Ashes 2021/22 and other cricket through the winter of 2021 thread

[Mind the windows Tino.]

First topic message reminder :

James Bracey? Admittedly looked painfully bad vs NZ in the summer, but if we are wanting to give guys a chance then he shouldn’t be forgotten about so quickly. Especially as he was batting out of position. Better FC record than Hameed and made a half century for the Lions in Aus in 2020 and a ton this time. But he was flown home because English scoring runs just isn’t on!

Fair. Had forgotten about him actually and he was thrown a suicide pass in the summer against the best test team in the world. He probably does deserve another shot in the near future.

[king_carlos]

I've a lot of reservations about Leach as a Test spinner outside of favourable conditions due to his very significant weaknesses but I'm still glad England are playing a spinner. 5 seamers is just overkill and I struggle to see what a 5th seamer will do that 4 can't.

Good to see Wood back as well. Prior to the series I think most of us had Wood down for 3 Tests in the series at most. So if he can put in another performance of regular 90mph+ bowling here and in one T4 or T5 he'll have done well given the ankle issues.

[Duty281]

Aussies win toss and bowl first. Not going to be a pleasant couple of hours for England, I feel.

[KP_fan]

So it's a bowl first pitch?
It will seam.....I don't think there is much swing in Aus
Eng's gotta leave well and see off first 20 overs

[Duty281]

For UK viewers, BT have put together their own commentary team for this test, so we don't have to listen to Warne. This is the best Christmas present I've ever received. I think it's related to Vaughan commentating for Australian TV.

https://twitter.com/btsportcricket/status/1474862013117390849

And yes, it's a bowl-first pitch. So bowl-first that McGrath said he was tempted to come out of retirement.

[king_carlos]

That's a very good comms team that BT have put together as well to be fair.

[guildfordbat]

Aussies win toss and bowl first. Not going to be a pleasant couple of hours for England, I feel.

Evening / morning Duty and all - I'll judge Root's captaincy in this Test on what he and his players do on the pitch but his interview immediately after the toss caused me some further unease. It seemed lacking in confidence and inspiration.

Pleased like you with the new commentary team that BT Sports have assembled. Trust that Gower and Norcross will pay tribute to Ray Illingworth. One of the truly great Test captains. Someone who got the very best out of his ability and that of his team mates. How we could do with that now.

England's Ashes win down under in 70-71 under his leadership was a fantastic achievement which deserves to be better known. Sadly, I think only some grainy black and white film remains.

[JDizzle]

That is just a very good ball unfortunately.

[Duty281]

Lovely from Cummins after a fairly wild opener from Starc. A few going in, then one goes away. Classic. Ten ball duck for Hameed.

[alfie]

Hameed ...oh dear. Good ball from Cummins , who will be pleased with his morning so far...

[guildfordbat]

Hameed ...oh dear. Good ball from Cummins , who will be pleased with his morning so far...

It was a good ball although on replay Hameed's bat seemed a little angled which increased the chance of getting an edge for Carey.

[Mind the windows Tino.]

Another new opening partnership of Crawley and Malan.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

N/A

[guildfordbat]

That was an 'orrible waft from Crawley. My man Starc hasn't been fully on the money so far but that shot will encourage him.

[alfie]

Deleted double post.

[Duty281]

Early days, but seems to be a concentrated effort from England to leave more balls.

And yes, Olly, a little bit I think.

[alfie]

That was an 'orrible waft from Crawley. My man Starc hasn't been fully on the money so far but that shot will encourage him.

Yes. For all the talk of "leaving" , he didn't wait too long before trying a flash...

Warne approved of the intent : but I bet he'd have been quick to condemn if he'd nicked it !

Going to be a testing business batting this morning.

[JuliusHMarx]

England reach their half century - of ducks in 2021.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

"Scott Boland" isn't an actual cricketer is he? Just some randomly generated Australian.

By the 5th test they'll be lining up Joey Kangaroo to be the third seamer ffs

[guildfordbat]

"Scott Boland" isn't an actual cricketer is he? Just some randomly generated Australian.

By the 5th test they'll be lining up Joey Kangaroo to be the third seamer ffs

Olly - Please don't make me laugh with posts like that while I'm drinking coffee!

[Duty281]

That wasn't a good stay from Crawley. I know he's just back, but he looked bloody dreadful.

37 minutes and Root comes to the crease. Bit longer than he was expecting?

[JDizzle]

Pat Cummins averages 21.23 in Tests - and be doesn’t normally get to take the new ball. Which is a huge advantage is Australia. He’s a joke.

Good ball to Crawley, but him getting turned round by one that nips away doesn’t suggest he has made the technical changes we’ve been spun that have happened. Seen that dismissal before.

[alfie]

Boland into the attack quite early... Starc has been a little wayward so not surprised. Tidy enough start though no great pace.

