The Ashes: Australia in England 16th Jun - 31 July

[bigfluffylemon]

There is positive, and there is idoiocy. England have blown the advantage with pathetic tactics.

I see sp already answered me if I bothered to read the thread

[sussexpob]

It was a clever tactic from Cummins, saying to England if you want to go after everything, then we'll bowl it in very low percentage areas and cram the field to cover it even if you are successful. Anyone with a brain at that point ducks 2-3 overs and the Aussies stop rather than tire themselves out. But no, England responded with guns blazing, and the period between Pope getting out and Brook being dropped was the most jaw dropping piece of test cricket I think I've seen.

At one point Cummins had no one in front of the bat. 4 men behind square on the leg boundary, 4 on the offside, a sort of fly leg slip, and the keeper. So you basically have to put it into the stands, or your are out. England obliged.

Even when Root went, Brooks continued and should have been out. At one point he stepped to leg and tried to baseball bat one out the postcode, and Stokes who had not long come in, wandered down the pitch close to Brooks while tapping the pitch. Brooks didn't seem to get the memo, and next ball he repeated his Barry Bonds stroke, the ball missed leg stump by 2 inches, and Stokes that time made sure Brooks got the message to calm down.

So at least the captain by that point released the folly and signalled the retreat. They then batted sensibly and brought themselves back.

I know as AC says, you have to take the rough with the smooth, but England were positive up to the point Lyon got injured at 180-1 without being reckless. And if they rode out the Cummins tactic a few overs later they could have gone back to that. Some of the strokes were audacious. Nothing more than throwing the bat at everything

[sussexpob]

Maybe the funniest stat is Duckett, who until Australia went short to him in the 90s and put a couple of leg side bouncers well out of his possible reach, hadnt offered no stroke to a ball all summer. Few purists out there probably having heart attacks in that 98 runs

[sussexpob]

Stokes goes early....

[sussexpob]

Been a very strange pitch. Day 1 had movement, but England didnt use it. Day 2 looked flat. Suddenly this morning, it looks very tricky out there....Brook having a concussion check, just copped one on the helmet.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Not really gaining from digging in yesterday. Three hundreds since 2019, says BBC.

England in trouble.

Looks like Lyon is out the series.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Brook hit on the head. More short ball mayhem.

[sussexpob]

Brooks goes back to taking on the short ball baseball style.... and it ends predictably

[Arthur Crabtree]

Bairstow goes. Aussies will be happy with how this is going. Should be a decisive lead.

[sussexpob]

Another wicket that will end up on a cricket gaffs video. That was catching practice for Cummins

[sussexpob]

Robbo the next batsman to embrace the "divine wind"....

[sussexpob]

Meanwhile it seems Nathan Lyon will play no further part in the series. Best wishes to his recovery from injury

[GarlicJam]

Will this test come down to a battle of the part-time spinners? England's by choice, Aus' by chance.

Aus should get a decent first innings lead, and not a long time in the field - assuming this last wicket doesn't last too long.

[GarlicJam]

and no, it sure doesn't - as I posted.

A very good morning for Aus.

[sussexpob]

325/10.... lead of 91.

Australia huge favourites to win now