I think)? Anyway, all I'm really saying is I'd have thought 'get to a 200 lead by lunch' would have been this morning's priority.

And then disagreeing with myself completely, if England go with aggressive fields, Australia have still got an excellent batting line up and could erode the lead pretty quickly. Australia's mind set will be interesting, whether their negative bowling approach carries on into the batting, which might be fatal. So, there we are, I haven't got a feckin clue.

 

[Elpenor]

Bairstow to come out swinging for 40 mins or so I reckon. Allows Mark Wood to bowl a couple of spells full tilt

 

[littlebabyjesus]

The new ball doing plenty for Aus is a very good sign. Get as much scoreboard pressure as possible and attack. If Aus are, say, 220 behind with 50+ overs to survive today and the ball is swinging, they might not fancy it much.

But yes, I still think they're likely to need some play on Sunday (assuming tomorrow is washed out). They've done amazingly well to force it to this place already.

 

[Wilf]

Not sure they can bowl them any more slowly than they currently doing, mind you. 12 an hour in that session.

Yep, whether there be run fines for deliberate slow play or not, there should at least be a role for the umpire. With all cricket's circumlocutions and formulations, they should at least be able to tell the captain to 'fucking get on with it'.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

We'll find out in a second. They have to announce the declaration by 1.30.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

Yep, whether there be run fines for deliberate slow play or not, there should at least be a role for the umpire. With all cricket's circumlocutions and formulations, they should at least be able to tell the captain to 'fucking get on with it'.

Stupid thing is that they are able to say exactly that. But they never do. There need to be in-game penalties as they now have in white ball games. Only solution.

 

[Wilf]

By the way, it's raining steadily in North Manchester. Maybe 10 miles away.

 

[WhyLikeThis]

Not looking too good.

 

[Wilf]

By the way, it's raining steadily in North Manchester. Maybe 10 miles away.

But now fine. Hope it's not heading south.

 

[Wilf]

But now fine. Hope it's not heading south.

Further pointless weather update from a place where they are not actually playing: blue sky and a mixture of grey and white clouds. Looks like it could be 'one of those afternoons'.

 

[Monkeygrinder's Organ]

Could go either way couldn't it. The rain might save Australia but if it holds off it looks like it'll be horrible conditions to bat in, could really help England.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

Ok now I would declare. A lead of 220, probably about 55 overs to bowl today, about perfect.

 

[QueenOfGoths]

Bairstow larrupping it around is good fun. And a 4 from Jimmy!!

 

[Elpenor]

Gilbert Jessop record under threat

 

[Spymaster]

I was thinking they would declare when JB got 50.

That was about 20 minutes ago and now hes looking at a ton

 

[QueenOfGoths]

I'm listening to TMS and my phone is running out of power. Going to have to watch these highlights later!!

 

[Elpenor]

Gilbert Jessop record under threat

Not this time

 

[manji]

It seems like only a couple of minutes ago I was thinking Bairstow is going to get his 50……

 

[littlebabyjesus]

I was thinking they would declare when JB got 50.

That was about 20 minutes ago and now hes looking at a ton

Gonna have to stay out for his ton now.

 

[steveo87]

Just DECLARE!!!!

 

[littlebabyjesus]

Not this time

He's come close before.

 

[skyscraper101]

Nah, keep going. Great entertainment this.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

Nah, keep going. Great entertainment this.

Yeah this is total demoralisation now. Wheels had just been screwed back on. They're now bouncing off towards Liverpool.

 

[Elpenor]

He's come close before.

At 86 off 70 balls having hit a few 6s, I fancied his chances but need to have a few bad balls bowled I guess

 

[QueenOfGoths]

I'm chuckling to myself on the train "wonderfully chaotic" is TMS's verdict!! Love it