The Ashes - official thread

[Gooseberry]

First topic message reminder :

SR that's not how mental fatigue works.
Also Stokes had a long break last year ...which he came back from err ...mentaly fatigued. Buttler and Bairstow haven't had that luxury.

But anyway it's not a case of "attitude" , ask Trott and Trescothick.

[alfie]

Pleased to see Archer pitching the ball up , anyway. Still annoyed Woakes is being wasted but hope these two can use the conditions well. Like to see Broad get one to leave Warner...like that one ! Nice.

More of those please...

[Soul Requiem]

Archer opening the bowling makes very little sense, he can do a better job as first change than Woakes can whilst the reverse is true of the new ball, I'd like to hear what the reasoning behind it is.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Not entirely sure how Warner survived that Broad over, 4 straight play and misses, all peaches - ball is almost doing too much!

[Soul Requiem]

Archer opening the bowling makes very little sense, he can do a better job as first change than Woakes can whilst the reverse is true of the new ball, I'd like to hear what the reasoning behind it is.

Scrap that.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

GONE

[Dolphin Ziggler]

And they’re going off the pitch too for rain

[alfie]

Not entirely sure how Warner survived that Broad over, 4 straight play and misses, all peaches - ball is almost doing too much!

Was a terrific over !

Harris nearly gone then edging Archer just short/wide of Stokes...

Get one here and they could do serious damage...

Harris gone now ! Good one Archer

Nicely taken Bairstow ...was lifting awkwardly. Not much Harris could do with that...

More rain

[compelling and rich]

great bowling first up here. tough conditions.

lets hope this delay isn't too long

[Duty281]

Tidy start, that. Ball doing heaps and vindicating the decision to field first.

Some thin drizzle now forcing the players from the field.

[Soul Requiem]

Broad could have one of those spells when they come back out.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Coming off because the umpires felt a drip of rain it seems - no brollies up in the crowd again. Nonsense, play the game ffs

[Soul Requiem]

So many absurdities in cricket, not being able to start early any more and the constant delays when play is restarted, why did they take 15 minutes to finally start once the covers were off?

On the point of concussion, Sir Cook was making an interesting point about the helmets and how comfort is almost more important than all these new safety measures they keep bringing in. His main point was the gap between the peak and the grill, regulations now say the gap must be smaller than the ball but that in itself hindered his view of the ball and took a long time to get used to again, it's much like Smith and not wanting the added protection on the rear of his helmet.-

[GSC]

cricket doesn't help itself at times.

no doubt even if they rule it dry enough we'll be waiting 15 minutes again

[alfie]

Hopefully not a long delay. Real chance for England to put huge pressure on here.

Just to make one thing clear : I have no problem with Archer taking the new ball as long as he pitches up : he is dangerous. My issue is that if Woakes isn't bowling early on he is almost being picked as a second all rounder rather than a proper strike bowler. And it seems a waste...makes you wonder whether they'd be better with Sam Curran to give them the left arm variety instead ?
What it does to Woakes' confidence I'm not sure...

[GSC]

I think a wider question is what happens if Jimmy is ruled fit for OT.

cant drop archer surely

[alfie]

I think a wider question is what happens if Jimmy is ruled fit for OT.

cant drop archer surely

One of them bound to be injured by then

Meanwhile they're off the field in Sri Lanka too...bad light ! Sri Lanka 85/2

[robbo277]

I think a wider question is what happens if Jimmy is ruled fit for OT.

cant drop archer surely

Well it's Woakes based on the current seniority it would appear, not sure who then bowls first change and who opens. Would leave the batting more fragile though.

[robbo277]

Lunch has been taken with an eye on a 13:25 restart. Sensible decision it would seem to not have a double break.

Hopefully the rain clears away but we keep some of that cloud and can get further through this Australian line-up.

[Gooseberry]

Id drop Broad before Woakes but agree it's a very tough call for England and they are more likely to go the other way. That would give England a proper tail for the first time in years.

[sirfredperry]

Wanted England to bat first but with one down already, and with intermittent play, MAYBE the insertion was the best decision.

Certainly makes more sense than Aus decision to bowl first at Lord's last Thursday when it was warm and sunny and likely to be an uninterrupted day.

Can't really agree with those who think they shouldn't open the bowling with Archer. If you were an opener who would you rather face? Archer or Woakes?

[robbo277]

Id drop Broad before Woakes but agree it's a very tough call for England and they are more likely to go the other way. That would give England a proper tail for the first time in years.

I would be very reluctant to drop Woakes. But Broad has been better this series - although he has been given more of the ball and a chance to open the bowling.

Maybe if we drop Woakes for Anderson we bring Moeen back for Leach to bat at 8? Look at all these left-handers the Aussies have...

[eirebilly]

Does Jimmy simply walk back into the side?

[robbo277]

Does Jimmy simply walk back into the side?

If he's proved his fitness, then I think he does. If there's any doubts, we go in without him.

[Duty281]

Properly coming down in Headingley now. Proper Yorkshire rain.

