England v Aussies Cricket Tests

An extra forty runs on our combined innings total would be looking extremely welcome right now.

 

Didn't get to watch it live today until Moeen was batting and it looked like England were just in a sunday league slog mode,
From Pope onwards just not enough runs were put on the board before the batsmen were out.
In the second innings just needed to inch forward to a lead of over 300 but nah, just have a slog!

The only thing is the weather, here in Yorks some heavy rain in the morning tomorrow, can the same be said for Birmingham?
Khawaja is still in and they need to get his wicket sooner than later and it is not as if we have a spinner to cause some magic.

 

Met Office forecast for Edgbaston is for high chance of rain until midday then dry but cloudy in the afternoon. Humidity looks high until mid afternoon.

So it looks like we're in for a delayed start and then, hopefully, the ball will hoop around a bit for Jimmy and Stuart. Best case scenario is that the seamers use the conditions to take early wickets so we aren't relying too much on Mo's damaged spinning finger.

 

It's a shame Stokes didn't forgo the few millions of Indian money on offer in the IPL and get his knee properly rested.
A fit Stokes would have seen us win this test.

 

As I was saying @Onside

 

Great match, thinking back maybe Anderson would have been better sitting this one out? He didn't look to have a rhythm going at all in the test, he said himself after day 2 that his groin injury took longer than he hoped. Cant fault the effort him or any of the quicks put in on that track.

I wouldn't be surprised to see Wood come into the side if we have a pitch with some life, surprised he didn't play in this one for a bowler with a bit of extra dimension to his game. Sky were showing the average speeds, Aussies average pace was 85mph, ours was 79mph. Bowling some much short stuff at 80 on a surface like that was always going to be a task to get wickets.

It's good there's a little break between tests now to rest up Moeens finger. Do you stick with Bairstow with the gloves? Or maybe give Pope another go or bring in Foakes for Brook or Pope? Another one that wouldn't surprise me if we see a change of keeper during the series and just use Bairstow as a batter.

 

Yes, a fantastic match. No doubt about that. But as KP said after the game, being entertained is great but England fans want England to win. To that end, I still believe the declaration was a mistake. Root was a hundred plus not out, seeing it like a football and had just smashed Hazelwood and Lyon for big runs. Robinson was on 15 and looking comfortable. The Aussies were on the rack at that point and I think we should have kept turning it. The way they were playing, Root and Robinson could have scored 40 or 50 extra runs in that remaining period, which could have been crucial on the last day.

Still all to play for though, and a great series in prospect. Certainly more entertaining than watching City pass the ball across the back four.

Strange comment from Vaughan, given that England lost the first test in 2005, much more comprehensively than yesterday, but went on to win the series.

 

I think we will stick for the next test and see how it goes. All depends on the spinner, but the next option is probably Rehan Ahmed I'm guessing? At 18, it might be a bit much for him at this point. Ali needs to be able to bowl 25/30+ overs against this slower paced Aussie team, he looked like his finger could only take a handful in the second innings.

Next test is at Lords starting next Thursday. It's a problem we have in the test arena at the minute, clearly they want to be able to bat down to probably 9ish? But if you bring Foakes in for Brook for instance and move Bairstow up, Foakes isn't going to replicate the runs Brook should get, but might take a catch or two or be more agile to a few things Bairstow wont grab. Also think they don't want to have a visibly long tail, say Foakes did come in, he bats 7. If Ali isn't fit, they'd probably go 4 seamers and use Root over bringing in Ahmed at this point. So if he isn't ready in this scenario it would go Foakes, Robinson, Broad, Wood, Anderson..... which is a nightmare of a long tail.

My gut says we go unchanged at Lords, see how it goes then the 3rd test at Headingley is when changes may happen. Maybe rest Anderson and bring him back for the 4th test at Old Trafford? For me, I'd probably just bring Wood in but not sure between Robinson and Anderson. Robinson seemed to have far more control but no doubt Anderson will have a better knowledge of the conditions (and slope) at Lords.

 

Rashid hasn't bowled a red ball since 2019, don't think he's remotely near the selectors plans, also 35 now. Shane for Leach.

Crux of many problems with England at the moment. How long do you give Anderson before phasing him out? I think they like Duckett and Crawley as a pair, they'll get the 5 tests. If someone goes for Foakes, my guess is it is probably Brook as he's early in his career and can always win that spot back. Or Pope but they really like Pope and i cant see Root batting 3.

It's will the catches and balls that Jonny cant get to out way the runs a Brook would outscore on Foakes? Hard juggle. Jonny has never been the fittest sportsman you'd see, but he is noticeably bigger this summer. He needs to work on his flexibility for sure.

 

Tongue for Ali the only change. Covers just being brought on at Lords for a brief shower. Doesn't look overly bad weather wise, tomorrow looks like a wet one down there but next few days after should be fine.

 

Well Done Jonny Bairstow for picking up one of these Just Stop Oil loons, carrying them off the pitch and dumping them on the boundary for the Stewards to sort out. If Justice is served he will get a century now.

 

Aggressive batting,but aided by poor bowling.