Cummins good morning continues...does for Crawley with the aid of an excellent catch from Green

Poor Joe in again at SFA for two...

[guildfordbat]

Pat Cummins averages 21.23 in Tests - and be doesn’t normally get to take the new ball. Which is a huge advantage is Australia. He’s a joke.

Good ball to Crawley, but him getting turned round by one that nips away doesn’t suggest he has made the technical changes we’ve been spun that have happened. Seen that dismissal before.

Yes and another neat take by Green. He's swallowed a few already this series and is looking a more than handy addition to this Australia side.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

"Scott Boland" isn't an actual cricketer is he? Just some randomly generated Australian.

By the 5th test they'll be lining up Joey Kangaroo to be the third seamer ffs

But he's running the tipping comp, surely that's a conflict of interests?

Honestly, if I could get back over in time, they could gimme an Aussie passport, pick me and still win. I reckon I could get one of the openers out and I often struggle to get down the other end without a second bounce.

[JDizzle]

Pat Cummins averages 21.23 in Tests - and be doesn’t normally get to take the new ball. Which is a huge advantage is Australia. He’s a joke.

Good ball to Crawley, but him getting turned round by one that nips away doesn’t suggest he has made the technical changes we’ve been spun that have happened. Seen that dismissal before.

Yes and another neat take by Green. He's swallowed a few already this series and is looking a more than handy addition to this Australia side.

Being 6’7 or whatever he is - you would presume his hands a la Freddie are the size of absolute shovels. That doesn’t automatically make you a good catcher but it definitely helps!

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Root has come in at 11, 12 and 13 in the first innings in this series.

If we play another 100 tests, we might give him a chance

[JuliusHMarx]

Root has come in at 11, 12 and 13 in the first innings in this series.

If we play another 100 tests, we might give him a chance

After the first ball was a no ball, I was thinking "another 300 of those and we might reach a decent total".

Bottom line - we're simply not good enough.

[guildfordbat]

Pat Cummins averages 21.23 in Tests - and be doesn’t normally get to take the new ball. Which is a huge advantage is Australia. He’s a joke.

Good ball to Crawley, but him getting turned round by one that nips away doesn’t suggest he has made the technical changes we’ve been spun that have happened. Seen that dismissal before.

Yes and another neat take by Green. He's swallowed a few already this series and is looking a more than handy addition to this Australia side.

Being 6’7 or whatever he is - you would presume his hands a la Freddie are the size of absolute shovels. That doesn’t automatically make you a good catcher but it definitely helps!

Long way to get down though!

Tony Greig was also 6'7 and a good close to the wicket catcher.

[JDizzle]

I keep hearing a clicking every time Boland releases the ball? Makes me think he’s dislodged the bails every time.

[guildfordbat]

Norcross referring to Root's post toss interview seeming ''a little bit terse ...as if he had the weight of the world on his shoulders''.

That's how it struck me as per my earlier post.

[Duty281]

Positive captaincy, getting Green in to bowl at Root. Cummins delivered a fantastic spell, unfortunate to only get two.

[guildfordbat]

Is lunch 2 am our time? Thanks.

[Duty281]

Yes, I'm 99% sure it is.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

The revised schedule:

Lunch 1-1.40pm
Tea 3.40-4pm
Official stumps 6pm with an extra 30 minutes possible.

As per the Guardian

[Dolphin Ziggler]

So yes, 2am. 11 hours ahead

[JDizzle]

Lyon has had Malan on toast a bit this series, but think England will be happy to see spin this early.

Little bit of turn there! Somewhere in the world, Shane Warne has just said ‘if it seams, it spins’

[guildfordbat]

Duty and Dolph - thanks for the posts about lunch. I was unsure if play commenced after the official start time and if that had an effect.

[alfie]

Disappointing, if not unexpected , that the England openers failed once again ; but have to say Cummins has been outstanding this morning. Would have troubled any pair of players , let alone Hameed (who is really not suited to Australian conditions, I'm afraid ; and Crawley , coming in cold to this match)

I did fear from the outset that the opening pairing was the vital component that England had to find to have any chance here : and that they just don't have anyone - and certainly not any two - who look remotely likely to succeed in the role.

Am not quite writing these young players off as Test batsmen , yet. But I think Hameed is always going to struggle on Australian - and probably South African - pitches. If he makes the West Indies tour he's going to need to score big or he could join a host of other recent opening hopefuls on the discard pile.

I like Crawley- though I prefer him as a number three. Unfortunately he , like Ollie Pope , is in danger of being pigeonholed as a player with a lot of lovely strokes who just can't turn them into serious runs. Youth and promise can be exciting; but when a team is struggling like this one selectors perhaps aren't able to give them the sort of prolonged run in the side that someone like Ian Bell was afforded.

Suspect the Search for an Opening Bat discussions will be in full swing again over the coming months...

[alfie]

Ah...so close to making it to lunch : but Cummins strikes again with just three balls to spare...

