1st Test, Edgbaston, Birmingham

[91Jmay]

Reckon it is 55/45 to Aus because Smith is in and looks serene.

 

[Spintolose]

Honours about even.

 

[trundler]

Good session of cricket, Stokes and the overrate not withstanding.

 

[Starfighter]

England ahead, but boy have they let it drift. I wonder if we will find out what is going on with Anderson.

 

[Spintolose]

Well blame Root and Stokes for that. Bowling Stokes for so long when he was so bad was a huge error and must mean Jimmy is stuffed and will hardly bowl.

If Anderson is injured then surely the selectors are to blame - as it was known beforehand.
Also, my pick of Curran over Burns is looking a lot less stupid now.. . and possibly quite genius when Burns nicks off for nothing or close.

 

[Gob]

Can't remember a worse spell on day 1 of a test in a long time than this filth from Stokes.

Was going to say Mitch Johnson at Lords but then saw the 1st test thing

 

[Starfighter]

Can't remember a worse spell on day 1 of a test in a long time than this filth from Stokes.

Mitchell Johnson at Melbourne in 2010?

 

[the big bambino]

Anderson did go off for a while but was there otherwise. Maybe he's blowin chunks, idk. Strangely hasn't been an issue for commentary but cricinfo are making jokes like he's being saved for the 2nd new ball.

 

[cnerd123]

it's nice to have Test cricket back

been following this in the background since I should be working, so didn't catch all the wickets and wides. I did see one wide from Stokes that I would have called, but the umpires try to be pragmatic in Tests. I think you really need to be trying to not let any runs be scored before something like that gets called wide. I don't recall any time where an umpire has actually called wides on those in Tests, so I suspect there is a good reason for it.

Overrate is slow but they usually are poor in the first session. Probably some good cause too with 3 wickets and batsmen fiddling around.

I didn't here comms mention Anderson being injured. I think it's possible that with 3 early wickets they figured they'd give Stokes a proper spell to find some rhythm. Bad gamble probably, but hardly the worst decision given what Stokes is capable of performing at his best.

Moeen didn't bowl that well. Needs to find his length and stick to it.

 

[Spark]

Mitchell Johnson at Melbourne in 2010?

Mitchell Johnson at Lord's 2009!

 

[Starfighter]

Was going to say Mitch Johnson at Lords but then saw the 1st test thing

He did say 1st day.

The West Indies in general and Kemar Roach in particular were impressively bad at Hobart in 2015 (the Voges 269* match).

 

[Spark]

Aaaaand Anderson is indeed injured.

Welp.

 

[Daemon]

Oh boy. That's massive for Australia.

 

[Starfighter]

I was going to say that unlike us England has spare bowling, but Root would have bowled better than Stokes here.

 

[GoodAreasShane]

He did say 1st day.

The West Indies in general and Kemar Roach in particular were impressively bad at Hobart in 2015 (the Voges 269* match).

Roach was terrible that series, but to be fair his shoulder was completely crocked. Glad he has been able to rejuvenate his career since then

 

[weldone]

Don't worry Anderson will come back to bowl 3 overs with the 2nd new ball

 

[flibbertyjibber]

So Archer for Anderson for Lord's then. At his age you wonder if Jimmy is done for the series with everything so close together.

 

[Spark]

So Archer for Anderson for Lord's then. At his age you wonder if Jimmy is done for the series with everything so close together.

Will Archer be fit in time?

 

[morgieb]

Aaaaand Anderson is indeed injured.

Welp.

Australia have to be favourites now. And I cannot see England winning the Ashes is Anderson if out for the rest of the series (which given it sounds like the same injury, looks quite possible)

 

[Arachnodouche]

How did he get through fitness tests? Injured four overs into the morning is a bad look for both Anderson and the med staff.