England's Summer of Cricket 2023, Featuring The Ashes

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June 1st-June 4th: One Test v Ireland (four days)
June 16th-July 31st: Five Tests v Australia
August 30th-September 5th: Four T20s v New Zealand
September 8th-September 15th: Four ODIs v New Zealand
September 20th-September 26th: Three ODIs v Ireland

England try to wrest the Ashes back from Australia, in a series which could be the greatest since 2005. Australia have currently held the urn for just over five years, which is the longest spell of urn-holding since the 1989-2005 period.

Ireland also visit for a test before that, and then there's some limited-overs games squashed into the last days of summer.

Burnley Lara producing some classic flourishes

Got to love a tenth wicket partnership...

280 right in the mix if weather turns in our favour tomorrow. Couple tonight would absolutely bonus

281 to win then. That will have annoyed the Australians greatly that the last 2 have added 60 runs and taken more time out of today.

Gettable but much better than it looked an hour ago. Doing more for the seamers, a lot for Lyon. Still firmly in the balance I think, particularly if tomorrow brings cloud cover

281 required to win then - some handy runs added by Robinson, Broad and Anderson there...not only in terms of final total required, but actually took a good 45 mins-hour to get them out. Potentially crucial in terms of bowling more tomorrow, if there is some more weather about...

Also chance with it being 281, that we might get a crack with a 2nd new ball. Probably not if Warner gets going mind...

Aussies chasing 281 to win at Edgbaston? No history of chases around that total being particularly close. They should cruise it.

Think I'd rather be in England's position than Australia's to he honest. Reckon some of those chases last year have made everyone think 280 is easy, don't think its going to be easy at all

Cummins has bowled really well but some of those fields set for 9, 10, 11 gave some pretty free singles

VTR wrote:Think I'd rather be in England's position than Australia's to he honest. Reckon some of those chases last year have made everyone think 280 is easy, don't think its going to be easy at all

Especially if one or two go early and crowd is up

And there it is...280.

I am satisfied now that my clever Reverse Poster Curse at 210/7 had the desired effect ...though I was secretly hoping to cross 300.

Good effort from the bowlers

Mind you , they are going to have to excel at their day jobs to protect that lead. Still advantage Australia - but England aren't out of it yet.

GSC wrote:281 to win then. That will have annoyed the Australians greatly that the last 2 have added 60 runs and taken more time out of today.

Gettable but much better than it looked an hour ago. Doing more for the seamers, a lot for Lyon. Still firmly in the balance I think, particularly if tomorrow brings cloud cover

Sorry, GSC, that's wrong! Can't have been more than 40 runs ....

I make it 50/50, if England can get two or even better three tonight they're favourites. Important if nothings happening tonight to keep it tight with the expected conditions likely to suit Anderson in particular tomorrow.

There will be studies done into how many runs Stokes left on the board if Australia chase this

JDizzle wrote:Aussies chasing 281 to win at Edgbaston? No history of chases around that total being particularly close. They should cruise it.

Think only ever two successful chases of 280+ at Edgbaston though ? One rather more last year but that was a bit freakish !

Conditions still look in favour of the bats : but it could be enough to play with the batsmen's nerves...

Nobody can ever get too far ahead in this game. 4 more like this might finish me off

JDizzle wrote:Aussies chasing 281 to win at Edgbaston? No history of chases around that total being particularly close. They should cruise it.

No history of them trying to chase that against an England attack with some excellent seamers, a half crocked all rounder and a spinner with huge question marks over his spot in the side either.

alfie wrote:

JDizzle wrote:Aussies chasing 281 to win at Edgbaston? No history of chases around that total being particularly close. They should cruise it.

Think only ever two successful chases of 280+ at Edgbaston though ? One rather more last year but that was a bit freakish !

Conditions still look in favour of the bats : but it could be enough to play with the batsmen's nerves...

But a rather famous failed chase of 282! Although 279 all out a la 2005 would make things tense…

Cummins comes back to finish the job. 281 for the Aussies to win at Edgbaston - they needed 282 in 2005...

It's been a see-saw day in a see-saw test, but I think England will be a touch disappointed that the lead isn't bigger. The openers were lost in a tricky period, but otherwise England had three batsmen in the 40s who didn't kick on, and Bairstow got a start but fell for 20. Everyone getting double digits, bar Crawley.

I thought Australia bowled very well, Cummins and Lyon especially. Cummins bowled a few outstanding deliveries, but he also deserves credit for his captaincy as I thought some of the field placings were quite clever (although not to Anderson!), particularly when they tied down Stokes/Brook/Bairstow in the half hour or so before lunch.

281 to get. I think I'm very narrowly giving Australia the edge. I'm not convinced England's seamers will do much outside of the new ball phase, unless they get some help with overhead conditions, and it doesn't look as though there will be much assistance in that area. There's plenty of turn to be found, but England don't have any quality in the spin department. Leach probably gutted at missing out on this opportunity to win a test match for his side.

