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

[RossTaylorsBox]

That's PR talk, can't damage the brand.

 

[Shady Slim]

i think the declaration was bad but the result shouldn’t change how one thinks about it

which is to say, if not for the million dropped catches and letting australia’s ninth wicket score sixty unbeaten then people would be calling it a master stroke. i think it was @OverratedSanity who in another thread was decrying hindsight based analysis of tactical picks and that is one

 

[thierry henry]

If he doesn't at least admit it was a mistake then he's just outright stupid.

whoa....

Could it be..........?

 

[slippy888]

Cummins is looking like a captain genius now

 

[Anthony Clayden]

AoC, call for

Early declaration or not still don’t know how England didn’t win it after 8 wickets down. They wanted to do the short ball tactic then stokes should have bowled a few overs of it at one end. I still would have taken the new ball earlier and have Anderson and broad pitching up with the field in. Spreading the field just gave the aus tail more confidence. Australia got lucky to escape with this victory

Bowlers were knackered, Australia had ground an ageing attack with a injured spinner and a fifth bowler who could only bowl limited overs.
Bumping players for long periods is very exhausting.

 

[RossTaylorsBox]

Hindsight is way more fun though.

 

[Cricket CoachDB]

tbh I even did a search for the word and saw your post, but it was enough pages back for me to feel emboldened to make that ****post/**** post

We'll go into co-copywrite.

 

[Prince EWS]

Does everyone remember when Stokes was crazy to declare?

This aged well.

 

[Cricket CoachDB]

That's PR talk, can't damage the brand.

True enough. You can see that little bit of hope dying in the England players eyes, though.

 

[Prince EWS]

i think the declaration was bad but the result shouldn’t change how one thinks about it

I mean I definitely agree but it's still fun to gloat and tease those who were wrong all along, especially since many of them responded to any criticism of the declaration at the time with, "What if they win?"

 

[Shady Slim]

I mean I definitely agree but it's still fun to gloat and tease those who were wrong all along, especially since many of them responded to any criticism of the declaration at the time with, "What if they win?"

yeah i should say, the opposite is true too - which is to say if you’re in my camp and think the declaration was a stupid gamble, had it come off that wouldn’t suddenly render it a smart one

 

[MW1304]

Stupid ***y Cummins.

Listening to that partnership in the car was torture. Congrats Australia, not sure I can take another five weeks of this

 

[Prince EWS]

Hearing rumours Stokes just asked for an eclair on the first evening and the team misheard him.

 

[Cricket CoachDB]

Hearing rumours Stokes just asked for an eclair on the first evening and the team misheard him.

Explains those "this will be a piece of cake" comments.

 

[thierry henry]

Hearing rumours Stokes just asked for an eclair on the first evening and the team misheard him.

Probably still trying to master the fake accent

 

[Starfighter]

And finally, this match was a decisive victory for the straight seam ball over the wobble seam ball. Good stuff.

 

[RossTaylorsBox]

I'm Team Wobble Seam

 

[Prince EWS]

I'm Team Wobble Seam

I want an eclair.

 

[Cricket CoachDB]

I want an eclair.

With only 8 wickets down?!

 

[AVA]

Hearing rumours Stokes just asked for an eclair on the first evening and the team misheard him.

What role does Anderson's finger play in this eclair fiasco?