It's just not cricket

[jdaw1]

Lordy! It has barely started and yet it is already over.

[djewesbury]

Lordy! It has barely started and yet it is already over.

No. This will be a low-scoring match. Batting may get easier but this will not be a carpet for the Aussies.

[LGTrotter]

Blimey, that's the second time the Australians have dropped Root. They seem determined that he will get his 100.

I feel like I want to boo the pitch off the pitch. Too soggy.

[DRT]

I feel like I want to boo the pitch off the pitch. Too soggy.

Apparently a wise sage disagrees...

Screen Shot 2015-07-08 at 20.58.04.png (46.67 KiB) Viewed 7446 times

I missed the action, mainly because I thought it started tomorrow.

[jdaw1]

No. This will be a low-scoring match. Batting may get easier but this will not be a carpet for the Aussies.

England 429-9 is a fair recovery from a miserable start. And not yet AO.

Edit: AO at 430.

[LGTrotter]

All told not a bad day for England, and a really good day for the beard that is feared. Still feels like a draw though. But if these Australians don't start pulling their socks up they could be in for an upset...

[DRT]

Owen, are you forgetting the obligatory England batting collapse?

This has an Australia win written all over it. Shorter odds than the Tories in the General Election.

There is no doubt in my mind that Bell and Cook will save the day for Australia.

Where's my PaddyPower App?

[LGTrotter]

Yes, I thought Cook looked a bit jittery, but hopefully it was just first night nerves, he looked in great nick against New Zealand. Bell. FFS as they say in less polite circles than

But I would save your money to put on Australia at Lords. England might win, but it looks like a lot of bowling they are going to have to do. The new ball tomorrow morning will be interesting.

[djewesbury]

Derek, for once I think you are a little too ebullient in your prediction. The bowling and field setting today have been quite magnificent. The best batsman in the world, Smith, looked nervous and found out and was gone for 33.

[DRT]

We shall see.

[djewesbury]

Oh will we.

[DRT]

Indeed.

Do you have the ingredients for a humble pie in the freezer or should you buy them tomorrow?

[LGTrotter]

Derek, for once I think you are a little too ebullient in your prediction. The bowling and field setting today have been quite magnificent. The best batsman in the world, Smith, looked nervous and found out and was gone for 33.

I would agree that Smith looked nervous, despite his ranking I am less than convinced by him. I thought Cook must have had some help with the captaincy because it looked good for once. The England bowling was tight and that seems to be the difference between the teams so far. As to batting collapses I do wonder how it will look when Root fails, but the middle lower order look too good for England not to post a score. A good start to the Ashes.

[DRT]

the middle lower order look too good for England not to post a score

Let's pin that to the wall for the next few weeks and see how things pan out.

[LGTrotter]

the middle lower order look too good for England not to post a score

Let's pin that to the wall for the next few weeks and see how things pan out.

Oh, get thee behind me you miserable beggar!

Of course England might fall flat on their face at almost any juncture, the batting, the bowling, the captain, the fielding or even just a good enough opposition. But what we have seen so far is all rather encouraging.

I know you will be too young to remember it Derek, but there was an Ashes series in 2005 when a load of talented young English players saw off the best side in the world in astonishing style and this Australian side aren't half the team that those boys were. I dare to dream. Goodnight.

[DRT]

Ah, 2005 - I remember it well - my first trip to Porto and the year Scotland won the ICC trophy to qualify for the world cup.

[jdaw1]

I recall my Argentine boss’s boss saying that “England having a good week — Olympics, and this ash thing”.

[LGTrotter]

Oh my! Well England can afford a bit of a collapse, 120 runs ahead and more than half the test to go. How's that bet looking Derek? Almost as good as the one on Kauto Star for the Gold Cup next year.

[jdaw1]

England lead by more runs than Australia took in their first innings, and we have 5 wickets of England’s second innings to go. So I think we’re ahead. But not by much.

[RAYC]

I recall my Argentine boss’s boss saying that “England having a good week — Olympics, and this ash thing”.

