Ashes 2019 : England v Australia

[Irish Ian]

Leach bowls Harris out of the rough first ball..

36/2

[The Subhuman]

Don’t think so. The ball he got today was a Jaffa. Unplayable

That's why you have openers ..to see off the new ball, plus Joe is not a number 3...The balance of the top 7 is way off

[The Subhuman]

Because this lot don't know the defensive side of cricket

Sir Geoffrey would have sucked the weak Australian bowling attack in & took 'em to the cleaners on the bad balls.

Geoff scored 246 not out v India, England won the match & promptly dropped him.....idiots!

The ECB in their infinite wisdom is trying to use 20 over cricketers to play test cricket. None of our batters has very much time v the red ball this season...Bowlers who toil to get anything from crickets equivalent of a tennis ball (the white ball) juts find using a proper ball under proper conditions a blessed relief.

We may have a decent opener in Burns..I'd not play him in any 20 over cricket as it corrupts 5 day technique, there is no 50 over stuff anymore so he'd be limited to the CC for me. Ditto for Root who should bat 4. Get him out of the hack and slash cricket. Stokes is a good number 6, (no higher) I like Bairstow at 7. Then I'm ok with the bowlers 8-11 (perm 4 from 6)

We need a 1,3,5 right now and I'd like them taken from the CC with a minimum of 12 innings behind them.

If I were in charge of the ECB I'd also resurrect the 60 over red ball game we had in the old Nat West days..Always was a good day out. One day cricket at it's best, the batsmen can build innings and bowlers get 12 overs

[The Subhuman]

We need a Headingly 81 to have any chance of winning the Ashes ..If we lose this one lets have 3/4 new starters in for the next

[The Subhuman]

1 - Dom Sibley
2 - Rory Burns
3 - Ollie Pope
4 - Joe Root
5 - Gary Ballance
6 - Stokes
7 - Bairstow
8 - Curran
9 - Broad
10 - Archer
11 - Anderson if fit.

worth a shot

[Irish Ian]

That's why you have openers ..to see off the new ball, plus Joe is not a number 3...The balance of the top 7 is way off

Didnt know that, thanks...

[The Subhuman]

Dripping with sarcasm, my apologies I posted...

[Irish Ian]

1 - Dom Sibley
2 - Rory Burns
3 - Ollie Pope
4 - Joe Root
5 - Gary Ballance
6 - Stokes
7 - Bairstow
8 - Curran
9 - Broad
10 - Archer
11 - Anderson if fit.

worth a shot

Sibley is on the lions squad so he is a possibility, I think they gave up on Ballance a few years ago. Though your team needs a spinner?

Thing is though, how much red ball cricket are England players getting outside of tours? Do any play in Sheffield Shield in Oz? Or go out to SA? They are more likely to be playing Big Bash and IPL.

And that is the conundrum.

Overall what format of cricket is the priority?

[The Subhuman]

I considered Dawson but again not sure we have a 5 day spinner good enough. For me long form cricket has to be the priority if you value the Ashes..and the foundation for that is more 4/5 day cricket in the UK. Even 50/60 over red ball one day cricket has some long form benefits. 20/20 or shorter is designed to make it real easy for batsmen so they don't need technique just a good eye...Great for some,will ruin the likes of Root and Vince as long form cricketers

[The Subhuman]

Ballance or Northeast at 5.

[Irish Ian]

Root passes fifty as him and Denly show some stoic defence.

At what point will the Aussies start getting worried?

[whiteswan]

Root passes fifty as him and Denly show some stoic defence.

At what point will the Aussies start getting worried?

Been watching the Root/Denly partnership develop whilst reading MOT Ian. It's been a very good and very much needed performance from them. Now, if England can get to 200 for 2 by close of play, that would make tomorrow very interesting.

[YorkshireSquare]

Teasing me with a score here, been a good days cricket...

[Irish Ian]

Denly gloves one and he's caught behind.

Wonder how Stokes will conduct himself...

[whiteswan]

Wonder how Stokes will conduct himself...

Being a good boy at the mo....sensible batting

[wilsdenwhite]

Good resistance this afternoon and although I wouldn't say it is finely poised at least we are still in with a chance. The key will no doubt be the new ball after a few overs in the morning. Reckon if we can get to within 100 with 1 of Root, Stokes, Bairstow or Buttler still there it could be a tense finish. 2 of them still there and I'd fancy our chances.
Proper test match batting today and we will need more of the same tomorrow. Roy has to go win or lose. Denly did his bit today.

[1964white]

England making a fist of it

245 for 5 requiring 114 runs to win

[1964white]

Can England achieve what looked a distinct possibility ?

[1964white]

Butler run out

[1964white]

261 for 7

England still require 98 runs