Job done and early into the day as well.Biggest positive for me was the statement Aust sent to Eng…India got off to a flyer in that 2nd innings, and Aust was able to rein India back in with wickets. An Indian batting line up far more experienced and better then Eng batting line up.
Starc is a conundrum, either hot or not.. but can hold a stick…as his 40 odd showed in that crucial partnership with Carey. If Starc makes way for say Hazlewood, Aust tail is very long. With Uzzie averaging 19 in the UK, Warner still scarred from the Broad experience, Green on his 1st UK tour, Head just being Head - unpredictable, leaving a lot of pressure on Smith especially and Labuschagne to score runs.
After Boland’s performance, does Neser come in? Or is Neser too like Boland? Neser definitely more then capable wielding a willow…personally I think Starc will keep his spot…maybe better for the run v India…definitely needs to rein that over economy in…is he just to be used in 4-5 over spurts…and Green bowls more…any UK pitches where two spinners will be employed?
[quote=“Beasley Hutton post=228639 userid=847”]Great to win the World Test Championship Final but still some glaring issues that need to be addressed before the Ashes commences on Friday-
The opening pair of Warner & Khawaja continue to struggle in India with the bat meaning Labushagne & Smith are constantly coming in at 2 for stuff all.
Starc continues to bleed runs in England, going at 6 an over is not acceptable at Test level especially if you are not taking key wickets, England will no doubt target him if selected.
Boland just has to play all 5 Tests, with Hazlewood & Neser next in line to alternate the other fast bowling spot ahead of Starc.
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mate the openers are already looking shaky and it’s only India not the home side
So England have picked an attack of Anderson, Broad, Robinson, Moin Ali and Stokes. Of those, only Broad has bowled in a red ball match in the last month.
Could be an opportunity for Australia to get off to a fast start as their bowlers have shaken off the cobwebs in the WTC final.
Eng attack will certainly be fresh that’s for sure. Robinson and Anderson coming off recent injuries..and Stokes suffering from an existing knee complaint…time will tell if their attack is slightly under done or not. Aust just need to play each delivery on its merits and hopefully keep their bowlers out for 120 + overs to test how they really are traveling in terms of match fitness.
Out of the two teams, Aust had the better warm up match…better opposition in India and had moments in the test where they were tested with bat and ball…Eng batsmen and bowlers filled their boots v Ireland…but not all their batsman gotta a hit though, so hopefully Aust bowlers can strike early and put Eng Bazball game plan under the pump.
Not surprising they have picked Anderson & Broad if even just for the mind games for the likes of Warner, Khawaja, Head etc who have struggled against them in the past in England.
Robinson is definitely a better bowler on English pitches and will nibble a few around.
Expect firebrand Wood to be unleashed on us for at least 3 of the Tests when one of each of the above will be rested.
If the weather stays the way it is at the moment ( fine and hot), the Aussies will be very comfortable. If it turns humid or cloudy then Anderson, Robinson and Broad will come into the picture with the swinging duke balls. Ali will be targeted by the Australian batsmen
Birmingham/Edgbaston is sold out for all 5 days.Gates will close before play starts,
Capacity is 22,500.
The weather in England’s second city.Is unseasonably hot and humid.Theres green grass on the wicket.They did not cut the grass yesterday.
Anderson and Broad will be a handful for our batsman.Win the toss and bowl first.
Can see Aust going into this test unchanged…no doubt hindsight will tell all…catch 22 with Starc…he can bat and on song can take wickets in quick succession…Hazlewood lengthens Aust tail…economically better then Starc with the ball, but comes with an injury inundated last few seasons… Neser can bat and bowl, better suited to Eng conditions, coming off a strong county start…but not played in a match for over a month…decisions decisions decisions.
Both Aust women’s teams have gotten off to dodgy starts v their respective English counterparts…hopefully Aust men’s team dont make it a threesome.
In some 44 years of watching Test Cricket from all over the world I dont think I have ever seen as clueless and defensive field placings as those employed by Cummins today (no doubt in unison with that clown coach McDonald) on the first morning of an Ashes series!!!
