The Ashes: 1st Test, Brisbane

1st Test Brisbane, November 23-27, 2017

Australia:
Bancroft, Warner, Khawaja, Smith *, Handscomb, S Marsh, Paine †, Starc, Cummins, Lyon, Hazelwood

England:
Cook, Stoneman, Vince, Root *, Malan, Ali, Bairstow †, Woakes, Ball, Broad, Anderson

The pitch is rumoured to have a greenish tinge to it and may offer early assistance for seamers before settling down to become a really good batting strip. If England bat first they must aim to bat through the first day and if they can do that with half of their wickets still in the bank they will have done well and feel right in the match. Likewise if Australia bat first they will look for a similar sort of day.

I think they gave it another shave last night/early this morning and a good roll since that video/pictures.

Just heard Maxwell should start. Can't understand why they would risk playing Marsh with his back problems. However, the cricinfo guys are saying Marsh will be there. This is too much!

I think key for England will be how those new to Ashes cricket will fair. Stoneman has been in very good nick on tour so far so conditions may suit him. Vince will need to contribute more than he has in his test career so far as will Malan. Jake Ball is in for his pace and he will need to weigh in with wickets or else his place could quickly be under threat. If those four can contribute then England will have a great base to build on.

CaledonianCraig wrote:The pitch is rumoured to have a greenish tinge to it and may offer early assistance for seamers before settling down to become a really good batting strip. If England bat first they must aim to bat through the first day and if they can do that with half of their wickets still in the bank they will have done well and feel right in the match. Likewise if Australia bat first they will look for a similar sort of day.

So what you’re saying is both teams would like to score a lot of runs with the loss of not many wickets if they bat first? Interesting

Good Golly I'm Olly wrote:

CaledonianCraig wrote:The pitch is rumoured to have a greenish tinge to it and may offer early assistance for seamers before settling down to become a really good batting strip. If England bat first they must aim to bat through the first day and if they can do that with half of their wickets still in the bank they will have done well and feel right in the match. Likewise if Australia bat first they will look for a similar sort of day.

So what you’re saying is both teams would like to score a lot of runs with the loss of not many wickets if they bat first? Interesting

An obvious observation I know but I think its key. If England get skittled on day one (if they bat) then Australia will be going 1-0 up.

Loaded Dog you sure Maxwell is playing? I just read that Marsh was passed fit?

Please let Glenn Maxwell be playing. Cricket is just more entertaining when Glenn is involved.

JDizzle wrote:Please let Glenn Maxwell be playing. Cricket is just more entertaining when Glenn is involved.

reverse sweeping madly like a madman?

One of Olly's twitter babes on BT Sport talking about Marsh playing.

Nathaniel Jacobs wrote:Loaded Dog you sure Maxwell is playing? I just read that Marsh was passed fit?

Fixed the OP now.

The Loaded Dog wrote:

Nathaniel Jacobs wrote:Loaded Dog you sure Maxwell is playing? I just read that Marsh was passed fit?

Fixed the OP now.

Nathaniel Jacobs wrote:

JDizzle wrote:Please let Glenn Maxwell be playing. Cricket is just more entertaining when Glenn is involved.

reverse sweeping madly like a madman?

He has a very comparable FC record to some of the guys playing today! Marsh, Handscomb and Bancroft - and I just enjoy watching him bat!

Certainly more entertaining than Shaun Marsh...

England win the toss and elect to bat.

JDizzle wrote:

Nathaniel Jacobs wrote:

JDizzle wrote:Please let Glenn Maxwell be playing. Cricket is just more entertaining when Glenn is involved.

reverse sweeping madly like a madman?

He has a very comparable FC record to some of the guys playing today! Marsh, Handscomb and Bancroft - and I just enjoy watching him bat!

Certainly more entertaining than Shaun Marsh...

I agree with you regarding Shaun Marsh, but Maxwell lacks temperament. I think Cartwright or Stonis are more deserving than Marsh or Maxwell,

''I would rather have a general who was lucky than one who was good.''- - Napoleon.

Root shows he has luck in winning the toss and sufficient common sense to bat. Now it's for the batsmen to show they are good enough.

Marsh can be entertaining in an elegant sort of way... if he just stays in!

Agree with JD. I think the reverse sweep has featured less in recent times, or at least, only once he gets in and has some runs on the board. Maxwell would have added some spark in the field. Also would have been handy in relieving Lyon at some stage with the ball.

I see Beefy has called this Aussie side "perhaps the worst in 40 years".

Where's Trebs, btw?

Starc, Cummins and Hazelwood vs this England order under a bit of cloud.

Yeah, 240 all out...

Good to see Sir Geoffrey back on live UK tv!

Ah, I see you've taken over his mantle, Duty.

