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Post by tonyw on Nov 21, 2017 18:35:49 GMT
If I were in the dressing room now, I'd say to them that the Aussies are worried because they are really going OTT with the verbals. None of them wants an Ashes home loss on their career and they aren't sure they can win on an individual basis without these antics. Take it as a compliment to you as individuals and as a team. Agree on the prep. The players have worked hard, kept their mouths largely shut and when they have opened their mouths, it's been very on point. The Aussie press has squat to niggle at the England team about apart from Stokes, who isn't there. No KP or Swann gobbing off. Nothing. Cold and professional like they were in 2010-11. But not as experienced or talented as they were in 2010-11. That was a great side - Cook, Bell, KP, Swann, Anderson & Broad all at or close to their peak. If you look at the teamsheet going into the Gabba, the only question mark was over Steve Finn. The rest of that team were seasoned internationals with a strong track record behind them. This year's team are a few ageing stalwarts, a bunch of question marks and just a couple of mid-career stars. Regardless of the fact that we're confident the Aussies are pretty mediocre, the range of performances that the England team could churn out are pretty much as wide as you can imagine. They could win, or they could lose 5-0, and neither would really surprise me.
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Post by Gary Baldi on Nov 21, 2017 22:15:58 GMT
If I were in the dressing room now, I'd say to them that the Aussies are worried because they are really going OTT with the verbals. None of them wants an Ashes home loss on their career and they aren't sure they can win on an individual basis without these antics. Take it as a compliment to you as individuals and as a team. Agree on the prep. The players have worked hard, kept their mouths largely shut and when they have opened their mouths, it's been very on point. The Aussie press has squat to niggle at the England team about apart from Stokes, who isn't there. No KP or Swann gobbing off. Nothing. Cold and professional like they were in 2010-11. But not as experienced or talented as they were in 2010-11. That was a great side - Cook, Bell, KP, Swann, Anderson & Broad all at or close to their peak. If you look at the teamsheet going into the Gabba, the only question mark was over Steve Finn. The rest of that team were seasoned internationals with a strong track record behind them. This year's team are a few ageing stalwarts, a bunch of question marks and just a couple of mid-career stars. Regardless of the fact that we're confident the Aussies are pretty mediocre, the range of performances that the England team could churn out are pretty much as wide as you can imagine. They could win, or they could lose 5-0, and neither would really surprise me. Agree. It will be arguably be a better watch because both sides are as equally as inconsistent as each other. If Stokes can play a part later, it will make a massive difference.
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Post by Gary Baldi on Nov 22, 2017 8:26:42 GMT
Tomorrow's lambs to the slaughter are: Alastair Cook, Mark Stoneman, James Vince, Joe Root (capt), Dawid Malan, Jonny Bairstow (wk), Moeen Ali, Chris Woakes, Stuart Broad, Jake Ball, James Anderson.
It seems Overton lack of a run cost him an Ashes place.
For them lot: Australia have called up all-rounder Glenn Maxwell as cover for David Warner, who has a stiff neck, and Shaun Marsh, who has a sore back.
Falling apart before the series has even started.,..
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Post by unification on Nov 22, 2017 9:34:30 GMT
War aborted! David Warner has a stiff neck. Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood all in the Aussie XI does look formidable though and surviving their spells with the new ball will be key to England digging in.
I’m not a great fan of Ball. He can be very lose and expensive, sometimes going for 5-6 an over in Tests, but he is quick and I’m hopeful that he can become one of those bowlers like Steve Finn who can have unplayable spells. We took Chris Tremlett down under in 2010-11 and his extra bounce and pace had Australia running scared. That was in context of the land of the giants though with our bowling attack – at 6’1”, James Anderson was the shortest seamer we had! I wouldn’t bet on it, but I’m hoping Ball can replicate that spell.
Malan over Ballance is a welcome relief however.
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Post by Junior on Nov 22, 2017 10:27:15 GMT
Overton is quicker than Ball and less injury prone. Also better with the willow..
Listening to Root, is say sadly they've got to him with their antics. He looks under pressure from it all. Hopefully the runs will flow tomorrow and we will be away.
Win toss bat first (no bowling first like Nasssr) 400 on the board and its pressure on the convicts...
