1st Test, Edgbaston, Birmingham

[Starfighter]

I'm thinking a lead of somewhere between 120 and 160, possibly higher.

I've criticised Starc's bowling a lot, probably more than most, but as soon as I saw (how dry) the pitch (was) I knew it was the wrong decision to leave him out. Actually I thought they were going to go Starc-Cummins-Patto (and Marsh) until people who know more than I do picked up that they were going for Siddle.

 

[Howe_zat]

I don’t think Siddle is anywhere near as terrible a selection as is being made out but I’d still have probably favoured Hazlewood.

Starc seems to be one of the prime recipients of the ‘gets better when he doesn’t play’ effect.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

I for one am delighted Hazlewood has fallen off as I think he is a perfect bowler for our conditions and the one in the Aussie squad I fear the most. Genuinely hope he finds his mojo again soon but not for another 6 weeks.

 

[Starfighter]

I don’t think Siddle is anywhere near as terrible a selection as is being made out but I’d still have probably favoured Hazlewood.

Starc seems to be one of the prime recipients of the ‘gets better when he doesn’t play’ effect.

Nah it's the conditions. Siddle is fine when it's seaming, but he's like Chris Woakes in Australia, keeps it tight but without much penetration if it isn't. That said he bowled better than Cummins, who probably needs a rest. It's not an awful selection (although it is painful seeing him again) but not the right one. Starc bowls poorly in seaming conditions where it sort of springs slowly off the surface (traditional England pitches) but on very flat pitches he will get wickets through pace.

I'd have liked some evidence that Haze wasn't going to bowl like he did last summer before picking him.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Agree how he played late on is very encouraging.

It’s kinda frustrating, even though I would have tentatively stuck with him for this series, to see those who wanted him out yesterday turn on a dime for him today. He didn’t actually play that well, he just stuck to it and got a great day out of it eventually. Mick Vaughan on TMS has come out with a complete 180 as expected, for example. Don’t let the RNG decide your opinions guys.

Cheerfully admit I was pro-bin. I could say one swallow doesn't make a drunk and his innings was the ultimate triumph of "how many" rather than "how" (at times Rozzer's bat seemed to consist entirely of edges and his arse jutted so far and so fast towards square leg it was as if he'd been sharply rapped in the cobblers), but ultimately one has to say kudos to him and the selectors for sticking with him.

Smith does seem to have a happy knack of making the right call, even if one sometimes suspects his workings wouldn't support his answer. Napoleon's dictum about better a spawny tw@t for a general than a tactical genius (I paraphrase slightly) probably applies.

 

[social]

Siddle bowled well and his quickest in years

Not sure what you guys were watching

 

[flibbertyjibber]

I didn't expect Burns to score anywhere near as many as he has and in all honesty it could be his Lyth NZ moment and he reverts to being rubbish again soon after but I never expected him not to start this series once he had been picked for the Ireland game last week and now he will complete it I would imagine even if he goes rubbish again. I probably wouldn't have actually binned him off as we don't have any alternatives and eventually have to stick by someone or the wheel will turn for ever.

 

[social]

Am I reading this right?

Smith should never, ever be allowed to captain anything again

He’s a batting freak, gun fielder and that’s where it ends

 

[BoyBrumby]

Am I reading this right?

Smith should never, ever be allowed to captain anything again

He’s a batting freak, gun fielder and that’s where it ends

If that was in response to me, I was referring to Ed Smith, not the melty faced erstwhile Australian skipper.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Am I reading this right?

Smith should never, ever be allowed to captain anything again

He’s a batting freak, gun fielder and that’s where it ends

Would imagine he would refuse to captain anything again other than hit and giggle stuff, why put himself under the spotlight. Just stay being the best bat many of us have ever seen and see what records he can break in the process.

 

[Starfighter]

I didn't expect Burns to score anywhere near as many as he has and in all honesty it could be his Lyth NZ moment and he reverts to being rubbish again soon after but I never expected him not to start this series once he had been picked for the Ireland game last week and now he will complete it I would imagine even if he goes rubbish again. I probably wouldn't have actually binned him off as we don't have any alternatives and eventually have to stick by someone or the wheel will turn for ever.

Even if he goes rubbish for the remainder this could well be the series deciding knock, and has a great chance to be match deciding *<insert salt about the umpiring>*. It's the kind of innings that we totally lacked against India, a guy willing to grind it out despite a flawed technique and enough nervous moments.

 

[social]

If that was in response to me, I was referring to Ed Smith, not the melty faced erstwhile Australian skipper.

Apparently some experts are suggesting that he be captain again

Give him the room at the end of the corridor, field him “away” and let him average 60+ in a cocoon

 

[Adders]

FJ......get back on the piss mate, you're much more entertaining when your hammered!

 

[flibbertyjibber]

FJ......get back on the piss mate, you're much more entertaining when your hammered!

Working tonight so can't, hence I went for it last night. Guess the mistake was coming on here afterwards.

 

[fredfertang]

FJ......get back on the piss mate, you're much more entertaining when your hammered!

Give him time Adders - he's probably not been awake too long

 

[Stapel]

My presiction for today:
England quietly batting on in fine weather, buidling a 150 run lead. After tea, the Aussies will lose 5 wickets to overcast conditions.

 

[Adders]

Aussies......Any ideas if Ch 9 mobile app will stream this? Got a party here at mine tonite and I'm not sure the cricket will go down too well.

 

[social]

Channel 9 downgrading test to 3rd channel

 

[social]

Only missed that by 2 feet

 

[Starfighter]

Slips are standing too far away again.