Ashes: First Test

First topic message reminder :

It's weird...no thread on T1 yet
Ashton Agar will play is the breaking news.

apparently the ball is reversing so much it's a nightmare out there and they are unlikely to get to lunch (bbc comment).

I said last night that Eng cant win the match first session, only lose it, one more wicket, and I think the epitaph may start being written.

I need to get my lunch.

come on england lets keep this going 250 lead needed, a ton partnership here and its all gravy.

No wickets whilst i pop out

Duty281 wrote:Oh dear, the knee-jerkers are off again. With the exception of Trebbs, of course. Long way to go in this game yet.

I don't go for knee jerking , Duty ...but the problem as I see it hasn't altered much from last night : it is that surprise 65 run lead the Aussies got. Coupled with the two early wickets of course.

What it has done is put England behind in the game , so that even a hundred stand barely got them back to par...and another quick wicket undid things again. The way things have gone in this match it is hard to see them going long enough between wickets to establish a big lead...so it will be down to defending a low total.
Now the bowling is very good - at least Swann and Anderson - so this might be possible. But in a low scoring game it seems Australia will be chasing on the third and fourth days , so the pitch is unlikely to deteriorate enough to make batting difficult...

What is needed is one of those rapid explosion of runs that can turn a game - as happened yesterday. Suppose that is what KP fan is on about , but it seems counterintuitive to attempt such an assault when runs are coming steadily and safely. Until you get out...and that seems to have happened to England throughout the match.

Maybe they will have to be 8 down and Swann will go nuts and smash a quick seventy  

I should stop trying to over analyse...am just in an uncharacteristically gloomy mood this week  

You just keep the optimism coming eh , and I'll try and get back in the groove before it is Too Late  

Bell's just survived an LBW shout. Clipping leg stump was all.

Lead up to 79. Only 3 proper batsman, including these 2, left.

I was hoping for a Pietersen special, and he was playing well today but then he played on and then Agar got Cook to turn the balance in Australia's favor. Bairstow and Bell are battleing it out. Ian Bell has to stand up today, he has got a very extended run despite underperforming for a year and a half, he has to justify that run today. KP and Cook couldn't finish the job they started, someone will have to do it. Bell has to take the lead here.

Good lord, Bell's just cut for 4 - Strauss on commentary: "The kind of shot Don Bradman would play."  

I would say Bell out if he keeps failing but in reality England seem to have hit a slump and I can't see where the talent is to replace him?

trebellbobaggins wrote:I would say Bell out if he keeps failing but in reality England seem to have hit a slump and I can't see where the talent is to replace him?

Bell's looking in touch right now. There's runs for him in this innings.  

Duty281 wrote:

trebellbobaggins wrote:I would say Bell out if he keeps failing but in reality England seem to have hit a slump and I can't see where the talent is to replace him?

Bell's looking in touch right now. There's runs for him in this innings.  

you are a lovely fella Duty, always there to lift the spirits.

Duty will never fail to hope and I think it's about time that England repay him.

i'm putting a little request in to the cricketing gods as we speak.

are they really reviewing this

Australia have used a review here - one they shouldn't even have because of the Trott incident. It's going wayyyyyyy down leg.

Rubbish review.

Pattinson's starting to get a lot of swing though.

Bairstow keeps his run!! hehe

When the going gets tough, Ian Bell gets out. A classic 20-30 for Bell here. Would love to be proved wrong.

What a waste of a review  

There's a lot of swing out there. The lead has crept past 90.

Bell living rather dangerously out there. Leading edge, another close LBW shout..... James Pattinson is really getting that ball to go now. Only KP could have played the kind of explosive innings that could suddenly turn the tables, but since his innings was cut short, Bell and Bairstow should play a more watchful game while remaining positive.

KP_fan wrote:Pattinson is getting a bit of reverse shape in to RHB ......he needs to control it better.....and start from off stump instead of middle line

he nearly got his man

Last over before lunch coming up. Bell and Bairstow should see it off, and then the break can't come soon enough for England. Ashton Agar it is.

Guys, new thread continues here...

https://www.606v2.com/t46392-the-ashes-1st-test-trent-bridge#2186082

Ashley Giles bowls the last over before lunch