Cricket fred

[Banquo]

Oops. Root somewhat in runs owed deficit now. This game could be over in 3 days

[Puja]

Oops. Root somewhat in runs owed deficit now. This game could be over in 3 days

And Bairstow joins him in both the pavilion and runs owed. Terrible technique on that shot.

Really need this tail to wag now - Ali, Woakes, and Broad are all capable of getting decent scores, but they're also capable of getting a quick 8 and out to leave us all out on 120.

Puja

[Puja]

This is how Bazball can be good. Wood's just hit his first three balls for 6, 4, 6. Better that than wait for Starc's best ball to clean him up.

18 off the over and it's made a difference to the scoreboard already. I suspect Stokes is going to go for it this afternoon as well.

Puja

[Puja]

Stoke has taken a single to put Wood on strike and he's just hit another 6! This is a delightful cameo.

Puja

[Puja]

Our top 5 scored just 69 runs. Our 6-11 scored 147. Great effort from the tail to change the momentum and support Stokes all the way to the end. The top order need to have a look at themselves, cause none of them really got anything particularly unplayable (looking at Bairstow and Duckett especially). They looked caught betwixt and between - neither attacking the ball to demoralise the bowlers, nor particularly defending well to get their eye in.

Hopefully we can hold some catches this afternoon and keep the Australians to a lowish total.

Puja

[Puja]

Surely Bairstow can't survive this - third dropped catch of the game. He's bailed out by Labuschagne holing out in the next over, but it's still not acceptable from an international wicketkeeper. I understand that Bazball is about keeping the faith and giving players every chance to come good, and that it has worked with several batsmen, but wicketkeeper is too crucial a position to keep saying, "He'll come right," especially when there has not been any evidence from his past that he can.

Puja

[Banquo]

great series

[fivepointer]

It is a great series. The cricket is highly watchable.

The game's in the balance. A good morning from either team today could be decisive.

[Big D]

When you consider the 15 drops and 1 missed stumping or whatever it is, the England bowlers deserve credit. That's nearly two extra innings of wickets v a line up with 4 of the top 10 in the world at the start of the series. Especially considering Jimmy was off colour.

[Big D]

Broad should get to 600 in the next match.

[Banquo]

When you consider the 15 drops and 1 missed stumping or whatever it is, the England bowlers deserve credit. That's nearly two extra innings of wickets v a line up with 4 of the top 10 in the world at the start of the series. Especially considering Jimmy was off colour.

exactly. frustrating 9th wicket stand, but great fun for the crowd.

[Banquo]

Broad should get to 600 in the next match.

amazing late career reboot

[Banquo]

another brilliant last session. Today will be nerve wracking....

[Puja]

Moeen Ali coming out at 3. That's interesting. Presumably the plan is that he gives it a swing and tries to damage the total quickly. Hopefully won't result in a second quick wicket.

Puja

[Puja]

Even more interesting - he's playing sensibly. Looks like it's just an acknowledgement that Brook at 3 didn't look comfortable and Moeen's volunteered to take his place. If so, does that mean Root at 4 and Brook back to 5? Is this how we'll be lining up for the next Test as well?

Puja

[Banquo]

sadly....trouble now

[Puja]

Maybe should've swung at it.

Puja

[Puja]

Crawley's hit 30, so we'll be three down shortly.

Puja

[Banquo]

Crawley's hit 30, so we'll be three down shortly.

Puja

yup. Creepy sums himself up. Frustrating lack of self control

[Banquo]

Change of ball made a huge difference too. Looking very tricky now

[Banquo]

YJB utterly lost confidence since that missed stumping in the 1st test. He's well into negative territory now; Root also out of form, all at the wrong time. We've now lost two choked down the leg side and a horror show from Bairstow (and Crawley tbh)

[Puja]

Mark Wood's batting is a delight. I remember he used to be a walking wicket, but now he's developed this game from the understanding that he's not good enough to be able to defend and keep out top quality bowlers, but if he goes for it, he's good enough and strong enough to be very dangerous.

Great to have a tight one go our way this Ashes. Much better feeling to be on the board and it does feel like a major momentum shift in the series.

Puja

[Banquo]

woakes all round numbers in England are sensational.

Great win, and Brook played a big innings for him. BTW, but for Bazball, would we have even seen Brook playing in the test side. I think the pundits are finally working out what Bazball actually is, as well (tbf so are Baz and Ben)

Selection interesting....

[fivepointer]

Great win considering the number of issues in the team. Bairstrow is a headache, Root keeps getting out softly, Stokes cant bowl, Crawley gets in and gets out tamely, Ali makes sporadic contributions and Robinson may be crocked.
Just as well Wood and Woakes had strong games and Brook played a key innings yesterday.
Thrilling stuff.

[Banquo]

Great win considering the number of issues in the team. Bairstrow is a headache, Root keeps getting out softly, Stokes cant bowl, Crawley gets in and gets out tamely, Ali makes sporadic contributions and Robinson may be crocked.
Just as well Wood and Woakes had strong games and Brook played a key innings yesterday.
Thrilling stuff.

Stokes is a great leader tho, and its covering up quite a lot....and despite all this we should be 2-1 or even 3-0 up against a very good Aussie team.

A big question for the next match is Anderson tbh. That said, as before, our bowlers have done really well; some questionable periods of play tactically (9th wicket stand last match, Marsh (kinda) and Head's innings this time), but the seamers have all done well, even JImmy was relatively economical.

Top order and keeper, no idea, other than Foakes has to keep.