Most liked posts in thread: England Vs Australia

Pathetic how they keep going off every time they see a spot of drizzle.

 

Yes, obviously they were one of the best test bowling attacks of all time. But Siddle and Starc can't get into your attack for this test. When Michael Holding describes it as a high class fast bowling attack then you know it's good. It's much better than okay.

 

I agree, we don’t have one opening batsman, they are a walking wicket every time they step on the turf. They know how to play one day cricket, but have lost the art of building an innings if they ever played. I am also concerned at the amount of cricket they are playing. They just look tired The ECB need to have a bigger pool of cricketers. We need a different set to play test cricket. It is upsetting to see Joe Root hung out to dry. He is not a opening batsman, and neither is Roy, but because our opening pair are soon walking back, Joe Root has to come in, and he would prefer to bat at number 4. It’s a mess. Should he be captain ? probably not, experience s what you need and although an excellent batsman trying to captain a side that is not fit for purpose is a step too far in my view.

 

STOKES!!

 

What a game.

 

WOW. Test match cricket at its very best. Well done Ben Stokes, shades of Botham 1981 at Headingley

 

Wow just wow. Can’t dissect that sort of thing. And I thought Edgebaston was once in a lifetime in Ashes cricket.

 

That equals and probably transcends Headingley 1981. Botham Ashes. Never thought I would see another. Always expect magic Headingley

 

The botched run out; the daft legside review; the dropped catch... makes it all the sweeter.

Incredible knock.

 

The promise of a "flower beer" is still alive.

Insane knock from the kiwi born Stokes, what a summer for him.
Barely played a shot when supporting Root yesterday and took it to the oz when all seemed lost today.
Ashes still to play for.
Just.

 

If Jimmy Anderson hadn’t have got injured at the start of the first test I think we’d have won that, such is the difference he makes. Second test we’d have won if not for the rain. So it could already be England 3-0 Smith, on the other hand the Aussies could already have the ashes retained, fine margins but if Jimmy comes in for Woakes and stays fit I think the ashes will be staying on these shores.

 

U lucky bum!
Full throated welcome for Sir Ben Stokes please.

 

To be honest, probably blessing in disguise he felt his calf again in the Lancashire game, taking away the option of probably selecting him for the next test when clearly not fully fit, and risk the chance of him breaking down in the crucial test, leaving us short of a bowler for much of the match again

Stick with same side, and swap Denly and Roy in the batting order

 

No Leach, no chance, did well to get it down to 15 overs but have given the ashes to aussies again.

 

Our test team is total garbage, first thing to do is drop Root as captain. He’s not only not very good at it, but it’s also distracting his batting.

 

Yes but we've done the same to others, it's not just us. We'd have skittled the Aussies out several times this series without Smith. He's been outstanding. I think back to other stoic batsmen of recent times on tour and I immediately place Rahul Dravid and Shiv Chanderpaul right up there. Smith is different though because he doesn't just stick around, he scores plenty when the time is right. So much so it was a surprise to see him get out today missing one rather than being caught trying to score.

 

Fantastic, not easy conditions by any stretch.

Another day of terrible umpiring though!

 

Yep agree, but we have three in the bag today, we just need to get Smith out!

 

Let it rain!

 

Not likely.
Burns gone already. Not looking good.
I'm worried by Ramprakash's comment that some of our batsmen will fancy knocking these runs off. There is no way we are going to win this. Heads down and grind out the draw is our only chance, but do our players have the mentality to do that? I somehow doubt it.