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

[sussexpob]

I mean, that's the most insane declaration I've ever seen

[Durhamfootman]

Captain Steel wouldn't have declared.

nor would Capt Dustinpockets

[Durhamfootman]

Capt Playinthedark would have kept batting till 9pm

[sussexpob]

If England win, no doubt we will hear some copy paste sense after the act....but declaring on day 1 on a batting deck under 400....

Madness

[Arthur Crabtree]

You might see that declaration in a D/N game. Or on a sticky dog in the thirties. But probably designed as a metaphorical slap in the face in these circumstances.

[Durhamfootman]

First time since 2009, seemingly, that Ando hasn't taken the new ball in Blighty when he's been playing

[Arthur Crabtree]

Sunny tomorrow but thundery showers forecast for Sunday. Maybe a factor in the declaration.

[Gingerfinch]

I didn’t see a problem with the declaration. Get a wicket tonight and it would have been vindicated. As it happens, the Aussies hardly had time to make inroads on our total.

[Durhamfootman]

And England get two bites at lifting the openers, both of whom can be a bit iffy in Blighty

That being said, the way Root and Robinson were batting they might have added another 50 runs in the lost 6 overs

[bigfluffylemon]

I'm astonished. Insane declaration. Just about understandable if it was two tailenders but Root was still out there.

There's a fine line between attacking and stupidity. Just feels overly cocky.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Have to play Boland , surely ?

He his bowling is an uncanny impersonation of Tim Bresnan! Amazing!

[alfie]

First day certainly lived up to the hype, eh ? Bet nobody left the ground before stumps.

England played exactly as they said they would. With mixed results. Crawley did what McCullum wants him to - had one huge slice of luck but otherwise wouldn't fault that innings : pity he got a good one on the stroke of lunch. Duckett and Pope rather careless dismissals ; but Brook looked like he and Root were going to take it right away : his dismissal really was freakishly unlucky. Though of course he'd had one escape earlier. Then after a pretty dreadful Stokes in and out , the Yorkshire pair took up where they left off last summer. If not for Lyon England might have racked up well over 400 - though I guess Stokes would have declared anyway !

I'm in two minds over the declaration. With Root and Robinson plundering tired bowling , there was a decent chance of another fifty odd runs coming before the close - and even the possibility of batting on the next day. But on the other hand , the new ball (due in two more overs) might have seen the last two wickets fall fairly cheaply and maybe even ended the day with the Aussie openers not needing to face a ball. As it was , they certainly looked more than usually nervous (some bizarre and twitchy running between wickets) and we can be fairly sure they were not at all happy at having to negotiate those four overs. But of course they did : so the gamble "failed". Not sure that means it wasn't worth trying...

Pitch looks generally great for batting. So near enough to 400 is arguably short of par. We will have a better idea by stumps day two no doubt. Certainly extracting something from this strip will be closer to what the bowlers had to do in Pakistan than they'd normally expect in Edgbaston . But I reckon we will see some reverse at some point ; and there might be a bit of help for Moeen - though how he will perform after so long away from this form of the game is anyone's guess. Stokes has somehow marshalled his attacks to take ten wickets every time they have taken the field so far in his captaincy : this might test him as never before.

Excellent day for Root : totally composed and really held things together after some wobbles ; Bairstow dispelling most doubts about his fitness and readiness to return ; and Lyon showing why he may actually be the greatest threat to England rather than the Australian pace men. But above all , a great day for the spectators : reckon they got their money's worth and some

[bigfluffylemon]

Good comments Alfie, agreed with your assessment.

[Arthur Crabtree]

I think I heard in the highlights that this was the earliest declaration in an Ashes Test.

[sussexpob]

Actually, I withdraw the most "insane" declaration comment, as I now remember that Somerset v Middlesex game at Lords where Langer declared with only 50 on the board on Day 1....

I guess we all have various ideas about how to play the game, but for me in this situation, its as simple as asking what Australia woulld have wanted - I think Australia would have been delighted with a parternship developing, and a player well capable of smashing the ball to all parts on a 100 not out, for the innings to have ended without potential for a frustrating England partnership. And to declare short of what I considered par (not in hindsight, I said it while Root and Bairstow were batting) .... for 4 overs at the end of the day? Its a large gamble, with not much off a pay off, and wasn't likely to pay off.