The summer of cricket 2020

[Soul Requiem]

Not sure why you chaps wanted Billings at five ?  I know Buttler has mislaid his run scoring the last two games ; but he's been in rare form over the previous few weeks and I don't think he needs protecting

Fifty for YJB

Zampa has started really well...

Were Stokes in the side he'd be batting five to consolidate the innings before upping the run rate himself and setting it up for a Buttler charge in the last 15 overs, that theory should stay the same with Billings in the side for. Hoping Jos proves me wrong however.

[Gooseberry]

Not sure why you chaps wanted Billings at five ?  I know Buttler has mislaid his run scoring the last two games ; but he's been in rare form over the previous few weeks and I don't think he needs protecting

Fifty for YJB

Zampa has started really well...

Were Stokes in the side he'd be batting five to consolidate the innings before upping the run rate himself and setting it up for a Buttler charge in the last 15 overs, that theory should stay the same with Billings in the side for. Hoping Jos proves me wrong however.

Kiss of death!

[eirebilly]

Another gifted wicket to Zampa, oh dear.

[Duty281]

Another tame dismissal to Zampa.

96/4 - going to have to be a monumental effort to win from here!

[Soul Requiem]

Not sure why you chaps wanted Billings at five ?  I know Buttler has mislaid his run scoring the last two games ; but he's been in rare form over the previous few weeks and I don't think he needs protecting

Fifty for YJB

Zampa has started really well...

Were Stokes in the side he'd be batting five to consolidate the innings before upping the run rate himself and setting it up for a Buttler charge in the last 15 overs, that theory should stay the same with Billings in the side for. Hoping Jos proves me wrong however.

Kiss of death!

Sometimes things are too obvious.

[alfie]

Think we might see a few overs of England taking the foot off the gas after that

Yes they've throttled back a bit. Don't really need to race after a productive first ten , but don't want to lose any more wickets just yet. Both have been quite restrained against Zampa - not the usual style for either of these fellows...

Ball seems to coming on to the bat for strokes all right. But these unequal boundaries and the strong breeze have them a bit cautious.

Oops ! Buttler gone to a sharp catch and Zampa has two : didn't need that. 96/4 in the nineteenth is a precarious situation...


Light relief ...world record for daft reviews

[eirebilly]

How on earth did Zampa think that was LBW?

[alfie]

Not sure why you chaps wanted Billings at five ?  I know Buttler has mislaid his run scoring the last two games ; but he's been in rare form over the previous few weeks and I don't think he needs protecting

Fifty for YJB

Zampa has started really well...

Were Stokes in the side he'd be batting five to consolidate the innings before upping the run rate himself and setting it up for a Buttler charge in the last 15 overs, that theory should stay the same with Billings in the side for. Hoping Jos proves me wrong however.

Kiss of death!

Sometimes things are too obvious.

Ha ... Yeah with hindsight I wish they'd followed your choices

I thought that was your idea . But I just felt with a good pitch and the new ball gone I'd as soon have Jos in with plenty of time to build and go hard later. Not happening today , sadly. But he's good at dealing with spin usually so I don't think it was a bad choice to leave the order undisturbed... Just didn't pay off today.

[eirebilly]

England still on course for a 300+ score here if Bairstow and Billings hang around for another 10 overs.

[eirebilly]

I miss oulde Trebell, anyone heard of him lately?

[alfie]

I miss oulde Trebell, anyone heard of him lately?

I haven't seen him on here for ages. Hope he's all right.

Times we could use his hexing powers

[Duty281]

Solid rebuild from the two Bs, but we're getting to the stage now where England will have to take the attack to Australia. Could equal a flurry of runs, might lead to a crash of wickets.

Going to need a decent contribution from the lower-order again!

[eirebilly]

I miss oulde Trebell, anyone heard of him lately?

I haven't seen him on here for ages. Hope he's all right.

Times we could use his hexing powers

He was the king of the Hex's

One of these two have to go now and attack i feel.

[eirebilly]

Nice 6 from Billings

[alfie]

Billings had enough of messing about...hits Starc nearly out of the ground

168/4. Time for a drink...

[king_carlos]

This is shaping up to be another really good game.

