Ashes 2021-22.

[bigfluffylemon]

Forecast for Brisbane looks a bit poor for the next two days. Should be brighter later on.

[sussexpob]

If Healy and co are right though about this being a classic seamers pitch, England's slim chances look a little brighter. England have proven in such conditions at home to consistently bowl teams out for decent totals and remain competitive despite their own batting nightmares. So maybe an opening for them (trying to be positive here)

[alfie]

England usually judge the pitch wrong if given half a chance...hopefully this time they get it more or less right.

On resting Jimmy : his record in Brisbane is poor so it isn't so outlandish to let him sit this one out (given they have faith in the other pace men and are intending to rotate them all to an extent) and be fresh for pitches which might suit him better. He might like the expected weather conditions but so probably will the other bowlers anyway. Tough call but let us not judge it in advance.

If the pitch is indeed one to suit the seamers it may well trim the Australian scoring . Under 600 at least But yes , could make things a lot more competitive.

Just the minor problem of getting enough runs on a seamers track against Starc Hazlewood and Cummins...

[Arthur Crabtree]

England 12v Australian 11.

Haseeb/Warner
Burns/Harris
Malan/Labuschagne
Root/Smith
Stokes/Green
Pope/Head
Buttler/Carey
Woakes/Cummins
Robinson/Starc
Wood/Lyon
Broad/Hazlewood
Leach

I'm guessing they'll leave out Woakes, but they might pick him for his batting. Article I just read thinks Leach will be left out.

Put Root and Stokes in the Aussie side and that's a good XI.

[bigfluffylemon]

When has picking five seamers ever worked for England?

Pick the bloody spinner!

[bigfluffylemon]

If Healy and co are right though about this being a classic seamers pitch, England's slim chances look a little brighter. England have proven in such conditions at home to consistently bowl teams out for decent totals and remain competitive despite their own batting nightmares. So maybe an opening for them (trying to be positive here)

I wish I shared your optimism.

It seems that with a one-sided series in prospect, the press are trying to emphasise the ways it *might* be competitive. Undercooked Australian side, multiple pink ball tests (despite no evidence whatsoever that this would actually advantage England - Australia have won every pink ball test they ever played), no Perth, greentop in Brisbane, rainy conditions, etc., etc.. Yes, there is a *chance* that all of these factors will help England take 20 wickets, but even if it does, England have to bat in these conditions, and England don't have the batting to make decent scores on good wickets, let alone tricky ones.

I wonder if England are being suckered here by the talk of the Brisbane pitch. How many times have we seen England go in with a view that a pitch might be a seamer, and it turns out not to be particularly helpful? How often have they gone without a spinner, and has it ever worked for them? I also wonder if it might be a good toss to lose for this reason. The temptation, especially with some rain around and potentially five quicks, will be to bowl first. History says that is almost invariably a mistake. I know India won last year fielding first, but they didn't win the toss...

I reckon any optimism about this series for England will be snuffed out by Saturday (I would have said Friday, but we have some rain in store). Go on England, prove me wrong.

[bigfluffylemon]

Least prepared England side ever?

Given that grand plans have apparently been in the works for four years, or at least two (since the World Cup win) to focus on tests and win here, the preparation does look like an abject failure. Sure, Covid hasn't helped. But have England actually moulded a capable squad? No, they continue to rely on Root, Stokes, Anderson, Broad and helpful home conditions. And just had their worst test summer in a very, very long time. Promising players like Archer and Pope have failed to live up to expectations or been beset with injury, or both. And they keep defaulting back to those who are proven not to cut it at the highest level, like Bairstow and Moeen, rather than develop new talent. And when was the last time we found a new batsman capable of high performance? Stokes and Root came on the scene in 2013. No-one who debuted since since has managed to average over 37. Ballance was the closest, and he started strong and faded fast. Australia has had 7 players debuting since 2013 with an average of 38 or better. Even the much maligned Shaun Marsh averages better than every member of the England batting line up bar Root and Stokes (just).

Geez I hope I'm wrong. But I haven't been less confident in England's batting since the 90s.

[bigfluffylemon]

England win the toss and bat.

Broad left out. Big call to leave both Broad and Anderson. It'll be a masterstroke if it comes off, and the subject of ridicule if England don't take 20 wickets...

[Red Devil]

Sheesh!!! What a start to the Ashes, unbelievable!

[GarlicJam]

Sheesh!!! What a start to the Ashes, unbelievable!

I had just turned on the vision on my phone, in my office. I am glad that no one else was on this floor at the time. I was loud.

[bigfluffylemon]

I was wrong. The optimism won't even last until lunchtime.

[Red Devil]

Root in after 20 balls

[GarlicJam]

Root in after 20 balls

and out for a duck...

Not the start England wanted.

[Red Devil]

Shocker of a start to the series.

Root should maybe have been a bit braver and bowled first - Aus bowling on the money

[bigfluffylemon]

This is awful.