Off Topic The Ashes

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Shocking play by Ali and Bairstow. Never understood leaving a ball pitching just outside off stump and playing no shot.

These two just need to continue doing what they are doing. Agree with JD that another 40-50 should put us firmly in the box seat but still need a good bowling performance and better bowler/fielder management from Root than in the first innings where he was shocking.

40-50 is quite a lot to ask from what is effectively our last wicket pair...
 
Possibly, hell probably in all fairness.

As it stands we're looking at a lead of about 100 if it carries on in a normal manner. I don't expect that to happen. It's still a new ball, we've got to start afresh and the next few batsmen in are very capable but in horrible form (Bairstow, Ali and Woakes), add in that we are presumably all out when 9 down as we're fielding an injury. All together that is a reipe for a collapse, even so it would have to be spectacular for us not to get a lead of 50+

All Australia need to do is bat for over 2 sessions and the pressure moves back to us. Chasing over 150 on this pitch will not be fun and I'll back them to set us 200. CricVi has us understandable favourites but at 80-10 which is nuts. If we're still batting an hour after lunch tomorrow then it's hard to see us not winning. It's rarely that simple though...

FWIW you are obviously welcome to cheer on Australia but when you say you aren't into a sport then just come onto the thread to support the opposition it is reasonable to assume you're doing it just to annoy so you can't be that offended when you achieve that aim. I didn't realise there was previous or that you actually had PTSD (or anything really), look after yourself, I'm not one for throwing abuse around myself and hope the thread can get back to topic!

Most of us called this, I see about 2-3 people have claimed some sort of prophecy here. It's the standard ebb and flow of test cricket.

We already have a lead we would have snatched your arm off for at the toss (63 as I type), every extra run is hurting Australia. Only once in their history have they come back from a deficit as big as this in England and this is a low scoring pitch where runs count more. Am I confident? I'd still have us as 70-30 favourites. Either team can collapse at any point, and probably will. I would not bet a penny on this series.
 
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Amy Lofthouse is such a waste of space on the live text.

"I mean, one of the umpire's literal jobs is to give you out when you edge behind. That's what they're there for. Why would you do their job for them and walk?"

Feck off love. If you don't understand cricket is different from other sports, then stop stealing a living and go back to commentating on the netball.
 
Amy Lofthouse is such a waste of space on the live text.

"I mean, one of the umpire's literal jobs is to give you out when you edge behind. That's what they're there for. Why would you do their job for them and walk?"

Feck off love. If you don't understand cricket is different from other sports, then stop stealing a living and go back to commentating on the netball.
Sad thing is how many are supporting her.

<doh>
 
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Bancroft gone - 27-2

Still trailing by 63

Need to get Smith now....

There's going to be sticky parts of this innings where one or two of their players gets in. There's more to see from Khawaja, Head and Wade. I'd accept 50 and out from Smith now. The key is whether they can get over 200, once they get to 240 it is game on.
 
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