LD - I agree that Maxwell being able to provide the role of fifth bowler would have given your team a more balanced look. However, I feel it's a fourth seamer you (may) need here rather than a second and rather ordinary slowie.

Don't worry about Botham's comments. If he is right about this Aussie side, that's down to luck and not judgement. He's a lazy and ill informed pundit who gets a gig only because of his name.

I don't know Trebs' whereabouts but Duty seems to be doing a fair job of morphing into him these days.

Thanks btw for this separate first Test thread.

Duty281 wrote:Starc, Cummins and Hazelwood vs this England order under a bit of cloud.

Yeah, 240 all out...

Good to see Sir Geoffrey back on live UK tv!

I've had enough of Vaughan already although Ponting seems as astute as ever.

Oh no, Chef's gone

Cook gone, 2-1

and so it begins, cook really doesnt bat well against the lefties

Beautiful bowling from Starc.

Immediately hit the right line and length and he’s given Cook a good going over.

England now exposed.

The way the filming is done during the delivery is so f*cling annoying.
The camera keeps zooming as the ball is released, by the time the ball is at other end of the pitch it's basically completely zoomed to the batsman, meaning you won't be able to see swing or spin with the full perspective of the pitch.

Yes, lovely bowling from Starc. Not just the ball that Cook edged for his dismissal but the contrast with the first ball of that over that was fired into him. Neatly taken by Handscomb at first slip moving slightly to his right, thought Paine might have gone for it.

Starc definitely not bowling as well to Vince as he is to the left handers - odd as previously I've thought him very dangerous against right handers but unable to find a consistent line to the lefties.

swann is doing my head in already. all this "banter" will grow thin very quickly. perhaps im just used to sky team that i liked. bumble will be a miss

so far the aussies have been the better commentators

Don't want to jinx it but these 2 looking good.

Swann calling Vince a 'poor mans Michael Vaughan' - nice way to get behind your own team! Donut

Compelling - yeah, the commentary is incessant. Swann's ''banter'' as you say plus Vaughan not appearing to realise that we can see most of what is happening and that he doesn't have to fill every moment with his own voice.

Meanwhile, Stoneman and Vince doing exactly what is required. Cautious but not overly so. Both now into double figures. A delightful cover drive from Vince the other over that went to the rope. That's what he does best but too often he looks so well set only to apparently lose concentration and his wicket.

Anyway, that's me done until late in day one. Go well all.

You can tell Vaughan and Swann are fresh from Test Match Special on the radio. This pair digging in quite nicely and the longer they bat the more in confidence they will gain and the more the pace bowlers have to bowl in draining conditions. England 39 for 1

yeah ive not wanted to curse it but been impressed with stoneman and vince so far. hopefully those clouds clear so the ball doesnt start doing anything different

Good application from these two.

Australia’s seamers need to be more consistent with their length. 

Runs starting to come. Wonder if Lyon will have an over or two before lunch?

As well as this pair has done it is important they bat through until lunch which is half an hour away. England 49 for 1

lyon is worrying me, need to get to lumch

Fifty partnership up. Yes Lyon looking most likely to get a wicket of anyone..

And England go into lunch on the first day of this Ashes serieson 59 for 1. Vince on 32 and Stoneman on 25. England will be the happier of the two sides at lunch.

Absorbing session. Lyon and Starc dangerous. Stoneman watchful.

England will be pleased to have lost just one; Australia will be pleased that the scoring rate is low.

might have to give this one up, stupid rain has robbed me another 30 minutes of watching

I think this rain break is more beneficial to Australia. Gives their bowlers time to recharge their batteries and have a rethink. It also means Vince and Stoneman have to effectively start again building concentration when the restart comes.

Covers coming off and play expected to resume in about 20 minutes.

Play about to resume with 1 hour 45 minutes play before tea rescheduled for 6.00am (UK time). England will do very well to get through this mini-session unscathed. Lyon to bowl.

England move on to 67 for 1.Vince on 36 and Stoneman 29.

Vince moves onto 43 (his highest test match score). England 75 for 1.

James Vince bags his first test 50 with a boundary. He is 53 and Stoneman 30. England 85 for 1.

This partnership now up to 83. I bet you wouldn't have got big odds on that at the start. Starc back into the attack.

The lack of pace in the pitch seems to have shaken the Aussie attack. They are creating little in the way of chances. England 100 for 1 with this partnership now up to 98.

And the century partnership is up. England 103 for 1 with Vince 57 and Stoneman 44.

CaledonianCraig wrote:I think key for England will be how those new to Ashes cricket will fair. Stoneman has been in very good nick on tour so far so conditions may suit him. Vince will need to contribute more than he has in his test career so far as will Malan. Jake Ball is in for his pace and he will need to weigh in with wickets or else his place could quickly be under threat. If those four can contribute then England will have a great base to build on.

First two of those are contributing.