I'm feeling pessimistic that it's the sort of pitch that might look like a much better batting wicket if Warner and Finch get in on it. It's doing a bit for the spinners but doesn't seem to have many demons in it. England have what seem to be their first choice bowlers in the side though.

[king_carlos]

I'm actually glad that free hit only went for 2. The free hit for a bowler hitting the non-strikers stumps rule does irk me. It's one of those that's inconsequential until it happens in a World Cup final and the free hit goes for 6.

[Duty281]

Yes, England are going to need top spells from Archer and Rashid to win this game. If Wood can bowl like he did in the recent T20, that would be much obliged as well. Hopefully the cloud cover will aid Woakes and Curran.

Another 6 for Billings! Still a decent chance of making 300.

[Soul Requiem]

I'm actually glad that free hit only went for 2. The free hit for a bowler hitting the non-strikers stumps rule does irk me. It's one of those that's inconsequential until it happens in a World Cup final and the free hit goes for 6.

I'd be happy with it being called a wide to be honest; Finn was doing it so much at one point that something had to be done but not sure a free hit is the right way to go about it.

[alfie]

Billings another six off Starc...bit of a flick off the pads that one ! He's going up the gears after a careful start.

Bairstow has been contained lately by some good bowling. But England still have fifteen overs to bat so time to accelerate yet. Here comes Zampa again now...

[king_carlos]

This is impressive counter attacking from Billings off Starc. Finch has brought his best death bowler back early to try to reclaim some momentum and Billings has played him well.

I was a Billings skeptic as an England fan. I thought he was a good white ball player but not quite good enough to keep demanding chances when there is a backlog of good one day batsman. He has impressed from tough situations though.

As I typed that he got lucky with one spooned in the air I will add...

[eirebilly]

Billings on the charge now, great to see.

[alfie]

Fifty for Billings

Having a good white ball season... Looks as if he's after Zampa in this spell...

[eirebilly]

Excellent 50 for Billings

[king_carlos]

Zampa now being targeted. These two are doing what England largely haven't in this series. They are playing Australia's best bowlers well when they return for their 2nd and 3rd spells.

[Duty281]

With Stokes out of the team, Billings has really grasped his chance this summer. Another very good innings which has given England, at the very least, a fighting chance.

100 partnership.

[Gooseberry]

Century for Bairstow now. Must be Englands top batsman currently.

[alfie]

Outrageous six off Cummins to take YJB to his hundred

[eirebilly]

Excellent way to bring up the ton by Bairstow.

[Duty281]

Ton up for Bairstow with an exhibition of fast hands.

10 ODI tons! Only three players ahead of him for England - Root on 16, Morgan on 13, Trescothick on 12. Roy and Buttler on 9.

Follows up with a brutal 4.

[Soul Requiem]

Billings looks ten times the player who was given countless chances to impress, aside from that one Ireland game the pitches haven't been the easiest to get in on.

Very well played from Bairstow getting to a well deserved century, has been so smart in how he's constructed this innings, got the momentum in Englands direction with some early aggression and has consolidated well from there, the charge could be on.

[Gooseberry]

Billings has really grasped his chance this summer.

About to echo this ....

[eirebilly]

Bollix, soft out to Zampa again but well played Billings.

[Duty281]

Billings out, but England are in a decent position now. Important that Woakes and the rest of the lower order don't get bogged down, keep rotating the strike until 'set'.

[alfie]

Zampa again ! Billings got under that and the fun comes to an end...

Was a good knock though. Got England back on track in that partnership.

215/5 , twelve left. Still some bats left...

[JDizzle]

Ton up for Bairstow with an exhibition of fast hands.

10 ODI tons! Only three players ahead of him for England - Root on 16, Morgan on 13, Trescothick on 12. Roy and Buttler on 9.

Follows up with a brutal 4.

Trescothick’s record really is brilliant for the era he played in.

[alfie]

Mitch Marsh has done a good job for Australia today. Pretty economical in his fifth over. You couldn't say England have exactly targeted the fifth bowler.

And Zampa , despite taking some tap from Billings , has largely kept the brakes on too.

220/5. England need a good last ten.

[Gooseberry]

Turning into a car crash now!

