England's Summer of Cricket 2023, Featuring The Ashes

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If Pope can't play I'd probably prefer Foakes coming in, taking the gloves, myself. Maybe:

1.Crawley 2.Duckett 3.Brook 4.Root 5.Bairstow 6.Stokes (c) 7.Foakes (wk)

It means a rejigging of the order but gets better players in the XI than Lawrence at 3 IMO. Particularly when I'm not that convinced by Lawrence against higher pace. Given the 15 man squad that isn't on the cards though.

If Wood is genuinely fit I'd like his pace in the attack but would probably ere towards the seam heavy attack again if the 4  below are good to go:

8.Woakes 9.Broad 10.Wood 11.Tongue

If Wood isn't fit then:

8.Moeen 9.Woakes 10.Broad 11.Tongue

Which does have a lot of batting depth on the upside.

That's typical Crawley. Still convinced he's James Vince in a mask.

44 useful runs, but the door ajar again.

The Aussies are well on top here, can see England getting skittled for about 150/160.

Brook looking more of a walking wicket than Moeen...

England are on the ropes here. Marsh and Boland applying excellent pressure.

Soul Requiem wrote:The Aussies are well on top here, can see England getting skittled for about 150/160.

stokes will hit the winning runs have some faith! its Headingly!

Brook looked like he could win the series on his own in his first innings before the freak dismissal, but has been steadily sliding backwards since. Might be the most worrying development in this series for England.

Good Golly I'm Olly wrote:

king_carlos wrote:Or, as looks evident, YJB post injury is struggling with the workload of keeping so they wanted him at 7. Which then makes sense to have Brook at 5.

If Stokes isn't bowling then I think he's the best suited to number 3 from England's middle order. By putting Stokes up the order you'd likely lose his phenomenal ability to bat with the tail though.

Stokes/Root/Bairstow/Brook/Foakes in some order between 3-7. Should've been for this game, just makes too much sense really

Agreed. That's precisely what I'd do for OT and The Oval.

Though it does bring the problem that England can at times look very limited as a 4 person bowling attack. Yes, they bowled very well as a quartet (1 over from Root) in the second innings here but they can look incredibly pedestrian in the old ball overs.

Wood can change that balance as seen here but realistically he isn't going to back it up 3 Tests on the bounce. Especially if it's a 4 man attack.

4 seamers and letting Root turn his arm over as they did at Lords is one option of course.

keep it up lads its working

Brook looking better after a tough start. Getting a couple of beautiful boundaries off Boland.

Aussies going to need to bring back Cummins and Starc for a few overs before lunch. They can't afford Brook and Root to still be there at lunch. Not sure about the value of bowling Murphy against these two, as Taylor seems quite insistent on.

Duty281 wrote:England are on the ropes here. Marsh and Boland applying excellent pressure.

Yep. Marsh probably by being a bit slower has found some swing which makes all the difference at his pace. It looks hard to time.

Vitally they are still scoring though. So it's not a case of the Aussie getting over after over looking threatening with few runs. Despite being under plenty of pressure that's a very handy 26 runs ticked off the chase since Crawley fell.

One issue for Australia is that they've lost two bowlers in Hazlewood and Green who can bowl very good short balls. There isn't that much between Boland and Hazlewood in pace but the latter has a terrific short ball. He's so accurate with it and gets good bounce. Green isn't as accurate with it at times but due to his height and decent pace they can be steepling. The attack at Lords had 4 seamers with very good short balls. That makes it much simpler to target someone such as Brook when he has a weakness.

Match very interestingly placed. Closing in on lunch, both sides have managed to hang in. Australia have had 3 wickets, England has 110 on the board at a good clip.
Ducket looked like getting out any moment, managed 23 before going LBW that was always on the cards, and he then went on to waste a review as well for no reason whatsoever. Mo did come out at 3, could eat up only 15 deliveries before being done in by a fine delivery from Starc. Crawley played some fine shots, edged a few, missed a few and just when he looked a bit comfortable, got out to a nothing shot to Marsh.
I have hardly ever seen Joe Root this edgey and uncomfortable, he's been making this pitch look like an absolute pit! But most importantly for England, he is still there...
Brook should play his shots, he's not going to grind the Australians into submission, just doesn't have the game for it. If Root is able to settle a bit more, Brook should just go for it. Rattle the Australians a bit...

Duty281 wrote:Brook looking better after a tough start. Getting a couple of beautiful boundaries off Boland.

