England's Summer of Cricket 2023, Featuring The Ashes

First topic message reminder :

June 1st-June 4th: One Test v Ireland (four days)
June 16th-July 31st: Five Tests v Australia
August 30th-September 5th: Four T20s v New Zealand
September 8th-September 15th: Four ODIs v New Zealand
September 20th-September 26th: Three ODIs v Ireland

England try to wrest the Ashes back from Australia, in a series which could be the greatest since 2005. Australia have currently held the urn for just over five years, which is the longest spell of urn-holding since the 1989-2005 period.

Ireland also visit for a test before that, and then there's some limited-overs games squashed into the last days of summer.

It's been quite concerning from England. Very flat in the field, despite coming into today with a more than decent chance of grasping a first innings lead. They must know about the placid pitches being prepared and know that you have to be ready to dig deep to prise out the wickets. But heads down, pretty much all morning, very low-energy stuff. I don't wish to belabour the point, but Australia are applying a grind to England's bowlers and fielders, which yields dividends across the whole series.

Really wouldn't have started with Moeen. Yes, it's turning, but the chance of getting something from the seamers comes earliest when the ball is at its hardest and the batsmen are still getting in. If the seamers don't get anything, fine then you bring the spin on from one end. Robinson has been frightfully misused in this test: arguably England's best bowler on form, but barely touched the first new ball and only gets a bowl after an hour today.

Cummins has timed the ball very nicely for some of his runs, but England don't really look as though they have a plan to get him out. England look a bit of short of ideas in general.

Lead still 28, but Australia getting ahead in this one. England need some energy in this second hour. Rain radar looking a bit better...

Australia's first hour despite Jimmy getting Carey. Runs coming pretty fast : the grinding down of the England bowlers paying off. As I did fear , flat pitches are really not to the home team's advantage.

Though I suppose if it stays this way England may bat big next time around. Still got to get four more wickets !

GSC wrote:Carey is pretty good but I would probably aim to only need to dismiss him once per innings

Like Jonny. I missed that one earlier.

I note guildford's concern re Moeen. Think the chances of him playing five Tests were always remote.

More worrying is that if he can't do a job second innings here it puts a lot on Joe Root !

Not sure about Robinson being misused. I reckon he has been the most disappointing of the bowlers ... well down on pace and generally quite unthreatening. Not much in the body language either. He did get stuck with the thankless task of trying to bounce Head ; but he really hasn't lived up to my pre-game hopes that he'd be the main dangerman.

You really can't accuse Broad of "low energy " !

alfie wrote:Australia's first hour despite Jimmy getting Carey.  Runs coming pretty fast : the grinding down of the England bowlers paying off. As I did fear , flat pitches are really not to the home team's advantage.

Though I suppose if it stays this way England may bat big next time around. Still got to get four more wickets !

Exactly. There were comments earlier about Australia's batting being too defensive and timid but you can sometimes get the benefits later on from being patient and solid to begin with. Still 5 days in an Ashes Test, no reason not to use them all.

Btw, maybe Australia were watching Sibley last week.

alfie wrote:Not sure about Robinson being misused. I reckon he has been the most disappointing of the bowlers ... well down on pace and generally quite unthreatening. Not much in the body language either. He did get stuck with the thankless task of trying to bounce Head ; but he really hasn't lived up to my pre-game hopes that he'd be the main dangerman.

I'd be amazed if Robinson is fully fit from how he's bowled. Even at the start of this innings he looked more reminiscent of the laboured bowler we saw struggling with conditioning in some of his earlier Tests.

Just as I post...

Fair play Ollie. It's the big one of Khawaja. That's a terrific innings though.

21 runs behind with 3 wickets left. England should be aiming for this to be a 1 innings shootout now.

Good stuff. Khawaja frustrated at the lack of scoring, his strike-rate must have been below 33 since reaching his century, eventually trying to force one, with Robinson pushing it fuller. Relief for England. Relief for Robinson.

Still got a chance to get a lead...

Top innings from Khawaja. Full credit for the part he's played.

Not liking this field to Lyon...

alfie wrote:All looking a bit easy for the bats . How big a lead will they get , I wonder ?

