The Ashes 2015 - Spoilers

[Cheddar George]

Good ! That's bloody Jerusalem out of the way, lets play cricket.

Good first ball !

 

[Wafer]

Jimmy gets a wicket on review with his 8th ball after going wicketless last test....
Suggestions Broad is bowling too short, and Finn come on, hope he's got himself sorted he was looking useful before it all went wrong.

 

[Cheddar George]

Harsh but funny.

https://twitter.com/henrymoeranBBC/status/626339009279729665/photo/1

 

[psmiffy]

Aussies notverymany for 3 - good bowling by Finn and Anderson

 

[nickyboy]

Aussies notverymany for 3 - good bowling by Finn and Anderson

Interesting that both captains said they would bat first in what seems to be pretty bowler-friendly conditions. Any thoughts on the reasoning behind this? Have they underestimated how helpful the conditions would be or is it going to deteriorate markedly........or have England just bowled really well?

 

[Wafer]

Generally means there might be some bowler friendly conditions early on that they expect to clear up. So a bit of juice in the pitch or some overcast conditions that they don't expect to last too long. Can be a bit of a gamble, do you bat and hope to survive the early conditions or bowl and hope you can make use them for the time they last.
Certainly England have been criticised before for choosing to bowl on a bat friendly pitch because they thought the first hour or so of the match would be bowler friendly but not gotten the wickets to back it up.

 

[psmiffy]

or have England just bowled really well?

I think England have bowled well - Little bit in the pitch for the bowlers - Kept the ball up to the bat - Not bowled too short - Finn has Justified his selection so far - bowled pretty well this summer and was unlucky that Wood was the flavour of the month earlier in the year - not to say that he should have been picked ahead of Wood in the other tests

Now to see what happens as the ball gets older

 

[philk56]

This is more like it . Just need to get rid of Chris Rogers.

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

So far in this series when the balance has gone in favour of one team it seems to have done it to an extreme degree. But not permanently, obviously.

 

[Wafer]

Someone at work said they don't need to get Rogers out as he might only be on 65 by the end of the day anyway

90-6 is not what you're hoping for when choosing to bat first, Cricinfo suggesting it wasn't necessarily the wrong decision though.

 

[philk56]

Cricinfo suggesting it wasn't necessarily the wrong decision though.

No, I think Cook said he would have batted first if he'd had won the toss.

Jimmy's certainly making up for missing out at Lords.

 

[Wafer]

Cook saying he'd of batted might just mean it was a good toss to lose But does seem more a combination of good bowling/poor batting that misreading the pitch.

 

[Dayvo]

I keep forgetting that the Tests start on Wednesdays these days.

Bloody 'ell! What a score! 99-7 as rain interrupts play.

Bet those with tickets for the weekend are getting a bit nervous.Bet Geoff Boycott's have a field day going on about 'line and length.'

Well done Anderson.

But we won't know how good England bowled until England bat.

 

[psmiffy]

Australia all out for 136

♫What a difference a pitch makes ♫ - not unplayable by any means - Rodgers half century has showed that - but enough movement to give England bowlers a chance

England have bowled very well - all three bowlers have exerted enough pressure and put enough doubts in the batmens minds - If Aussies bowl as well it could be a very short match

 

[BrumJim]

Will be riding past the stadium in 1.5 hours. Wonder what I will hear.