1st Test, Edgbaston, Birmingham

[trundler]

Wade is going to get a century and it'll be glorious.

 

[Maximas]

He supports Sri Lanka which is where the confusion comes from. It's worth remembering that the "weather in Geelong" meme came from Maximas.

The Junaid Khan avatar adds another layer to the mystery

 

[Stowford Mess]

Wade is going to get a century and it'll be glorious.

A black stain on Root’s captaincy that may never be washed away allowing this.

 

[TheJediBrah]

Great stuff from Smith. Lovely story of what can be achieved through equal opportunity employment.

lol is this an autism joke

In this time of political polarization and corrosive popularism the only thing left to do is force opinions on others.

We need more of this attitude. Make Cricketweb Great Again.

In a book he wrote that I have, he recalls multiple times not giving l.b.w.s because the ball wasn't pitching wicket-to-wicket, and even telling the bowler so on the field.

This was in spite of the fact that the balls could pitch outside off since the 30s, and the batsman could be hit outside off stump (without offering a shot) since the 70s

Sounds like he was one of the worst umpires ever

 

[NotMcKenzie]

How the hell did no-one ever put him right on that? Or did the yafter a while and he eventually got it right?

I don't know and I'm not bothered to find the book, but he stuck with it to the end, given he recalls (IIRC) doing this in domestic matches in the 90s. Presumably somebody must have told him, but he probably ignored them.

 

[TheJediBrah]

My work here is done

Yes I'm an Aussie mate, but love the SL cricket team

I don't mind the current SL team. Pitch doctoring aside, but at least half their wickets don't come from run outs these days.

 

[Lillian Thomson]

Dickie never gave Bob Willis an LBW because he reckoned he bowled too wide of the crease. He had Viv plum on 35 and he went on to 291.

 

[Malcolm]

Most runs in a span of 10 innings in Ashes:

1236 - Bradman
1116 - STEVEN SMITH
913 - Hammond
912 - Gower

 

[mr_mister]

Most runs in a span of 10 innings in Ashes:

1236 - Bradman
1116 - STEVEN SMITH
913 - Hammond
912 - Gower

Gower really found another gear in ashes matches

 

[Victor Ian]

Dickie Bird was a dead set legend. It doesn't matter what decisions are made when you have the respect of both teams, which he did. Sheppard was brilliant too. I pity those who grew up never knowing these umpiring icons.

 

[Gob]

Can't believe they are still sticking it to Smith on Sky with lateral movement rubbish and sighting 2015 as an example.

a) Smith is a far better player against the moving ball now than in 2015 and b) it did a **** load in the first day when he made that hundred.

 

[Stowford Mess]

Dickie never gave Bob Willis an LBW because he reckoned he bowled too wide of the crease. He had Viv plum on 35 and he went on to 291.

He gave some shocking lbw’s in the ‘93 series. I remember one... maybe was Reiffel to Robin Smith that was going about a foot over the stumps.

 

[Burner]

Can England realistically chase 300+ here? I think it's possible but unlikely. Root will have to try not to be Root of the past few years.

 

[Tangles]

So if Aus win this we’re going to get the unchanged winning team thing from Langer. Maybe some pressure for Starc or Haze but his boy will be safe.

 

[Stowford Mess]

Can England realistically chase 300+ here? I think it's possible but unlikely. Root will have to try not to be Root of the past few years.

Only hope is rain after tea tomorrow. The demoralizing affect of losing this test from 122-8 will probably lead to a collapse in our 2nd innings.

 

[Stowford Mess]

So if Aus win this we’re going to get the unchanged winning team thing from Langer. Maybe some pressure for Starc or Haze but his boy will be safe.

Would be an interesting decision not to play Siddle at Lords given the last 2 test matches there.

 

[mr_mister]

The two tassie keepers batting together. Hope Paine can spank a fifty

 

[TheJediBrah]

So if Aus win this we’re going to get the unchanged winning team thing from Langer. Maybe some pressure for Starc or Haze but his boy will be safe.

Bancroft has been one of the biggest disappointments this game. I'd like to give him another match at least but wouldn't be too disappointed if he was punted for Harris.

 

[mr_mister]

I'm a big believer of giving a guy at least a few chances after a recall. They give some players super long rope before dropping them so their replacements should get a decent crack. Though I guess with Bancroft he'd already been given a long run of doing nothing in his first ashes. But Starc in over Patto would suck

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Can England realistically chase 300+ here? I think it's possible but unlikely. Root will have to try not to be Root of the past few years.

No but if Australia bowl badly then who knows.