Anderson into his 21st over ; Moeen with injury issues ; Robinson bit flat yesterday : not looking good for second innings.

Too soon to start praying for rain ?

Good cursing Alfie

guildfordbat wrote:

alfie wrote:Australia's first hour despite Jimmy getting Carey.  Runs coming pretty fast : the grinding down of the England bowlers paying off. As I did fear , flat pitches are really not to the home team's advantage.

Though I suppose if it stays this way England may bat big next time around. Still got to get four more wickets !

Exactly. There were comments earlier about Australia's batting being too defensive and timid but you can sometimes get the benefits later on from being patient and solid to begin with. Still 5 days in an Ashes Test, no reason not to use them all.

Btw, maybe Australia were watching Sibley last week.

Indeed the slow grind can be said to have worked - although one should note that had a couple of chances not been shelled it probably wouldn't have looked so clever !

Definitely two different approaches in this game...but I think we expected that.

Robinson at last with the break Excellent Khawaja innings over - might be a matchwinner ?

Now : can England nip out the rest of them ?

Duty281 wrote:Good stuff. Khawaja frustrated at the lack of scoring, his strike-rate must have been below 33 since reaching his century, eventually trying to force one, with Robinson pushing it fuller. Relief for England. Relief for Robinson.

Still got a chance to get a lead...

Top innings from Khawaja. Full credit for the part he's played.

Not liking this field to Lyon...

For a our talk of the bowling to the tail, Zaltz had a great stat yesterday that England under McCullum and Stokes have the second best average to numbers 8-11 in the game after India across the period. From memory India were around 12 runs per wicket and England 14.

compelling and rich wrote:

alfie wrote:All looking a bit easy for the bats . How big a lead will they get , I wonder ?

Anderson into his 21st over ; Moeen with injury issues ; Robinson bit flat yesterday : not looking good for second innings.

Too soon to start praying for rain ?

Good cursing Alfie

I do my best. But am no match for Trebell. We really need him back

guildfordbat wrote:

alfie wrote:Australia's first hour despite Jimmy getting Carey.  Runs coming pretty fast : the grinding down of the England bowlers paying off. As I did fear , flat pitches are really not to the home team's advantage.

Though I suppose if it stays this way England may bat big next time around. Still got to get four more wickets !

Exactly. There were comments earlier about Australia's batting being too defensive and timid but you can sometimes get the benefits later on from being patient and solid to begin with. Still 5 days in an Ashes Test, no reason not to use them all.

Btw, maybe Australia were watching Sibley last week.

Nothing wrong with backing the good old tortoise. This hare stuff... pffttt. There's a time and a place.
Gimme a tortoise most days (depending on the match situation and conditions), right Guildford? Steady as she goes...

Good take from Duckett in the deep.

England getting back ahead in the game...

Ha ! Might have succeeded in sparking Robinson up

Lyon gone. Still 16 ahead...

That's good bowling from Broad. Mixed it up and Australia's long tail is being exposed.

Time for Cummins to see if he can swing Australia to 400.

Those mythical 40 runs would sure be handy here

Three for Stuart Broad !  Reward for effort.

(I always have heart in mouth waiting to see if there is a late no ball call though : extra suspense)

On this pitch Lyon is going to be the key, especially with our aggressive approach. Think that could be the difference between the two in this game

compelling and rich wrote:Those mythical 40 runs would sure be handy here

You get back to assembling that cot!

guildfordbat wrote:

compelling and rich wrote:Those mythical 40 runs would sure be handy here

You get back to assembling that cot!

All done and dusted that, I’m working on the bar currently. Which means I’m downstairs getting some peace and quiet watching the cricket

Tail snuffed out!

And good timing for England. As Olly will tell you, a whole 40 minutes for England's openers to shower and generally prepare ....

Seven run lead

Good come back by England : and just in time for lunch .

The extra 30 runs that some on here are so invested in would be nice : but not sure that's as important as what England can do in their second innings

This game has certainly not been dull. More fun to come , eh ?