England need a minimum of two in the opening 10/15 overs, otherwise it's going to be tough. It's just difficult to envisage all of the big Australian three not scoring big in this innings - I think one of them will emulate G Smith's fourth innings century for South Africa here in 2008.

Weather forecast remaining the same, so looks likely we'll lose at least the morning session tomorrow, but seems fine from around 13:00/14:00 tomorrow. Supposed to be around 40 overs left today, but little chance of getting them all in, then maybe at least 60/65 overs tomorrow. Should be a positive result, in other words.

JDizzle wrote:

alfie wrote:

JDizzle wrote:Aussies chasing 281 to win at Edgbaston? No history of chases around that total being particularly close. They should cruise it.

Think only ever two successful chases of 280+ at Edgbaston though ? One rather more last year but that was a bit freakish !

Conditions still look in favour of the bats : but it could be enough to play with the batsmen's nerves...

But a rather famous failed chase of 282! Although 279 all out a la 2005 would make things tense…

Just looked at the scorecard for that one and Flintoff bowled 13 no-balls in that second Australian innings! That could have ended up being the story if England went 2-0 down.

alfie wrote:

JDizzle wrote:Aussies chasing 281 to win at Edgbaston? No history of chases around that total being particularly close. They should cruise it.

Think only ever two successful chases of 280+ at Edgbaston though ? One rather more last year but that was a bit freakish !

Conditions still look in favour of the bats : but it could be enough to play with the batsmen's nerves...

Only 3 successful chases over 200 at Edgbaston ever.

England 378 v India 2022
South Africa 281 v England 2008
England 208 v New Zealand 1999

Of course there was that incredibly close one in 2005 though. Some of the statistical similarities to that Test are great here. 407 runs scored on day 1 in 2005. 407 scored on day 1 in 2023. Aussies chasing 282 in 2005. Aussies chasing 281 here. Great stuff for the nerds out there.

Bet365's odds going 6/4 England; 8/11 Australia; 12/1 draw.

Dread to think how many no balls that would have been in the current automated no ball era. Might not have even needed to come back for Day 4.

Wonder how often the opening batsman was the only one to not cross double figures when all 11 players had a bat

Time to rev up the Nighthawk

Well this is certainly a new record for trying to get the ball changed!

king_carlos wrote:

alfie wrote:

JDizzle wrote:Aussies chasing 281 to win at Edgbaston? No history of chases around that total being particularly close. They should cruise it.

Think only ever two successful chases of 280+ at Edgbaston though ? One rather more last year but that was a bit freakish !

Conditions still look in favour of the bats : but it could be enough to play with the batsmen's nerves...

Only 3 successful chases over 200 at Edgbaston ever.

England 378 v India 2022
South Africa 281 v England 2008
England 208 v New Zealand 1999

Of course there was that incredibly close one in 2005 though. Some of the statistical similarities to that Test are great here. 407 runs scored on day 1 in 2005. 407 scored on day 1 in 2023. Aussies chasing 282 in 2005. Aussies chasing 281 here. Great stuff for the nerds out there.

I mentioned it on day 1 but halfway through the day it had a similar feel to that match. There's a lot of talk of Bazball and rightly so but that 2005 side really went after anyone not named Mcgrath or Warne, the overall run rate in that series can't have been far off 4.

Aaaaaahhhh right between keeper and slip

That's really poor for neither Bairstow nor Root to go for it. Keeper surely has to go for it, at the very least?

I think Foakes has to play the next game. Bairstow has cost England a lot in this game

Duty281 wrote:That's really poor for neither Bairstow nor Root to go for it. Keeper surely has to go for it, at the very least?

Unacceptable wicket keeping that - really really poor.

Broad knocking off the no ball target

Good Golly I'm Olly wrote:

Duty281 wrote:That's really poor for neither Bairstow nor Root to go for it. Keeper surely has to go for it, at the very least?

Unacceptable wicket keeping that - really really poor.

Should in absolutely no way is that Root's catch

GSC wrote:I think Foakes has to play the next game. Bairstow has cost England a lot in this game

Don't disagree, but can't see who they'd drop to get Foakes in, though. Is something they'll have to cross in the near-future, because there's no way Bairstow can keep in India.

Hope that start isn't an omen...

Perfectly placed edge bisecting keeper and slip. But defending a modest score you have to take every chance. Won't do much for morale

Duty281 wrote:That's really poor for neither Bairstow nor Root to go for it. Keeper surely has to go for it, at the very least?

Yes and yes.

Bairstow has the gloves and the responsibility.

Foakes has made mistakes but you'd have expected him to take every chance Bairstow has missed in this match, not saying he would have but the expectation levels are higher.

2 no balls in 2 overs from Broad

Definitely Bairstow's catch. It's dying as it gets to slip.

Foakes did miss some regulation ones as well whilst in the side. Whilst Bairstow's 78 in the first innings alongside Root dragged England back into the game.

