Cricket - the Ashes 2023

[Paul6754]

Listening to TMS. TMS is and continues to be one of the great  if not greatest Institutions/Sporting Broadcasts know to man.......

Heavens above, England have just declared.

Too much going on this weekend, Test Match, US Open, Malta vs England.....

[Guppys left peg]

Ordinarily first day of an Ashes series and declaring without even 400 on the board would be utterly mental but this is Ben Stokes and now it’s just a case of fair play to him.

Magnificent knock from Root, played it to perfection.

[valiant_593]

Declaring on day 1, not even at 400, certainly exciting. Root is pure class, I do feel 500/600 was a possibility there if players didn’t throw their wickets away. Still I love the aggression, best time take a wicket so fingers crossed we get 1-2 before close. Certainly exciting! 

[Guppys left peg]

Didn’t quite get the wicket to top the day off but if the rest of the series matches this for entertainment definitely won’t be complaining. Absolutely brilliant viewing.

[Paul6754]

I can't see live video at the mo but the commentators were saying there was no lateral movement from the England bowlers, if that's the case we're gonna struggle to get 20 wickets. If the weather/forecast changes could be a different story. Brave decision not to play Wood. 

[ginginator]

Fine margins will define this Ashes,  as a few have (apart from our battering 2013). 

England went full on, nearly 400 on Day 1, like watching the Vale, hope it is not like the 4-4 draw v QPR 🙂

Was a good toss to win. Definitely got the Aussies thinking. 

Sometimes you have to go all in, crowds like it in any sport. 

Risk and reward.

 

 

[hamilboy]

9 hours ago, Paul6754 said:

I can't see live video at the mo but the commentators were saying there was no lateral movement from the England bowlers, if that's the case we're gonna struggle to get 20 wickets. If the weather/forecast changes could be a different story. Brave decision not to play Wood. 

Hopefully the weather man is spot on today cloudy and humid conditions will make life difficult for the Aussies roll in that cloud cover.

[Seamus O'Wye]

10 hours ago, Paul6754 said:

I can't see live video at the mo but the commentators were saying there was no lateral movement from the England bowlers, if that's the case we're gonna struggle to get 20 wickets. If the weather/forecast changes could be a different story. Brave decision not to play Wood. 

... Yea, we need that movement,,,, that's why I was amazed that the Master of Movement, Jimmy Anderson, didn't get 2 overs instead of Robinson.

[bennymole]

I was there yesterday, and the build up felt like Christmas Eve as an 8 year old, I was so excited. 

 

And it didnt disappoint, what a days play, exactly as happy as I was the Christmas I got my Commodore 64, nothing like the Christmas I got a stupid fishing rod.

When the declaration came most around us we scratching our drunken noggins wondering what was happening, with all the players dashing off the pitch I almost wondered if there was a freak shower that was just soaking the playing surface, probably about 40th on the list of possibilities was declaring on day one on a flat deck.

But such is the mindset of the coach and skipper, attack attack attack, think they need to be involved in Southgates next foray into cup football!  

 

ROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOT

[Guppys left peg]

Real quality performance with the ball this morning from England. Starting to see a hint of something for Moeen now as well.

Smith the big wicket and have to credit the umpire getting that right real time as I thought DRS would have it going over.

[Guppys left peg]

Couldn’t be better set up going into tomorrow. In truth I think England now have the advantage due to not having to go back out there this evening and hopefully Root and Pope can set about it in nicer conditions tomorrow. Knowing Stokes if we get up to 300 ahead I see him declaring and dangling the carrot for them.

[ginginator]

2 hours ago, Guppys left peg said:

Couldn’t be better set up going into tomorrow. In truth I think England now have the advantage due to not having to go back out there this evening and hopefully Root and Pope can set about it in nicer conditions tomorrow. Knowing Stokes if we get up to 300 ahead I see him declaring and dangling the carrot for them.

Was tough batting for that short period. Some sports that do not play at the same time. Golf for example with weather, conditions can be a factor. Ask Bogie + and Regis- 🙂 but they played under the same conditions/ time.

[Bobnewtonian]

Game on... 50 . 50 for me... 0 plenty for the draw!

[Guppys left peg]

What a final day in store. Khawaja the big wicket but think it’s going to be a patience job for England and I think we’ll get over the line.

Draw now out of the equation so win or lose have loved every second of this test match.

[robf]

"You're just an <ovf censored> Moeen Ali!" to Nathan Lyon has to be my favourite chant of the year. 

C'mon England, two wickets to go...