A wonderful advert for Test Match Cricket, a tight end to the game with the Aussies coming out on top this time. Personally, I don't blame the declaration, I think Bairstow's missed catches and stumping are more to blame. But probably the defining moment was Stokes dropped catch towards the end, if that had stuck then the outcome might have been different. I wonder if the fielder behind Stokes had called to push the ball in the air he could have caught it, but it;'s all if's and maybe's. I guess the decisions for the next test are whether Bairstow is relieved of the gloves for Foukes, and who will come in as a spinner if Ali's finger is still not healed and do you go with Mark Wood instead of Jimmy, but I guess it will depends on how the weather looks as far as the fast bowlers go.
Drop Duckett to bring in Foukes but who opens? Wood for Anderson is absolutely the right move, except it's Jimmy you're dropping. (Or spin it as 'resting'). Moheen? Bowled 47 overs in the game with reasonable success. If his finger heals then I'd keep him in. Otherwise do you bring Wood in for Moheen, keep Jimmy in and go with Joe as a front line spinner?
That is a conundrum Ernie, probably your 2 weakest players are the 2 openers, as other positions are very much nailed on. Root would be reluctant to open as would Pope both are better at 3 & 4. It probably means they will stick with Bairstow behind the stumps and hope he improves.
Crawley always does just enough to stay in the team. He’s got a half century first test so is safe for the next two matches probably. I sincerely hope I’m wrong but I fully expect him to fail to register a score at Lords.
On the Radio commentary this guy kept coming up with great stats. Re Bairstow... when he's keeping and England bat first his average is 40 odd, in the second innings its 26 or similar... (concentration levels) whereas Foulkes averages are better if we bat first or second...
I mentioned it as a possibility of how to get Foukes into the team whilst keeping Bairstow in. Another option would be to just swap Foukes in for Bairstow. A third would be to leave the batting as it is - no Foukes. It's not a question of wanting to drop anyone, it's just considering the options.
I'd leave it as it is as long Moeen's finger heals.The Lords slope might suit Jimmy. I know Bairstow wasn't perfect but he still took 5 catches and scored 100 runs.
I guess one option might be to leave Moheen out and use Root as the spinner, then both Foukes and Bairstow could play.
england women: after australia started with 473, england made 463 with opener tammy beaumont almost carrying her bat, being last out for 208, making her the first woman to score a double hundred for england.
Aus 238 ahead now, just 3 wickets left, although I think those 3 put on nearly 200 in the first innings...
