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

[Cricket CoachDB]

Cheers guys. Doing alright and living in Barbados now.

I checked, not been on here in 6 years but that declaration kicked in the old "gotta post on CWeb" instincts

Same! Took ages to get my password unlocked. I think it's going to be worth it for this series, there's going to be no shortage of talking points.

 

[GIMH]

The declaration is different, but England are all out for less with these players under a more ‘classic’ approach. I don’t even see how there’s an argument against that

 

[Fuller Pilch]

The best poker players have solid strategies that play the odds and beat the toughest opposition when cards fall their way. This just feels like England got a reasonably good hand and they're pushing despite what the opposition might have in reply. Feels like fly by the seat of your pants gambling

It reminds me a bit of NZ's captaincy 'strategies' from Jan 2013 - Feb 2016.

 

[halba]

Dumb declaration. It was dumb the last time they tried it and if they're stubbornly trying to make it work again then lol. Should have piled on as much as possible. Aussie could score 600 on this deck if they get a head of steam up.

In saying that, looks an excellent knock from Root and Bairstow and Australia's bowlers will need to lift next time.

450-500 aussies.

 

[TheJediBrah]

Aus will play their normal game. Try to bore and tire the bowler to 450-500 or so.

Is it?

England are all out for less with these players under a more ‘classic’ approach.

The only way that is likely is if it's a team of players that are incapable of playing classical Test cricket well and genuinely have better results being ultra-aggressive, which might be true but it would make the whole "baz ball" approach one of necessity rather than choice or innovation.

A better Test team that could hit 8/393 here, would also be able to bat to 550/8 playing more orthodox cricket.

 

[ataraxia]

Based on my Bazball knowledge, I can confidently predict how this test match is going to be won by England.

England 400
Australia 180
Australia 750
England 530–4

 

[Prince EWS]

Daily reminder that Kallisball > Bazball.

 

[Bahnz]

Reckon England will regret leaving Mark Wood out of the lineup. Robinson and the geriatrics will have a tough time on a deck this flat, especially if Australia are able to extend their innings past lunch on day 3.

 

[Starfighter]

dropped catches

Must've happened after I went to bed. Guessing the fielding was **** again?

 

[Shady Slim]

*** tzu does it again, masterfully baiting a hilariously questionable declaration out of the tactically bereft earn the right to be aggressive poms

 

[Fuller Pilch]

Based on my Bazball knowledge, I can confidently predict how this test match is going to be won by England.

England 400
Australia 180
Australia 750
England 530/4

Shows Australia are really missing an old and slow Neil Wagner.

 

[SillyCowCorner1]

Marais Erasmus have questions to answer.

 

[ataraxia]

Shows Australia are really missing an old and slow Neil Wagner.

ffs – let me use an en dash wherever I can. Don't replace it with the ugly unspaced forward slash.

 

[the big bambino]

First look at Bazball and it's main feature is how it turns good batsmen (but hardly atgs) into world beaters. Pitch conditions probably explaining some of the transformation. The Australians were criticised for playing sweepers but I think its fine against this sort of batting. Australia employed that type of tactic against India's fantastic four back in the day with some success. England are going to go after the bowling anyway and you can see how they could've scored even faster given the conditions. Australia would've had to have gone defensive at some point of the day anyway you'd think.

The importance of the single and strike rotation seems to me to be an understated foundation of bazball and almost a throwback to the old days of odis when quick singles were a feature of Simpson era batting before the emphasis on power. Still getting used to first day declarations but understandable in the context of the strategy.

Can't recall seeing such a brownish pitch in England. Wonder how it will hold up?

 

[Fuller Pilch]

ffs – let me use an en dash wherever I can. Don't replace it with the ugly unspaced forward slash.

Ha. Sorry

 

[SillyCowCorner1]

Hahaha this is so wild. England declared 8 down on day one and Australia have had no time to bat,yet this guy is exactly right that Australia are probably in front. It's just weird to think a team who declares near stumps on day one isn't in the ascendancy.

+++

The best poker players have solid strategies that play the odds and beat the toughest opposition when cards fall their way. This just feels like England got a reasonably good hand and they're pushing despite what the opposition might have in reply. Feels like fly by the seat of your pants gambling

In a nutshell,

England's approach is pompous.

It's like taking out ur **** and showing it to ur opponent as a form of dominance.

*-please excuse my analogy

 

[Spikey]

1/86 off 14 overs, questions need to be asked about Starc's inclusion in this game. very expensive.

 

[Spikey]

1/86 off 14 overs, questions need to be asked about Starc's inclusion in this game. very expensive.

my for real opinion is that I reckon they got spooked by the idea of starc going for 50 runs off a 5 over spell or whatever and so went for 'control', but also: you got spooked.

 

[Starfighter]

 

[Prince EWS]

View attachment 36053

Muh road.

@Spark @GIMH