The Ashes; First Test, Cardiff, July 8-12

[The Waugh Twins]

Yep if Starc can't bowl tomorrow it won't be a huge blow, but if he can't bowl in the second innings it will be tough.

Australia's best option is to clearly bat on and on if they are able to and perhaps get themselves in a position where they can't lose and hope for some fine bowling from the ever amazing Watson.

Forecast for rain at the 'diff on Sunday

Cheers for the weather report Alviro. So is a draw already looming after just 3 sessions?

[KipperJohn]

Best of the day was catching a little bit of TMS in the car and hearing Blofeld refer to Starc as Graeme Starc after talking to Swann. It was pathetic that neither of them made the connection with the great comic actor the late Graeme Stark.

It sort of reminded me of when Agnew said he'd never heard of Timothy Spall.

What closet do they live in?

[Arthur Crabtree]

Swanny might be a bit young for the connection.

[Alviro Patterson]

Yeah, we really missed a trick with DRS in that series, and Twatto using one up every time he was trapped in front wasn't helping either. As for the tall English medium pace bowler, he'll be getting stick from the Oz crowd until the end of time.

What has Steven Patterson done to upset the Aussies

[GarlicJam]

Nathan Lyon seems to be wearing a black armband but can't see any of the other Aussies doing this.

Anyone know why?

Possibly in honour of the Adelaide Crows coach, Phil Walsh, who was murdered last week. It has been incredibly big news down here, especially in AFL playing areas. As Gazza used to play for South Aus, maybe he is a Crows fan. I am surprised that the whole team aren't wearing one actually.

[alfie]

Well that was an interesting first day. Only watched up to 240/4 : final score about where I expected but I'd hoped for one less wicket down...I gather Buttler rather threw it away ?

Root played very well after his initial good fortune. Ballance was a battling innings ; but it will do him some good . Thought Hazelwood the pick of the bowlers . though I see Starc got some late rewards - he was a bit all over the place earlier.

Fairly even , I'd say. If Australia had won the toss and inserted them (a reasonable idea under cloudy skies , dampish) we'd all be saying they'd let England off the hook ... as it is it may be seen as a little under par , especially with the threat of a newish ball to the tail tomorrow ; but scoring nearly four per over for the day makes a bit of a statement of intent and suggests England weren't just talking about being positive.

Of course , if Australia bat for two days - as in 2009 - all the fast scoring will have done is given them extra time to win the game... but you can't be thinking like that. Reckon England will have to bowl well , but for all the moaning about the slow pitch (which is hardly unusual for Cardiff , I understand) the movement in the air is likely to be around to assist the bowlers so they have some prospects : will help if they hang on to their catches ! Batting last may not be a picnic.

We might have a better idea where this game is going after day two...

[bigfluffylemon]

This script is becoming worryingly familiar. England go 3 down early on, Bell goes cheaply, and it's left to the middle order to rescue England.

Fortunately, at least the middle order are rescuing England, rather than slumping to an embarrassingly low all out. Root is just a run machine at the moment. Long may it continue.

Bell can't buy a run at the moment. He needs a score, soon. There aren't too many players in county cricket banging on the door for his place, but the longer he goes without a significant contribution, the more the call will go out for a certain Kevin somebody...

Jonny Bairstow making a case for selection.

And Hales and Taylor.

None of the options thrill me. KP is a better option. But you might as well say Wally Hammond is a better option.

Bairstow will almost certainly be next in line. He is going very well in the CC. His test record is pretty poor, but it's 18 months since his last innings (also against Australia), so he might be ready to go again.

Taylor's having a pretty poor summer so far. I can't see him forcing his way in. Hales maybe one day, but I don't think the England management will have confidence in him at test level just yet.

James Hildreth is also having a good summer and has been a pretty consistent performer over the last few years, but at 30 it might already be too late for him.

[hopeforthebest]

Missed most of yesterday play after the loss of Lyth's wicket and then caught the last overs with Moeen and Buttler. What I saw suggests that the pitch really slowed during the day and the Oz bowlers had a struggle to get anything out of it. At the start Hazelwood was reaching 86-87mph at the end even withe second new ball he often bowled 79mph.
Clearly England's day led by Root and well supported by Ballance and Stokes. The ease with which Moeen played suggests that once the first hour is past batting becomes much easier.

[backfootpunch]

lets hope our tail put up more of a fight than they did down under

400 would be the nice to get to, then just hope we can get steven smith out before he makes 150

[Aidan11]

Nathan Lyon seems to be wearing a black armband but can't see any of the other Aussies doing this.

Anyone know why?

Possibly in honour of the Adelaide Crows coach, Phil Walsh, who was murdered last week. It has been incredibly big news down here, especially in AFL playing areas. As Gazza used to play for South Aus, maybe he is a Crows fan. I am surprised that the whole team aren't wearing one actually.

I had a feeling it may have been for Phil Walsh but, as you say, it's odd they weren't all wearing the armbands.

[Aidan11]

Looking forward to today.

If we can get another 50 or 60 runs then get into the batsmen early it could be a good contest.

[from_the_stands]

Looking forward to today.

If we can get another 50 or 60 runs then get into the batsmen early it could be a good contest.

Yeah, I can see that happening. I've only seen the highlights. England have done rather well for themselves and the Oz bowlers will be tired. If Broad and Moen stick around, frustration and fatigue will set in, and England could make another 100 runs. Or MJ will blast them out for maybe 10 runs.

The deck looks like a road, so with runs on offer, I can see one or two Aussies missing out. I'm expecting Smith to have a feast, and Voges. Place your bets on the rest.

[from_the_stands]

Mitchell Starc has an ankle niggle, so MJ & Josh will have to do the business. Twatto will need to stand up with bat and ball from this point because Mitch Marsh can do two thinks Twatto can't do; bowl more than 8 overs in a day, and score runs.

[GarlicJam]

When he comes out to bat, Chris Rogers has the chance to set a quirky test record. Currently he is level with Rahul Dravid, having been dismissed for scores between 50 and 99 six times out of six. A few other batsmen have made six half centuries in a row (without going on to score triple figures), but they have also included not outs. Only Dravid and Rogers have been dismissed for half centuries six times running.


I want Rogers to get to the stage where has has the chance of breaking the record, but when he gets there, I won't want him to get out.

[budgetmeansbudget]

When he comes out to bat, Chris Rogers has the chance to set a quirky test record. Currently he is level with Rahul Dravid, having been dismissed for scores between 50 and 99 six times out of six. A few other batsmen have made six half centuries in a row (without going on to score triple figures), but they have also included not outs. Only Dravid and Rogers have been dismissed for half centuries six times running.


I want Rogers to get to the stage where has has the chance of breaking the record, but when he gets there, I won't want him to get out.

I want him to kill your hopes early on!