The Ashes

[Calvin]

Might be a long way on Sunday for not much cricket at this rate...

[Mibbes Aye]

I listened to some of the game this morning (happy coincidence - it meant I was awake for the declaration to be read out in the North Shropshire bye-election ). Caught the highlights package tgis afternoon on BT Sports. An eventful day, to say the least.

I thought it was excellent game management by Australia. Bat conservatively in the opening period then become more expansive as the day went on and the England players sweltered in the relentless Adelaide heat.

What caught my eyes about the Australians was the oartnerships that emerged - Warner and Labuschagne, then Smith and Carey and then Neser and Starc. They didn't just provude the runs that dominated the Aussie total but they patiently acquired them slowly and surely (at least the first two pairs did).

Great timing with the declaration left England facing some tough overs to negotiate at the end of the day and Australia were happy to take out the two openers. They will be looking for a quick couple of wickets tomorrow, Root in particular.

All in all Australia would struggle to script it better. What was particularly telling was that at the close of Day Two in the Second Test, the Aussies had posted seven big Ashes scores (I'm setting the bar at 50+) to England's two. Admittedly, they have batted around 60% of the matchplay but even still, it is a stark difference.

Five of the Australian top seven batsmen have reached the half-century mark, two of them can both separately say they have the same number of fifties as the England team! Still early days I guess.

What maybe accentuated the difference in quality was that at first man down, that critical No.3 spot, the two teams are picking batsmen with ptactically identical matches and innings under their belt at Test level. But Malan for England averages below thirty while the Australian, Labuschagne, averages over sixty.

I have said a good few times on here that Hameed deserved to be in the England team and stick by that. If the selectors had the courage to pick him and Dom Sibley, with Zak Crawley at three, they would need to commit to letting them grow on the job, as they are still vey young.

Of course it would send out a real statement of intent were Root to move up. Playing at four probably makes his batting average better but with the state of England, it would show leadership on his part.

There are plusses for England. Robinson looks like he could lead an attack, which is very timely for England given that they find themsekves having ti manage Anderson's match time and I'm not sure what the state of play is with Jofra Archer - next spring at the earliest?

[HH81]

Pretty awful showing so far from England.

I reckon this is the first ashes over there that I have not got up through the night to watch at least one day.

[HH81]

77-2 decent start to the morning.

Hope I didn't jinx it.

After my post above thought I would get up and watch it today.

[Calvin]

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77-2 decent start to the morning.

Hope I didn't jinx it.

After my post above thought I would get up and watch it today.

Yeah! We saw at the Gabba what can happen when one of this pair lose their wicket; but a pleasing start to the day from an English perspective. Nice 67 run session.

[HH81]

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Yeah! We saw at the Gabba what can happen when one of this pair lose their wicket; but a pleasing start to the day from an English perspective. Nice 67 run session.

Looks a lovely ground to watch cricket at. Quite fancy an ashes once in my life over there.

Do a lot of cricket in England at Headingley but funny enough I quite like going to Old Trafford.

[Calvin]

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Looks a lovely ground to watch cricket at. Quite fancy an ashes once in my life over there.

Do a lot of cricket in England at Headingley but funny enough I quite like going to Old Trafford.

I only really got into cricket when I moved over here - I've been to a couple of ODIs and Middlesex matches at Lord's but now can't wait to do an Ashes in England too.
I've got decent tickets for tomorrow but if it makes it to a fifth day then I'll be placing myself directly on the hill for sure.

[HH81]

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I only really got into cricket when I moved over here - I've been to a couple of ODIs and Middlesex matches at Lord's but now can't wait to do an Ashes in England too.
I've got decent tickets for tomorrow but if it makes it to a fifth day then I'll be placing myself directly on the hill for sure.

Nice one. Have a great day 👍.

Root and Malan still going along well. Looks like I didn't jinx it just yet.

I tried that 100 balls last summer, enjoyed it at the game but can't get into when it was on TV. Might try watch another next summer.

[HH81]

Root out for 62.

Should have left it. Annoying.

[HH81]

158-4 now. Got a bad feeling about it now. 2 quick wickets and the runs have dried up.

At dinner I went for a 35 min walk. Should have stayed out. 😁

[HH81]

Turned into a disaster of a day.

Nailed on loss for England in this test.

[He's here!]

