The Ashes: 1st Test, Brisbane

First topic message reminder :

1st Test Brisbane, November 23-27, 2017

Australia:
Bancroft, Warner, Khawaja, Smith *, Handscomb, S Marsh, Paine †, Starc, Cummins, Lyon, Hazelwood

England:
Cook, Stoneman, Vince, Root *, Malan, Ali, Bairstow †, Woakes, Ball, Broad, Anderson

Could be a rain-affected day.

If I were Australian, I would be thinking another 250+ would be enough to assert total control. England will need to improve from yesterday if they want to replicate Australia's second morning.

First hour will be naturally tough for the batsmen. Second hour brings the new ball. The afternoon and evening should be significantly easier.

The key is, of course, Smith.

Potential thunderstorm later in the day but mostly clear and sunny this morning.

Election day in Queensland... stands look a little empty right now. However, hopefully another good attendance at the Gabba today.

As many of us have already said, Smith's wicket is so important. If England don't get it early, it's vitally important we keep things tight and stay patient.

An expression often used on the Surrey threads for their County Championship matches is that ''day 3 is moving day''. Even though CC matches are only for 4 days, I feel that could well be the case here today as one side could noticeably shift ahead before the close ....

got to agree with boycott here, not sure how were going to get smith out using this tactic. not a single dangerous delivery being bowled at him. the only way hes getting out is if he makes a mistake

I detest Boycott as a commentator, even Botham would be welcome relief right now.

James100 wrote:I detest Boycott as a commentator, even Botham would be welcome relief right now.

cant say hes my favorite. far too negative with any attacking players. just agree with his point re smith

compelling and rich wrote:

James100 wrote:I detest Boycott as a commentator, even Botham would be welcome relief right now.

cant say hes my favorite. far too negative with any attacking players. just agree with his point re smith

I agree with him that they shouldn't be bowling short and wide - though that seems obvious. Full(ish) and wide is a good tactic to Smith though and he's lumping that in the same category.

get in, we needed that

Marsh goes. He’s worked hard for that 51.

Pressure was building.

Good bowling from Broad and Anderson this morning : rewarded now with the wicket of Marsh ...that will give England a lift.

Still a long way behind : Smith remains the big obstacle ; but a lot depends now on what support he can get from the "tail"

Paine got runs against England in the warm up ; and Starc and Cummins are both capable bats . So England will need the back up bowlers - who will have to come on soon - to come to the party. I'd be keeping these two on for a couple more yet though now that the new man is in...

...clearly Root disagrees with me as Woakes comes on immediately

I get saving Jimmy for the new ball. But he beat Smith last over and I'd have been giving him one more. Ah well : Root has done OK with his changes so far...we will see.

i thought we shouldn't have swapped so soon. give anderson and broad at least a couple more against the new batsman

Hi Alfie - do you get the same commentary as us? Boycs was talking earlier about Olly's man Woakes ''bowling tripe'' yesterday.

Would have given Broad at least 1 more over, he looked in the like he was getting in the groove

Hi guildford

No , get local comms . Healy , Taylor , Warne.

Woakes and Ball with the short ball attack...nearly got Smith so maybe not too crazy.

I have to go and play myself now so you fellows will have to get the next five wickets...

Smith looking frustrated.

Couple of careless Played+missed shots this morning.

Cheers, Alfie. Anyway, I'm sure you got the gist of Boycs' assessment of Woakes. He's very predictable which I suspect irritates some here although it often draws a smile from me. Although he sometimes goes too far and almost becomes a parody of himself, he can talk sense (a bit like Bumble Lloyd when he resists the urge to play the fool).

Play well.

Here comes Graeme Swanns comedy club...
A little tiring hearing his 'banter' all the time.
Liking Gilchrist and Ponting

Just 27 runs in the opening hour.

Root will be happy.

jimbohammers wrote:Would have given Broad at least 1 more over, he looked in the like he was getting in the groove

Hi Jimbo - allowing myself some hindsight to ask the question, do you think we might have done better in going with two Hants players here?

Think we’re gonna be looking to do little more than induce mistakes with control and strangling on the run rate. New ball and our two controlled bowlers working in tandem needs to set the tone that the rest follow

guildfordbat wrote:

jimbohammers wrote:Would have given Broad at least 1 more over, he looked in the like he was getting in the groove

Hi Jimbo - allowing myself some hindsight to ask the question, do you think we might have done better in going with two Hants players here?

Why stop at 2, Guildford? Should have flown Dawson in as well
In all seriousness, the way Lyon was getting turn on Day 1, you'd think Crane would have done well here. Suppose they wasn't expecting a pitch like this.

Swann doing my head in here

Cheers, Jimbo. Liked your Dawson comment.

To be fair, this seems a totally non Gabba like pitch which has surprised all.

I emailed BT yesterday complaining about Swann's ''banter''. Reply awaited.

In other news, Maxwell out for 278.

classic anderson

Wow, what a delivery!

Lovely ball, Jimmy!

Tail coming at the new ball, let’s see how Smith plays with this

This is not good at all. Sort it out Oz

Bairstow with a casual one handed catch

Broad is a long way from dead! Loves it in Australia!

Beautiful shot. Excellent riposte.

Advantage England.

The Loaded Dog wrote:In other news, Maxwell out for 278.

