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

[Arthur Crabtree]

Oh, and Mitch3 in for Green.

[sussexpob]

England win the toss and bowl

[Arthur Crabtree]

If England can bowl they Aussies out today, they get a great batting day tomorrow. If not, it should be perfect conditions for mental disintegration.

[GarlicJam]

Picking Moeen also feels like even more of a risk than it was a couple of weeks ago. He didn't bowl well at all, and I think it says a lot that England compromised their tactical approach at Lords to drop him. He averaged nearly 60 at Headingley during his career, so its going to be debatable what use he will have this match. Part of me thinks there maybe some goodwill involved - they dragged him out of self-imposed retirement to play, and probably dont want to drop him after one test after he answered the call. But at 2-0 down, I think England need to be prepared to take some risks. I'd have gone elsewhere

Might be right about not wanting to abort the experiment after just one try ! Though I suppose if you say they need to take risks - and he is certainly a risk - then they are doing as you recommend

Seriously he wouldn't have been my choice (I didn't like the original "call up") . But I also have to admit there weren't too many alternates leaping out .

Curious to know where you would prefer to have gone ? Ahmed , perhaps ?

I did think around day four in the first test that we wouldn't see him for the rest of the series.

It seems I was wrong.

Do a few England selections - Ali and Woakes, in particular, Brooks up the order too - seem a bit hopeful rather than decisive?

I know Woakes has a great home record in England, both with bat and ball, but hasn't been off for a long period?

[Arthur Crabtree]

Woakes has played in the CC this season. Not played for England for a long time though.

[sussexpob]

Woakes has played in the CC this season. Not played for England for a long time though.

I am guessing the last was in the away series in WI, where he bowled like a total drain.

England get a wicket straight away....oh but wait, no-ball check... nothing comes of it. Lovely ball that, lovely catch... crowd are up for this

[sussexpob]

Marnus has looked vulnerable early on so far in the series, but he is also overdue a big score. Something has to give....

[Arthur Crabtree]

Broad gets Warner! Again.

[sussexpob]

Is the speedo p*ssed, or is Wood really just unleashed a 95mph ball?

More...93,95,96,95,95,94....

96 mph??? I know a few Tait balls well registered very wrongly in the past, have to assume the Speedo is wrong. Wood is quick, but even Akhtar at his peak would struggle to bowl a over averaging 95mph.

If this is correct, serious serious all time high pace being dished up here.

[sussexpob]

Story of the morning that. Wood serves up a ball that misses the batter and Bairstow by 4 meters (how that wasnt called a wide, I have no idea)... follows it up with a total pearler. Been a lot of beating the bat. Pitch is quick and bouncy, outfield is lightening quick. Tough to know what a par score here is... pitch will really suit Australia, its like an old fashioned Aussie deck this

[bigfluffylemon]

This is looking ominous

[sussexpob]

Wood cleans up Khawaja...42/2

[bigfluffylemon]

Yay, jinx worked . Beauty from Wood, does Khawaja for pace.

[sussexpob]

Wood off after 4 overs. Guessing they are going to ask him for full pace in short bursts

[Arthur Crabtree]

Trying to think of another England bowler in my lifetime who bowled whole spells in the mid-90s. Maybe Devon Malcolm. But before speed guns.