Ashes 2021-22.

[sussexpob]

With Leach in and not much behind, Id be surprised if England get this lead down to double figures. Bairstow could flog it and reduce it quickly, but more than likely Australia have a 100 plus lead and are batting within an hour of play starting. As long as the rain doesnt kill the match, could be in for an interesting finish.

The temptation of a 5-0 victory should lead to Australia declaring before the draw is completely guaranteed. Might come down to whether or not England can repeat their batting improvement today

[sussexpob]

It was bizarre ! The other crazy thing was that Paul Reiffel gave him out lbw ! It missed his pads by several inches and you'd imagine it might have sounded a bit "woody" DRS was handy...

I guess Reiffel would have thought it was on target (rightfully) and wouldnt have believed the sound was the stump being hit, because he'd be forgiven for believing the bail would fly off.

Different conversation, but this phenomenon is far more prevalent than it ever was. For two decades watching cricket to begin with, I remember one instance of a ball hitting stumps (was in the Windies v Australia in the late 90s)..... but this now happens actually quite a lot. Maybe they need to review what type of bails or grooves on the stumps are being used, because they might be too heavy or deep.

Id be up for changing the rules too to include "bowled" dismissals not requiring bail removal if its clear the ball hits and doesn't dislodge.... I suggested that before though, and no one else agreed.

[bigfluffylemon]

I read that it was happening more now because they use 'heavy' bails (and stumps, for that matter), as they have electronics in them - stump mic, camera, bails that light up (in limited overs) etc., so they are heavier than your standard club stumps and bails to protect the electronics. So that much more force is needed to dislodge the bails.

[sussexpob]

I read that it was happening more now because they use 'heavy' bails (and stumps, for that matter), as they have electronics in them - stump mic, camera, bails that light up (in limited overs) etc., so they are heavier than your standard club stumps and bails to protect the electronics. So that much more force is needed to dislodge the bails.

Was a heavy hit too. cant have hits like that not removing bails, its ridiculous really. With Stokes on 10 odd when it happened, it arguably might cost australia a test match.... England arent coming back from 50/5

Stokes seen the funny side though.

[Durhamfootman]

It's the hope that kills you

it is indeed

Just to put England's series into perspective, I'd actually forgotten that the ashes was still going on. I think I must have subconsciously begun the process of blotting it out

Still... well done to the three players who finally showed a bit of fight... thank the Lord for small mercies, but I still don't think they'll score 300 and they will almost certainly have to rely on the weather to save them, so practically nothing has changed really. Play enough matches and eventually an England player will score a hundred.... play even more matches and eventually England won't lose one.

Not much to wrap your hopes around, but it's all we have

[GarlicJam]

Stokes had some luck all right - you don't often get away with your stump being hit at 130k plus.

Thats the third time in recent memory thats happened to Stokes. He does get a lot of luck go his way at times.

I guess if you cant celebrate when England show some backbone though, then whats the point? Well done to the middle/lower order for at least providing a rearguard for once and putting a result in question. Australia may still fancy their chances if they can end the innings quickly tomorrow, but with weather around it may have halted the 5-0 whitewash....

It was bizarre ! The other crazy thing was that Paul Reiffel gave him out lbw ! It missed his pads by several inches and you'd imagine it might have sounded a bit "woody" DRS was handy...

I thought that Reiffel gave it as bowled - as it was such an obvious stump sound. The ball deflected a good 15 degrees.

One of those things, I suppose. Not like it would generally favour one team over another.

[Durhamfootman]

Billings has been added to the England squad

Has Buttler finally run out of chances?

[Arthur Crabtree]

Wondered if Bairstow would be keeper again. But there's a press concensus that 'messing Bairstow around' killed his career, so that would take some selling.

[Durhamfootman]

I hadn't realised that Buttlerfingers has a hand injury. That would explain the call up for Billings. I hope Buttlers keeping doesn't suffer because of the injury

[yuppie]

After seeing Stokes being bowled and the bails not moving, i have to ask, is Ben Stokes the luckiest cricketer that ever lived?

[bigfluffylemon]

Not a great start.

Realistically, Australia are still going to have a well over 100 run lead, with around 200 overs left to play (subject to rain). So England will be looking at 4-5 sessions to bat to save the game.

It hasn't come up much as Australia have been winning, but starting to wonder if Lyon is past his best? He hasn't done a lot in the past two years (not that Australia have played much) - went missing v India, and hasn't had much impact this series either (although mainly because he hasn't needed to). And he's the same age as Stuart Broad...

[alfie]

Lyon has hardly been a wrecker - as you say , BFL , he hasn't needed to. But until this innings he has kept a lid on the scoring enabling Cummins to rotate his pace men in a way Root hasn't been allowed to do with Leach leaking runs too easily.
Stokes and especially Bairstow really did get after Lyon this time : YJB does fancy taking down spinners (except Axar !) and seemed to have a plan right from the off yesterday.
We are hearing a lot lately about Swepson and when he will get a try , so perhaps the Aussie selectors are looking into the future ; but I suspect Lyon might have a bit left in him yet.

[alfie]

Wondered if Bairstow would be keeper again. But there's a press concensus that 'messing Bairstow around' killed his career, so that would take some selling.

Personally reckon Bairstow is a better keeper than Buttler - especially to spinners ; and a lot more energetic. And seeing Pope this morning both catching and moving better than Jos has been doing lately leads me to suspect that he should actually be well down the pecking order after this series : but under recent management he seems to have had protected status. You'd think Foakes will get another shot in West Indies in March. But the way the luck around keepers goes he will probably get injured in the white ball games...

If Billings keeps in Hobart we can imagine an England all-keeper line-up of Test batsmen : Burns Bracey Bairstow Pope Buttler Billings Foakes - which still leaves room for four bowlers Did I leave anyone out ?

[Arthur Crabtree]

Looks like Us the Oz is going to get another comeback ton, which is some effort. Closed off any chance of an England comeback.

Even Green is scoring runs now.

Killer partnership.

[Arthur Crabtree]

That's the hundred. Declare?