England's Summer of Cricket 2023, Featuring The Ashes

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Well done to Scott Boland, a very tidy job and added precious runs.

Another fantastic day in a fantastic test in a fantastic rivalry in a fantastic sport. Fantastic.

And just as the pattern has been throughout, when one team looked to be taking control, it just got yanked back. And it was Broad yanking it back with a brilliant spell. Labuschagne is the new Warner, as far as Broad's concerned.

174 to get. Seven wickets left. Still favouring Australia, but it'll be interesting to see how the bowling conditions are after the expected rain tomorrow. If they're anything close to what England's top order had to face yesterday, it could be curtains for Australia, but I'm not anticipating it to be that bad.

Will almost certainly be a delayed start. Hopefully the BBC's more pessimistic forecast doesn't come to fruition.

It'll probably go to the wire, that's the way the whole test has been shaping up. Might even be a tied test...

When the going gets tough, the tough get going. Need to remain focused and energized.

I actually think Tongue has had a good start here despite going for a few. The extra pace seems to be getting something out the pitch.

Warner is looking good though. His feet have been moving well the last couple of Tests despite him not going on. That's the key to him dealing with that around the wicket angle which he's struggled with due to it cramping him for space.

Reading on the text that England have dropped two chances......

Cost them the last game....Maybe they should get the Stop the oil protestors fielding they seem more clinical.

Ohh Boy...just turned on to see Eng putting Aus in and bowling with 5 seamers on a green pitch, rain in air and overcast skies and half a century opening stand.
If Anderson can't get wickets here:
a- He screws me in Tipping competition
b- He should retire

On another note Stokes ready to send a whatsapp message
Missing you Moeen  

Khawaj is the best puller of the ball that's marginally short to not really short but just length...and a pretty safe one...given that he rolls his writs and keeps it completely on the ground

Better second over from Tongue. England will be getting concerned they've not broken through yet. Anderson and Broad have both bowled some good stuff but no reward yet and with those chances going down this is not the morning they'd have wanted after winning the toss.

Benaud always used to say you judge a "send in" choice at stumps , not at lunch. So will wait and see what happens. But definitely looking like Australia's session as we draw close to luncheon...

50 for Warner.

He has been threatening a big score and, with the help of Pope, he might just deliver. Last time he scored 50, he went on to make 200...

Fifty for Warner ... One big stroke of luck but he's done well : pulled several times successfully. With him scoring quite briskly, Khawaja can play his own more passive game without worrying too much about the run rate.

king_carlos wrote:I actually think Tongue has had a good start here despite going for a few. The extra pace seems to be getting something out the pitch.

Warner is looking good though. His feet have been moving well the last couple of Tests despite him not going on. That's the key to him dealing with that around the wicket angle which he's struggled with due to it cramping him for space.

But he also has to get a few - or at least one soon! We can't afford just the going for.

guildfordbat wrote:

king_carlos wrote:I actually think Tongue has had a good start here despite going for a few. The extra pace seems to be getting something out the pitch.

Warner is looking good though. His feet have been moving well the last couple of Tests despite him not going on. That's the key to him dealing with that around the wicket angle which he's struggled with due to it cramping him for space.

But he also has to get a few - or at least one soon! We can't afford just the going for.

MINE!

What a vital wicket that is for England. Doesn't salvage the session but Tongue leaves his mark

Not the best leave from Khawaja...

England needed that. Good ball from Tongue , mind. Still a good session for Australia but let's see what happens after lunch...

Aus have won 2 materially big sessions is a row, inspite of the wicket of Khawaja to last ball
The last session of last test won them the game and this one will go a long way in setting the foundation given they have ended 73-1 and not 50-4.

Even the one wicket a judgment error . Eng have not used conditions well and have almost done an India in WTC final D1-session-1 here.

Warner's runs are worth in gold and he is still going.

Extra pace has made a bit more happen on another slow pitch. Might make Starcs selection inspired.

Hasn't really swung so far despite optimal conditions. Warners gotten a life but has generally been proactive. Khawaja did a job in dropping anchor

Nervy lunch for Labuschagne after the last test

Well that's something at least. Khawaja hasn't looked good all innings, but he ground it out for the most part and has done a respectable job. He's left well, so he'll have been very surprised about that one nipping back.

But still Australia's session by a distance. Obviously the right decision to bowl first, but by and large the bowling and the fielding hasn't backed it up. Broad comfortably the best bowler, however Robinson has been a massive concern given how early it is in the test and how low-energy he already looks.

Really liked Warner's innings and how's he played. Positive all over, good with his footwork and playing some strong scoring shots...and yet England should have had him. If he goes on to a century, Pope's drop could be a defining moment of the test.

Pitch has been strange. Everyone expecting more pace and bounce and yet it's been fairly slow and low, although not as much as Edgbaston. Haven't seen spin yet, but I think Lyon will enjoy bowling last on this. 100 consecutive tests for Lyon, also, that's phenomenal for a bowler. First bowler to do it.

Broad v Labuschagne after lunch...

Anderson was swinging it pretty big in both his spells. The others are wobble ball bowlers these days so not really trying to.