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Post by Gary Baldi on Nov 22, 2017 13:33:42 GMT
War aborted! David Warner has a stiff neck. Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood all in the Aussie XI does look formidable though and surviving their spells with the new ball will be key to England digging in. I’m not a great fan of Ball. He can be very lose and expensive, sometimes going for 5-6 an over in Tests, but he is quick and I’m hopeful that he can become one of those bowlers like Steve Finn who can have unplayable spells. We took Chris Tremlett down under in 2010-11 and his extra bounce and pace had Australia running scared. That was in context of the land of the giants though with our bowling attack – at 6’1”, James Anderson was the shortest seamer we had! I wouldn’t bet on it, but I’m hoping Ball can replicate that spell. Malan over Ballance is a welcome relief however. Ball is a quandry. When he got into the team, he looked really sharp. It looks like Overton lost out because his batting was so appalling - the difference between them came down to bowling it seems. Woakes could be the sneaky good bowler this series. He's been a little under the radar out there so far.
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Post by SteMerritt on Nov 22, 2017 14:41:40 GMT
What time is first ball tonight? Midnight start?
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Post by Junior on Nov 22, 2017 15:10:03 GMT
Yep ^^
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Post by Eaststandboy on Nov 22, 2017 15:20:49 GMT
What time is first ball tonight? Midnight start? So that means it will finish around 8am here, just in time for work!
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Post by SteMerritt on Nov 22, 2017 15:56:51 GMT
Will watch the first hour, then make a judgement call on making it through to lunch I think... Work tomorrow will be 'interesting'...
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Post by tonyw on Nov 22, 2017 17:38:40 GMT
It's the first time that living in the States has been an advantage from a cricketing perspective.
First ball will be 7pm tonight.....and it's Thanksgiving tomorrow so no work, and therefore I can stay up to 2/2:30pm for close no problem.
Really starting to feel that Stoneman is the key. I have absolutely no confidence in Vince at 3, and without Stokes our middle order is much less intimidating than it was in the summer. So we need some good starts from our openers; he looks like he's comfortable with the conditions Down Under - but that's a lot of pressure for a guy in his second series. Especially when, for the first time ever, the Aussies are turning out their first choice attack.
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Post by foley on Nov 22, 2017 19:54:16 GMT
I'll get up around 6am and see the last session.
We HAVE to have a decent start. Win the toss and bat and then we need to get 400 minimum (agree with Junior).
I am genuinely concerned about their bowling attack, but let's hope I am very wrong.
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Post by mariokempes on Nov 22, 2017 21:02:12 GMT
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Post by Gary Baldi on Nov 22, 2017 22:31:28 GMT
The Chef doth make sense
Let's see what happens. It won't be won or lost in day, expect if you are Nasser Hussain
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Post by makv on Nov 22, 2017 22:39:28 GMT
Broad on TMS right now talking about THAT spell at Trent Bridge. Unforgettable.
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Post by unification on Nov 22, 2017 23:28:13 GMT
Broad on TMS right now talking about THAT spell at Trent Bridge. Unforgettable. Even in the chaos of 2013-14, Broad didn’t go missing. His wicket taking, including 8 I believe at Brisbane, made him our top bowler. Considering Aussie fans hate him, he’s always had pressure on him and shrugs it off no problem. Here’s hoping that those around him can take a bit of that with them. Stoneman could well be key, as TonyW says above. He’s batted down under before and if he can survive a session or two, he could set a platform for the middle order.
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Post by SteMerritt on Nov 22, 2017 23:29:57 GMT
England to bat.
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Post by SteMerritt on Nov 23, 2017 0:13:01 GMT
Damn it, Cook edged to first slip. Going to be a testing next few overs. Left-Right combination at the crease now, hope we can rotate it a bit.
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Post by makv on Nov 23, 2017 5:34:48 GMT
Looks like they’re rotating it quite well 😂
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Post by foley on Nov 23, 2017 7:43:30 GMT
Old fashioned Test Cricket.
England looking very comfortable with Vince and Stoneman and suddenly ....
170 for 4. If we can get through to the close without losing another wicket not too bad. But another wicket and Aussis day.
Lyon has looked excellent.
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Post by saddletramp on Nov 23, 2017 7:50:45 GMT
Cook looking past his sell by date. Stoneman out last over before tea,annoying,although it was a great ball. Vince run out,madness. Root played across the line of a straight one. I think we have batted really well,it just shows that for Test(proper) cricket concentration is the key part of batting. Ali just swept Lyon for six !