Malan will be livid to get out then after all his hard work. The Aussies don't miss anything in slips : makes it a really fine session for them at 61/3

[kingraf]

It's always shocking when a batting line-up that's been horribly outclassed has long, hard look at themselves, speak some hard truths, endeavour to give 100% moving froward... and then continue to get outclassed. Turns out this isn't golf, and the bowling side may have some say in your inadequacy.

[alfie]

As at lunch , so at tea...

Last Over before tea and Buttler tried to put Lyon into the stands...but alas found a fielder.

Was a hard fought session . Root getting his regular fifty but again not going on. Furious with himself at a rather soft dab to Carey. Then Stokes - who had looked much better today - rather gave up his wicket with an ill judged attempt to slice Green over point : being tied down for several overs immediately before probably got to him.

Bairstow has battled away patiently but he's looking at a long list of tail enders now as potential partners. 128/6 makes grim reading for the tourists.

Over rate a bit slow , as is the scoring ; with the outfield pretty slow after the early rain meaning even good shots are pulling up and they've had to run a lot of threes.

Aussies well on top again.

[alfie]

Wish I could offer something more of comfort to England fans waking up to this ...but in truth it's been a very disappointing effort so far. Cummins has bowled really well and looked a constant threat ; but although Green in particular has backed him up well he really has looked a cut above the rest.
Pitch isn't exactly easy to bat on but it's surely not a 128/6 pitch. And I suspect the likes of Smith and Labuschagne will make it look a lot easier when it comes to their turn.
Added highlight was some idiot running on and holding up play a couple of overs back. YJB didn't look best pleased at an extra interruption to his concentration. Hard enough in the middle of a Cummins over. At least it wasn't Jarvo.

[alfie]

If you're searching for highlights at least Root has moved to third in the "most runs in a calendar year" list - albeit in rather more innings than the two still a little ahead of him. Still a great effort carrying the weight of England's batting weakness on his own.

And one lovely six from Stokes off Lyon was a nice ray of (eventually proved false) hopes.

Wood as a Test number eight ? That's a worry...

[alfie]

England have wriggled since tea but unable to get off the hook...

Wood pinned lbw to give Boland his first Test wicket...Bairstow lost his balance trying to sway under a Starc short ball that didn't get up as much as he expected and couldn't get his glove out of the way ...and Leach after an entertaining attack on his opposite number (which included a straight six !) edged him to slip. The Aussies of course held all the catches offered...

Robinson has mixed a few quite textbook shots with some odd improvisations and added useful runs here ...can't last much longer though surely ? 184/9

[alfie]

Yes. Caught at mid wicket for a handy 22. Three for Lyon .

All out 185 . Going to want a few wickets tonight or it will be a gloomy dressing room again.

Cummins bowled superbly. Not just the wickets : he gave absolutely nothing to the batsmen in the way of scoring opportunity. (Makes me all the more annoyed that England weren't able to take advantage of his absence in Adelaide to at least get a draw on a pretty flat pitch. Won't get as good a chance again this series I'm afraid.)

Think there is a bit there for the bowlers . Bounce may be a bit variable throughout ; but it really is essential they don't let Australia run away with a big lead this time. Catching a few chances might help...

[alfie]

Nice positive start by the Australian openers...a few drop and runs to turn the strike over and annoy the bowlers , and they've already picked off a couple of loose balls.

Plus they aren't nibbling at anything outside off. Wonder if England might consider a similar strategy

Sun's come out too just to make the home team even more comfortable...

[alfie]

Wood on early - which I approve. Robinson was bowling military medium.  No swing evident so far for Anderson ; but Wood is certainly cranking things up immediately...one at 147 already.

Need some magic from somewhere. But that seems to in short supply for this touring team : honest effort seems to be the best they've been able to muster. Sorry to be negative but am not getting "early collapse " vibes here - though a Harris miscue then fell only just short of the short mid wicket ...story of the series , eh ?

And now Warner - who is already ticking over nicely - gets a slightly fortunate break as Wood gets one to leap at him and it flies over the slips for four...

[alfie]

Vaughan reckons they look a bit flat already. Wood isn't : just hit over 150k twice in the last four deliveries.

But why has he only got two slips ?

Ten overs down and 40/0.

[alfie]

Fifty stand up now... Harris hanging in without too much difficulty ; Warner has taken most of Wood's aggressive stuff.

Robinson looks pretty toothless I'm afraid. He made some useful runs but I really would have preferred Broad for this match as I think he's finding it hard to play these matches close together- just looks weary to me.

Stokes on for Wood. Beats Harris outside off , but no edge. Just not happening for England. Quarter hour to the close of what looks like being a Perfect Day for Australia...

[alfie]

Anderson gets Warner ! Excellent low catch by Crawley

Gone for a dangerous looking 38. A good bowling change...

Lyon as night watchman. Can hear guildford growling from here...

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