Jimmy seemed to be going back to how he bowled a lefties a few years ago. Over the wicket, taking it away from them, then trying to bring one back with his natural shape. I actually thought he bowled well but without a wicket again.

England really needed that breakthrough before lunch and Tongue found it. The extra pace certainly seeming to help.

That Khawaja dismissal could play a part going forward. He has left so well throughout the start of the series, hopefully that dismissal will out a bit of doubt in his mind

I was actually happy enough with both Broad and Anderson. They had no luck. Warner generally selected his strokes well and Khawaja just defended. Tongue indeed went for runs but has the break...Really need Robinson to step up after lunch though.

Pitch slower than expected. Bit of nibble but nothing outrageous. Far too early to say how it will play as the game goes on.

But obviously 73 in overcast conditions is a fine start. And very considerate of Usman to get out right on lunch so Marnus doesn't have to start his innings twice

Very interesting Broad isn't getting the ball immediately after lunch.

Tongue making things happen. And rain arrives

Rain again. Hopefully another brief break ?

That was a good over from Tongue to Marnus just then

Was it even worth coming off for that?

They don't know it's going to blow through when coming off though... 

Jimmy's been back on it today I've felt but just hasn't got the wickets to show for it yet. Lots of good deliveries, beating the bat but not taking the edge. It happens sometimes, frustratingly.

Hope that isn't too serious for Pope.

Been good from England in this session, but not finding the wicket.

England creating plenty but can't find the breakthrough

Don't like the look of Pope walking straight off feeling his shoulder...

Not really England's lucky day so far. Won the toss but not much else going their way.

Marnus hasn't looked exactly comfortable yet , but Warner seems to have perfected the art of narrowly missing the "danger" balls and meeting the rest very nicely . Big innings for him here and so far he's played very well.

excellent from tongue this, need another quick one now

Some more reward as Tongue bowls Warner.

Opening now for England

That is deserved and then some from Tongue. Really good spell from him and he's added the extra dimension that England lacked in Birmingham.

Oh that's a beauty !

Nothing Warner could do with that...

Very good innings , albeit he had a bit of luck , comes to an end.

Tongue in the groove...

Now even seeing Robinson back on before Broad.

This is the battle. The main battle. England v the sublime duo, who weren't so sublime in Birmingham.

Warner carried the scoring, might be a good time to get a squeeze on these two

not sure about robinson on straight away, id have liked to see anderson for at least another 1 if he could, get his line at both right handers

Really need Robinson to come to the party in this spell. The two big guns at the crease so this is a very important period of play : get one of these early and England might get closer to what they wanted after inserting Australia.

Ball is doing more lately. Or has been for Tongue and Anderson. But Smith has started ominously well...

Fair to say Smith is looking in great touch. What a gorgeous drive that was off Broad's first ball.

Broad comes back but Smith reviews

Broad back now after a fine spell from Tongue. He's not been overbowled today , looked pretty good earlier.

But Smith produces a couple of lovely drives to greet him ! Think he is on for one of his big ones today...

GSC wrote:Broad comes back but Smith reviews

Strange one. Definite sound, but definitely not out on review.

Smith needs to bat positively is what I thought last game
and he learnt the lesson

There was proverbial daylight between bat and ball ....dunno how umpire gave it

What on earth was that noise ? No wonder he was given out on field ...but drs corrects the decision.

Good comeback from Broad though.

Doesn't sound great for Pope's chances of coming back

GSC wrote:Doesn't sound great for Pope's chances of coming back

Yeah, the ECB releasing a statement likely means England are going to be a batsman light for the test. Seems silly England can't replace him for that, but if he were concussed they could.

Robinson barely getting up to 80 I'm afraid. OK pace isn't everything ; but he's bowled a deal quicker than that this last year and has looked more dangerous for it. Not sure why he's slipped back ? He was taking wickets for fun in the CC before he got that "minor niggle" that sidelined him for a few weeks : perhaps it's still left him short of full fitness.

I'm which case should he be playing here ?

Moeen's finger , Pope's shoulder (plus all the injured pace bowlers )...

Who shot that blasted albatross ?

Labuschagne and Smith getting in the groove now. Might be a long afternoon

Labuschagne now beginning to score after a tough start. Broad getting an LBW shout right at the end, not doing enough though. Solid call not to review.

Australia's run-rate nearly four. 142/2...very strong position on this.

Oh dear, Stokes serving up rubbish and overstepping twice.

50 partnership already between these two.

Duty281 wrote:

Australia's run-rate nearly four.

Or in the Bazball era, Australia's run-rate isn't even 4 an over, so quite slow

Both bats into gear now...and Stokes off with the supply of no balls again...

Pitch certainly not quite what both captains expected, I think : but after that good opening stand Australia are threatening to get into a very strong position today.

KP having a bit of a go at the bowling at the moment. Not sure that's totally fair : reckon it was quite good earlier and arguably unlucky ; but Robinson and Stokes aren't looking very menacing now.

KP_fan will doubtless be on with a "where is Moeen" post shortly...