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Post by Gary Baldi on Nov 23, 2017 8:05:16 GMT
I was surprised to wake up and see the score (considering the general pomp from the Aussies). A decent day so far from England from what I've heard on the radio. Still some overs to go, but a little marker from the England team at the Gabba that they won't be rolling over.
Cummins has bowled 19 overs. Worth keeping an eye on as the series goes on.
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Post by Gary Baldi on Nov 23, 2017 8:17:33 GMT
196-4, day over. Decent day for England and they've kept on going through some tough spells - need to score more off of Lyon though.
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Post by Eaststandboy on Nov 23, 2017 8:41:59 GMT
Since the 2013 Ashes, Cook's form has been a bit like OUFC, inconsistent:
2013 first/second innings
First test: 13/50 Second test: 12/8 Third test: 62/0 Forth test: 51/22 Fifth test: 25/34 Total: 277
2013-14
First test: 13/65 Second test: 3/1 Third test: 72/0 Forth test: 27/51 Fifth test: 7/7 Total: 249
2015
First test: 20/12 Second test: 96/11 Third test: 34/7 Forth test: 43/- Fifth test: 22/85 Total: 330
Most probably his last Ashes.....
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Post by holdsteady on Nov 23, 2017 8:53:05 GMT
You can tell we are down under, Stoneman and Vince scoring while Cook and Root struggle, everything is upside down.
Decent enough first day, need Malan and Ali to put scores on tomorrow, once they are in that's very possible on this pitch. If we bat well I would fancy a draw, we must be due one.
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Post by scotchegg on Nov 23, 2017 9:17:56 GMT
The morning session is crucial. Losing no more than 1 wicket and we should be in a decent position. If we can get upwards of 350 then we will certainly save the game but could also put the Aussies under pressure if we bowl well. With the pitch already showing signs of turning you wouldn't be surprised to see Ali take a few, and even Root to get something going. Build pressure at one end, along with Jimmy keeping it tight, and the quicks might get a few if rotated well.
Scoring might be too slow to force a victory but we could come out of this with an attacking draw which most of us would have taken.
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Post by Junior on Nov 23, 2017 9:47:38 GMT
Very solid from Stoneman and Vince up until lunch..
Dare I say it but the Aussie quc
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Post by unification on Nov 23, 2017 10:21:31 GMT
Interesting first day. No one can truly call it after one day so Day 2 should prove equally as interesting.
Good on Vince and Stoneman for their scores and for Malan and Moeen Ali for digging in towards the end of the day. I do hope that Malan can convert his 28 into a 50 and England can squeeze another 100 partnership out of the rest of the innings. They should be in a position where they can exert a little pressure then.
The pitch is an odd one. I expected a rock-hard dirt track with plenty of bounce, but it appears to be quite soft underneath. Joe Root did thankfully won the toss and did the right thing in putting England in to bat. Looking ahead at the weather, the temperatures are staying fairly high but there won’t be much in the way of persistent sunshine other than tomorrow. Will it firm up and play like a road you have in India or remain enigmatic? Thundery storms are due as well so cloud cover could play its part. Cloudy conditions = swing. Will Jimmy be licking his lips at that prospect? Lots of questions to answer.
Cummins only bowls five-over spells as well. For all their bluster, I think this Aussie lot could well be looking patched up already come the end of this Test. I can’t see Starc, Hazlewood and Cummins making the XI for every Test of this series.
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Post by makv on Nov 23, 2017 12:08:05 GMT
Dare I say it but the Aussie quc My thoughts exactly
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Post by Gary Baldi on Nov 23, 2017 13:18:50 GMT
On TMS they said the pitch was quite damp under the surface and that was the cause of the spin today. It'll likely disappear after tomorrow once the sun gets more on it but reappear from the foot holes later on.
Stoneman's interview on TMS was interesting, he sounded absolutely thrilled to be playing not running scared. Up for the challenge.
The conditions could be a massive sop to our bowlers. Having 4 pace men will spread the load unlike the Aussies who have 3. Stoneman and Vince's partnership is what we needed early. Make those fragile quicks get into 4th spells and miles in the legs in the first game. The back end of the series could reap benefits from that partnership.
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