[Beer]

Surely Root must open with Woakes… What does he see bad in him that the rest of us don't?

Can understand the push for Woakes to open, but would you really want to open with Root's part time spin?

[alfie]

Properly coming down in Headingley now. Proper Yorkshire rain.

So much for "mostly fine " . Northern weather...bah !

Will they get back on at all ? If this pattern keeps up Australia will win the series 1- nil ...or retain 1-1 at worst.

I might as well get some sleep...

[Duty281]

Not so fast, we've got some sunshine at the moment. But more rain on the way, I understand.

Still mostly fine (haha) over the next four days, however! Will be tough for Root if play doesn't resume until tomorrow under sunny skies.

[Pal Joey]

Just watching highlights of the 3rd Test in Perth 2013... beautiful summer skies. Not a cloud in the sky...

[Duty281]

Restart at 2!

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Getting pretty ridiculous how Warner hasn't nicked one of these off Broad - must be approaching double figure play and misses

[alfie]

Just watching highlights of the 3rd Test in Perth 2013... beautiful summer skies. Not a cloud in the sky...

That was indeed a sight to warm Autralian hearts They will miss the WACA...

[alfie]

Getting pretty ridiculous how Warner hasn't nicked one of these off Broad - must be approaching double figure play and misses

Broad bowling almost too well. Tough to even get an edge on those...

Bit worrying for England that they've only taken one so far ...might easily have had three already judging from the play and miss count...

[Duty281]

Archer's pace well down from the heights of Lord's - about 86MPH. He's bowling well, fuller certainly, but I can't help but think how Woakes would be doing right now!

Broad making Warner look silly at the other end.

[Soul Requiem]

Broads worst ball gets the wicket.

[robbo277]

Was it that World Cup game at Lords where Woakes and Archer opened up against Australia and they got all those play and misses? But Australia stuck in and punished England when the ball stopped moving?

Different game, different sides and different ball, but that day England were bowling too short so the ball started moving earlier and missed the bat. With the ball doing so much, do we need to go fuller to take these edges?

As I post I believe a wicket has fallen? Following on bbc cricket commentary but getting incomplete whatsapp updates from a group I'm in!

[alfie]

Khawaja gone ! Bit of luck for Broad as he's feathered down the leg side...excellent review England ; Jonny was quite sure of that one !

Needed that given the conditions.

[Gooseberry]

25/2 Is not a bad start! But yeah where Woakes...

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Warner has 12 play and misses, from 26 balls!

[compelling and rich]

not sure how warner is still there

[GSC]

if warner was in good nick he wouldnt have made it to the rain

[alfie]

Somehow Warner has survived so far...if they don't get him soon he will probably play himself into form and go on to get a hundred...

Doesn't look as if conditions are going to get a lot better for batting today , at least for a while. Which should please Root after sending them in. Suppose a lot depends on how much play the rain permits ?

Archer well down on pace so far. Tactical , given the conditions ? Or worn himself out at Lord's ?

[robbo277]

Potentially knows he's going to do a longer spell and looking to pitch up the new ball, so saving himself a bit for a sharper spell later?

Broad bowling the 13th and still no sign of Woakes. He'll have to come on sooner or later. An early bowl for Stokes too, or will one of these continue?

[eirebilly]

Warner may be playing and missing but he actually looks more confident than in the first two tests. This could be his day.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Somehow Warner has survived so far...if they don't get him soon he will probably play himself into form and go on to get a hundred...

Doesn't look as if conditions are going to get a lot better for batting today , at least for a while. Which should please Root after sending them in.  Suppose a lot depends on how much play the rain permits ?

Archer well down on pace so far. Tactical , given the conditions ?  Or worn himself out at Lord's ?

Would be more surprising if he wasn't a little tired from his efforts at Lords, considering how much Root flogged him particularly on those final two days of the test. Albeit he's still going past the edge here of Labuschagne...

Would like to see Woakes here now.

[eirebilly]

Alfie,

Ye are down in Oz. What's this Labushagne like. From his last innings and the start of this he looks taylor made for test cricket.

[Duty281]

Another stupid stoppage. Barely raining.

Agree with Alfie about Warner - looked like he was starting to find his touch and was beginning to pick the length well.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Umpires in being incompetent idiots shocker

[Soul Requiem]

Alfie,

Ye are down in Oz. What's this Labushagne like. From his last innings and the start of this he looks taylor made for test cricket.

He's not all that to be honest, did well in division 2 for Glamorgan this year but aside from that hasn't done a lot.

[robbo277]

Jofra is running up the hill apparently, which might be impacting his speed. Assume to see him run down it and bowl a spell of short stuff later in the day/test.

Off again for rain, England may need a little rethink here. 39-2 isn't bad, but we need to hammer home that advantage to justify the decision to bowl first.

[eirebilly]

These wee delays are not going to get Woakes bowling any time soon as Root will keep bowling Broad and Archer due to the breaks. The ball will soon become too old for Woakes to be effective.

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