*Official* 1st Test at the SWALEC Stadium

[Swingpanzee]

Maybe the conditons, pitch, ball home advantage, whatever helped England this game, but we've been simply outplayed with bat and ball.

Thoroughly disappointing. Can't see us coming back from this to retain the Ashes if the rest of the venues are similarly slow and sticky. Watson and Haddin are ****, If Starc's hurt and with Harris gone our bowling looks ordinary all of a sudden and who have we got to replace? Hard to expect the likes of Marsh brothers or Nevill, Siddle or Cummins to do any better.

Hope we can regroup. Maybe do a reverse of 2005, where England were thoroughly outplayed in the 1st test but still won the series.



Don't respond seriously to stupid posts imo

good post, yeah this is kinda my hope

 

[Son Of Coco]

Been the poorer captain on display in this match, that's for sure

You're probably right. I think he's been a bit quiet in this match overall. But without the execution there it's been hard to know exactly what he's been attempting to do. Cook's been a lot more proactive with his fields, which is a complete turnabout. If he's become a half-decent captain at long last then that's good for England. The interesting point in this series will come when (or if) Australia gets on top for a session or two with the bat and the plans worked out in the sheds with the coach fail. It will be interesting to see how Cook thinks on his feet. He's done a good job with his bowlers in this match.

 

[Spark]

So you all agree only 4 out of 7 of the batting are good?

Right so you agree with me that it's a mediocre batting line up. I didn't say a mediocre top order...

hey i wasn't disagreeing

 

[Riggins]

I know Faulkner is pretty good at playing above what people expect in FC but srsly if Nevill makes a go of #6 would Faulkner make for a test #7?

Well I mean Haddin is a test 7 so why not.

 

[Spark]

Daniel Brettig @danbrettig
Said yesterday this felt a bit like a Shield game between Bayliss' NSW and Lehmann's SA at the SCG circa 1990 #Ashes2015

a good win for spikey

i mean if we want to talk overrated based on overseas performances then yeah we should have a look at lehmann

 

[morgieb]

good post, yeah this is kinda my hope

1997 a hopeful parallel? Come into the series with the momentum but lose heavily in the 1st Test. Come back to win comfortably.

 

[fredfertang]

Please note - Faulkner already has a gig

 

[Johnners]

Shot Mitch

 

[GIMH]

You're probably right. I think he's been a bit quiet in this match overall. But without the execution there it's been hard to know exactly what he's been attempting to do. Cook's been a lot more proactive with his fields, which is a complete turnabout. If he's become a half-decent captain at long last then that's good for England. The interesting point in this series will come when (or if) Australia gets on top for a session or two with the bat and the plans worked out in the sheds with the coach fail. It will be interesting to see how Cook thinks on his feet. He's done a good job with his bowlers in this match.

I think the regime change has given Cook more freedom. But we'll see...everything has gone our way here. Tougher challenges will face us in this series - you'd imagine

 

[social]

I know Faulkner is pretty good at playing above what people expect in FC but srsly if Nevill makes a go of #6 would Faulkner make for a test #7?

The issue with Faulkner seems to be that the selectors aren't confident that he can be a 3rd seamer and/or bat 7

My view is that he is mentally tough and will succeed wherever

Future is MMarsh, Lynn, Nevill, Faulkner and whichever of the quicks off the production line stay fit

 

[Spark]

1997 a hopeful parallel? Come into the series with the momentum but lose heavily in the 1st Test. Come back to win comfortably.

Teams are too even for that IMO. If we win it'll be hard fought - but a comfortable win for England is a real possibility if we don't sharpen up.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Please note - Faulkner already has a gig

They can have Maxwell, he is awful.

 

[Riggins]

who's smooth knackers on twitter

I actually thought it was just a random punter who stumbled across my piece

Man of the match?

Joe Root? Moeen Ali? Brad Haddin?

Root without a doubt.

 

[MW1304]

Oh dear, poor pink shirt man.

 

[Top_Cat]

England have played the conditions, Aussies haven't. Haddin and Watson should both go but that we've got back-to-back Tests means selection for Cardiff was really for both Cardiff and Lords so, barring injury, I'd be real surprised if there were any changes.

I do agree that having selected the blokes you need to back them but I probably wouldn't have picked Watson, myself. Haddin was line-ball.

 

[weldone]

South Africa is not part of this match. But this test match shows why South Africa is the best test team in the world.

 

[Son Of Coco]

I think the regime change has given Cook more freedom. But we'll see...everything has gone our way here. Tougher challenges will face us in this series - you'd imagine

That might be true too, although in the past you'd think he had the freedom to make at least some decisions on the field, and a number of those seemed to be inexplicably negative. It's a bright start to this series though, and I guess only Cook knows how each of the coaches have affected his ability to do what he wants. We'll probably read about it in a book sometime in the future.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

England have played the conditions, Aussies haven't. Haddin and Watson should both go but that we've got back-to-back Tests means selection for Cardiff was really for both Cardiff and Lords so, barring injury, I'd be real surprised if there were any changes.

I do agree that having selected the blokes you need to back them but I probably wouldn't have picked Watson, myself. Haddin was line-ball.

I guess the only change for you will be Starc out if he is unfit.

 

[Flem274*]

South Africa is not part of this match. But this test match shows why South Africa is the best test team in the world.

if the forumers you didn't like were south african you'd sing a different tune

 

[social]

They can have Maxwell, he is awful.

Aah no

All the talent in the world but still sorting the brain out