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

[CartyDurham]

Robinson on now. Brook back into hibernation for another five years

41 for 2.

 

[trundler]

Smith eats bowlers like Slowbinson for breakfast. Should be a big partnership.

 

[CartyDurham]

Who is this military medium bowler replacing the great Harry Brook?

sadly not Darren stevens

 

[Son Of Coco]

Pretty pissed off with England's sportsmanship so far in this match. Here's a list of offences they have committed so far:

1) Prepared an excessively flat deck knowing they were using a weighted coin at the toss and would almost certainly be batting first.
2) Carried out cloud seeding overnight to produce overhead conditions for this morning's play

...to be continued.

3. They are using fields that I like, making me field dirty and unwashed, like they are, thus sucking me into their orbit.

 

[CartyDurham]

Smith eats bowlers like Slowbinson for breakfast. Should be a big partnership.

Classic set up if robinson takes him out

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Greig could bowl late 130s

Chris Harris was very military

NZ have had loads of dibbly dobblies over the years. Styris was hardly quick.

 

[Starfighter]

Late 130s? That doesn't seem right at all from the footage I've seen of his runup

Ignore the run up and look at the action and ball. I'd guess maybe 120, possibly not even that fast.

 

[TheJediBrah]

Ok I've decided that this isn't a road anymore it's actually a very good wicket for seam bowling

 

[CartyDurham]

Sure I saw Alistair Clook blast out an Indian batsman I think

was he slower than brook ?

 

[trundler]

Classic set up if robinson takes him out

It almost never actually works though. Woakes did that all summer in 2019 and the only time it worked was when Smith was concussed.

 

[CartyDurham]

.

now Moeen coming on.

field all on the boundary ? Though the Aussies are terrified to hit boundaries

43 for 2 off 17

 

[TheJediBrah]

Moeen "Ryan Burl" Ali is going to get slaughtered here

@GoodAreasShane

 

[wpdavid]

Good call.

A quick search came up with D'Oliveira bowling first change in the 1st, 5th and 7th tests in 1970/71. But I couldn't say how many overs were on the board when he came on.

 

[social]

Strong doubt.

Nah

Look at videos of his early career

He bowled like Stokes until he took a hatful of wickets in WI bowling quick spin

 

[CartyDurham]

It almost never actually works though.

Yet

 

[ataraxia]

Early spin never fails to be pleasing.

 

[woodleigh]

Ali

Where's your depth bazballers...Broad, Anderson, Ali

 

[Starfighter]

This is already better than Moeen bowled in 2019.

 

[Starfighter]

Nah

Look at videos of his early career

He bowled like Stokes until he took a hatful of wickets in WI bowling quick spin

I have. He didn't.

 

[CartyDurham]

Ali

Where's your depth bazballers...Broad, Anderson, Ali

Making Australia scared to hit the ball and scoring at 2 and a bit an over ?