Not an entirely sensitive / appropriate comment given what else happened that week....!

[jdaw1]

That was, I think, the following day.

[LGTrotter]

It looks like my prediction has already ganged agley. Australia to lose this test in four days. Who'd have thought?

[jdaw1]

Counting, chickens, hatching.

[flash_uk]

What did we learn from the NZ series?

Stokes can stay!
Wood looks like a raw talent that could be refined - not unlike Jimmy in the early days...
Ballance is not good enough
Bell out of sorts
Root is solid
Cook is finding form again just at the right time
Buttler is in good shape
We have a spinner who is not frontline
We have no backup/alternative action spinner
Anderson and Broad are nowhere near their best
We'll have to make do with Lyth to partner Cook as opener


So for the Ashes, we don't have what it takes to threaten them with the ball, our middle order has at best 1 in 3 that will fire. who knows how the openers will survive the Aussie bowling attack.

Revisiting my conclusions of the NZ series after the tests but before the one days, which musings have proved to be on the mark?
Stokes can stay! - still holds
Wood looks like a raw talent that could be refined - not unlike Jimmy in the early days... - still holds
Ballance is not good enough - still holds
Bell out of sorts - a glimmer of hope from his second innings 60
Root is solid - solid as a rock!
Cook is finding form again just at the right time - batting still not on fire, captaincy improving...
Buttler is in good shape - still holds
We have a spinner who is not frontline - still holds, but the lad can also bat...
We have no backup/alternative action spinner - Rashid has emerged
Anderson and Broad are nowhere near their best - they looked a lot better today!
We'll have to make do with Lyth to partner Cook as opener - still holds

The other important aspect to consider is the strength of the Aussie team. They look average. Mitchell Johnson nowhere near his best, Warner and Watson not looking too special.

[LGTrotter]

I would embellish the above by adding;
Lyth; I still don't know but he looks a bit like another Carberry to me.
Broad and Anderson; transformed. Just spot on, especially Anderson, on a pitch that Johnson couldn't get anything out of he looked menacing.
Cook; I'm a little disappointed with the batting, but the catch was terrific and the captaincy was faultless. Imagine! Cooks captaincy faultless!
Moeen; might yet be man of the match and if it weren't for Root a shoo in. Bowled better than I expected, still interested in what Rashid might do to this wobbly Australian side.
Wood is fast becoming my favourite. I just like the look of the bloke.

[flash_uk]

Agree with all of that, Owen. I get the sense this Aussie team might just crumble. Starc has a bad injury, Clarke's back is unlikely to survive five tests, Johnson looks timid, Lyon is alright but no match winner, Watson is suspect, Warner not on fire. Smith could be dangerous though. Our boys just look a lot sharper and in better form.

[LGTrotter]

Yes I thought the Australians looked a bit flaky. Both batting and bowling, Haddin might not stay on if he doesn't shape up. And Clarke always looks anxious. I too thought England looked better in the field than I have seen in a long time.

[djewesbury]

Derek?? Hello??? Derek..? Turn on the light on, I can't see you...

[DRT]

I am keeping the powder dry.

It was encouraging to hear on this morning's news that "Ian Bell has silenced his critics" - the Auzzies might as well go home now and leave the little urn behind.

[Alex Bridgeman]

Don't you just love Bell. He's rubbish for game after game and just as he's about to get dropped he drags something out of the hat.

Still, I will be glued to the radio all day.

[DRT]

At 106-5 chasing 412 I am starting to wonder where this Auzzie victory is coming from

[jdaw1]

And it’s only day 4: playing for a draw would require standard Welsh weather, rather than what’s happening.

[djewesbury]

122/6. I expect the Australian comeback is only minutes away Derek.

[jdaw1]

What’s the likelihood that it’s all over by tea?

[DRT]

Australia's only hope is to cling on until stumps and hope that tomorrow is a washout. I don't know whether or not their tail-enders are capable of doing that.

[jdaw1]

and hope that tomorrow is a washout.

