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.

Labuschagne gets a proper edge...but goes right between two fielders. It's becoming one of those mornings.

No, wait, Woakes gets Warner! Much needed. Warner couldn't resist. Another instance of him getting a start, but not a big score.

glare break does for warner

Duty281 wrote:Glare stopped play.

Is this Manchester or Mumbai ? Too much light ?! In England...

Goodbye Davey...

Better now though. Warner's been busy but never quite looked in complete control

Need at least one of these two before lunch

Chance at Smith already, don't think Wood picked it up though

Wood nearly pulling off the best catch in cricket history. Although if he'd been on the rope, not a few metres in, he would have got it.

So Broad won't get Warner today...

Timely break for Chris Woakes after the drink break : needed that. Here's Smith coming off a quiet game at Headingley.

and nearly gone ! Wood not quite in the right position at long leg . Action over !

Another start, another disappointment for David Warner. Woakes gets him before Broad could have comeback for another crack...

Woakes following his good previous match with an excellent spell here. Has been the pick of the bowlers so far.

Anderson bowled well early with no luck. Back now for another go. Still getting some movement. Wonder if he will get a reward in this spell ?

Big 20 minutes. England need to break this partnership, or it will have been a very good morning for Australia and they'll have a superb platform for the rest of the day.

Marnus looking the best he has in this series. Took his time, did have a few difficult moments, but has looked settled at last. Smith after that early moment, looking to bed in as well. The pitch seems to get flat as the ball is getting older. And Australia has a tail starting at 11. Not a bad toss for Cummins, to lose at all.

Its a good thing England has the spinning threat of Moeen Ali...

Smith not looking for lunch...really went after that over from Moeen ! Lively scoring from Australia this morning so although they've lost two wickets they'll be pretty happy with this session.

England will need to find a way to break this pair up or it could be a tough day as the ball gets older... Probably Wood with some short stuff after lunch ?

Hundred up . Almost Bazball batting

Australia's session.
When you win the toss & put the other side in....you expect to take atleats 3, possibly 4 wickets in morning session.

Deemed Dead Duck Warner got them bonus 30 runs and to a swift start.
I have noted many times that whenever Aus goes in a shell, they go behind in the game....and Manus / Smith have been the two most guilty batsmen digging a hole in this series for Aus.

Today they have been notably more positive...especially Smith.
And they have been helped by momentum given by Warner, pitch not being threatening...and Anderson looking tired and possibly terminally done.

This is a bat first pitch and test cricket has on it's own so many variables that if Eng has tried to be too clever and play for possible rain variables in putting Aus in.......they might end up creating a significant handicap for themselves on D1, itself.

Good session for Australia. Thought England bowled better in the first hour than the one wicket they got, but the second hour was much easier for batting with the sun out and the ball starting to soften.

Anderson was probably the pick of the bowlers, but almost unbelievably didn't get a wicket in either spell. Broad quite loose, and Wood not carrying the threat he did at Headingley, with his pace slightly down.

Going to need to break this partnership early after lunch or it's going to be a long day in the field.

Agree about the positive approach working for Australia. Not about Anderson though : I reckon he's bowled rather well.

As to the decision to field : we can judge it better at end of day. But in any case I do think England had to at least take possible reduced hours of play into account so won't condemn Stokes for taking a risk. Didn't Cummins also say he fancied a bowl ?

GSC wrote:Chance at Smith already, don't think Wood picked it up though

I think the commentators were harsh on Wood - he was running towards the ball immediately on Smith's shot, and just couldn't quite get across and back far enough. I wonder if it was a bit down wind, as it definitely carried a long way.

Don't agree England have tried to be too clever. They need to win and rain is a high possibility. Win toss and bat they would usually go for, but this was really the only option, even if it doesn't work out

Think England bowled well enough to have more reward but Australia will undoubtedly be happier to go in two down. Big session coming up in the series

alfie wrote:Agree about the positive approach working for Australia. Not about Anderson though : I reckon he's bowled rather well.

