Cricket fred

[Banquo]

Great finish! Great for the game.

[Galfon]

Great finish! Great for the game.

Twoo.
Meanwhile Malan sees Eng. home (just) in another close finish, 50 ov. version (1st of 3). in Bang.

[Banquo]

In solidarity with Lineker and the rugby team, England's T20 team have failed to turn up in Bangladesh. A tour too far for some of them.

[Puja]

Leach ruled out of the entire Ashes: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/65805317

Poor sod, but massive problem for England. Our plan of three seamers and praying for Stokes was parlous enough when we were hoping that Leach would be good enough to hold down an end. Without him, I don't know what the hells we do. Play a fourth seamer and just have Root if a pitch takes spin? Chuck Ahmed in at the deep end and hope Australia don't batter him out of the attack?

This is the problem with Stokes/McCullum having shown such faith in Leach - it's transformed him as a player, but it's meant the cupboard is utterly bare now he's gone down. The BBC are mooting asking Moeen to make a comeback - tbh, I've heard worse ideas.

Puja

[Puja]

Moeen has returned! Good call by all concerned, I think.

It does also open up a potential option elsewhere, because Moeen is perfectly capable of opening, and I think would thrive there under the freedom of Bazball. Crawley needs to be given the first test, but if he fails again, as his constant edging against Ireland suggests he might, then the case is very strong for Moeen to move to opening, and using the middle-order space to either recall Foakes or bring in a fourth seamer if Stokes isn't able to bowl.

Puja

[Banquo]

Head and Smith batting ominously well today.

Moeen has a poor record bowling v Oz, who historically play off spin pretty well. But I can't see an alternative that makes sense, other than a 5 man seam attack with JYB at 1 or 6....which doesn't make sense If Stokes could only get 10 overs an innings in, would help immensely.

[Banquo]

we have our work cut out this summer, in case we didn't know already

[Puja]

Bit worried that India are using up all of the bad luck that the Australians have in them today. Three dropped catches, a wicket overturned for a no-ball, Steve Smith out cheaply taking a random swing at a spinner and skying it - we need to save some of these for the Ashes!

Puja

[Banquo]

indians hammered. Oz look pretty decent all round.

[Banquo]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/65906467

England XI for first Ashes Test v Australia: Ben Duckett, Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (captain), Jonny Bairstow (wicketkeeper), Moeen Ali, Stuart Broad, Ollie Robinson, James Anderson.

Hope the old fellas have still got it in them......gotta hope Stokes is fit enough to shake it up a bit.

[Puja]

Crawley, under enormous pressure, facing the first ball of the Ashes, against Australia's captain opening the bowling, decides to step forward and drive it beautifully for 4. Absolutely glorious shot and statement definitely made.

England are now 60-1 after just 12 overs and Australia are already setting defensive fields. So far, so good, although another wicket would change that perception drastically. Crawley's answering a few questions here - 31 off 37 balls against a quality attack without a chance or a streaky shot amongst it - but he needs to make 50+ and preferably 100+ from this position. So far I'm thrilled that he looks to be proving me wrong.

Puja

ETA 66-1 after 13 (Crawley on 35 from 38). It's drinks, which hopefully won't result in a loss of momentum/concentration. If we can have a morning of pelting the Aussies around in the baking sunshine, it'll knock a great deal of the stuffing out of them for the rest of the test, maybe even the series.

[Banquo]

Crawley, under enormous pressure, facing the first ball of the Ashes, against Australia's captain opening the bowling, decides to step forward and drive it beautifully for 4. Absolutely glorious shot and statement definitely made.

England are now 60-1 after just 12 overs and Australia are already setting defensive fields. So far, so good, although another wicket would change that perception drastically. Crawley's answering a few questions here - 31 off 37 balls against a quality attack without a chance or a streaky shot amongst it - but he needs to make 50+ and preferably 100+ from this position. So far I'm thrilled that he looks to be proving me wrong.

Puja

ETA 66-1 after 13 (Crawley on 35 from 38). It's drinks, which hopefully won't result in a loss of momentum/concentration. If we can have a morning of pelting the Aussies around in the baking sunshine, it'll knock a great deal of the stuffing out of them for the rest of the test, maybe even the series.

like ODI at the mo- oz started defensively and its got more so.

[Puja]

Crawley gets away with a loose shot that got a feather edge that no-one heard or appealed for. Tbf, he's possibly owed a bit of luck over his international career so far.

Puja

[Banquo]

bu55er. bit soft, decent ball bit quicker.

[Puja]

92-2 is a very different kettle of fish. Bit soft, like you said - Pope got a bit complacent. It's taken a chunk of pressure off the Australians and taken the opportunity away to demoralise them that I was hoping for.

Puja

[Puja]

Piss.

[Stom]

Typical. Last ball before lunch and all...

[Mellsblue]

Typical. Last ball before lunch and all...

Tell me he’s a batsman for England without telling me he’s a batsman for England.

[Banquo]

Typical. Last ball before lunch and all...

was a ripper

[Puja]

Crucial partnership this. England need to get 400 to be par on this pitch, which requires a hundred from one of these.

Puja

[Banquo]

throwin' it all away. Lorra pressure on YJB.

Bar Crawley all soft outs.

[Puja]

This is turning into a mini-collapse - from 92-1 to 176-5. You felt that, before Pope went, Australia were starting to lose faith and were starting to wilt under the relentless run-rate. As soon as he fell, they've felt back in the game and we've just been leaking wickets.

Puja

[Puja]

Just seen the replay for Brook's dismissal - utterly ridiculous luck. Very sensibly leaves a Lyon ball on line and length that was bouncing over and spinning down leg, only for the ball to richochet off his thigh pad, fly high into the air, land on his back, hit the pitch and then spin backwards into his stumps. Absolutely nothing you can do with that, except what he did, which was shake your head and walk off laughing.

Puja

[Banquo]

i suppose the bright side is that under previous regimes we'd be 120-5 rather than 210-5 (possibly).

[Puja]

i suppose the bright side is that under previous regimes we'd be 120-5 rather than 210-5 (possibly).

That's the thing, isn't it? May as well make hay for a quick 35-40 rather than be boxed into a corner and get out for a scratchy 17-18.

Root and Bairstow wrenching the game back - 262-5 with Root starting to reverse scoop Boland for 6. A wicket will still make the outlook very different, but looking better now and we're batting deeper than usual with Moeen still to come.

Puja