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.

[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.

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.

Cheers bud

[robbo277]

So long spells for Broad and Archer opening up, although they have had lunch in between time and will have another break. Broad will bowl the last delivery of his 8th, and then will Root persist with Archer and Broad or finally look at Woakes?

He could have a bit of Woakes and Broad to try and continue getting movement from the pitch and then get Archer on down the hill for a change of pace. This is probably what I'd look to do.

[alfie]

Imagine Woakes will be on soon. Have to say Australia have done pretty well to lose just two wickets in fifteen overs...as they go off for rain again I'd say it is probably about honours even given the conditions...

What is going on ? Players not going far...covers out ...rain on...off...This is very frustrating !

I'm giving up for tonight . Hope to wake up and see them all out for 95 but losing a bit of faith ...the weather gods don't seem to be smiling on England.

[jimbohammers]

Cricket does my head in, a little bit of spitting and they're off. Just play the game ffs

[robbo277]

More and more covers coming on. Hopefully we get another 20 over session at least - in which we'll need 3 or 4 wickets after opting to bowl. If these two get to start against 39-2 tomorrow in nicer conditions Australia will be pretty happy with that. 70-5 and they'll be less pleased.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Cricket does my head in, a little bit of spitting and they're off. Just play the game ffs

Can understand Root's frustration - barely raining, just little drizzle with plenty of wind meaning it's blowing over but the umpires clearly don't fancy staying out there. Would be fuming if I'd forked out £80 for a ticket to watch two blokes who don't fancy standing in a little bit of damp and wind take them off everytime a drop of rain falls...and people wonder why this format is dying out

[Soul Requiem]

I don't think Gough or Kettleborough would be bringing the teams off for this amount of rain.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Cricket does my head in, a little bit of spitting and they're off. Just play the game ffs

Can understand Root's frustration - barely raining, just little drizzle with plenty of wind meaning it's blowing over but the umpires clearly don't fancy staying out there. Would be fuming if I'd forked out £80 for a ticket to watch two blokes who don't fancy standing in a little bit of damp and wind take them off everytime a drop of rain falls...and people wonder why this format is dying out

If this was a T20 or ODI they'd still be out there playing...

[GSC]

it's not even raining...

[eirebilly]

I honestly had forgotten just how amazing a bowler Shane Warne was. Watching this is bringing horrid memories back.

[Soul Requiem]

I think Cook just slyly accused Mcgrath of ball tampering back in the early 2000's.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

It's not raining, takes like two minutes to get the covers off - but we're restarting in 20 minutes because cricket is stupid.

[robbo277]

3:40pm restart. I assume tea is cancelled at least? Could be a long final session making up overs, although the rain might interfere again.

[Duty281]

It's not raining, takes like two minutes to get the covers off - but we're restarting in 20 minutes because cricket is stupid.

Just wait until they go off for bad light at 17:49 even though the floodlights are on!

[GSC]

when tests are allowed to run, they still show they are the best form of the game. but through no help from the authorities.

we must've lost the best part of an hours play so far today that could've been played.

people paying a premium to watch this...

[GSC]

non sensical decisions like having to start at 11.20 because the toss was late. nobody doing anything while it's not raining.

[eirebilly]

It's not raining, takes like two minutes to get the covers off - but we're restarting in 20 minutes because cricket is stupid.

Just wait until they go off for bad light at 17:49 even though the floodlights are on!

[robbo277]

3:40pm restart. I assume tea is cancelled at least? Could be a long final session making up overs, although the rain might interfere again.

We can play until 7:30pm so we've got a tea break at 4:40pm to prevent a near 4 hour session. Although the chances of us getting to 7:30pm without further interruption are remote.

Why can't they just say we'll play until 6:10pm and get the 2hr30 session in now and if we're still going have a 10 minute break then?

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

This is a genuine disgrace.

[Duty281]

Go away you completely incompetent clowns. This is a total nonsense. Total shambles.

Australian batsmen have had zero problems with the light.

[eirebilly]

Ridiculous. I honestly cannot believe this...

[Soul Requiem]

This is why neutral umpires don't work, you need a home umpire with a bit sense about the conditions.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

And people wonder why kids and parents would rather go to a T20/ODI for at least half the price than this.

[eirebilly]

Test cricket is, and always will be, my favourite form of the game but it will fade into a distant memory if decisions like this continue to be made.

Now, more than ever, Test cricket needs to attract fans but I do understand why they are not so bothered anymore.

[jimbohammers]

And people wonder why kids and parents would rather go to a T20/ODI for at least half the price than this.