I look forward to the debate when Stokes declares just before tea

Pal Joey wrote:

guildfordbat wrote:

alfie wrote:Australia's first hour despite Jimmy getting Carey.  Runs coming pretty fast : the grinding down of the England bowlers paying off. As I did fear , flat pitches are really not to the home team's advantage.

Though I suppose if it stays this way England may bat big next time around. Still got to get four more wickets !

Exactly. There were comments earlier about Australia's batting being too defensive and timid but you can sometimes get the benefits later on from being patient and solid to begin with. Still 5 days in an Ashes Test, no reason not to use them all.

Btw, maybe Australia were watching Sibley last week.

Nothing wrong with backing the good old tortoise. This hare stuff... pffttt. There's a time and a place.
Gimme a tortoise most days (depending on the match situation and conditions), right Guildford? Steady as she goes...  

Tortoise trailing by seven as they enter the third lap ...

Hare will perhaps need to pace himself now. Unfortunately not getting a bonus for style points so has to just do it with his speedy legs

That was a good last 40 minutes from England, after a sluggish start. A small lead, but huge frustration because England surrendered Root's wicket without a fight. England are in front on the match situation, but it could have been a significant advantage if they were starting with a 50 run head start.

I think England need to set Australia something north of 300 to be favourites. Unless we see deterioration, there's not a lot in it for the seamers, it's mainly a turning wicket and England only have Moeen (with a split finger) and Root to take advantage. Two 45/50 average bowlers. Plus I'm not expecting both Smith/Labuschagne to not deliver again.

Rain radar currently indicating the rain will fall around 15:30/16:00 and day five looking wet as well, so still not ruling out the draw.

Think the pitch will look a bit more lively with Australia's refreshed pace bowlers coming in. Similar to Smith/Labuschagne, I'm not anticipating Cummins to go wicketless again! Will be interesting to see how early Australia turn to Lyon; they used him quite early in the first innings, and it's only got better for the spinners.

To be seen how much more we get today but a creditable effort from England to secure a lead, could've been a lot more but equally Australia could have ended up with an extra 50-100.

Will be tougher this time out but Australia still have to bat last

Get ready for another declaration, it's either that or they are bowled out for a not that great target. Can honestly see an attempt to score 300 in 60 overs coming up, then Stokes will declare

GSC wrote:I look forward to the debate when Stokes declares just before tea

Sangakkara on Sky seems certain that Stokes will declare at some stage. Not for this Oval old fool to tell an Oval and cricket legend anything about the game but we do need to avoid being bowled out cheaply and establish some sort of meaningful lead first of all.

guildfordbat wrote:

GSC wrote:I look forward to the debate when Stokes declares just before tea

Sangakkara on Sky seems certain that Stokes will declare at some stage. Not for this Oval old fool to tell an Oval and cricket legend anything about the game but we do need to avoid being bowled out cheaply and establish some sort of meaningful lead first of all.

My thoughts exactly, guildford.

It's the old, "what the hell is going to happen next", of Bazball. Could the top 3 race towards a lead of a 100 with fielders being scattered to the boundaries? Or do we lose 3 early and suddenly Lyon is bowling to Root and Brook under massive pressure?

Admittedly the 3 down early bit was happening a lot before Bazball though. So really the higher possibility of the race to a lead part is still progress!

If not for no-balls, dropped catches, missed stumpings this injury hit English side would have been well ahead of the much better test side known as Australia.   Astonishing leadership from Stokes.

Really top sportsmanship from Root after Khawaja was dismissed; less so from Robinson.

Plenty of cloud over Edgbaston now. Should be a tricky examination with the new ball from Australia.

Sorry but I can't resist this : We have just seen Australia lose their last four for 14 trying to play Bazball against an England side that had been in the field for 4 sessions. Might not a more considered approach have yielded , say , another thirty runs ?

Perhaps this compensates for a certain controversial innings closure

No name Bertie wrote:If not for no-balls, dropped catches, missed stumpings this injury hit English side would have been well ahead of the much better test side known as Australia.   Astonishing leadership from Stokes.

Astonishing as you say although are you praising Stokes or blaming him for the no balls, dropped catches, missed stumpings and injuries?

