The Official Cricket Thread

[Deepsouth]

So Australia have given the Indians a good old flogging in the World Test Championship Final. That is now 9 ICC major trophies in the cabinet and the first cricketing nation to win all major ICC trophies.

Go you good thing

[Biffer]

England side for the first test, which has crept up on us and starts tomorrow

Ben Duckett, Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (captain), Jonny Bairstow (wicketkeeper), Moeen Ali, Stuart Broad, Ollie Robinson, James Anderson.

Unconvinced about the openers, but that middle order is exceptional. Big test for Harry Brook, but if he can get anywhere near maintaining the level he's been at in his test career so far (7 matches, 11 innings, 4 100s, 3 50s, 818 runs avg 81.8) then England have a genuine hot property. The bowling attack might need some cocoa and slippers at the end of each day but they're still damn good at a combined age of 140.

[Paddington Bear]

Starts Friday but otherwise on much the same page as you.

I worry for Ali - hasn't had a good test performance in ages, hasn't played first class in ages, and I think the Aussies will go hammer and tongs at him to force us to bowl our seamers into the ground. Getting Jimmy and Broad through five tests in six weeks is a tall enough order as it is.

[Gumboot]

Starts Friday but otherwise on much the same page as you.

I worry for Ali - hasn't had a good test performance in ages, hasn't played first class in ages, and I think the Aussies will go hammer and tongs at him to force us to bowl our seamers into the ground. Getting Jimmy and Broad through five tests in six weeks is a tall enough order as it is.

True, Leach is a big loss.

Is Ben Foakes injured, or did he just miss the cut once Bairstow regained fitness?

[duke]

Starts Friday but otherwise on much the same page as you.

I worry for Ali - hasn't had a good test performance in ages, hasn't played first class in ages, and I think the Aussies will go hammer and tongs at him to force us to bowl our seamers into the ground. Getting Jimmy and Broad through five tests in six weeks is a tall enough order as it is.

True, Leach is a big loss.

Is Ben Foakes injured, or did he just miss the cut once Bairstow regained fitness?

Missed the cut. Responded by hitting a century against an admittedly weak Kent bowling attack.

[Gumboot]

That's harsh. I know you can't leave Bairstow out, but Foakes is an excellent test keeper, and a more than handy batter.

[Paddington Bear]

I haven't met many England fans that agree with the decision!

[Big D]

Starts Friday but otherwise on much the same page as you.

I worry for Ali - hasn't had a good test performance in ages, hasn't played first class in ages, and I think the Aussies will go hammer and tongs at him to force us to bowl our seamers into the ground. Getting Jimmy and Broad through five tests in six weeks is a tall enough order as it is.

I think then going after him will he'll in a strange way. He's used to batsmen going for him and he'll have more options in the field.

He's older and wiser than he was and know this is a free hit. Wouldn't surprise me if we get one extreme or the other.

[Enzedder]

England side for the first test, which has crept up on us and starts tomorrow

Ben Duckett, Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (captain), Jonny Bairstow (wicketkeeper), Moeen Ali, Stuart Broad, Ollie Robinson, James Anderson.

Unconvinced about the openers, but that middle order is exceptional. Big test for Harry Brook, but if he can get anywhere near maintaining the level he's been at in his test career so far (7 matches, 11 innings, 4 100s, 3 50s, 818 runs avg 81.8) then England have a genuine hot property. The bowling attack might need some cocoa and slippers at the end of each day but they're still damn good at a combined age of 140.

This series will depend on England getting ahead of the Aussies in the middle order. I can't see it - Oz bowlers are streets ahead I reckon.

4 - 0

[Biffer]

This could be a belter of a series. I hope it is.

[Paddington Bear]

I’ve been really really looking forward to this series but have to say, the night before, I fear we’re about to get battered. Why is this sport so nervy

[And 1 guest]

My friend was wondering if anyone might have a friend with a link

[Sandstorm]

England choose to bat.

Cricinfo site is buckling under the pressure today.

[Gumboot]

https://cricfree.live/live/supersports-cricket

[Paddington Bear]

Crawley shooting out the blocks

[Thor Sedan]

Feel like this first match will be a draw?

Looks like a stonking pitch to bat and score on. England to rattle up a ridiculous first innings total in stupid time. Aussie to bat for 6 sessions and then England to go guns blazing to set England 300 odd in 2 sessions??

[Thor Sedan]

400+ by the end of the day?

[Paddington Bear]

Lost that session unfortunately

[Sandstorm]

400+ by the end of the day?

3 down at lunch. Unlikely

[Biffer]

400+ by the end of the day?

3 down at lunch. Unlikely

Given the way England try to play, it just takes one of Root/Stokes/Brook/Bairstow to go on to a big score and it could easily happen. The big part of the England batting line-up is 4-7, the openers are looked on as flaky. Or they could be done for around 250. It's fascinating stuff.

[clydecloggie]

My friend was wondering if anyone might have a friend with a link

My friend had some success with relocating himself temporarily to Australia and making a free 9Now account.

[Biffer]

Freak dismissal to dismiss Brook and lower his Test average to 79.7

[Sandstorm]

Stokes goooorn for 1. 5 down in a hurry.

[Biffer]

England suffering from a lack of cricket? Stokes hasn't played for a while, neither has Bairstow. Ali not played red ball for yonks.

[Sandstorm]

England suffering from a lack of cricket? Stokes hasn't played for a while, neither has Bairstow. Ali not played red ball for yonks.

Aus off a Test against India last week. England probabaly won't be super-sharp until the 3rd Test

[tabascoboy]

Stupid structure of the domestic season, terrific weather (for once) in the last 6 weeks but much the schedule given over to Twenty20 only in that time

[JM2K6]

England suffering from a lack of cricket? Stokes hasn't played for a while, neither has Bairstow. Ali not played red ball for yonks.

