The first ashes test

At last some fight.

Interesting start on Friday as there is 10 overs until the new ball is due. Cant see the Aussies starting with Starc and Hazlewood so if Malan and Root can dig in for the first hour of play you just never know.

Or we could be all.out for 250.

Its the hope that kills you.

 

Decent partnership, but you always feel that the collapse or mini collapse is just around the corner with this line up.

 

They should be looking at using those 10 overs to get set, and then use the bad ball to score boundaries on anything loose.
I'm not hopeful that will happen though.
We need to keep em out in the field for another day, that'll do plenty of damage mentally and physically.

 

The languid style of Keaton Jennings would be suited to wide balls outside off stump.

 

Good call but he wasn’t good enough for Yorkshire so can’t see that he’s improved that much.

Malan is capable opener

 

I'll wait to judge Malan until after the morning session tomorrow. There's something on the game again now. Both batsman are under pressure again now. When you're 300 behind in a hopeless cause it's easy to knock in runs. It's easy to buckle and down tools too. However, it's easy to look at the cause as lost and play for your average.

 

That's why all of top batsman keep getting runs, they are very insulated, greedy and selfish. They go out to make sure they hit their average at least and feast on good tracks. The game takes care of itself. Problem for our main batsman is they're constantly having to compensate for others out of form who need protecting or batting with the tail.

 

I personally think Malan is the sort of player that would happily lose the series five nil as long as he'd scored a couple of centuries in the series.

 

Just what we need, someone to just get his head down and bat, bat and bat some more. If the team can't match him that's on them.

 

I think you're right in so much as he needs to show he's Test quality. However winning in Australia for any English player is the holy grail. Only those happy with their game, and confident in the team can do it. All of England teams who have done it, have had an edge and swagger about them.

 

Do you think that's why Root is scoring runs again. He realises he's in a crap team and might as well cash in.

 

I just think he’s learnt how to concentrate for longer periods of time.

 

If England get in front with these 2 still at the crease then the pressure switches to the Aussies.

Look at Headingley 2019 or India recently in Australia.

We have to keep their bowlers out on the field.

But like i said its the hope that gets you.

 

He scored two runs and is captaining a hammering so he won't be getting called up.

https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...gland-lions-tour-match-1249416/full-scorecard

 

Oh.

 

Alastair Cook recall anyone?

 

I think he bowed to pressure from the media and retired too early. A massive loss to the side.

 

Can you believe he was only 33 when he packed in with international cricket.
He obviously put a good shift in but surely he could have done another couple of years ?
Swann was a similar age and had a bit of a dodgy shoulder but they both would get in our best ever Test sides and both retired relatively early.

 

He should have carried on until after this tour. Broad and Anderson have carried on.

 

Burns is done, but bloody hell Alex Lees, no thank you. It's ok smashing it around Haigh Lane, Hoylandswaine in the village leagues but no way should he be near the England 1st 11.