[Duty281]

Ahhh Bairstow done for 112. Clever ball from Cummings.

Advantage Australia once more. Can T Curran repeat the trick of Sunday?

[eirebilly]

Oh dear, Bairstow out. What a great ball by Cummins though.

[alfie]

Rats ! Bairstow gone just as he looked like charging in the last ten...

On the other hand , that ball moved off the pitch like a fast off break ! Batting might not be that easy for Australia after all...

Brilliant bowling from Cummins ; but you don't see that movement from a seamer every day .

[Duty281]

Rats ! Bairstow gone just as he looked like charging in the last ten...

On the other hand , that ball moved off the pitch like a fast off break ! Batting might not be that easy for Australia after all...

Brilliant bowling from Cummins ; but you don't see that movement from a seamer every day .

Pitch has also noticeably slowed up since the match started, so I'm more optimistic about England's chances. Still need 275+ though which could be a tough ask.

[alfie]

Should note that was a wonderful innings from Bairstow , by the way. Terrific counter attack after the 0/2 start ; and then held things together as the other wickets fell. Took a remarkable delivery to do for him...

Pity though: if he'd stayed in I fancy he might have smashed a few in the death overs. Lot up to these two now.

Zampa 3/51 from his ten

Not bad for a flaming Vegan

[Gooseberry]

Ton up for Bairstow with an exhibition of fast hands.

10 ODI tons! Only three players ahead of him for England - Root on 16, Morgan on 13, Trescothick on 12. Roy and Buttler on 9.

Follows up with a brutal 4.

Trescothick’s record really is brilliant for the era he played in.

Indeed.

Genuine debate on whos the greatest England ODI bat. The only two who really stand out from previous generations (and this makes me feel old!) are Tresco and KP.

Root though has the most absurd average for and England player, still over 50 despite a terrible run recently. Bairstow is the only guy to come close to this with an average 47, but at nearly a run an over faster than Root has scored, and is now averaging 50 as an opener since being given that role.

When you look at that list of century scorers they have all played vastly more ODIs than Bairstow, although playing largely as an opener has given him the advantage in terms of time in an innings.

Morgans total number of runs in the format for an England player, even discounting the ones for Ireland, may well never be surpassed, but that has come with a ridiculous number of caps. Historically for England his average and SR certainly arent shabby, but arent in the Root/Bairstow class.


Controversial point made elsewhere.... with Roy out of form Billings has previously played for England as an opener in this format. I suspect England will continue to give Roy opportunities to play his way back into form in India/Sri Lanka , and it will be harder for Billings to force a case if hes sat on the bench.

[eirebilly]

Showing my age here but i would throw in Neil Fairbrother as one of England's finest ODI batsmen. He was one of the best finishers in the game back in the day when big scores were not the norm. Him and Australia's Michael Bevan were a joy to watch finish off games.

[king_carlos]

260/6 with 4 overs to go. Given Rashid, Wood and Archer can all wield the willow it's time to just swing at everything me thinks!

[Gooseberry]

Showing my age here but i would throw in Neil Fairbrother as one of England's finest ODI batsmen. He was one of the best finishers in the game back in the day when big scores were not the norm. Him and Australia's Michael Bevan were a joy to watch finish off games.

Hes not that old, he played a few games for England alongside Flintoff

(or maybe thinking the start of Flintoffs career as recent just makes us really old)

[Gooseberry]

Looks like this game will be pretty well in the balance at innings change. England will have wanted more, but Australia have struggled chasing and their tails always going to mean they cant afford to shop wickets as softly as England have at times.

[alfie]

Woakes striking the ball well...

Starc has done some damage but he's also gone for a few today. Into his last and already over 70 with that six from Rashid !

Could 300 still be on ?

[alfie]

Looks like this game will be pretty well in the balance at innings change. England will have wanted more, but Australia have struggled chasing and their tails always going to mean they cant afford to shop wickets as softly as England have at times.

The stats on chasing in ODI on this ground suggest Australia have a lot to do...

Think the last nine or ten games here have gone to the side that batted first. And the highest chase is well south of this total.

Means nothing , of course. History is just ...history. But I suspect England might be the happier side at the interval.

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