A solid England performance.

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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.

 

Pieterson's dismissal was easily the worst for me. He never looked comfortable and the ball before the one that got him out he wafted at one well outside his stumps with his feet firmly planted well away from the ball, awful shot. When he sent the next one down the slips throat there was almost a sense of inevitibility about it. He looks out of nick which isn't surprising as he hasn't palyed enough cricket.

I understand why Cook elected to bat first, it was simply because he would not have fancied batting last on this wicket as it is dry, dusty and full of cracks that are only going to get bigger.

It looks like it won't get as far as the 4th or 5th day however and my worry if that Australia could end up chasing something like 150 - 180 to win the test on a 3rd day / early 4th day wicket that is gettng worse but still not at the levels Cook might have been expecting as he would have been expecting Australia to be batting well in to the 4th day and the start of the 5th. The whole game has been moved forward and is progressing at a fast rate.

The Aussies are a happy bunch this morning, they fancy a possible underdog upset victory here. All about the first session later today.

 

That the Aussies are happy with an even day speaks volumes for their lameness 😁

England batted awful, but the bowlers have levelled it up, and these England bowlers are going to do this all series.

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That the Aussies are happy with an even day speaks volumes for their lameness

England batted awful, but the bowlers have levelled it up, and these England bowlers are going to do this all series.

 

There wasn't much confidence around going in to this test, many expected England to pile on the runs yesterday, they will take anything at the moment.

 

 

That the Aussies are happy with an even day speaks volumes for their lameness

England batted awful, but the bowlers have levelled it up, and these England bowlers are going to do this all series.

 

There wasn't much confidence around going in to this test, many expected England to pile on the runs yesterday, they will take anything at the moment.

 

 

Bless

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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.

 

Pieterson's dismissal was easily the worst for me. He never looked comfortable and the ball before the one that got him out he wafted at one well outside his stumps with his feet firmly planted well away from the ball, awful shot. When he sent the next one down the slips throat there was almost a sense of inevitibility about it. He looks out of nick which isn't surprising as he hasn't palyed enough cricket.

I understand why Cook elected to bat first, it was simply because he would not have fancied batting last on this wicket as it is dry, dusty and full of cracks that are only going to get bigger.

It looks like it won't get as far as the 4th or 5th day however and my worry if that Australia could end up chasing something like 150 - 180 to win the test on a 3rd day / early 4th day wicket that is gettng worse but still not at the levels Cook might have been expecting as he would have been expecting Australia to be batting well in to the 4th day and the start of the 5th. The whole game has been moved forward and is progressing at a fast rate.

The Aussies are a happy bunch this morning, they fancy a possible underdog upset victory here. All about the first session later today.

 

I think it's important to remember the weather conditions on Day 1.  It was overcast and quite humid and a day made for seam and swing bowlers.   The forecast says it will become sunnier and warmer from tomorrow and the ball should move around less as a result.

Assuming Australia get up close to 200 from perhaps 50 overs tomorrow it might mean there's a brief period when batting is easier.   I think Australia are short in the spin area, playing a relative novice.

The ball that Anderson got Clark with was an absolute jaffa - slight inswing then slightly away off the pitch to hit the top outside half of off-Stump.   That's the sort of delivery you want to cherish - about as good as it gets for a swing/seam bowler.  Class.  Clark's reaction was a picture - bewilderment/disbelief.  In it's way it was as good as that Shane Warne ball to Gatting.

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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.

 

Pieterson's dismissal was easily the worst for me. He never looked comfortable and the ball before the one that got him out he wafted at one well outside his stumps with his feet firmly planted well away from the ball, awful shot. When he sent the next one down the slips throat there was almost a sense of inevitibility about it. He looks out of nick which isn't surprising as he hasn't palyed enough cricket.

I understand why Cook elected to bat first, it was simply because he would not have fancied batting last on this wicket as it is dry, dusty and full of cracks that are only going to get bigger.

It looks like it won't get as far as the 4th or 5th day however and my worry if that Australia could end up chasing something like 150 - 180 to win the test on a 3rd day / early 4th day wicket that is gettng worse but still not at the levels Cook might have been expecting as he would have been expecting Australia to be batting well in to the 4th day and the start of the 5th. The whole game has been moved forward and is progressing at a fast rate.

The Aussies are a happy bunch this morning, they fancy a possible underdog upset victory here. All about the first session later today.

 

I think it's important to remember the weather conditions on Day 1.  It was overcast and quite humid and a day made for seam and swing bowlers.   The forecast says it will become sunnier and warmer from tomorrow and the ball should move around less as a result.

Assuming Australia get up close to 200 from perhaps 50 overs tomorrow it might mean there's a brief period when batting is easier.   I think Australia are short in the spin area, playing a relative novice.

The ball that Anderson got Clark with was an absolute jaffa - slight inswing then slightly away off the pitch to hit the top outside half of off-Stump.   That's the sort of delivery you want to cherish - about as good as it gets for a swing/seam bowler.  Class.  Clark's reaction was a picture - bewilderment/disbelief.  In it's way it was as good as that Shane Warne ball to Gatting.

 

I agree totally, that Anderson ball was a beauty, the kind of ball I dreamed of delivering for my village team but never seemed to quite work out as I intended  Mind Anderson never had to contend with cow shyte on the wicket  

Not sure about comparing it to that Warne delivery though, the movement on that ball to Gatting was jaw dropping, Warne said himself it was a total one off delivery, even he couldn't repeat it.

Got a niggly feeling a convict is going to dig in today and give them a first innings lead. I think it'll have to be fairly substantial (100+) as I don't see England batting that badly in the second innings, and Swann comes into the equation second innings for them.

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Got a niggly feeling a convict is going to dig in today and give them a first innings lead. I think it'll have to be fairly substantial (100+) as I don't see England batting that badly in the second innings, and Swann comes into the equation second innings for them.

England could really do with Broad being fit

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Got a niggly feeling a convict is going to dig in today and give them a first innings lead. I think it'll have to be fairly substantial (100+) as I don't see England batting that badly in the second innings, and Swann comes into the equation second innings for them.

England could really do with Broad being fit

He's out on field having a practice bowl just now, so good signs.

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The sun is out there. We really missed an opportunity yesterday, I don't care what anyone says

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The sun is out there. We really missed an opportunity yesterday, I don't care what anyone says

Agreed. Mind you, if we go on to lose this first Test, at least it might shut up the know-it-all "experts" in the media.

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I totally agree with one of the posters earlier, this morning is a massive session for this test and potentially the whole series. If Smith, Hughes or Haddin can hang around and get a lead of 100 then they will have the confidence that they can play our bowlers. If we can get into the tail this morning and get 3 wickets then 130/140 for 7 at lunch will look like a huge opportunity missed for them and give us the upper hand.

Concerns are that Broad might not be fully fit and that the sun is out making batting easier.

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No swing this morning

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No swing this morning

Hence why bowling was a no-brainer yesterday. Did I mention that?

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No swing this morning

Hence why bowling was a no-brainer yesterday. Did I mention that?

 

Yeeees - and I think we all agreed with you

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Get in!

Smith looked totally at ease up to that point, Jimmy does the business yet again. 

On the downside, I doubt we are going to see Broad bowling today.

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Phew.

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A ripper from Swanny - big turn there!

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The Aussies are showing us how to collapse... 114-7

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