Aussies going to need to bring back Cummins and Starc for a few overs before lunch. They can't afford Brook and Root to still be there at lunch. Not sure about the value of bowling Murphy against these two, as Taylor seems quite insistent on.

id understand more if we had a left hander in but with two right handers dont think offspin be all that great. as a englnad fan id much rather see murphy on than face starc and cummins for a brief spell before lunch

Root and Brook both play spin well too. Queue the wicket to Murphy just before lunch...

Boland isn't quite in the Hazelwood league. In fact in the 2 tests he has played, he has seemed a far-cry from the bowler we saw in home conditions. Can't recall his name, but they had brought a seemingly express quick to India. Is he not in the squad? And yes, Nessar should perhaps have been given a go... But coming into the series, Boland was just excellent that he demanded selection... Finally, think test batting lineups are figuring him out. Not get him settle on a length, seems to get rattled...

msp83 wrote:Boland isn't quite in the Hazelwood league. In fact in the 2 tests he has played, he has seemed a far-cry from the bowler we saw in home conditions. Can't recall his name, but they had brought a seemingly express quick to India. Is he not in the squad? And yes, Nessar should perhaps have been given a go... But coming into the series, Boland was just excellent that he demanded selection... Finally, think test batting lineups are figuring him out. Not get him settle on a length, seems to get rattled...

Neser is the other seamer in the squad. Released to Glamorgan to play CC. He's a really good bowler in English conditions.

Lance Morris is the quick you mention. Not in the squad here. He's quick but very raw.

Root seems to have settled at last. Brook has outscored him but doesn't look secure. He should keep going for it though...

king_carlos wrote:

msp83 wrote:Boland isn't quite in the Hazelwood league. In fact in the 2 tests he has played, he has seemed a far-cry from the bowler we saw in home conditions. Can't recall his name, but they had brought a seemingly express quick to India. Is he not in the squad? And yes, Nessar should perhaps have been given a go... But coming into the series, Boland was just excellent that he demanded selection... Finally, think test batting lineups are figuring him out. Not get him settle on a length, seems to get rattled...

Neser is the other seamer in the squad. Released to Glamorgan to play CC. He's a really good bowler in English conditions.

Lance Morris is the quick you mention. Not in the squad here. He's quick but very raw.

Is Morris injured? Kept him on in India, and in more seam friendly conditions he's not in? Hazelwood should be back for the next one I guess.

Oh Root, that was not a great ball to take on.

Oh bother, just as England looked to be cruising.

Aussies get one more before lunch and they're favourites - especially if it's Stokes.

Goodness! That's half the stuffing knocked out of England's chase! And just when he seemed good, Root Gloving one down the legside! Like Broad-Warner, Cummins is building his numbers over Root...

First hour 54-2
Second hour 54-2

Stokes off the mark with a nice boundary. That was there to be put away and Stokes did just that. But he should continue to bat like a test bat, get in, get set and then if the situation demands, go for it. With Root gone, its all down to the skipper.

eirebilly_01 wrote:First hour 54-2
Second hour 54-2

If they go at the same rate across the next couple of hours, that last half-hour will be very interesting!

I would have to say that was a shared session. 126 runs with the loss of 4 wickets.

I would say that England are favourites but I just cant get the bug off my back that they will collapse. They have not been good at closing out matches this series.

One positive is, I feel that England have adjusted to the match situation (dropping Brook down the order) which is something they have not yet done so this series. Adjusting to the match situation possibly cost them the first two tests.

So England need another 98 more to close this out, Australia need 6 more wickets to win the series. We should be able to beat the rain then, one way or another? Stokes doing the right thing by giving himself the best chance to get in, Brook doing the right thing by taking his chances though he hasn't always looked in control doing that.

Nice over from Murphy to finish. Nice for England, anyway! He shouldn't bowl after lunch. Wonder if there's a chance of Australia going all seam for test four, with both Green and Marsh playing (presuming Green is fit) and Murphy dropping out? Although Taylor wondered if Green would actually come in for Warner, which would certainly be interesting!

Anyway, 98 to get, six wickets left. England did lose four, but one was Moeen so the scorecard is slightly misleading, like it is when a nightwatchman is out. England currently favourites, but only two wickets from that tail and where everything could unravel. The wicket of Stokes carries enormous psychological weight - Australia need to get him in the first half hour after lunch.

Australia just doing enough to stay in it, would guess they need a burst of wickets sooner than later

98 needed 4 down, not bad, especially considering in that 4 is one of the tail

Do you think that the Aussies will select two all-rounders next test Duty? Its a fair observation to select Green over Warner but surely they would look at Harris before selecting a second all-rounder?

