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

[Fuller Pilch]

How’d we get to Kiwi Supremacy in the Ashes thread.

This year's Ashes is full of Kiwis with Baz, Vettori, and Patel joining Stokes in the series.

 

[TheJediBrah]

That arm ball from Root just went

 

[CartyDurham]

The umpires have made it very hard for players to review accurately when every time they give someone out, it looks like it's a guess.

It’s always been a guess as it’s their opinion

 

[trundler]

when Moeen bowls a jaffa like that to Head and has an average of 36 then is he really the worst all rounder of all time?

Is he a greater no rounder than Vettori? Moeen has actually looked threatening in helpful conditions though he's less consistent.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Crims edged that session

 

[Jfry]

Is he a greater no rounder than Vettori? Moeen has actually looked threatening in helpful conditions though he's less consistent.

There was a period where Vettori was a very solid batsmen

 

[CartyDurham]

2.4 an over

well played Australia for achieving that , in facing off brook, mooeen , stokes, Robinson at military medium and slower . Terrified of playing shots

78 for 3 at lunch day 2

 

[slowfinger]

"we're not going to pay any attention to Bazball" not aging very well right now is it

 

[trundler]

There was a period where Vettori was a very solid batsmen

Still batted 7 or 8 though.

 

[thierry henry]

Is he a greater no rounder than Vettori? Moeen has actually looked threatening in helpful conditions though he's less consistent.

He’s far worse than Vettori but as NZ’s #1 Vettori hater I’m so confused by how to respond to this post

 

[Son Of Coco]

WTF you on about? 3 reds is as clear as it gets. Pathetic Watsonesque review by The People's Chump

Relax. I was talking more about how they've gone the last two days. In that context, Erasmus's long pause before shooting the finger up could look like a guess, even though it obviously wasn't.

I also wasn't completely serious...

 

[flibbertyjibber]

"we're not going to pay any attention to Bazball" not aging very well right now is it

**** themselves from ball 1 with a defensive field and too scared to play an attacking shot on the roadiest road in history.

 

[morgieb]

Is he a greater no rounder than Vettori? Moeen has actually looked threatening in helpful conditions though he's less consistent.

Ehhh I thought in the rare circumstances Vettori actually got favourable conditions he was reasonably threatening as well. Not his fault he gets it far less frequently than Moeen does.

Anyway, that's....not the session we needed. Hopefully TravBall can take off.

 

[slowfinger]

Is he a greater no rounder than Vettori? Moeen has actually looked threatening in helpful conditions though he's less consistent.

Moeen's test strike rate is 60, actually better than Vettori's 73? and Lyon's 63. He just goes at 4.5 rpo.

I maintain that Root's incompetent captaincy ruined his bowling, and batting for that matter

 

[thierry henry]

Ehhh I thought in the rare circumstances Vettori actually got favourable conditions he was reasonably threatening as well.

Nope. He ****ing sucked, but could bat.

 

[CartyDurham]

Relax. I was talking more about how they've gone the last two days. In that context, Erasmus's long pause before shooting the finger up could look like a guess, even though it obviously wasn't.

I also wasn't completely serious...

I used to enjoy Rudi Koertzen (rip) long slow lift of the arm , like a gunfighter. Maybe Erasmus fancies a bit in tribute to old Rudi

 

[GIMH]

Had to drop my daughter at her boyfriend’s house (she has to choose a boyfriend who lives literally on the other corner of the peninsula to me. Nice gaff though, over the road from where the Open is this year) so only saw the first hour and then got back home as Smith was walking back. But I’m happy with it

 

[Aidan11]

My score prediction at tea.

Australia 110/7.

 

[woodleigh]

Khawaja and Head tons we see this finish as a draw. I think Bazball is the end of Test Cricket

 

[morgieb]

I maintain that Root's incompetent captaincy ruined his bowling,

His average under Root was 31. In contrast he averaged 42 against Cook.

Possibly a fairer argument for his batting, but I think that was more weaknesses against off-spin and the short ball getting exposed and his mental game going south.