I think Foakes is far better up to the stumps but honestly don't feel there's as much as many make out standing back. I'm the guy that usually bangs on about Michael Bates losing a County contract being a travesty as well so it's not like I don't usually favour the stronger gloveman!

Duty281 wrote:That's really poor for neither Bairstow nor Root to go for it. Keeper surely has to go for it, at the very least?

Yeah he does. Would have done , I'm sure , before those first innings misses - which seem to have done for his confidence . And that's just going to make it worse.

I did fear coming back to keeping after so long out would be harder for Jonny than batting. Which was why I wasn't so sure about the selection decision they made...though I acknowledge they had a problem there. Ironically he started very well in this match but it's all gone to pot since...

Hope that isn't going to deflate the attack right at the start.

Don't give Khawaja anything short! But he has having a few lazy pushes at ones that are fuller. His energy levels seem to have crashed as soon as he reached 100 in the 1st innings. Some clever field placements for Warner, similar to Hayden in 2005, trying to frustrate him, though his defence has been positive.

Nothing extravagant with the new ball for England. 23/0 is a good start. Would like to see Robinson early.

Soul Requiem wrote:Foakes has made mistakes but you'd have expected him to take every chance Bairstow has missed in this match, not saying he would have but the expectation levels are higher.

To be honest I'd have expected Bairstow to take them too . He's generally been reasonably reliable in the past ...but has had a total horror show here. Has cost England badly I'm afraid ; but wouldn't be quite fair to blame the selectors as I don't think it was really foreseeable.

Might be time for Robinson?

GSC wrote:Might be time for Robinson?

Maybe Harry Brook



All looking too - not easy , but comparatively calm - for the batsmen. England desperately need something to happen to ramp up the pressure or this could run away from them quicker than they'd like. Surely need something from this new ball ? Can't leave it all to Moeen...

Anderson has not been good this test

alfie wrote:

Duty281 wrote:That's really poor for neither Bairstow nor Root to go for it. Keeper surely has to go for it, at the very least?

Yeah he does. Would have done , I'm sure , before those first innings misses - which seem to have done for his confidence . And that's just going to make it worse.

I did fear coming back to keeping after so long out would be harder for Jonny than batting. Which was why I wasn't so sure about the selection decision they made...though I acknowledge they had a problem there. Ironically he started very well in this match but it's all gone to pot since...

Hope that isn't going to deflate the attack right at the start.

Top post, Alfie.

I banged on before this Test that Bairstow was my choice ahead of Foakes provided his (Bairstow's) finess was fine. In all honesty and against myself now, I'll admit that by ''fitness'' I was meaning full recovery from his broken leg and return to physical fitness. I didn't properly consider - as I should have done - match fitness and readiness to keep in a Test match over 5 days; it's this that has been missing and cost him and England.

Good point as well about the potential of a missed chance deflating the attack. Tufnell - who is not quite the idiot he often makes himself out to be - was saying very similar on TMS on Saturday after the stumping that wasn't.

Good Golly I'm Olly wrote:Anderson has not been good this test

Agreed. Very ineffectual with three different new balls, and Robinson hasn't been much better.

Ten overs of not much, bar Bairstow not diving for one, and the target down to 250.

Worrying times for England. Moeen on now, big responsibility on his shoulders. I reckon Australia will try and get after him, destroy his confidence, and leave England short of options. And hope.

Duty281 wrote:

Good Golly I'm Olly wrote:Anderson has not been good this test

Agreed. Very ineffectual with three different new balls, and Robinson hasn't been much better.

Yep. Anderson and Broad have both looked low energy to be frank. It's been a tough pitch to bowl seam on but still disappointing.

England need a breakthrough urgently.

Mo's started well here to be fair. The mixture of spin, some that bounce and some that keep low should provide opportunities if kept in the right area.

We might see Root bowl this evening?

king_carlos wrote:

Duty281 wrote:

Good Golly I'm Olly wrote:Anderson has not been good this test

Agreed. Very ineffectual with three different new balls, and Robinson hasn't been much better.

Yep. Anderson and Broad have both looked low energy to be frank. It's been a tough pitch to bowl seam on but still disappointing.

England need a breakthrough urgently.

Yeah, I'm pretty sure that Anderson, Broad and Robinson each bowled 14 or 15 overs on day 2 whilst Moeen sent down 29 and presumably started the rot on his finger. I appreciate it's obviously Stokes' decision who gets the ball but I would have liked that seam trio to have stepped up more then.

king_carlos wrote:

Duty281 wrote:

Good Golly I'm Olly wrote:Anderson has not been good this test

Agreed. Very ineffectual with three different new balls, and Robinson hasn't been much better.

Yep. Anderson and Broad have both looked low energy to be frank. It's been a tough pitch to bowl seam on but still disappointing.

England need a breakthrough urgently.

Indeed. It was round about now, in the 2005 chase, that Flintoff bowled *that over* to account for Langer and Ponting, sparking England into life.

Might need Stokes to do similar.