Up and down like a ****ing yo-yo still about the merits of the declaration, even though I originally said it was bone-headed no matter what the result. I guess with the new found mentality, it has to swing hand-in-hand with what England are trying to do, and they'll say they can't do what they're doing/done what they've done without toeing the line between risky and hap-hazard.
I dunno...I don't think you can point to the fact the result came in the last few overs either as a saving grace for it, because that only came because of unforecast weather.
I don't think there's anything wrong with playing strong cricket in the first Test of a series and knowing you're good enough, even if you don't win it. 0-0 and confidence obviously shits on 0-1 having to win two clear Tests to win back the Ashes. If it was me, I'd go back and bat on, get to 450 and know it's less likely we can be beaten. But I'm sure England will disagree. I also don't like one of the best batsmen in the world playing reverse laps or their captain becoming an out and out slogger at the sake of his run output, but alas.
I dunno...I don't think you can point to the fact the result came in the last few overs either as a saving grace for it, because that only came because of unforecast weather.
I don't think there's anything wrong with playing strong cricket in the first Test of a series and knowing you're good enough, even if you don't win it. 0-0 and confidence obviously shits on 0-1 having to win two clear Tests to win back the Ashes. If it was me, I'd go back and bat on, get to 450 and know it's less likely we can be beaten. But I'm sure England will disagree. I also don't like one of the best batsmen in the world playing reverse laps or their captain becoming an out and out slogger at the sake of his run output, but alas.