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

[Durhamfootman]

well, well, well

what a surprise

ssipes down all day long, yet somehow a way is found to just squeeze in the 25 overs required to not give anyone their money back

[Arthur Crabtree]

Of course. ECB is in a cost of living crisis.

[Durhamfootman]

25 overs and one ball as it happens

this happened England v WI at CLS and it kept raining and stopping, and raining and stopping all day. Then about tea time play started and exactly 25 overs later, the umpires decided it was too dark to continue, even though the light hadn't noticeably deteriorated in that time.

25 overs exactly

to the ball

please don't ask for any money back, as a refusal sometimes offends

[Durhamfootman]

it was the match where it was announced that Beefy was going to get a knighthood... can't remember the year

I'd taken my grandson and son in law to their first live test match

I hope all those people at the Freshly Laundered and Sweet Smelling Headingley today realise that they're helping to pay for the Hundred debacle

[mikesiva]

Out after playing a good innings. 251 to win. Not easy on this surface.

Difficult, that's true. But I still think England are favourites.

Weather should be better tomorrow. More favourable for batting.

[Gingerfinch]

Good day for England, One more tomorrow and it's 2-1

[Durhamfootman]

amazing the tricks that memory plays. they actually got 40 overs in before the umpires stopped play for the light

for years I've believed it was 25

[bigfluffylemon]

A gettable but challenging target, an England batting line up more than capable of chasing or doing something stupid, a match neither side has managed to grab hold of.

Going to be an edge of the seat day.

[alfie]

Any England run chase is an edge of the seat day

They rarely seem to do routine ; even when they have (probably) plenty of time - I think the weather is likely to be OK ?

Sober analysis suggests they should probably be favourites on a pitch that seems generally OK for batting ; but there is a lot that can go wrong in the pursuit of 224. Would be nice if the others could do the job instead of leaving it all to Stokes !

The early Starc/Cummins attack will be nervy viewing , I suspect.

[alfie]

And if I can be allowed to "pretend" neutrality for a moment : with all three matches swinging around so dramatically and keeping everyone entertained so well these last 13 days , it would surely be a good thing if England could get this one and keep the excitement going into the 4th match...

[Arthur Crabtree]

Forecast suggests probably not much play after tea. And rain after lunch tomorrow. So should be a result.

The team scores are doing what scores normally do, which is getting smaller as the match progresses. Which also dictates that the Aussies should win. But England are in with a faint sniff.

[Slipstream]

Broad six 3 over spells. Is he used sparingly to preserve him for 5 Tests? Carrying an injury, don't think so because bowling at 84/85/86. Most wickets so far in Ashes.

Robinson not used. 3rd time has had back spasms, Aus, WI and Aus series. Presume Woakes will play the last 2 Tests as Stokes can't bowl. So bowlng going forward Broad, Woakes, Wood/Tongue, Ali. Will Robinson be trusted?

Cricinfo
10.30am: Gnasher again from the ground: "Jimmy Anderson was getting the ball to hoop this morning as he was having a run through on the side pitch. Is that a good omen for Australia? It's still overcast, feels like decent bowling conditions, although there's some blue sky starting to emerge."

[Arthur Crabtree]

Will Wood play back to back matches?

Will Broad get a game off?

Is Anderson coming back for him? Or anyone?

Over a week before the fourth Test, so does that mean they will risk Robinson again?

Will Stokes be fit to bowl later in the series?

But if England lose today, the Ashes are gone, and most will be less concerned.

[bigfluffylemon]

Well crud. First wicket down early. Have a feeling it's going to be that kind of chase - whenever it looks as if England might put together a partnership and getting the chase under control, they'll lose a wicket or two.

Moeen promoted to 3 so Root and Brook can maintain their preferred positions. I don't hate that.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Mo makes no impact though. Still, not a terrible start by England.