1st Test, Edgbaston, Birmingham

[PikeyB]

Plenty of rain falling at Edgbaston . Might get a bit of assistance tomorrow when the covers come off .

May have a bit of cloud around in the afternoon too .

Not exactly pleased with the state of the game for England . Too many runs , too quickly in my opinion , when we've been scoring so much slower . Lost control of the match this afternoon .

 

[h_hurricane]

He looks like a child, shame on you.

You are seriously under-rating his ball tampering abilities.

 

[trundler]

You are seriously under-rating his ball tampering abilities.

He got caught. Mustn't be very good, ha.

 

[hazsa19]

Australia’s day, I guess you’d still rather be in our position, but it depends on whether we get Smith early tomorrow.

Got to say the Aussie pace attack looks good. Kept it so tight, we had to work very hard for our runs. I’m not sure our batsman will be able to replicate that all that often.

 

[hazsa19]

Australia’s day, I guess you’d still rather be in our position, but it depends on whether we get Smith early tomorrow.

Got to say the Aussie pace attack looks good. Kept it so tight, we had to work very hard for our runs. I’m not sure our batsman will be able to replicate that all that often.

 

[Xuhaib]

If Smith ends up with 10K @ 60-62 but time he retires can we officially call him 2nd greatest test batsmen ever?

 

[Second Spitter]

Don't forget how bad Paine is.

Temporary captain.

 

[trundler]

Temporary captain.

Smith needs to adopt a Tendulkar-esque mentor role.

 

[Burner]

If Smith ends up with 10K @ 60-62 but time he retires can we officially call him 2nd greatest test batsmen ever?

Why not? I think he'll be averaging in the 50s by the time he hits 10k though. Then he'll be a contender rather than the definite he'll be if he's averaging in the 60s.

 

[Kirkut]

If Smith ends up with 10K @ 60-62 but time he retires can we officially call him 2nd greatest test batsmen ever?

There will be a meme that "Can he score against great fast bowlers and spinners of old days?"

 

[Kirkut]

Steven Smith is arguably the most natural batsman since Lara.

By natural I mean they have unique techniques that cannot be imitated.

 

[Lillian Thomson]

It’s slightly naff speculation considering he’s a very long way from 10,000 runs.

 

[Spark]

He’s two thirds of the way tbf. Not the most unreasonable thing to contemplate.

 

[Lillian Thomson]

I don’t know what Australia’s schedule is but he’s probably 3 to 4 years from reaching 10,000 runs assuming he’s going to. I know some Australians think he’s going to make them this series.

 

[Bijed]

BBC Headline

Ashes 2019: 'Steve Smith is not immortal - England must remember that'

Not sure literally waiting for him to die is going to help us this series

 

[Second Spitter]

If Smith ends up with 10K @ 60-62 but time he retires can we officially call him 2nd greatest test batsmen ever?

No that title will forever remain with Adam Voges

 

[Burgey]

It’s slightly naff speculation considering he’s a very long way from 10,000 runs.

He’s not that far away at the rate he’s going tbh

What a great test this is now. England missed a trick or bowling dry at TPC and Khawaja early. The lead evaporated really fast. Hard to be critical when theyre two wickets from probably sealing it, but they attacked a bit too hard imo. Lead was 90 not 190. About the only time runs flowed freely all test, it might be crucial.

Sick of saying “next session crucial”, but it really is. 150 plus would be a tough chase, 20” or more very very difficult

 

[Burgey]

Not sure literally waiting for him to die is going to help us this series

Played

 

[GIMH]

Played

Legit post of the subbie that

 

[Burgey]

3 days in and neither side has really pulled ahead yet. Steve Smith is still out there and if Aus can get this lead up to 200, they'll fancy their chances

Really good game so far.

Good point this, and something a bit unusual for this generation’s Australia, who tend to get behind in a game and never get the impetus back. Something positive for the team as a whole I guess. Bowling was very disciplined as a whole - that England middle-lower order didn’t get away. They might have done a couple of thing differently but overall they worked well as a pack.

Even though he got into his stride as the innings went on, id rest Cunmins for Lord’s, and play both Haze and Starc who’ll be hungry AF.. week and a half off might mean Patto makes it, but if he’s 50:50 then the Victorian vegan medium pacer gets another gig I suppose