VTR wrote:Get ready for another declaration, it's either that or they are bowled out for a not that great target. Can honestly see an attempt to score 300 in 60 overs coming up, then Stokes will declare

Not really that much need to rush though ? Two days plus two sessions left...

Who is really on top here ? Generally you'd say the side batting first , with even a minuscule lead , has the advantage with the other team having to bat last : but if England's main spinner is seriously handicapped - not so good.

Best chance may be getting Moeen to duck into a Cummins bouncer so he can be subbed out and we send an SOS for Rehan Ahmed

Been a gentle four overs from Cummins and Hazlewood.

We'll see Lyon very soon...

alfie wrote:Sorry but I can't resist this :  We have just seen Australia lose their last four for 14 trying to play Bazball against an England side that had been in the field for 4 sessions. Might not a more considered approach have yielded , say , another thirty runs ?

Perhaps this compensates for a certain controversial innings closure

I don't think there was much Bazball from Boland in his dismissal as he reacted like a petrified rabbit caught in the headlights!

And btw, Boland so far has had a terrible game and been an appalling replacement for the ever reliable Starc in both this Australian side and in Joey's comp!

guildfordbat wrote:

alfie wrote:Sorry but I can't resist this :  We have just seen Australia lose their last four for 14 trying to play Bazball against an England side that had been in the field for 4 sessions. Might not a more considered approach have yielded , say , another thirty runs ?

Perhaps this compensates for a certain controversial innings closure

I don't think there was much Bazball from Boland in his dismissal as he reacted like a petrified rabbit caught in the headlights!

And btw, Boland so far has had a terrible game and been an appalling replacement for the ever reliable Strac in both this Australian side and in Joey's comp!

Yes I think Boland's promotion above Hazlewood might be temporary ! Is he in your PJ team , Guildford ?

But remains to be seen what he will do with the ball in this innings so I do not intend to speak ill of him ... Mindful of jinxes

alfie wrote:

VTR wrote:Get ready for another declaration, it's either that or they are bowled out for a not that great target. Can honestly see an attempt to score 300 in 60 overs coming up, then Stokes will declare

Not really that much need to rush though ? Two days plus two sessions left...

Who is really on top here ? Generally you'd say the side batting first , with even a minuscule lead , has the advantage with the other team having to bat last : but if England's main spinner is seriously handicapped - not so good.

Best chance may be getting Moeen to duck into a Cummins bouncer so he can be subbed out and we send an SOS for Rehan Ahmed

There definitely isn't a rush, I'm just saying what I could see them doing!

Oh, hello cricket. It's barely even spitting, but they're off. Probably take three hours to get back on.

Perhaps not a bad time for Australia to regroup. Nothing really happened in that mini-session with the ball.

I have never seen such a fielding arrangement when I saw the highlight clip of Khawaja being yorked by Robinson. The commentator suggested that Khawaja was probably spooked by so many fieldsmen staring at him at short range.

Maybe the risk of lightning was the reason why everybody was brought off at the first sign of spitting?

alfie wrote:

guildfordbat wrote:

alfie wrote:Sorry but I can't resist this :  We have just seen Australia lose their last four for 14 trying to play Bazball against an England side that had been in the field for 4 sessions. Might not a more considered approach have yielded , say , another thirty runs ?

Perhaps this compensates for a certain controversial innings closure

I don't think there was much Bazball from Boland in his dismissal as he reacted like a petrified rabbit caught in the headlights!

And btw, Boland so far has had a terrible game and been an appalling replacement for the ever reliable Strac in both this Australian side and in Joey's comp!

Yes I think Boland's promotion above Hazlewood might be temporary ! Is he in your PJ team , Guildford ?

But remains to be seen what he will do with the ball in this innings so I do not intend to speak ill of him ... Mindful of jinxes

Yes. Boland only came in as a late sub for me when the Australian selectors bizarrely sought to replace the irreplaceable Starc.

Duty281 wrote:Oh, hello cricket. It's barely even spitting, but they're off. Probably take three hours to get back on.

Perhaps not a bad time for Australia to regroup. Nothing really happened in that mini-session with the ball.