Fair chance of which, says Met Office.

[jdaw1]

151 - for 7 wickets

Australia's only hope is to cling on until stumps

Little chance of which.

[LGTrotter]

Don't you just love Bell. He's rubbish for game after game and just as he's about to get dropped he drags something out of the hat.

Is that you Alex, moaning about Bell? I thought it was a problem localised to my head.

It is interesting though, it was a low enough score to make no palpable difference to the match but just enough to put the increasing clamour of 'get rid of Bell' on hold for another few tests.

But this looks like one nil up. Who'd have thought? Not me as can be deduced from my previous posts.

[jdaw1]

But this looks like one nil up.

Rain tomorrow — let’s finish the task before assuming that the task is finished.

[jdaw1]

But this looks like one nil up.

Rain tomorrow — let’s finish the task before assuming that the task is finished.

Finished!

[DRT]

Australia's only hope is to cling on until stumps and hope that tomorrow is a washout. I don't know whether or not their tail-enders are capable of doing that.

All out for 242. Luckily I couldn't find an in-play bet on PaddyPower

Well done England - a well deserved victory - and great to see Bell back to world class form with 61 runs in two innings.

[djewesbury]

Derek: wrong but still crowing. I can sleep easy tonight.

[DRT]

Well done England - a well deserved victory

I don't think that is crowing?

But feel free to join the Bell fan club - I hear there are still a few places left.

[LGTrotter]

But feel free to join the Bell fan club - I hear there are still a few places left.

You can have my place on the committee if you like. I heard Cook say that 'Ian has returned to form' in the post match interview. No mention of the players who actually made a difference, ie almost everybody else.

But what a great win. It didn't feel flukey, everybody contributed, they bowled, batted, fielded, caught, captained better than Australia. Can they do it again at Lords? Well, I don't see why not.

[djewesbury]

I'll let you know when I'm there on Saturday and Sunday.

[DRT]

I heard Cook say that 'Ian has returned to form' in the post match interview. No mention of the players who actually made a difference, ie almost everybody else.

I didn't mention Cook due to the fact they won and he is the Captain. But 32 runs in two innings from England's all time greatest run scorer when the team are playing excellent cricket doesn't sound great to me.

[jdaw1]

Did England win, or did Australia lose?

[LGTrotter]

I heard Cook say that 'Ian has returned to form' in the post match interview. No mention of the players who actually made a difference, ie almost everybody else.

I didn't mention Cook due to the fact they won and he is the Captain. But 32 runs in two innings from England's all time greatest run scorer when the team are playing excellent cricket doesn't sound great to me.

Give the man a chance. I think he scored a century in both the previous tests, I know that sometimes batsmen go through purple patches (as Root is now) but in life this the exception rather than the rule and he is allowed to have a day off now and again. Vaughan stopped opening the batting once he took on the captaincy as it is hard to clear the mind after being in the field. I rather think Cook won't, due to wooden-headed ideas about not giving in. But I think you are right in the sense that he seemed to be reaching for the ball and his footwork didn't look right, reminiscent of how he was when he was struggling for runs, but hopefully it was just first night nerves and he will come through, he is too good a batsman to fail for long.

Did England win, or did Australia lose?

Both, IMHO.

[djewesbury]

England won. Cook's captaincy was supreme. Derek, sometimes you just want something to complain about. Bad luck. Cook was invaluable in the field - several absolutely stunning catches not to mention the actual field setting. You remind me of a carp when you are carping.

[DRT]

England won. Cook's captaincy was supreme. Derek, sometimes you just want something to complain about. Bad luck. Cook was invaluable in the field - several absolutely stunning catches not to mention the actual field setting. You remind me of a carp when you are carping.

And you remind me of Jimmy Hill when England are winning. One test does not make a summer.

A time will come soon when Bell and Cook will need to perform with bat in hand and on the evidence of the last four days they might be found wanting. That is all.

I agree with Owen that both sides contributed to England's victory - a victory that was well deserved.