Hi LD - what number does Maxwell normally bat? The most likely vacancy coming up would seem to be at 3 although I'm not sure if that would be high for him.

Meanwhile, a fine one handed catch by Bairstow off Anderson to put Paine back in the hutch. Australia now 93 adrift with 4 wickets left. I put us ahead but that could change if one of the bowlers can stay with Smith. EDIT and PS - However, Starc can't!! 209/7.

The boys wont make 250 at this rate. Poor innings

Anderson and Broad bowling cleverly and effectively. I would like one more wicket in this session to firmly make it England's morning.

What's everyone's thoughts on the BT commentary team?
I'll be honest i don't know who the woman is but she sounds like she does radio? Like she's commentating on what we can see...
Swann, attempting his stand up show every time he's on
Boycott, old fashioned but knows what he's talking about
Gilchrist, quite like his enthusiasm and seems a nice bloke
Ponting, fairly decent, very knowledgeable
Vaughan, comes across a bit cocky, but he's bearable
Fleming, seems ok, doesn't seem to be on as often as the others?

Even though I rather greedily wanted one more wicket 20 minutes or so ago, still an excellent morning for England. Very disciplined cricket. Astute captaincy and good bowling supported by concentration in the field. 3 wickets taken and just 48 runs conceded. The only regret is that Smith wasn't one of those wickets. Whilst he remains and has someone alongside him, Australia are definitely still in this.

Some concern from the comms about Anderson. That potentially could be a big issue although I don't know what it's about or whether it's just Mitchell clucking again like a mother hen.

Anyway, that's it from me. Go well all.

jimbohammers wrote:Vaughan, comes across a bit cocky, but he's bearable?

I want to put my fist through the screen every time his face is on it. His voice isn't much better. Cocky?...If this guy had his head up his backside anymore it would be coming out of his neck

jimbohammers wrote:What's everyone's thoughts on the BT commentary team?
I'll be honest i don't know who the woman is but she sounds like she does radio? Like she's commentating on what we can see...
Swann, attempting his stand up show every time he's on
Boycott, old fashioned but knows what he's talking about
Gilchrist, quite like his enthusiasm and seems a nice bloke
Ponting, fairly decent, very knowledgeable
Vaughan, comes across a bit cocky, but he's bearable
Fleming, seems ok, doesn't seem to be on as often as the others?

Generally agree there, Jimbo.

I dislike Vaughan more. He comes across to me like a noisy pub bore vying for attention. Swann is terrible and should be sacked immediately. Alison Mitchell is a cricket journalist who also does some radio coverage on county games - as you suggest, she never shuts up.

All in all, it's poor. BT need to stop swamping us and appreciate that less is more.

Steffan wrote:

jimbohammers wrote:Vaughan, comes across a bit cocky, but he's bearable?

I want to put my fist through the screen every time his face is on it. His voice isn't much better. Cocky?...If this guy had his head up his backside anymore it would be coming out of his neck

Steffan - a well reasoned assessment.

Night all.

Vaughan is a strange one

When the Ashes first test in 2009 was given to Cardiff he didn't criticise like many did and said it was a good thing as the Welsh crowd are passionate

Then the other week he mocked us on Twitter (twice) for failing to make Russia 2018

I think he just likes saying anything that will get him some attention

guildfordbat wrote:

The Loaded Dog wrote:In other news, Maxwell out for 278.

Hi LD - what number does Maxwell normally bat? The most likely vacancy coming up would seem to be at 3 although I'm not sure if that would be high for him.

Meanwhile, a fine one handed catch by Bairstow off Anderson to put Paine back in the hutch. Australia now 93 adrift with 4 wickets left. I put us ahead but that could change if one of the bowlers can stay with Smith. EDIT and PS - However, Starc can't!! 209/7.

Batting at 3 for Vic but usually lower down the order. One possible reshuffle would be Marsh at 3, Maxwell at 6... drop Khawaja.

Was an excellent session for England. Tight, disciplined and, in the end, productive.

Anderson's injury is a major concern, not just for the test, but the series as a whole.

During the tea break I managed to beat Durham by 9 wickets  

Australia on the mend. Runs coming a little easier.

Really impressed by the sensible approach taken by Cummings. Smith looks like he could bat for ever and a day.

Poor captaincy to hold Anderson and Broad back for so long.

England throwing away their hard work by letting a lower order bat hang around again I see

Beginning to think we may never dismiss Smith

Cummins deserves huge credit, probably saved this test for them. I know Smith has the score, but it’s his job.

Reckon they’ll end up with a lead now

Not a bad innings now considering the bad start. You English lot bowled well though fair do. Anyway...rugby league time now (for as long as I can stay awake). Come on Tonga. Laters folks

Regards

Yes, Cummins played a fine innings just when we needed it... took pressure off Smith who is an absolute rock out there.
Deficit only 15 runs now at tea. Honestly thought we'd be 50+ runs short after Paine and Starc got out.

I think we might have an issue with Anderson...he clearly wasn’t right in the field towards the end of that innings...

Trail by 26 runs, disappointing yes, but we’re still more than in this game. Crucial we don’t lose anymore than one wicket in this hour of play (the draw still very much in play here too - and actually with Anderson’s potential injury, might be our best bet)

Also have to say that was a magnificent innings from Steve Smith - England bowled well at him but it was a masterclass in patience and changeless batting.