I can’t believe they never tried one yorker to either Cummins or Lyon. Yes, Lyon gave up one catch attempt with the short ball but with Cummings moving across his stumps a yorker would have been the ball to attempt
Win or lose been brilliant 5 days and 4 more tests of this will be great. Even if we don’t win, to see us properly competing and making 5 every day is an event is only good for test cricket in this country and around the world. Beats blocking out way to a boring defeat.
I think this has been poor decision making. Cummings wants the strike, last ball of over and most of the fielders are too far away to stop the single and guess what Cummings hits in in the gap and back on strike
Congratulations to Australia. Maybe Stokes won’t declare next time when Root is hitting the ball to all part of the ground and costing themselves runs that would have helped in the chase for victory
Really unlucky. That declaration will be talked about but don’t think it made a difference. Given the amount of overs left in the game. Fair play to Cummins and Lyon. Cummins brilliant knock. Only criticism, moeen ali experiment has let us down. Done nothing with the bat and although got a couple wickets, his injured finger really ****ed things over and they targeted him. Have to wonder if they should have been bold and taken the risky approach of someone like Ahmed which has served Stokes so well rather than the more conservative choice of Ali
Could have been predicted that a guy who has played test and had to bowl long spells in years would probably suffer some sort of blistering.
it made a big difference as there were less than 10 minutes left of play and less than 7 overs . A higher first inning score would have put the pressure on Australia as they played sensible cricket. More runs to get they would either have had to play more expansive shots or just defended. Just defending when you can’t win brings risks, just as having to be more expansive. The lack of of an alternative spinner highlights an issue with English cricket. Jack Leach can’t play, get someone out of test retirement. Even if England had won, the spinner issue won’t go away.
The lack of spinners is due to the County Championship being neglected in favour of white ball. Don't need spinners in England in April.
Could have. Or could have both been bowed for ducks. Or could have got injured. Given was still 7 overs left, could have got another 20-30 runs in those 7 overs playing way they were at the end and we didn’t look like getting a wicket when new ball was taken Tbf. It’ll get talked about but it wasn’t what lost the game in my opinion.
Yup. Pitches that are nice and green are ideal for those 70mph plodders that hit a line such as Darren stevens who would get smashed around at international level but take 1000 county wickets. But at least we all get to watch the ****ty hundred for the whole of august that no one gives two ****s about.
1. Pitch was awful. To hand that wicket to England's seamers in a home ashes is criminal. It must be said 2. England bowling. Not a shock. Why? 2 old veterans blowing, one recent injury and then Robinson has no back up. Alli and stokes not up to it 3. Bairstow at keeper was absolutely pants and dropped 4 or 5 that should be caught 4. Stupid declaration. Root was in in. As in seeing it like a beach ball. 5. Australia tried to play a game of given them nothing and wait for the errors and it worked. With the time left England's lead was not enough and even with rain it was not enough. A half day was missing here. 6. England did well mostly, it imo was down to too many ring rusty players. Anderson at 4 an over, unheard of. Stokes could not bowl. Alli lasted 2 day. Bairstow was very poor as wicket keeper. Imo this result was down to a **** pitch that offered nothing and bad wicket keeping
Responses: 1. The pitch offered up 38 wickets over the (great) game and finished marginally early….and it was not a freakishly boring game at all….isn’t that the point of test cricket? I’d say it did its job 2. Bit harsh on broad 3. agreed 4. stupid and arrogant imo 5.they played test cricket. We played something else! 6. let’s hope all improve This was a great game and England contributed massively to that…..Someone mentioned in the commentary after the game; basball (spelling?) is all very well but we lost. We threw away runs when declaring early with root unbeaten and gave our wickets away too cheaply. I love the new confidence but sometimes you need to temper your game depending on your opponent. Australia are one of this opponents. Small margins.
Imo a better pitch and England rip through the aussies in the first innings. it didn't help batting and it certainly didn't help bowling. the game was in spite of that pudding. England should have taken the game away from Australia in the first innings. an early declaration and then multiple drops meant what should have been a 100 to 150 lead was in effect 0. people need to note. at not one point have I critiqued the scoring rate at 5 and over nor the attacking fields. not once. what I have issue with is prep. the pitch was a disgrace and word needs to go out to all 4 groundsmen now. pitch for England bowlers the prep of team looks poor. Stoke is never fit, not a hope. he has to accept he cannot bowl like he is. bairstow decision looks poor as he looks like he hasn't been working on it, never mind be ready for a top level test. he looks stiff and wooden. Leach v alli is a thing, you cannot say they can prep for an unknown injury and you can't blame the general state of spin in england. anderson is clearly not right. he got an injury last month and he's started here but imo he was well off both innings A decision to declare to have a go at australia in the evening for a plan at warner is well and good but it was poorly done. they didn't give themselves the time to do it and frankly they didn't assess the need for runs there. Even another half hour batting the following morning would put the aussie batsmen off their stride by having to field then rush in to pad up. Potentially we lost 20 runs, or 50 or whatever.
