2017 Ashes - Spoilers only

[tallliman]

Not sure to be honest. Lyon is a good spinner but if he can't hold an end, the captain may have to bowl. Hopefully we'll see.....England batting

 

[Beebo]

Just woken up. A respectable start, we are at least in the ball game.
Cook going for 2 could have brought on a collapse.

 

[User482]

And a score from Vince!

 

[philk56]

Decent start but unfortunate run-out (although it was a great bit of fielding). And Root was pretty plumb despite going to referral. Important last few overs of the day.

 

[nickyboy]

Currently 191/4

Decent start. What is particularly pleasing is that Stoneman and Vince got runs as I am sure they felt the pressure. Cook and Root out cheaply but that won't affect their confidence as they have seen it all before. Hopefully Malan will get runs too which will bode well for rest of the series

 

[User482]

The scoreboard suggests honours are even, but I think England will be the happier of the two sides: they drew the sting out of the Aussie attack with some diligent batting, and showed that they can make a score even if Cook and Root fall cheaply. The first session tomorrow will probably determine the match.

 

[green1]

After all the whinging from the aussies about pitches being doctored to suit England in the last couple of series here it's good to see the aussie groundsman has joined the party.

 

[Beebo]

I hold a place in hell for Australian sportsmen with awful moustaches.
I think they grow them just to annoy me, and it bloody works!

 

[psmiffy]

We need a few of the peripheral figures to come of age.

Nice knocks from Vince and Stoneman but with Cook and Root not making anything a bit on the light side

Its difficult to say who is ahead - probably both teams have underperformed - pitch being slower than expected has not helped either side - the rain break probably helped the Aussie bowlers a bit plus there has a bit of turn for Lyon - looking at it England need another 100 to be in it - 150 more to be competitive - tonight/tomorrow scoring should be easier but taking wickets may become easier as the pitch quickens - a lot depends now on Malan, Moeen, Bairstow and Woakes

 

[Fonze]

I think it's a steady start for England and I'm hoping we build decent first innings.
No Stokes is a big loss, but it's time for each player to stand up and bash these Auzzies ..
Pleasing to see others apart fromCookie and Root score , makes a change

 

[tallliman]

Happy to see us bat another 80-90 overs today if possible.....put the Aussie bowlers under pressure.

 

[Beebo]

We need to remove these two ASAP or the match could run away from us.

 

[psmiffy]

2nd Day – Still nothing in it – pitch has stayed relatively slow and is taking spin - England grafted well against the second new ball then threw it away a bit against some predictable short bowling and the spin of Lyon – England bowlers started well reducing the Aussies to 76-4 in 25 overs (about the useful life of the Kookerbura ball) before Smith and Marsh took them to 165-4 at the close

We need to remove these two ASAP or the match could run away from us.

Yup – one or better both - question is how – nothing happening at the moment and still another 18 overs to the second new ball

 

[philk56]

Still pretty even but Aussies probably have slightly upper hand. We need to do to them what they did to us this morning but I'm not optimistic!

 

[nickyboy]

Still pretty even but Aussies probably have slightly upper hand. We need to do to them what they did to us this morning but I'm not optimistic!

Conversely I am optimistic. England bowled well today, it's just that Smith and Marsh batted better. Prise these two out and I think England run through the lower order.

It's a strange Gabba pitch. I have a feeling it will be tough to bat last on it