England's Summer of Cricket 2023, Featuring The Ashes

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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.

And then Brooks out before lunch.

Brook gone no patience this current England side, tie them up for a over or two and they’ll do something rash

Another good take from the Australians. Felt like a wicket was coming, but thought it'd be Stokes, not Brook. It's a bit of a hammer blow for England, puts Australia in front, and if they get another in these few overs before lunch then they're into the tail.

Talk of dark cloud and favourable bowling conditions tomorrow. Could be true enough, but looks as though Australia will be starting their chase in the pleasant weather of today.

compelling and rich wrote:Brook gone no patience this current England side, tie them up for a over or two and they’ll do something rash

Don't think that was particularly rash from Brook - was a rank delivery, deserved to be put away, he's just executed it badly

king_carlos wrote:Back on the Test at hand. Stokes is actually trying to bat by the looks of things, which is a welcome change. Feet moving well, getting inline, playing straight.

Bit odd considering how Root came out of the dressing room this morning though.

Bairstow out in the last over and England are in big trouble

But a rather nervy review gets him out of trouble!

All go up next ball again, it's all happening

I didn't think that was good in real time, but I didn't think Smith's was either. Thankfully Bairstow gets reprieved. And he only just reviewed.

But this one's close! No, says the umpire. And Australia don't review. Great drama at the end.

And Bairstow gets to lunch. Palpable relief. Not been too impressed with the umpires in this test - thankfully Joel Wilson will be here for tests four and five to deliver an umpiring masterclass.

Effective 162-5 at lunch. Australia probably one wicket away from being right on top and almost got it. England still probably 100 or so short of a good total. Just got a bit too negative after Root went and Australia turned the screw.

I thought that first one that was not out on review would be hitting. Huge reprieve for England in the context of the game. Nervy times. Australia back in the ascendency. It's been a brilliant Test match.

king_carlos wrote:I thought that first one that was not out on review would be hitting. Huge reprieve for England in the context of the game. Nervy times. Australia back in the ascendency. It's been a brilliant Test match.

Yes a lot of ebb and flow - a good sign for the summer ahead I'd suggest!

Agree with GSC's comment there - think England, and bizarrely Stokes, went a bit into their shell when Root got out. Not so much in terms of big shots, but rotating strike. Hope to see that change after lunch

Overall, another amazing session in an amazing test. All tests should be played in England, it's the most entertaining country (provided the rain stays away and the umpires don't have light meters) by a distance for test cricket.

England came out hard looking to dominate. They did, initially, but Australia pulled it right back with clever bowling and field placements, which they deserve credit for. Pope got one that was unplayable. Root's dismissal was disappointing. Sometimes I think he's good enough to play in a non-Bazball, more classical manner. But then I look and see that he's been averaging 67 under Stokes/McCullum and I shelve that thought. Brook will be frustrated, as he once again got himself in, and once again got out without scoring heavily...although the dismissal was more orthodox this time round!

Now we've got Bairstow and Stokes, both making nervy starts and looking very scratchy and tentative. Lead is just 162 and there's not much batting to come. I still think England need 300+ to be favourites on this. 250-299 puts it in the balance. Below 250 and it should be Australia's.

Australia's chase should be starting tonight, or in progress tonight, whatever happens, and it's currently forecast to be light cloud/sunshine, so the batting conditions should be good past the new ball phase.

Tomorrow, well the BBC saying it'll rain from early morning until around 13:00/14:00, with some sunshine after; the Met Office slightly more optimistic in that they believe the rain will cease by 11:00/12:00. Should be a result, then, and Australia might not have to bat too much in the same circumstances that Crawley and Duckett got out to yesterday.

Expect Bairstow and Stokes to come out fast after lunch. So either loads of runs or loads of wickets in the first hour.

Another pulsating session , eh ? Fast scoring - but lost one too many wickets. I had Australia in front of the game at the start and they still are : England need a partnership.

Seems perverse to criticize Root considering how well he's played - but that was a terrible waste of his wicket. He - and Brook especially - had the Lyon on the run already ; there was no need to charge down after him. Could have just milked singles and hit the ball that was in the right place . Heaven knows they were well ahead of the clock !

And yes , I acknowledge he played what looked like "risky" shots earlier on - and by doing so took command of the situation. But that fast start meant there was no need to keep doing anything spectacular (and to be honest I thought he had already throttled back a bit , though still staying busy)

Brook's was just a bad shot. But for two players to get near fifty at run a ball and neither go on is the sort of thing that encourages the opposition ; and I fear this next session might be very nervy watching for England fans.

