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

[Croadymeister]

You can't say that Stokes isn't an inventive captain. Cant imagine Root would've set an umbrella field.

Yeah that's one thing you can never say

 

[Croadymeister]

It was still one of the worst decisions of all time even if Australia got rolled for 50.

This isn't 2015,oh sorry that 60

 

[GIMH]

It's consistent with the Sky commentary being obscenely effusive in their praise for England as if they'd put up 550 and bowled Australia out for 250 though. England have a slender advantage but you definitely wouldn't know it hearing how Sky have talked about them.

I don’t think this is remotely true.

 

[CartyDurham]

What will Stokes next genius move be?

Bairstow to open?

You just never know. If England get a lead close to 300, I think that may well be enough

 

[Red_Ink_Squid]

Spent most of my morning trying to rescue one of our cats who was stuck on the roof.

How did the cricket go?

 

[Burgey]

That replay of Moeen cheating clearly shows him looking across to the umpires, making sure they weren’t watching.

 

[Gnske]

"Yes great memories of the Ashes, now Jason Gillespie as coach you had many talents to work with, all over the world but how long did it take Garry Ballance to learn your name?"

 

[CartyDurham]

Spent most of my morning trying to rescue one of our cats who was stuck on the roof.

How did the cricket go?

England lead by 7

khawaja went bowled for 141 absolutely brilliant innings and Joe Root patted him on the back

then England had whacky field positions and the tail disappeared quickly bar one truly great six by Cummins

its game on now

 

[CartyDurham]

That replay of Moeen cheating clearly shows him looking across to the umpires, making sure they weren’t watching.

Nothing of the sort. You can’t see the umpire in picture, he could quite easily be seeing if an over was starting to get fielding

I know you want to make a big deal of this but it’s nothing

 

[GIMH]

Should have opened up with that umbrella field to Khawaja and he’d have got a golden duck

 

[trundler]

Weird test match so far. Uninspiring fielding and bowling from Aus on day 1 salvaged by a bizarre declaration then England dropped like 5 catches in turn but Australian batsmen kept throwing starts away anyway and almost got to parity. Fun but strange.

 

[Croadymeister]

The declaration would have been more than vindicated if Jonny didn't have his Mickey mouse gloves on.

Yeah or Broad kept foot behind line,Bairstow really owes us a huge score after so many mistakes

 

[Cubiscus]

What will Stokes next genius move be?

Bairstow to open?

That would have been a better selection decision than having him keep.

 

[Burgey]

Early Dizzy was a force of nature. Shame he had so many injuries

 

[Spark]

Weird test match so far. Uninspiring fielding and bowling from Aus on day 1 salvaged by a bizarre declaration then England dropped like 5 catches in turn but Australian batsmen kept throwing starts away anyway and almost got to parity. Fun but strange.

Yeah it hasn't really been a high quality affair so far. Mostly about who can make the fewest mistakes.

 

[Croadymeister]

It really only would have been vindicated if they’d jagged two or more wickets late day one. Even then it was a weird call when a bloke was 100 not out.

Yeah then would have a lead of maybe 35- 40 now

 

[GIMH]

Early Dizzy was a force of nature. Shame he had so many injuries

comes across as a good bloke as well (for an Aussie)

 

[CartyDurham]

Don’t want to scare anyone but I’m 200 miles from the ground and it’s raining

 

[mackembhoy]

Yeah or Broad kept foot behind line,Bairstow really owes us a huge score after so many mistakes

Either we will be all out for under 200 or we declare 300/3 before the end of today.

 

[Burgey]

Yeah or Broad kept foot behind line,Bairstow really owes us a huge score after so many mistakes

Why do you think the declaration made any difference to those things? They didn’t happen in the four overs they bowled on the first day.