Rubbish time to go off for England and perfect for Australia. Duckett and Crawley were looking very composed and wisely taking the singles. Just letting that lead tick up and the new ball get a few overs on it.

The openers will need to start again whereas the Aussie bowlers can regroup.

I expect we'll see Lyon very early once again.

VTR wrote:

alfie wrote:

VTR wrote:Get ready for another declaration, it's either that or they are bowled out for a not that great target. Can honestly see an attempt to score 300 in 60 overs coming up, then Stokes will declare

Not really that much need to rush though ? Two days plus two sessions left...

Who is really on top here ? Generally you'd say the side batting first , with even a minuscule lead , has the advantage with the other team having to bat last : but if England's main spinner is seriously handicapped - not so good.

Best chance may be getting Moeen to duck into a Cummins bouncer so he can be subbed out and we send an SOS for Rehan Ahmed

There definitely isn't a rush, I'm just saying what I could see them doing!

You never know with Stokes ! And all jokes aside the good old British weather may yet reduce the available overs for the game...we have the first (predicted) interruption already.

Looking at these early overs the openers don't seem to be in overdrive yet. Will we see a slightly more measured approach to this innings , perhaps ? Suppose the ideal road map would see England bat about half way through tomorrow and leave Australia 400 or so to chase. But that might be asking for perfection...

Gillespie opining that England might set Australia 250 and declare.

Such idiocy wouldn't surprise me, particularly with the chance of rain around on day five.

VTR wrote:

alfie wrote:

VTR wrote:Get ready for another declaration, it's either that or they are bowled out for a not that great target. Can honestly see an attempt to score 300 in 60 overs coming up, then Stokes will declare

Not really that much need to rush though ? Two days plus two sessions left...

Who is really on top here ? Generally you'd say the side batting first , with even a minuscule lead , has the advantage with the other team having to bat last : but if England's main spinner is seriously handicapped - not so good.

Best chance may be getting Moeen to duck into a Cummins bouncer so he can be subbed out and we send an SOS for Rehan Ahmed

There definitely isn't a rush, I'm just saying what I could see them doing!

You never know with Stokes ! And all jokes aside the good old British weather may yet reduce the available overs for the game...we have the first (predicted) interruption already.

Looking at these early overs the openers don't seem to be in overdrive yet. Will we see a slightly more measured approach to this innings , perhaps ? Suppose the ideal road map would see England bat about half way through tomorrow and leave Australia 400 or so to chase. But that might be asking for perfection...

Hosing it down now by the looks of things. I expect this will be a frustrating interruption followed by a slower outfield. The ball potentially getting damp makes bowling spin significantly tougher for Lyon though.

Some sympathy for Guildford in having super sub Boland for the irreplaceable Starc...

And to my consternation I have just realised that I ended up with Boland too ! Had thought I'd have had Cummins as usual but must have had a brain fade

guildfordbat wrote:

alfie wrote:

guildfordbat wrote:

alfie wrote:Sorry but I can't resist this :  We have just seen Australia lose their last four for 14 trying to play Bazball against an England side that had been in the field for 4 sessions. Might not a more considered approach have yielded , say , another thirty runs ?

Perhaps this compensates for a certain controversial innings closure

I don't think there was much Bazball from Boland in his dismissal as he reacted like a petrified rabbit caught in the headlights!

And btw, Boland so far has had a terrible game and been an appalling replacement for the ever reliable Strac in both this Australian side and in Joey's comp!

Yes I think Boland's promotion above Hazlewood might be temporary ! Is he in your PJ team , Guildford ?

But remains to be seen what he will do with the ball in this innings so I do not intend to speak ill of him ... Mindful of jinxes

Yes.  Boland only came in as a late sub for me when the Australian selectors bizarrely sought to replace the irreplaceable Starc.

He's a Victorian you know. How dare they!

Give me a kookaburra over a helmuted honeyeater any day. Waratah over common heath. Also platypus over a Leadbeater's bloody possum!

Just ask Tino... wherever he's hiding.
He's the bird/flower/animal/arachnid/anthropologist expert... as well as our local herpetologist.
He's scared of Boland too... even though he was also forced to pick him. Like most of the rest of us.