The Ashes: Brisbane.

[Dr Cricket]

how is the weather aussie folks.

[Dr Cricket]

Big series for root and cook.
If Cook fails his ashes record will be awful and even his record in Australia will look poor.
Averages 30 in ashes cricket if you remove 2010/11.
38 if you include it.
Root because he failed last time around and if he fails this time he really should get the same critism that Kohli gets for failing in England.
Funny enough root failed in more countries than Kohli as well, root not got a good record in nz either.

[Gingerfinch]

I reckon Root will score more than 500 runs with at least two tons. He was relatively young and inexperienced when he last toured.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Root does well in first Tests. Expect a ton in Brisbane.

[yuppie]

I would expect Root to do pretty well in Aus now. The pitches are very good to bat on. Bit of time to get used of the bounce, but Australia is a great place for batters of late.

[Athertonian]

Duplicate post deleted.

[Athertonian]

Root does well in first Tests. Expect a ton in Brisbane.

Neither Cook nor Root has impressed recently. Cook has been somewhat lacklustre since his double hundred at Edgbaston, Root has passed 50 several times but failed to make a century. Time for them both to step up for the Ashes.

[Durhamfootman]

England have announced their side, with Jake ball playing.

England: JE Root (Captain), AN Cook, MD Stoneman, JM Vince, DJ Malan, MM Ali, JM Bairstow (wkt), CR Woakes, JT Ball, SCJ Broad, JM Anderson.

I'm really not a fan of ball

the alternative was Overton (scared)

[Durhamfootman]

There is talk about Ali batting ahead of Bairstow which would just be wrong.

I have no doubt that England will overthink this

[bigfluffylemon]

Well, here we go.

With two back-to-back tests to start with, we'll know in less than two weeks whether Pomnishables 2.0: Mitchell's revenge is on the cards, or whether we're going to get a competitive series. It seems a very short time after all the build up, but if England go 2-0 down after Adelaide, the only remaining question will be just how awful the series is - as bad as last time, or some pride salvaged?

[Arthur Crabtree]

Some showers promised today and over the whole game, and a heavy storm on Saturday.

What's that Skippy? A draw would be a great result for England at the Gabba?

[Arthur Crabtree]

Hot, though.

[bigfluffylemon]

A few showers around, but it doesn't look to be enough to substantially impact play. There might be a few rain breaks here and there, but we're not going to be losing whole sessions, let alone a day, unless the current forecast changes and a storm does turn up.

The consensus on how England can retain the Ashes and not lose the series seems to be:
1) Don't lose in Brisbane somehow.
2) Bat long and push Starc & co into bowling long sessions & long days
3) Hope Starc, Cummins or both get injured...

[bigfluffylemon]

On reflection, the last two times, the team that was happier after day 1 at Brisbane went on to be unhappy at the outcome, and the series.

England were clearly on top after day 1 in 2013 - while they let Australia off the hook somewhat from 136-6 to 278-8, if you lose the toss and bowl anywhere in Australia, you'd take 278-8 at the end of the first day in a heartbeat. I'm sure both sides would be happy to end today in that position if they bowl. In fact it was one of only about two days on the tour that England came out better (the other being day 2 at Melbourne).

[Aidan11]

England win the toss and chose to bat.