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

[CartyDurham]

.

and Pope joins the fun

 

[straw man]

Aussie bowlers are now looking worried

they're looking bemused, which is probably worse

 

[CartyDurham]

Anyone I can’t imagine Boland ever bowling with the keeper up ?

 

[Gob]

This is interesting to say the least

 

[the big bambino]

Could I ask my Aussie fans, has Boland bowled before with the keeper up at the stumps ?

Probably found a few occasions on the MCG road.

 

[chris.hinton]

Stokes, Bairstow & Brook against this tired attack lol.

 

[Spark]

Fix your line Patty.

 

[halba]

Boland 7 RPO

 

[TimAngas]

Hazlewood's LO nous might come in handy here.

 

[CartyDurham]

Probably found a few occasions on the MCG road.

Thanks. It’s just amazing with him bowling fast and within two overs the keeper comes up. Don’t think in tests matches that happens within two overs of the start of play at the time 40 odd for 2

 

[halba]

Boland looks really ordinary on these wickets. He places the ball hoping for seam movement- which never arrives on this dead track. Neser is a better bet- he can atleast swing the ball. Starc - will be even more expensive.

It looks like only Rain can save this test- it will likely be a draw as rain forecast tomorrow and england will atleast want 300

 

[Spark]

Boland looks really ordinary on these wickets. He places the ball hoping for seam movement- which never arrives on this dead track. Neser is a better bet- he can atleast swing the ball.

This is not how swing works.

 

[GIMH]

Boland looks really ordinary on these wickets. He places the ball hoping for seam movement- which never arrives on this dead track. Neser is a better bet- he can atleast swing the ball.

Jokes aside, am sure he will learn from days like these. All young bowlers have them

 

[CartyDurham]

It’s early but I’ve checked the weather for Lords. It looks like a relative heatwave on all days 31 Celsius

 

[Burgey]

Marnus better replace his divot there.

 

[Burgey]

Did I hear Pietersen say Root told him he won't miss the reverse ramp shot?

 

[CartyDurham]

Starc on for hazlewood

I think Starc would have been a real handful on this track

 

[the big bambino]

Thanks. It’s just amazing with him bowling fast and within two overs the keeper comes up. Don’t think in tests matches that happens within two overs of the start of play at the time 40 odd for 2

Unusual response to unusual tactics I think. England went the charge on Boland in the first dig (Vaughan predicted they would before the match) and I guess this is the response to keep them back in the crease.

 

[GIMH]

We've scored 40 runs in 20 minutes. By my calculation that means we can declare at tea with the target at 500

 

[wpdavid]

There are people on cricinfo talking about how Australia should counter this sort of batting, which seems a huge over-reaction to me as we're talking about two expensive overs this morning (off the bat, anyway). Presumably Cummins will just tell his guys to hold their nerve and wait for the mistake.