NPR

Paddington Bear wrote: ↑Wed Jun 14, 2023 2:45 pm 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 wrote: ↑Thu Jun 15, 2023 6:59 am

Paddington Bear wrote: ↑Wed Jun 14, 2023 2:45 pm 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?

Paddington Bear wrote: ↑Wed Jun 14, 2023 2:45 pm 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.

Biffer wrote: ↑Wed Jun 14, 2023 2:31 pm 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.

Thor Sedan wrote: ↑Fri Jun 16, 2023 11:14 am 400+ by the end of the day?

Sandstorm wrote: ↑Fri Jun 16, 2023 12:15 pm

Thor Sedan wrote: ↑Fri Jun 16, 2023 11:14 am 400+ by the end of the day?

3 down at lunch. Unlikely

And 1 guest wrote: ↑Fri Jun 16, 2023 9:37 am My friend was wondering if anyone might have a friend with a link

Biffer wrote: ↑Fri Jun 16, 2023 1:47 pm England suffering from a lack of cricket? Stokes hasn't played for a while, neither has Bairstow. Ali not played red ball for yonks.

Biffer wrote: ↑Fri Jun 16, 2023 1:47 pm England suffering from a lack of cricket? Stokes hasn't played for a while, neither has Bairstow. Ali not played red ball for yonks.

Biffer wrote: ↑Fri Jun 16, 2023 5:10 pm That was unexpected

SaintK wrote: ↑Fri Jun 16, 2023 4:07 pm Two stumpings off Lyon, Bairstow and Ali forcing it much too much
323-7 on a 450+ wicket!!
Australia will b e well happy

Slick wrote: ↑Sat Jun 17, 2023 7:20 am

SaintK wrote: ↑Fri Jun 16, 2023 4:07 pm 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

tabascoboy wrote: ↑Sat Jun 17, 2023 8:34 am

Slick wrote: ↑Sat Jun 17, 2023 7:20 am

SaintK wrote: ↑Fri Jun 16, 2023 4:07 pm 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.

tabascoboy wrote: ↑Sat Jun 17, 2023 8:34 am

Slick wrote: ↑Sat Jun 17, 2023 7:20 am

SaintK wrote: ↑Fri Jun 16, 2023 4:07 pm 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 wrote: ↑Sat Jun 17, 2023 8:46 am

tabascoboy wrote: ↑Sat Jun 17, 2023 8:34 am

Slick wrote: ↑Sat Jun 17, 2023 7:20 am

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 wrote: ↑Sat Jun 17, 2023 8:50 am

tabascoboy wrote: ↑Sat Jun 17, 2023 8:34 am

Slick wrote: ↑Sat Jun 17, 2023 7:20 am

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