Ashes 2023

I've seen weather forecasts change, let's get a decent lead. Hopefully Stokes has learned from his early declaration last time

 

Nothing Root could have done about his wicket. Kept low on him. Crawley will be disappointed wafting across the line. I like watching Crawley bat though. Shades of Gower.

 

I think we can forgive that on 180 odd.

Root’s ball was unplayable. Came from nowhere.

 

Stokes looks like he's having a net session practicing his timing.

 

Should have batted first....

 

And 79 today!

 

Go hell for leather in morning and try to get towards a 180-200 lead. Stick em' in for that awkward period before lunch.

Saturday lost to rain. That gives us five sessions to bowl them out and bat again.

 

Get Mark Wood up the order

 

Shocked that, needing to win and knowing it is very likely to be a shortened game, that England got through so few overs yesterday. Especially given how much of their game is designed to put time back into the match. Personally, I think it should be monitored on an hourly basis. If you’re bowling for an hour, and bowl less than 13 overs then there’s a penalty run, unless there’s a stoppage. It’s something the various off field officials can monitor.

not really. Potentially just a three day game. Chances of winning that are reduced if you bat first.

 

I’d say 150-175 lead maximum. Forecast I’ve seen looks awful for both Saturday and Sunday. They’re going to have to bowl them out quickly regardless and won’t want to bat for any longer than they absolutely have to. Of course if the forecast starts to look better tomorrow (it was only a few days ago that it looked like a lot of play would be lost yesterday) then they might change their plans

 

Is it almost definitely a washout on Saturday ?
Yesterdays and todays forecasts were worse than we experienced.
Sorry Leythtyke just seen your post

 

The tickets cost a fortune and fans are being short changed. Keep them out until 8 pm if that's what it takes to get in the full amount of overs that the crowd paid to see.

I expect us to try and get a lead of 150 quickly and have an hour or no less than 45 minutes at them before lunch tomorrow.

 

I’m that confident a ball won’t be bowled Saturday, I’m not even attempting the journey anymore and I’ve got tickets.

Gutted, been looking forward to this for a while.

 

I wouldn’t be surprised if England don’t bat again tomorrow. Looks like we could lose the first session to the weather, if that’s the case I expect us to declare.

Looking at the forecast there might only be 3 more sessions left, never mind 3 days.

Get the Aussies in, hope they’re all out for 200. There’s no chance England lose from here now with the rain due so chase the win.

 

I know, my post was tongue in cheek to earlier posters...

 

Yes, but I predicted a century for all the top 5.

 

Another 50 for Stokes. Not bad for a lad that shouldn’t be in the team according to some.

 

Before this summer, he pretty much sacrificed his numbers, to make a point to the rest of the team, as be probably crossed the line between being aggressive and reckless with his own batting last summer. Been excellent this summer, seemingly triggered by the Bairstow stumping.

He might have to move further up the order if he's not going to be bowling much though. Will need an all rounder, and they're not likely to be able to bat at three, like Moeen.

 

I often think Stokes would be better up the order, he’s got the technique and temperament for it.

 

Agree. The only counter argument is how good he is at 6, batting with the tail at the end of a game, or in a critical phase of play like the first innings at Headingley.