I agree he should be left alone, if we had better options to open. Denly's had 2 good starts out of 4 but he's not an opener, we can't be having 2 sacrificial lambs, Denly at 2 and Roy at 3.
I agree with the point about leaving Bairstow where he is. One of our biggest issue is constantly moving batsman and picking the batting order out of a hat. Asking him to open is completely different to anything he has done in test cricket before, and could shatter his confidence. It might help in 1 or 2 matches but could ruin him for the next 50. Keep him at 6/7 where he has succeeded in test cricket. I've never got our obsession with moving players up the order when they have been successful in a set position. Keep Root at 4 where he averages around 55, keep Bairstow at 6/7 where he averages over 40 etc....
It’s an absolute ****ing joke here, they have wasted so much time that could have easily been played. The umpires are a disgrace.
I cannot see why they didn't take an early tea whilst they were off the field. Had this before at Headingly. They will squeeze just enough overs in so no refunds have to be given. if is was dark and pissing down but the one over remaining meant the 'no refund' rule kicked in they would stop out there wearing wellies with flashlights fastened to their heads. Had the same at the Oval too.
7 down now. Really good recovery by England. Mind, if those near-edges from Broad had been just a bit nearer we'd probably be batting now.
All out for 179 in the last over of the day. Perfect! Just need to bat all day tomorrow and Saturday and we're home and dry...
It's meant to be cloudy tomorow until 5pm. Hopefully we can stay in long enough to enjoy the sunshine on Saturday.
Thank **** for Jofra. Impressive how he adjusted he bowled much slower than Lords to bowl more line and length, which you have to do at Headingley. That's unbelievable for someone playing I his second test. Shame others who are far more experienced didn't. Overall I didn't think we bowled that well on a bowler friendly day. Stokes and Woakes were both poor. Woakes is gonna have to do something special in the second innings, as it could be his last game of the series. https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/...step-ashes-comeback-plan-lancashire-second-xi That would be some bowling attack. And would be another 'J'
Answering my own question here... The Aussie players are wearing black armbands today in a mark of respect for the mother of Malcolm Conn (AUS team media manager), Yvonne, who passed away yesterday
You certainly move from elation to desperation with this England side. I just finished watching the highlights from yesterday and was obviously elated with Archer's performance, only to look on the BBC website to see we are 10-2. Let's hope at least one partnership can flourish and get us a good first-innings lead.