5-0 series win for the Aussies on the cards?

[Calvin]

Well, that fifth day was like chinese water torture... not an entertaining day of test cricket. A good dig in by some of the English boys; but when the top order either can't score runs or give up their wicket so easily; the sheer amount of time on the Aussies' hands was always gonna do the job.

Was a pretty entertaining Day 4 though at least - pretty telling that Australia's semi-disinterested second innings (with a declaration) was only 6 runs shy of England's first innings effort.

Adelaide Oval was a great arena. Can't wait to get back there to watch some AFL. Couldn't believe how poor the turnout was.

[HH81]

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Well, that fifth day was like chinese water torture... not an entertaining day of test cricket. A good dig in by some of the English boys; but when the top order either can't score runs or give up their wicket so easily; the sheer amount of time on the Aussies' hands was always gonna do the job.

Was a pretty entertaining Day 4 though at least - pretty telling that Australia's semi-disinterested second innings (with a declaration) was only 6 runs shy of England's first innings effort.

Adelaide Oval was a great arena. Can't wait to get back there to watch some AFL. Couldn't believe how poor the turnout was.

You ever watch any of the NRL? Big RL fan myself.

Shame about the ashes though, no chance now of winning it. Annoying.

[DaveF]

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You ever watch any of the NRL? Big RL fan myself.

Shame about the ashes though, no chance now of winning it. Annoying.

Watching some live NRL - and some AFL so I can get a remote clue as to what's going on in that game - is on my bucket list.

[Calvin]

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You ever watch any of the NRL? Big RL fan myself.

Shame about the ashes though, no chance now of winning it. Annoying.

Been to quite a few Broncos games, as well as the Origin decider last year... but just can't get into it. I wasn't into union growing up and league seems even worse. I'll still go to games if I can get a comp through work as it's a good night out.

I absolutely love AFL though.

[HH81]

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Been to quite a few Broncos games, as well as the Origin decider last year... but just can't get into it. I wasn't into union growing up and league seems even worse. I'll still go to games if I can get a comp through work as it's a good night out.

I absolutely love AFL though.

I can't get into the AFL. Maybe I'm just too thick to understand it 😁.

Yes I really fancy the NRL. I know one of the coaches in it called Jason Demetriou. Top guy bought him a beer or two after his time at Keighley, one of the best guys met from sport.

Ashes going down pan again this morning bit of a shocker. Bairstow should have been in the team from start though, good player. Heard a few stories about his nights out 😂 but when it comes to cricket been class for England and Yorkshire.

[theonlywayisup]

Thought England were good at cricket

[Zazu62]

Anyone able to tell me what AFL and NRL are?

[HH81]

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Anyone able to tell me what AFL and NRL are?

NRL is Aus rugby league
AFL is Australia rules football.

The ashes is currently in Australia so they are getting a mention too.

[HH81]

England's openers are truly awful.

Not test match standard. Rubbish and needing dropped, quick.

Sorry series so far, quite embrassing.

[HH81]

7-2 now.

Although reviewed might get away with it.

Nope umpires call. Thought that was a little unlucky.

[HH81]

Almost a hatrick. Root lucky not to nick it.

Might as well get on the plane home. Useless.

[HH81]

Both openers out for a total of under 10.

I always look forward to ashes in Australia but this is once again a nightmare!

[HH81]

Bet Australia don't bat again. I'm off walking.

[HH81]

22-4.

[Calvin]

I’ll write a bit more when I get back to the hotel; but that last hour was absolutely class.

From thinking England had made a good fist of it and this might be a 5 day contest… to train king they’ll be lucky to take it past tea tomorrow.

Test cricket, what a sport.

[Tobias Funke]

Taking nothing away from Australia, they are a rock solid outfit with some genuine world class operators. However, this is one of the most brittle England batting sides in a long time. The bowlers worked tirelessly to give them a sniff and then they collapse in a heap. Stokes and Root won't pull them out this mess.

5-0. Only adverse weather will save England from that scoreline.

[heretoday]

It's not as if the bowling is all that brilliant really.

If Holding or Lillee were on the pitch the game would already be done.

[Zazu62]

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NRL is Aus rugby league
AFL is Australia rules football.

The ashes is currently in Australia so they are getting a mention too.

Yeah I know the ashes is in Australia