Spot on Olly.

[eirebilly]

Just look at that track in Antigua. Beautiful and superb conditions. West Indies doing well too

[robbo277]

Joe Root's gamble at the toss not paying off because the umpires are refusing to keep the players on the pitch. I'd rather be in Australia's shoes right now than England's. Another 2 hours or so play, add another 80 or so runs for no more than 2 wickets and then bat on tomorrow from 140-4. Having been inserted, they'd take that.

We've lost the conditions we chose to bowl in and only had 18 overs. Should possibly of had an extra 1 or 2, but really we should have had more play by now.

[eirebilly]

The Lux measurement has been set and set at a very sharp level so I would be surprised if there is any more play today...

[Gooseberry]

There's "rain delay drama needed" talk around about Roots future as captain if they get stuffed in the ashes series and with a new coach maybe wanting a change ( plus he will likely miss at least one test series in the winter anyway)

Who else is an automatic pick for the side and is likely to be around in a years time?

...and who hasn't been in court recently

Buttler is in theory the spare captain but he's very much a spare part in the side if he's not keeping.

Bairstow? He's hardly the most media savy guy is he.

Throw the Morgan situation in the mix too, there's been remarkably little speculation about when he will retire.

[Duty281]

Out they come again. Hopefully Root's nicked the light meter and binned it.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

And Warner's first ball flies through the vacant 4th/5th slip area at catching height. One of those days for England...

[eirebilly]

Woakes now getting some proper swing...

[Soul Requiem]

Stokes as captain perhaps? As close to untouchable as they come but previous indiscretions might count against him and not ideal adding more workload to your star all rounder.

[Duty281]

Warner looking good after being completely schooled by Broad earlier...perhaps time to get Broad on again? Labuschagne has also settled quickly - runs flowing for Australia at the moment, no pressure being built by England.

[compelling and rich]

extremely unlucky only to have two wickets so far. scoreboard looking fairly rosey for the aussies at the moment. but its does still feel like a pitch that we could easily get a  quick 2/3

definitely need to break this partnership up, otherwise its been a awful day for england

[Duty281]

England starting to drop their lengths now and posing nowhere near the same threat.

97/2 - great position for Australia. They would love 350 on this, even 300 perhaps. Of course, a wicket or two alters that dramatically, but it's not looking especially likely at the moment.

[Duty281]

And people wonder why kids and parents would rather go to a T20/ODI for at least half the price than this.

Once/if we hit 30 overs today, the spectators get a 0% refund. Another kick in the teeth.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Woakes not having a great time here, as another 5 goes against his figures due to overthrows

[Nathaniel Jacobs]

ECB needs to do more to stop counties hiring overseas players that could be part of the touring international sides.

No disrespect to Labuschagne but prior to his stint with Glamorgan, his first class record was mediocre. 4 hundreds in 90 odd innings. Roll forward this summer and Labuschagne scored 1000 runs(25% of his career aggregate) and 5 hundreds.

Now he’s no Steven Smith but he’s played really well off the back of that county stint.

[eirebilly]

Woakes may be going for some but he is looking threatening. He really should have had the new ball.

[compelling and rich]

reckon its time for archer and broad again. its not like they have had to bowl loads today. looked much more threatening albeit with a newer ball

[compelling and rich]

Woakes may be going for some but he is looking threatening. He really should have had the new ball.

cant keep him on going at 6.50 runs a over. the game will quickly vanish out of sight

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Woakes and Stokes have been really poor here

[Duty281]

So many rubbish deliveries. No control from the English seamers. Over-attacking fields, combined with poor fielding and sharp running, also make it so easy for Australia to score.

Stokes has been atrocious.

[compelling and rich]

still dont think it was a bad decision to put them in. unlucky early on then rubbish from the quicks since tea have put Australia in a very strong position

root been let down by his bowlers. anderson on here would have torn through them. woakes under big pressure if anderson is fit lack of batting or not

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Stokes's bowling has been pretty crap all series - which is weird, because that's been his stronger suit in recent years.

And whilst I love Sir Chris, far too many four balls from him today.

Time for Broad and Archer again imo

[Duty281]

Oh my, 11 overs and 70 runs since they came back on.

[compelling and rich]

the aussie pace attack will be licking their lips at this pitch if it stays the same. they can stick to a line and length and have out bowled us comfortably so far. were in big trouble here if we dont get a quick couple before close

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Finally Warner nicks one, after another bout of play and misses and Archer does the trick

[Duty281]

Absolute corker from Jofra.

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