I refuse to allow myself any confidence as every time I do start to think "this is going OK" someone gets out...As soon as I saw that WINVIZ 73% I knew Root was doomed...

The computer no doubt still thinks England are on top. But the game isn't played on a computer.  I fear they lost one too many wickets in that session. Essentially gifting one to Marsh wasn't a great idea : Starc and Cummins really do have to do most of the heavy lifting but neither has been buried with overwork yet so they'll fancy having enough in the tank to finish the job. Can worry about the next match later : won't need to if they win !

Thought Starc in particular was excellent this morning.  Cummins got lucky with that Root wicket - uncharacteristic edgy knock from Joe today ended with a strangle...a huge blow to England. Not sure why Taylor was so insistent about Murphy ?

I am glad England are still in the hunt - but it just makes every ball such an agony to watch when you can't lose the feeling that disaster is just around the corner...

It's the hope that kills you  

eirebilly_01 wrote:Do you think that the Aussies will select two all-rounders next test Duty? Its a fair observation to select Green over Warner but surely they would look at Harris before selecting a second all-rounder?

I think they could play two all-rounders if they dropped Murphy. I doubt they would go for Green over Warner, but stranger things have happened.

Duty281 wrote:

eirebilly_01 wrote:Do you think that the Aussies will select two all-rounders next test Duty? Its a fair observation to select Green over Warner but surely they would look at Harris before selecting a second all-rounder?

I think they could play two all-rounders if they dropped Murphy. I doubt they would go for Green over Warner, but stranger things have happened.

Fair point regarding Murphy but they do not really have another good spin option other than Head. Warner is definitely under pressure and I can easily see Harris being selected next test.

eirebilly_01 wrote:Do you think that the Aussies will select two all-rounders next test Duty? Its a fair observation to select Green over Warner but surely they would look at Harris before selecting a second all-rounder?

Not sure Taylor really meant Green as a direct replacement for Warner ; as who then would open ?

He did suggest both all rounders could play ; but perhaps was thinking of having them as two of the front line bowlers - maybe in place of Boland ?

Will reconsider after this one is done.

Oh dear...

The benefit of having a keeper who is aware to stand leg side...

Another strangle down the leg side. A mammoth, crushing blow. Down to the last recognised pair.

That's the game.

Stokes strangled down the legside! Starc the man for Australia! After Root, now Stokes gets caught down the leg. Massive, massive blow for England! Stokes seemed in unnecessary haste after lunch. Should have left it to Brook to attack, he should just have stayed out there, even his presence could have unsettled the Australians. Now they will be double confident instead...

Barstow simply has to see this home now.

Only one score above 20 for Bairstow in the series so far. Now would be a good time to improve on that.

Warner has added to the list of Broad dismissals, but I don't think he has done too bad in the series to be dropped. Yes this match wasa complete failure, but he had a decent score and a couple of starts, and very importantly, a few crucial starts with Khawaja that played a big part in setting the game up for his side. Will be very surprised if they drop him now. Unless he's injured, I don't see Warner getting dropped for Green. If Green needs some more time to get himself back to full fitness give him the same and continue with Marsh. Marsh is in any case, not likely to last too long in the playing side, Green can waite for the time being in any case.

Bairstow, you plumb.

All over now.

And I can't say I'm too surprised at Bairstow's cheap dismissal. The pressure of keeping, and how bad his keeping is going (remember that one he left for Brook yesterday?), is undoubtedly scrambling his brain and not allowing him the freedom of 2022 with the bat.

Starc with four. Australia are more than back in it, as the commentator says. They're favourites. Brook or bust.

Brook needs to launch now; the tail won't last long against this pace attack.

Starc Again! Bairstow cleaned up!

No wonder Test cricket is dying if this is apparently the pinnacle.

Its all about how Brook can bat now, a mature approach required from him. This innings will tell if he is going to be a full test player.

Duty281 wrote:So history tells us that either Australia will win by a lot, or will be denied by some act of heroism with someone who has a 'B' to kick off either name - Ben Duckett, Brook, Bairstow, Ben Stokes, Broad, all in contention.

Right, Australia aren't going to win by a lot, so it must be heroism from Brook. Right?

The Stokes v Murphy, and Head and Aus tail runs, its likely to be decisive...

Even Boland's pace is getting up! Starc, having ripped the match open, may not have a lot more left in this spell, so its very important that Boland keeps it going so that Cummins can take over from Starc.

Wokes is somehow getting them away. Boland trying hard, but Australia need to take one out right now, and think Cummins should bring himself back on.
Oh here he's, taking over from Starc...