There appears to be no plan apart from station as many fielders on the boundary as possible and wait for England to make a mistake. There is no pressure on new batsmen coming to the crease and England have been able to score at 4 and a half runs an over. It is demoralising for bowlers when their good balls are still scored off. Only one English batsman has been dismissed by a good ball (Crawley). The others have pretty much got themselves out, but who knows if Australia had been a bit more attacking and creative in their field placings they might have bowled them out for around 250.
I have no idea what they are trying to achieve and it seems obvious to me already that they are spooked by the poms attack at all costs approach
I guess mikeh Eng are playing ODI cricket and Aust are setting fields accordingly…case of giving Eng enough rope to eventually hang themselves. How Aust bats in their 1st innings is the key here. This look likes a flat track - 500+?..Eng at present have scored fast but is it enough?
Aust have to make their innings count though and maximize the batting track…get Eng out for less then 400 and it will only be a win, if Aust can get a 150 - 200 run lead. I guess the plus for Aust is that our bowlers won’t fatigue by bowling shed loads of overs…keep Eng bowlers out there for repetitive 120+ overs…Aust run rate may not look as pretty,…but in the long run, Eng bowlers will fatigue and cough up the 4 balls..
Tortoise and the hare stuff I guess. Aust just need to keep their nerve and not get sucked in to matching Eng run rate…has Aust got the ego to contain their egos? Time will tell I guess
[quote=“Beasley Hutton post=228729 userid=847”]In some 44 years of watching Test Cricket from all over the world I dont think I have ever seen as clueless and defensive field placings as those employed by Cummins today (no doubt in unison with that clown coach McDonald) on the first morning of an Ashes series!!!
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there is a lot to be pretty worried about - England bats are walking into the ball out of their crease and the bowlers duly served up the pies
totally unable to stop the runs at any point and it could have been far worse
the captain looked really innocuous
BH, not sure the attacking 3 slips, gully, point, cover mid off would of helped mate…Eng were playing ODI shots and drying up their boundaries and scoring areas was a sensible option…Boland was going at 6 an over…when does that ever happen?..the guy never coughs up that sort of economy rate on a MCG road.
Cummins et al relied on Eng stupidity/Bazball ego to get their wickets and it duely worked. That is not a 400 run pitch…its a 550 + pitch…nothing in it for the bowlers…Stokes is putting all his eggs in one basket hoping his aging maestros will bowl Aust out for less…a lot less.
The key is for Aust to bat to the pitch conditions..it’s flat and full of runs…rein in the ego - Aust game plan should be to bat for the next 2 days…get in excess of 600…if they can make 450 + on that spicy Oval pitch last week…then one can only hope 600 is within reach.
Great stuff by the Poms.400 runs and a crack at our batsman ,late on day 1.
Have to say the wicket looks like a road.Like a day 3 Australian deck.
Two amazing reverse sweeps played to Joe Root.Or what the English call the swoop shot.
Not sure if its a complete road GTRX. Root made it look easy but I noticed that there were some balls that jumped at the batsmen and others that kept low. I suppose we will find out today.
Hazlewood was the pick of our bowlers given he has played virtually no red ball cricket in the last 12 months, only went for 4 runs an over. Boland got a bit of a reality check but he will learn from that and I’m sure he will adjust to the way they are playing him. It is a bit of a concern that Cummins is not bowling with the same venom that he had a year ago. Noticed that in the WTC final as well
can only wonder if CA realises the coach they actually need is sitting in the commentary box
had it right on straight away too
he taught McCullum all about attacking cricket
He has given Australia a chance because he has played too aggressively, which the papers have also noticed. Australia could be 500 plus with a day-and- halves normal batting, a score which would put England under pressure. What was wrong with making 460 at least? Also, such silly play has cost the English before under this coach, notably in NZ. during the follow-on game. All he had to do was play for the draw on the last day, walking away having won the series.