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

[Arthur Crabtree]

I think England have lost 3 for 1 since I turned on....

Drown him!

[alfie]

I think England have lost 3 for 1 since I turned on....

All your fault then !

Been a great chase today. Some exciting cricket . Afraid it's all left me primarily with that bad taste in my mouth over "the incident".

So unnecessary. Reckon Australia would have won anyway but that attitude sours it for me. And surprised me as I thought better of Cummins.

Though I guess it fired Stokes and Broad up and gave us a wild ride for a couple of hours...

[sussexpob]

Don't look good for Anderson there....really wore that short ball, and looked a bit groggy

[Arthur Crabtree]

Aussies win. Good effort by England today though.

[sussexpob]

Another close game. Again we are left to wonder from an English perspective how many runs were left out on the field with that crazy hour on day 2.

Australia's experience and street wise cricket is proving superior so far. But an hour better cricket in one test, and a less kamikaze declaration in another, could easily be 2-0 the other way.

Let's just hope for 3 tests as absorbing as the last 2. Been a series that revives faith in the format so far

[budgetmeansbudget]

I have a feeling Foakes wouldn't have been stumped in that way!

[Gingerfinch]

Pretty poor from the Aussies imho. Still think we can turn it around if the weather stays good.

[budgetmeansbudget]

They probably would have won by a 100+ runs if they'd withdrawn their appeal, as the Stokes and Broad partnership was triggered by what happened. Would have gone away with a 2-0 lead and a stack of sportsmanship points in the bank and sandpapergate would have been put to bed once and for all. Unfortunately they just build their reputation as a very good cricket team but one full of rather unsavoury individuals that has to win at any cost.

In the next test I would love to see Jonny Bairstow do a Clive Dunn in that famous cricketing episode of dad's army and break the stumps after every ball.

[sussexpob]

I dont really see what the fuss is about. Carey caught the ball and instantly went for the stumps, Bairstow was out of his ground when it hit... its out. Keepers come up to fast bowlers occasionally to stop batsman using their feet or leaving the crease, Carey reacts to Bairstow doing that, and there we go.

Its like Mankad's.... how a bowler is not in the spirit of cricket running out a batsman cheating.... the rules are the rules. Carey didn't attempt to mask the ball to trick Bairstow,

[sussexpob]

If we want to get into spirit of game arguments, when Starc clearly caught the ball but it brushed the ground the day before, were England insisting the rules were a little morally foggy and the batsman walked? Of course not. The rules are rules.... I think Starc caught that ball, but the rules say its not out....

[Gingerfinch]

Similarities to Bell and India.

[Arthur Crabtree]

I don't think they are similar (not meaning to be contrary). Bell didn't complete his run and walked off to lunch assuming the ball went for four. He was really out India shouldn't have withdrawn the appeal. The ball couldn't conceivably be dead.

Bairstow puts the bat in the crease, glances towards the keeper with the bat back in the crease, then leaves to talk to his fellow bat. I'm surprised Cummins didn't withdraw the appeal. Surely lots of sport is facilitated on the nod.

[Arthur Crabtree]

I hear Pope is out the next game.

And I presume one of the seamers will make way for Mo. Which one? Maybe Tongue deserves another go.

[Gingerfinch]

I don't think they are similar (not meaning to be contrary). Bell didn't complete his run and walked off to lunch assuming the ball went for four. He was really out India shouldn't have withdrawn the appeal. The ball couldn't conceivably be dead.

Bairstow puts the bat in the crease, glances towards the keeper with the bat back in the crease, then leaves to talk to his fellow bat. I'm surprised Cummins didn't withdraw the appeal. Surely lots of sport is facilitated on the nod.

Yeah Bell was a lucky man that day. Bairstow didn't seem to look back but still, most will say it's over once the keeper has it and nobody attempting to run.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Some MCC members have been suspended. Which seems fair enough.