Questions now starting to be asked of the decision to bat first. Cook's flaw as a captain has previously been his overly conservative approach, and this is going to be back in the spotlight.

 

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Any preference on where you'd bat?

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I reckon anywhere would be a benefit right now. On a batting track it surely made sense to take advantage of warm, overcast, humid conditions this morning? I know what GTW means about setting a total, but these conditions were only going to be there this morning.

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Bell averages just 21 against Australia in England not good enough should be dropped, but he wont be.

 

 

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Overheard from the box where the selectors are watching from: "Has anyone got Bopara's telephone number?"

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Matt Taylor's forecast this morning for the Test Match indicated that this afternoon was to be mostly sunny, so to be fair, in conditions condusive for swing bowling only lasting one session you'd back your top order batsman to get through relatively intact against Australia's bowling.

I still think that Swanny will run riot with hot and sunny conditions likely over the next few days. Sadly he'll need to if we defending a total under 250.

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Remember a couple of years ago when it looked like Broad could bat a bit? Well it's time to rediscover that

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I would hope/expect those involved in sporting events where weather conditions are important for tactics would do more than just watch a TV weather forecast - and get detailed (paid) info from a professional source.   If not, I'm willing to offer my services to the ECB for just £500/day 

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I'm thinking of it from a more attacking point. I'm not thinking out batsmen are good enough to bat through the morning, I'm thinking our front line bowlers are good enough to make use of the conditions.

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Exactly - make the most of the weather

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Broad taking the 'attack is the best form of defence' route, but coming a cropper. Still, 24 useful late order runs. If Swanny can do the same and Bairstow stays around, we could get close to 300.

 

Then again, hoping for the tail to wag in order to set even a modest total, against an Australian side written off as cannon fodder, is pretty vomit-inducing

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TMS Live Text at its best:

 

"Have that. Pattinson digs one it at Broad, who jumps and ducks at the same time, a bit like man simultaneously trying to deal with two skipping ropes at once. The result is Broad taking a blow to the shoulder, with Pattinson following up with a couple of words that probably weren't "I say old bean, I do hope you're not hurt". Broad's response? A flay through the off side for four. More words exchanged, with my lip-reading telling me that Pattinson may have used an expletive. Potty mouth."

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Useless. The more I think about the more I think bowling first was a no-brainer. The ball has been nipping around all day. Anderson and Finn would have been lethal, regardless of the bad shots England have played

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Ah well, it was a good plan in theory

 

F***ing shocking performance from England. Needed to grind the smug, melanoma-ridden faces of the convicts into the dirt and never take our foot off their tide-marked throats until 7th January.

Fat chance.

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All out for an embarrassing 218. Convicts 65-0 at the close?

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All out 215 shocking! Our batting is poor with quite a few bottlers in the line up we could be in trouble to retain the Ashes.

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As I keep saying, it's one innings. No need to press panic buttons. Was a pathetic performance though

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One argument for batting first would be that Swann is bowling against the Aussies during the 4th innings of the Test. Maximise his chances of getting spin. Mark Taylor took that train of thought in 1997 against England at Old Trafford. I think the pitch was green to start with so was tempting to bowl first but Taylor backed Warne to deliver the goods against England in the 4th innings.

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I think our bowlers will get us out of jail during the series but we need our batsmen to turn up and im not convinced they will enough for us to retain the Ashes.

 

 

 

 

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Oooooooooh!

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Watson gone good start lets see if we can get 3 or 4 by the close.

 

 

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Finn's on a hatrick  Get in!!!

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HOLY SH1T!!!!! Finn on a hattrick!!!!

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Good god that was close!

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looks like a low scoring game

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