As to the decision to field : we can judge it better at end of day. But in any case I do think England had to at least take possible reduced hours of play into account so won't condemn Stokes for taking a risk. Didn't Cummins also say he fancied a bowl ?

Genuinely don't think KP_Fan watches games, just looks at scorecards and makes assertions based off of it. Anderson's bowled brilliantly this morning, albeit for no reward.

I think there was enough movement and threat to justify the decision at the toss. A bit unlucky but credit to the Aussies as well. Their top 3 is far better than England's which does tend to buy some 'luck' early on. Marnus played the moving ball well as he did on D1 at Headingley too. Whilst Smudge is as good as they come.

England need to break these two apart early in rhe afternoon session as Head followed by deep batting order will be very dangerous with a platform.

alfie wrote:Agree about the positive approach working for Australia. Not about Anderson though : I reckon he's bowled rather well.

As to the decision to field : we can judge it better at end of day. But in any case I do think England had to at least take possible reduced hours of play into account so won't condemn Stokes for taking a risk. Didn't Cummins also say he fancied a bowl ?

Assuming both teams were equiprobable to win at the start.
I think a bad decision after winning the toss skews that 70-30 in Aus favor if Eng cannot recover from here.
Ball is doing nothing for the medium pacer and unless the express quickie or spinner find some magic...Aus could send them on a leather hunt in session-2
I don't subscribe to taking a gambled defeat in order to get a lower probability win. A draw earned on even chance would still keep me 2-1 down and all to play for to draw the series in last test
Drawn series will let Aus take Ashes but in this round I go back with head held high, honors even and more WTC points in the kitty.

Re: Anderson...I don't think a side can keep a seamer who cannot bat for only 3 good overs with new ball on first morning.
He looked flat and done when he returned in first session itself

KP_fan wrote:

alfie wrote:Agree about the positive approach working for Australia. Not about Anderson though : I reckon he's bowled rather well.

As to the decision to field : we can judge it better at end of day. But in any case I do think England had to at least take possible reduced hours of play into account so won't condemn Stokes for taking a risk. Didn't Cummins also say he fancied a bowl ?

Assuming both teams were equiprobable to win at the start.
I think a bad decision after winning the toss skews that 70-30 in Aus favor if Eng cannot recover from here.
Ball is doing nothing for the medium pacer and unless the express quickie or spinner find some magic...Aus could send them on a leather hunt in session-2
I don't subscribe to taking a gambled defeat in order to get a lower probability win. A draw earned on even chance would still keep me 2-1 down and all to play for to draw the series in last test
Drawn series will let Aus take Ashes but in this round I go back with head held high, honors even and more WTC points in the kitty.

Re: Anderson...I don't think a side can keep a seamer who cannot bat for only 3 good overs with new ball on first morning.
He looked flat and done when he returned in first session itself

It would have been easier to just say 'I didn't watch the first session and made a load of assumptions', what you've said bares no resemblance to what's happened.

That's deserved, good bowling since lunch. Hopeless umpiring, but expected, thank heaven for the reviews.

Can England get on another roll and spark another Aussie collapse?

What a great review! And a great piece of bowling

Need those reviews with these umpires! How was that not given on field ?

That's one of the worst not out decisions I've seen in a long time.

Like the way Wood is attacking Head too. Nearly had him gloving that one to short leg...

121/3 still sound enough for Australia ; but to get Smith after he'd appeared settled is big. Lot of good bats to come ; but this pairing might be the key one.

Just the one scalp in that hour though was a big one. Need to start knocking them over a bit quicker than that I think. Marnus looks on for a big score now ; and Head has settled in...we all know how dangerous he can be.
Anderson still beating the bat but still not managing to find that edge. Must wonder when he's going to ever get another wicket...

England have put a bit of a squeeze on the scoring, trying to force a mistake. 147/3. Well poised. I know there's a lot of talk about Australia batting deep, and I know Marsh got a century in the last test, but the batting really isn't that strong from 6 down.

