*Official* First Test (Edgbaston, Birmingham) 16–20 June

[social]

Boland average resuscitated

 

[andruid]

Is this Zak's token good innings for the series?

 

[Pothas]

Despite all the talk of a roady-road, there's been an odd ball that have done a bit.

Australia's session though clearly.

Yeah I don't think it is flat as people are saying.

Pope the wicket that has really bothered me.

 

[Son Of Coco]

It's hard to be disappointed with 61 from Crawley but him tonning up day 1 after everything said would have been sodding amazing.

Feels like England have let a good position slip here but it was probably always going to be about the middle order anyway

He could play across the line with confidence without moving his feet and still couldn't ton up.

That's Zak Crawley.

 

[Gob]

Meh it's a one day wickets and they are playing with a one day mindset. You can talk all you like about attacking fields and the score could have been 180

 

[Socerer 01]

this is a very flat wicket atm and the odd ball doing something doesn’t take away from that

 

[Starfighter]

Pope the wicket that has really bothered me.

Playing back and missing a straight one? Ball did nothing special, should be worried that he hasn't learnt anything all these years.

 

[Gob]

Yeah I don't think it is flat as people are saying.

Pope the wicket that has really bothered me.

Think it's pretty flat tbh. Might turn later

 

[Ashes81]

The Crawley wicket nudges Australia ahead but no more than that.

Shame for Crawley as considering the pressure he's under, he played pretty well.

The Aussies were pretty negative tactically - sweepers on the point boundary from about the 3rd over but they'll say it limited our runs.

I'm happy enough with the session, but we need the middle order to now push on to take us to 450+.

 

[SillyCowCorner1]

Sanga saying ‘philosophy’ counter: 2

 

[Blenkinsop]

Apart from Hazlewood's bowling, thought Australia were pretty ordinary but I think they won the session with that final wicket.

Agreed, three wickets in the session having lost the toss on a flat deck is definitely an Aus victory.

 

[Shady Slim]

crawley twice has a chance to do a noble thing and twice looks to cheat instead

 

[Gnske]

Yeah tbh this is probably advantage to Aus. I think Cummins just needs to get the feel for how to captain against this.

Despite Pietersen and Taylor whinging all morning

 

[grecian]

Think it's pretty flat tbh. Might turn later

It's meant to be a bit flat on the first day of a Test match, honestly what do people want. very weird. It's perfectly average as flatness goes I'd say.

 

[Molehill]

crawley twice has a chance to do a noble thing and twice looks to cheat instead

Looked to me like he was about to walk until Erasmus for some reason gave it not out.

 

[GIMH]

It's meant to be a bit flat on the first day of a Test match, honestly what do people want. very weird. It's perfectly average as flatness goes I'd say.

An hour of Australia toiling and they want demerit points, it is what it is.

Cracking session entertainment wise. Great start to the series.

 

[Alex0paul]

Sick of the Ben Stokes show on Sky

 

[Blenkinsop]

Bit concerned that England are going to go hard at everything and make 350 at a run a ball when it's really a 500 pitch.

 

[Pothas]

It's meant to be a bit flat on the first day of a Test match, honestly what do people want. very weird. It's perfectly average as flatness goes I'd say.

Australia made it look flatter as well.

I reckon we are about even at this stage.

 

[Burgey]

Yeah, you're miles ahead given our four best batsman are either in or to come and we have 120 on the board

Idiot

Three down at lunch on a bounce-less road under sunny skies on day one is in front for the bowling side mate. Usual rule of thumb is if you win the toss and bowl on a green deck you want three before lunch to be in front.
Really don’t deserve to be in front given we’ve bowled a lot of dross (mostly too straight) but I think we're (narrowly) there.