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

[SteveNZ]

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 ****s 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.

 

[CartyDurham]

It's arrogant to think 393 is a comfortable enough score on which to be confident of winning. You don't need a wicket on day 1 after batting first and putting together a decent score. If doesn't take four days to bowl a team out twice. If it does, you don't deserve to win. All Stokes did was increase his chances of losing a close match by chosing to forgoe scoring opportunities.

You are perfectly entitled to think so but having watched Stokes grow up and speaking to him personally there ain’t an arrogant bone in that lads body

england lost because of dropped chances , a no ball , missed stumping and Khawaja having an all time great test match

Also a tremendous ninth wicket stan

 

[Socerer 01]

he lost nothing in india. went through a traumatic period i his life.

didn’t he leave after the first match too? odd comment from subs there

 

[Spark]

Cummins is obviously the hero but... Holy **** i still can't get over that Lyon lofted on-drive.

Also that cover drive Cummins hit off Robinson
Just a ridiculous shot in the circumstances

 

[Cricket CoachDB]

Jimmy sounds close to tears.

 

[Croadymeister]

The reason england lost was dropped catches, a no ball wicket , Khawaja being truly outstanding and a fantastic gutsy 9th wicket partnership

the declaration is irrelevant

Why on earth didn't we take new ball when they wanted around 50 runs. I just didn't understand that decision at all

 

[Fuller Pilch]

That was well ahead of that world championship game

This is also a world test championship game (1st one of the new cycle).

 

[cricman]

Stokes catches Lyon the game goes the other way.

Stokes couldn't win either way. Runs we're gonna leak with the new ball and one of lower order were going to attack Root and both happened.

 

[Spark]

didn’t he leave after the first match too? odd comment from subs there

After the second match. But the situation was already well established by then.

 

[Shri]

Jimmy sounds close to tears.

i would love to see this part but all i got are ads ffs

 

[Molehill]

You are perfectly entitled to think so but having watched Stokes grow up and speaking to him personally there ain’t an arrogant bone in that lads body

england lost because of dropped chances , a no ball , missed stumping and Lhawajs having an all time great test match

Also a tremendous ninth wicket stan

No one is saying he's arrogant, it was just a daft decision (much like the follow on in NZ). For all the games they've won being this aggressive, they've now managed to lose two on the trot (discarding Ireland) that they should have won.

 

[Spark]

Why on earth didn't we take new ball when they wanted around 50 runs. I just didn't understand that decision at all

I mean the new ball did nothing but make it easier to drive the ball. In hindsight it didn't work at all.

 

[Kenneth Viljoen]

That misfield from the fielder at the end of the game summed up England in this match, unforced error after unforced error.

 

[CartyDurham]

No one is saying he's arrogant, it was just a daft decision (much like the follow on in NZ). For all the games they've won being this aggressive, they've now managed to lose two on the trot (discarding Ireland) that they should have won.

Yes they are.

the person I quoted said it was arrogance

 

[SteveNZ]

Changes for next Test...Foakes for Ali? Wood for Anderson? And Starc for Boland?

 

[Socerer 01]

You are perfectly entitled to think so but having watched Stokes grow up and speaking to him personally there ain’t an arrogant bone in that lads body

england lost because of dropped chances , a no ball , missed stumping and Khawaja having an all time great test match

Also a tremendous ninth wicket stan

you don’t have to be an arrogant person to take a cricket decision that can easily be perceived as arrogant

 

[Socerer 01]

That misfield from the fielder at the end of the game summed up England in this match, unforced error after unforced error.

calling Crawley a fielder is generous

 

[Kirkut]

Cummins busting the myth 'nice people finish last.'

Well done Australia. This was the first time in my life I was actually cheering for Australia.

He is nice on the outside but is tough as steel.

 

[Anil]

The reason england lost was dropped catches, a no ball wicket , Khawaja being truly outstanding and a fantastic gutsy 9th wicket partnership

the declaration is irrelevant

There will always be dropped catches, no-ball wickets and outstanding batting in a test match which will decide its course...what doesn't happen that often are meaningless declarations on a benign 1st day pitch when your best batsman is in blistering form and getting solid support from the lower order...and you got to say, the opposition bowlers weren't doing that good a job...

 

[CartyDurham]

Do you reckon these guys get close if it's another 40 runs?

Yes. But not if the chances are taken and it was 140 runs