Pope really did get a peach , did he not !

Duty281 wrote:Lead is just 162 and there's not much batting to come. I still think England need 300+ to be favourites on this. 250-299 puts it in the balance. Below 250 and it should be Australia's.

Pretty much my thoughts on the potential chases, Duty.

I think anything over 250 will be tough but gettable. Even with the sun out a bit more today it has been swinging and seaming more. So hopefully a bit more for the seamers to work with even with them being slower than the Aussie quartet.

I think Stokes is doing the right thing by attacking Boland. You need to knock him off that length he loves. Boland is significantly better against right-handers than lefties so far in his career too. So if Stokes is going to attack a bowler to push the field back then that's the matchup.

I just hope they don't get carried away against all the bowlers.

Cummins bringing himself back on. He's been the pick of the Aussie bowlers by a distance so I'd say that's the right move in this critical phase.

That first 4 is an absolute mow Benjamin.

The second is slightly better though.

Lead up to 190. Don't throw it away!

Lead over 200. It's normally around now a wicket falls, because neither team are allowed to take control for too long!

Aussies have got the ball changed.

Lead over 200 - change of ball coming here for the Aussies though.

Duty and Olly seem to be thinking very similar thoughts here regarding the ball change...

Is this the loudest we've heard the Hollies? Head and Lyon have dealt with it pretty well to be fair. Head especially has been coping it all Test.

Yep, there's the wicket. Haven't liked the way England have reverse-swept Lyon in this test; none have looked comfortable or in control doing it.

Erasmus must have broken a world record there for time taken to make a LBW decision. Wonder if Australia would have reviewed had he say no, bearing in mind they only have one left?

And so the test swings again...

210/7 , Stokes gone...reckon that is just about game over.

alfie wrote:210/7 , Stokes gone...reckon that is just about game over.

Game over is a bit much Alfie! Aussies certainly on top now though. England need to try cobble someway to 250+ here

Cummins has bowled beautifully today

alfie wrote:210/7 , Stokes gone...reckon that is just about game over.

For who

And swings firmly in Australia's direction, now. Just as Stokes seemed to be building to another grand Ashes innings, Cummins pins him LBW. Surprised it was just umpire's call, to be honest.

Cummins, quiet in the first innings, but as I thought England couldn't keep him quiet twice in a row. 3/58 thus far. Brilliant stuff.

Can the tail get England to 250+?

alfie wrote:210/7 , Stokes gone...reckon that is just about game over.

Eh? Calm yourself, dear fellow!

But...um...I reckon 30 extra runs could have come in handy, don't you?

Australia favourites, but definitely not game over. What if they start badly and are 30-3, well within the realms of possibilty

England need at least one of Robinson, Ali or Broad to chip in 30+.

Wasn't there a very pivotal ball change in the 2019 series too, have a feeling it was Edgbaston again.

Oh my, Alex Carey is hearing things now. What a way to lose the last review.

And yes, Soul, there was.

There is a bit more there for the bowlers today , I think. So I suppose it may be the bats are going to find it a bit tougher - as the fact that they are all getting set but no one going on might suggest. But a chase of less than 250 really ought to be almost a stroll for Australia.

If England had a Swann instead of a handicapped Moeen , maybe. But hard to see how they can knock the Aussies over cheaply with the resources they have today.

Cummins has produced a couple of great deliveries when needed today. Stokes had the look of one who might just produce another super innings today (always like it when he starts carefully and works up the gears) but losing him then has surely cooked the English goose...unless we have a Moeen miracle or a Nighthawk special coming up...

Good Golly I'm Olly wrote:

alfie wrote:210/7 , Stokes gone...reckon that is just about game over.

Game over is a bit much Alfie! Aussies certainly on top now though. England need to try cobble someway to 250+ here

Cummins has bowled beautifully today

Ssh , Olly...

Trebell isn't on duty so I have to try...

alfie wrote:

Good Golly I'm Olly wrote:

alfie wrote:210/7 , Stokes gone...reckon that is just about game over.

Game over is a bit much Alfie! Aussies certainly on top now though. England need to try cobble someway to 250+ here

Cummins has bowled beautifully today

Ssh , Olly...

Trebell isn't on duty so I have to try...

I'd probably notice if this were the case!

Duty281 wrote:

alfie wrote:210/7 , Stokes gone...reckon that is just about game over.

Eh? Calm yourself, dear fellow!

But...um...I reckon 30 extra runs could have come in handy, don't you?

I knew you'd be back with that !

