He’s had a long lay off and the demands of three high intensity Tests have caught up with him. However, I don’t think they will rest him. Stokes sees him as a poster boy for “Bazball” and a talismanic player, like himself. Great Test at Headingley yet again. But no Test there in 2027 Ashes - or at Old Trafford. Nothing in the cricket hot beds of Yorkshire and Lancashire. No Test match at all in the north of England. What are the ECB playing at?
I suppose it's appropriate that tests should be played in Hampshire where cricket is reputed to have begun.
Bairstow is a better wicket keeper than he has shown so far in this series, in his defense he had little cricket pre Ashes so was always likely to be rusty. It is a difficult decision because with Bairstow sooner or later he is going to start ticking with the bat and he could win you a game as we have seen before, Foakes does not have that ability to take a game away from the opposition with the bat, but he would likely perform better with the gloves, although there are no guarantees. England`s catching has been poor throughout the team in comparison to Australia`s, Root in particular has had a nightmare but he`s not the only one, the keeper though will always be under scrutiny as they are the busiest man on the field.
Both good players, but Foakes gets my vote. England are packed with 'match changers' already, but lack consistency and middle order solidity. Foakes is an infinitely better keeper and still has an average over 32. Bairstows test average is slightly higher at 37, but Foakes will occupy the crease longer I believe.
England Women beat Australia with 11 balls to spare to level the Ashes at 6-6. The 17 wides bowled by Aus might have made the difference!
Low scoring games - probably due to the weather- but more exciting because if it. Surrey threw away their semi v Somerset with some poor shots. No need to play those shots at that stage of the game.
600 for Broad Aussies scoring quickly, but losing wickets regularly. It’s been an interesting day in sunny Manchester (If it had been played earlier in the week, they’d have needed boats).
Excellent hundred from Crawley. England scoring at 7.5 runs per over since lunch. Crawley & Root added 60 in 6 overs! Thrashing the Aussies everywhere
