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

[CartyDurham]

.

4 an over is a bit poor in this power play

 

[Spark]

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.

First step is to bowl way better. Once again we're bowling too full and too straight, we can hardly complain about leaking runs galore in that case.

 

[halba]

Hazlewood injured again *sigh* Starc 12th on the field for Haze...is this a joke? Hazlewood is 1 test back after over 6 months and cant even bowl in the 2nd inn! Bye bye aussie this test!

 

[CartyDurham]

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.

That’s what you would hope for but this has bamboozled most of world cricket and even more so in English conditions

the indians and saffers last summer especially

 

[Burgey]

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.

Third man/ fly slip should always have been in this series with the way they go so hard at the ball. Different sort of reasons on this pitch, more a run saver, but should still be there imo

 

[GIMH]

Joe Root answering all the questions asked of him here

 

[CartyDurham]

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.

It makes sense. I personally thought Starc should have played. His left arm delivery would have been very handy today

71 for 2 , lead 78

 

[CartyDurham]

Third man/ fly slip should always have been in this series with the way they go so hard at the ball. Different sort of reasons on this pitch, more a run saver, but should still be there imo

Did you see in the Aussie innings , England had a fielder virtually behind the keeper on the boundary

it’s definitely not test match cricket I grew up with in the 70s and 80s

 

[halba]

It makes sense. I personally thought Starc should have played. His left arm delivery would have been very handy today

71 for 2 , lead 78

He would've been expensive, leaked circa 6- 7 RPO

 

[CartyDurham]

He would've been expensive, leaked circa 6- 7 RPO

Probably but left arm inswing and reverse swing would have been taking wickets imo

it’s all right arm here which is playing to Roots strength

 

[halba]

Game is one hour from being over here for aussies- apparently a bowler short- (hazlewood)will be reliant on rain tomorrow.

 

[sledger]

Pietersen is ****ing insufferable. I know all commentators do the inane chitchat thing. But it is infinitely more annoying when he does it. God he's a ****.

 

[Zinzan]

May not have the best average or convert the most hundreds, but no one in the world makes batting look as easy as Joe Root atm. Seems to have so much time it's not even funny.

 

[Burgey]

Did you see in the Aussie innings , England had a fielder virtually behind the keeper on the boundary

it’s definitely not test match cricket I grew up with in the 70s and 80s

England has traditionally had a third man a lot more than Aus does, primarily because the wickets are usually slower there so there's more scored on the glide/ late cut.

 

[TimAngas]

2023 Joe Root probably only rivalled by 2014/15 AB de Villiers in making the audacious look regulation in the last decade or so. Not even Pant made it look so easy.

 

[halba]

confirmed- hazlewood is injured. after bowling only 2 overs WTF

 

[CartyDurham]

Could I ask my soccer team have just signed an Australian player

Sunderland AFC is delighted to announce that an agreement has been reached with Central Coast Mariners for the transfer of Nectarios Triantis.

anyone seen him play

 

[Burgey]

Hazlewood injured again *sigh* Starc 12th on the field for Haze...is this a joke? Hazlewood is 1 test back after over 6 months and cant even bowl in the 2nd inn! Bye bye aussie this test!

Hazlewood is on the field.

 

[TimAngas]

confirmed- hazlewood is injured. after bowling only 2 overs WTF

He's clearly not, because he's on the field.

 

[Gob]

Got to give credit where due. This is ballsy batting