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

[Shady Slim]

Looked to me like he was about to walk until Erasmus for some reason gave it not out.

then he didn't walk

 

[Burgey]

Yeah I don't think it is flat as people are saying.

Pope the wicket that has really bothered me.

It seems to have done a fair bit more once the lacquer went off the ball. This seems to be something which is far more a thing people talk about in England with the Dukeball than here, where once the shine goes off the Kooka it's basically flatsville.

Then again Aus bowled some pish areas first up and were better second hour.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Aussies win that session but letting Crawley score that many is criminal.

 

[Burgey]

Aussies win that session but letting Crawley score that many is criminal.

One of those rare occasions where wrong was done by both teams simultaneously

 

[Ashes81]

crawley twice has a chance to do a noble thing and twice looks to cheat instead

An Aussie moaning about batsmen not walking

 

[Shady Slim]

Aussies win that session but letting Crawley score that many is criminal.

tactical, guarantees now is there for the series

Sun Tzu said: “Hence, when able to attack, we must seem unable; when using our forces, we must seem inactive; when we are near, we must make the enemy believe we are far away; when far away, we must make him believe we are near.”

 

[Qlder]

An Aussie moaning about batsmen not walking

Adam Gilchrist says hello

 

[GIMH]

Three down at lunch on a bounce-less road under sunny skies on day one is in front for the bowling side mate. Usual rule of thumb is if you win the toss and bowl on a green deck you want three before lunch to be in front.
Really don’t deserve to be in front given we’ve bowled a lot of dross (mostly too straight) but I think we're (narrowly) there.

Yeha in seriousness, that last ball wicket obviously changes the complexion of the game.

But given where our strengths are, 124-3 with Root yet to get going but still out there, and it being the top 3 back in the pavilion, is a strong platform for us, also.

 

[Shady Slim]

An Aussie moaning about batsmen not walking

(i don't actually believe in giving yourself out lol i think it's for schmucks but it's the ashes so Ingerlund Bad i've got to keep the bit up)

 

[mustardcharlie]

Ducket was the most disappointing dismissal for me. Me ole Da (RIP) would be singing "Gone Fishin'" for weeks. Pope? Miss a straight one from a pieman bowling rond the wicket? Hmmm. Crawley got a decent ball. Not too disheartened though.

 

[trundler]

Crawley punching above his weight cancels out Duckett's looseness but Pope really needs to do better. That was an awful shot. England can't afford to leave any runs on the board. Root needs to be at his best post lunch. Keen to see how much difference the two tails will make.

 

[honestbharani]

I'd be astonished if England are only 1 down at Lunch
3/120

Give this man a prize

 

[social]

Bit concerned that England are going to go hard at everything and make 350 at a run a ball when it's really a 500 pitch.

That’s the downside of their approach

This is a 450 par pitch minimum and you don’t get bonus points for scoring less at 5 an over

 

[Burgey]

But given where our strengths are, 124-3

So close to the dream NZ score right here

 

[Jfry]

Give this man a prize

7/250 at tea

 

[Qlder]

Hoping Cummins fakes an injury, Smith captains more aggressively and England all of for 200 at Tea

 

[Kenneth Viljoen]

That was a good over rate well done Australia

 

[social]

Root is key as others can bat around him

 

[TimAngas]

Hoping Cummins fakes an injury, Smith captains more aggressively and England all of for 200 at Tea

Surely Cummins would play a part in bowling out England for such a total?

 

[TimAngas]

So excited to see how the statistical anomaly that is Harry Brook goes.

One statistical anomaly bowls to another.