Don't think any of the wickets have come from that. Just a good contest, with a freak dismissal and a continuation of Stokes' struggles.

[SaintK]

Two stumpings off Lyon, Bairstow and Ali forcing it much too much
323-7 on a 450+ wicket!!
Australia will b e well happy

[Biffer]

That was unexpected

[tabascoboy]

That was unexpected

Interesting psychological move

[Insane_Homer]

Cracking 1st day

[Slick]

Two stumpings off Lyon, Bairstow and Ali forcing it much too much
323-7 on a 450+ wicket!!
Australia will b e well happy

I’m finding all this Bazball stuff increasingly cringy. Play positive Test cricket without all the nonsense - although in fairness it was mainly the commentators that were continually banging on about it. It’s not as if the Aussies, of all teams, are going to be particularly intimidated by it, they will just keep playing away.

The declaration, which is all part of it of course, just seems stupid, particularly in a first test

[Paddington Bear]

Agreed on the declaration. It was a dumb gimmick and we may well have cause to miss the 40 runs or so we could have added

[Sandstorm]

Overcast and blustery today. Perfect for England’s swing bowlers I reckon.

[tabascoboy]

Two stumpings off Lyon, Bairstow and Ali forcing it much too much
323-7 on a 450+ wicket!!
Australia will b e well happy

I’m finding all this Bazball stuff increasingly cringy. Play positive Test cricket without all the nonsense - although in fairness it was mainly the commentators that were continually banging on about it. It’s not as if the Aussies, of all teams, are going to be particularly intimidated by it, they will just keep playing away.

The declaration, which is all part of it of course, just seems stupid, particularly in a first test

Backing their bowlers, though it won't look good in hindsight if Aus rack up 500+ and we used 4 new ball overs for no reward . Weather is on the turn this weekend so runs in the bank might well have been the better option.

[Slick]

Two stumpings off Lyon, Bairstow and Ali forcing it much too much
323-7 on a 450+ wicket!!
Australia will b e well happy

I’m finding all this Bazball stuff increasingly cringy. Play positive Test cricket without all the nonsense - although in fairness it was mainly the commentators that were continually banging on about it. It’s not as if the Aussies, of all teams, are going to be particularly intimidated by it, they will just keep playing away.

The declaration, which is all part of it of course, just seems stupid, particularly in a first test

Backing their bowlers, though it won't look good in hindsight if Aus rack up 500+ and we used 4 new ball overs for no reward . Weather is on the turn this weekend so runs in the bank might well have been the better option.

I can definitely see both sides of it, just seems a bit unnecessary. In saying that, with the weather changing maybe it’s genius!

[duke]

Two stumpings off Lyon, Bairstow and Ali forcing it much too much
323-7 on a 450+ wicket!!
Australia will b e well happy

I’m finding all this Bazball stuff increasingly cringy. Play positive Test cricket without all the nonsense - although in fairness it was mainly the commentators that were continually banging on about it. It’s not as if the Aussies, of all teams, are going to be particularly intimidated by it, they will just keep playing away.

The declaration, which is all part of it of course, just seems stupid, particularly in a first test

Backing their bowlers, though it won't look good in hindsight if Aus rack up 500+ and we used 4 new ball overs for no reward . Weather is on the turn this weekend so runs in the bank might well have been the better option.

Nah, in Baz/Stokes we trust. I like that we tried something different and it means that we get two goes at the openers.

One of the comments from the journos stood out to me - you do what the opposition least want you to do. This struck me as just that, the Ozzies had been in the field all day and there was a decent chance of getting one of the openers cheaply

[tabascoboy]

I’m finding all this Bazball stuff increasingly cringy. Play positive Test cricket without all the nonsense - although in fairness it was mainly the commentators that were continually banging on about it. It’s not as if the Aussies, of all teams, are going to be particularly intimidated by it, they will just keep playing away.

The declaration, which is all part of it of course, just seems stupid, particularly in a first test

Backing their bowlers, though it won't look good in hindsight if Aus rack up 500+ and we used 4 new ball overs for no reward . Weather is on the turn this weekend so runs in the bank might well have been the better option.

I can definitely see both sides of it, just seems a bit unnecessary. In saying that, with the weather changing maybe it’s genius!

If we roll them over for 150 today, then we can put it down to genius

[Paddington Bear]

I’m finding all this Bazball stuff increasingly cringy. Play positive Test cricket without all the nonsense - although in fairness it was mainly the commentators that were continually banging on about it. It’s not as if the Aussies, of all teams, are going to be particularly intimidated by it, they will just keep playing away.

The declaration, which is all part of it of course, just seems stupid, particularly in a first test

Backing their bowlers, though it won't look good in hindsight if Aus rack up 500+ and we used 4 new ball overs for no reward . Weather is on the turn this weekend so runs in the bank might well have been the better option.

Nah, in Baz/Stokes we trust. I like that we tried something different and it means that we get two goes at the openers.

One of the comments from the journos stood out to me - you do what the opposition least want you to do. This struck me as just that, the Ozzies had been in the field all day and there was a decent chance of getting one of the openers cheaply

Not convinced the Aussies were devastated by the decision. If I was in their shoes what I'd have been dreading is Root being 130ish not out overnight with Robinson hanging around, ready to have a free hit this morning then a run at them before lunch.

Second guessing Bazball has been a loser's pastime so far, but it shouldn't morph into a meme of itself nor is it an excuse for poor decision making.

[tabascoboy]

Two schools of thought: "let's just see this out to close of play and start afresh tomorrow", "let's wrap this up even if it means a couple of awkward overs tonight" I somehow doubt that Aussies would think the former - but who knows...