Not much happening for the pace men. Anderson keeping it tight but both bats well set now. Time for Moeen. He has a good record against Head , I believe ? But can't say I am very full of expectations...

At 171/3 Australia are pretty comfortable.

Settle in for the afternoon...

England have bowled well for the most part but no luck really.

I'm claiming that one

This review looks good to me, my finger was up straight away.

Wilson said no...ball-tracking says yes! Well done, Moeen.

Why are these awful umpires on the elite panel? Is there really no one better? Why can't umpires come from outside the test nations?

Fifty for Marnus

Batting looking easy now. Head not missing out on anything loose. England hoping for some magic from somewhere ; but this is looking like hard work as the day wears on.

Moeen has actually turned a couple : maybe he can ...yes he can !!!

Another great review and there's the magic

Maybe dicey on whether it was in line but just looked out again.

Here comes Lara, sorry Marsh

Yeah not getting much from the umpires so far...thank heavens for drs . That did look good live . But I am biased of course...

Now : can they nip another one out before tea ?

Early signs that Australia may regret not picking a spinner, although Murphy didn't look much cop anyway.

Get another in this short window before tea and England will believe they can bowl Australia out tonight.

There's certainly turn for D1.

An absolutely vital wicket for England. It was looking very sedate.

Australia have had a few collapses already this series.

Just about Australia's session again, getting Marnus out just keeping England in it.

England need a big evening session

Be awful handy if Jimmy did a wicket at some point

187/4, another good session. Labuschagne and Smith both seemed set for big scores, but LBWs from Moeen and Wood denied them. Keeping England well in contention.

Should be a good last session. Might be another collapse, or another Head/Marsh masterclass. Aussies lost their last six wickets in the space of 51 balls at Headingley, as well as those two sharp collapses at Lord's, including one where they went from 187/2 to 279ao.

If England can't bowl Australia out tonight then it's going to be incredibly difficult to force a win, unless the forecast showcases rapid improvement.

Moeen making his presence felt to even out another session that was running away from England. Massive wicket of Marnus right before tea. Labuschagne yet again, not going on. Did weather the early troubles, looked comfortable, reached his 50, and then got done in by Mo. Moeen did get a few to turn on a day one track. Murphy doesn't put as much revolutions as Moeen does, but Australia may have reasons to regret the balance of their bowling makeup.

msp83 wrote:Moeen making his presence felt to even out another session that was running away from England. Massive wicket of Marnus right before tea. Labuschagne yet again, not going on. Did weather the early troubles, looked comfortable, reached his 50, and then got done in by Mo. Moeen did get a few to turn on a day one track. Murphy doesn't put as much revolutions as Moeen does, but Australia may have reasons to regret the balance of their bowling makeup.

Mo's strength as a bowler has always been the revs he can get on a ball. It allows him turn off the pitch of course but also dip and drift. The latter two of which are so vital to posing a threat early in Tests. Looking at the ball tracking for that delivery the dip it gets is very apparent.

Because he came to bowling so late he's never fully utilised that natural ability to rip the ball by marrying it to accuracy and consistency. But the revs he gets are a point of difference to most English finger spinners.

As said in my post last night I do think spin is useful with OTs big outfields even if I don't think the re-laid square has spun as regularly since it was rotated it 90 degrees.

It was an absolutely vital breakthrough for England. Marnus has once again got in and got out.

Broady!

Head rather fell for that

Door wide open for England after some fairly sedate Australian batting, can they take advantage

600 for Broad! And the most wickets against Australia by an Englishman, surpassing Botham.

Plus a vital wicket in the context of this game. Nice catch in the deep.

Broad's the 5th man to reach 600 test wickets. Will there be a 6th, I wonder?

What an Ashes bowler Broad is. 600

Broad has had fantastic series. I haven't seen all of today's play but from what I have seen I'd say Woakes and Jimmy have bowled better than him. Yet he's got two vital wickets. He keeps delivering when England need him to this summer.

England have an opening...