Need more than another 30 I think.

Needed someone to convert a start really. Root and Brooks rather gave it away

That's very poor of Labuschagne to claim that. Obviously grassed, and he definitely would have known.

But Hazlewood keeps the short ball attack going and claims Moeen. Very good short bowling. As Taylor notes, Hazlewood is fresh as we've barely seen him this innings.

Lead 236. Can Broad roll back the years with the bat?

Mo gone now and it's looking like a pretty tame end

Slightly peculiar that Cummins still seems to be anxious not to give away runs...most past Australian sides would just be going for the throat here.

But I guess England have been getting themselves out a lot in this match when kept even a little quiet so probably makes sense. Does maybe suggest they're not keen on chasing too many more though.

It's worked anyway as Moeen is caught down the leg side...

236 lead . Looks well short.

Has Erasmus just given that because Australia have no reviews left? This is rubbish umpiring.

Do we think international umpiring standards have declined alongside the advent of DRS? There were of course errors before DRS, no doubting that, but they seem to be more commonplace now.

I don't think that's an especially poor call at all. Hearing or seeing small contact like that on the gloves from that angle isn't exactly straightforward.

alfie wrote:Slightly peculiar that Cummins still seems to be anxious not to give away runs...most past Australian sides would just be going for the throat here.

But I guess England have been getting themselves out a lot in this match when kept even a little quiet so probably makes sense. Does maybe suggest they're not keen on chasing too many more though.

It's worked anyway as Moeen is caught down the leg side...

236 lead . Looks well short.

Not finished yet though are they? It's going to be tricky for Australia to chase anything over 250. i just have that ominous feeling they could lose early wickets in the chase yet again and the weather will be closing in at some stage tomorrow as England pile on the pressure with the crowd behind them. Plus the new tech guy on the DRS doesn't give me all that much confidence either despite Australia assisting with burning all their reviews.

Duty281 wrote:Has Erasmus just given that because Australia have no reviews left? This is rubbish umpiring.

Do we think international umpiring standards have declined alongside the advent of DRS? There were of course errors before DRS, no doubting that, but they seem to be more commonplace now.

Erasmus has been a bit hesitant and unsure today , hasn't he ? Took ages to give Bairstow out (would have been interesting to see if Australia would have chanced their last referall then !) And has got a few wrong over the match. He's basically one of the better umpires , I think . But he's not getting any younger...

Robinson had some genuinely dire dismissals batting early in his Test career for a guy with a F-C century. More recently he's chipped in with some useful small contributions though. Not least here. That 250 lead is in sight.

Duty281 wrote:Has Erasmus just given that because Australia have no reviews left? This is rubbish umpiring.

Do we think international umpiring standards have declined alongside the advent of DRS? There were of course errors before DRS, no doubting that, but they seem to be more commonplace now.

I think it's a sign that certain umpires are getting older.

Erasmus was a very good umpire even a couple of years back but age seems to be catching up with him now. Dharmasena, Dar and the three English umpires are still better than the majority of the umpires we had to put up with in the past

Duty281 wrote:Do we think international umpiring standards have declined alongside the advent of DRS? There were of course errors before DRS, no doubting that, but they seem to be more commonplace now.

Have they declined? Or is it that as technology improves, we see more mistakes than we did before?

Lead edged over 250. Welcome bit of tail wagging ; though it does rather suggest conditions still aren't too bad for the batsmen.

Nice to see Robinson looking more like a useful number nine than the rank ferret he has tended to display in previous Ashes Tests

Robinson holes out. Get ready for Broad to try and send one into the crowd

Marky wrote:

Duty281 wrote:Do we think international umpiring standards have declined alongside the advent of DRS? There were of course errors before DRS, no doubting that, but they seem to be more commonplace now.

Have they declined? Or is it that as technology improves, we see more mistakes than we did before?

Hard to say. But I guess we have more " confirmed" errors now ; where once it would have been more "Was that decision correct ?" ...but no one quite sure.

The nonchalance of Jimmy Anderson to just casually reverse sweep Lyon for four, first ball

Robinson's been averaging over 20 under Bazball. I noted his improvement during the first innings, and that was another useful contribution to the cause.

Jimmy's getting quite a kind field!

Duty281 wrote:Robinson's been averaging over 20 under Bazball. I noted his improvement during the first innings, and that was another useful contribution to the cause.

Jimmy's getting quite a kind field!

Yes all the more reason the first innings declaration was so stupid...Robinson a legitimately decent bat, particularly when supporting someone on 120*...