The Ashes - official thread

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

First topic message reminder :

Seeing as this starts next week, I'll kick it off - the Aussies have selected their 17 man squad


Australia's Ashes squad: Tim Paine (c), Cameron Bancroft, Pat Cummins, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Michael Neser, James Pattinson, Peter Siddle, Steven Smith, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade, David Warner.

Main takeaway there is no specialist spinner selected behind Lyon, with Neser included suggests they don't anticipate many, if any, spinning wickets...

[Gooseberry]

Smiths playing the unplayable very well

[Duty281]

Fun first hour, but the conditions are settling down now and Smith and Khawaja are starting to look comfortable.

[alfie]

Think they'd be wise to stay off Khawaja's pads... He rather likes clipping it away square.

Smith settling a bit now , after playing and missing a few times at Broad.

Root calls another review ! Khawaja looks a bit guilty ....

Yes ...out !

[Duty281]

Important wicket. Root probably reviewed on the basis of Khawaja's guilt-ridden face.

Chip, chip away. England need this Aussie side out for 200 or less.

[Gooseberry]

Moeens going to be annoyed at that, Usmans his one guaranteed wicket. 

Smiths still there though.

[eirebilly]

That looked out straight away. Not sure why Khawaja was shaking his head...

[LondonTiger]

From cricinfo:

Apparently that was Broad's quickest spell in a home Test since 2014, and his fullest length of all time... it's all happening

[alfie]

Stokes giving Bairstow some exercise

Getting wider down leg each ball. Prefer to see him attack Head's off stump...

[guildfordbat]

Eurgh numbers on test shirts

Hi Soul - I'm generally a traditionalist and certainly predate most posters here, even if suggestions of my coaching WG Grace when he was a young lad are slightly exaggerated.

I therefore certainly understand your point. However, my maximum sympathies and support are always for the spectators at the ground who have shelled out their hard earned dosh to watch the game. By way of some example, I've paid £220 in total to see two days of the final test from a perfectly reasonable (but definitely not the best) seat at the Oval. Anything which isn't too garish and helps me to readily identify players who are fielding on the other side of the ground is therefore welcomed. Probably unnecessary for tv viewers but they get a good enough service already and it shouldn't be all about them.

[compelling and rich]

Stokes giving Bairstow some exercise

Getting wider down leg each ball.  Prefer to see him attack Head's off stump...

poor spell from stokes, id give Anderson another quick blast. didn't do many overs this morning

[Duty281]

This is a very gentle introduction for Travis Head. Hardly has to play a single delivery.

The main battle is clearly set at the other end - Steve Smith v the England seam attack.

[alfie]

Stokes has rather lost his radar. Not pressuring Head ...

Smith very patient ; but (ominously ?) bedding in .

Moeen on. Good idea I think.

[Gooseberry]

Moeen on already. Oh well.

[Duty281]

It looks a pretty good batting wicket, once you get past the initially tricky new ball phase. Head doing alright and launching a counter-attack. Smith is set and you'd expect him to score heavily.

[eirebilly]

Expensive last 3 overs and England have allowed Head to settle and play his shots.

I would not have continued with Stokes here.

[alfie]

Surprised Jimmy hasn't come back yet ?

[compelling and rich]

still really overcast and Anderson still only bowled 4 overs. hopefully he's not injured

[Gooseberry]

Yeah its really odd especially with Stokes struggling so much

[Duty281]

Expensive last 3 overs

35 off the last four overs!

[alfie]

Expensive last 3 overs and England have allowed Head to settle and play his shots.

I would not have continued with Stokes here.

No. Neither would I . Guess he is always a bit of a mixed bag...some loose stuff in with some killer deliveries...

Not sure Head is "settled" yet. He's hit some fours ; but doesn't look that secure to my eyes.

England really want one of these before lunch to make it a great session...

[Soul Requiem]

Why is Root letting the game drift by persisting with rubbish.

[alfie]

Woakes back. Must be some problem with Anderson...which is a worry !

Odd approach from Root since that third wicket : you'd have thought they'd be right at the throat but they've rather pulled back...not helped by some very wayward stuff from Stokes.

Batting conditions have certainly eased since that first hour. These two stabilizing things for Australia quite well...as they needed after these early blows !

[Duty281]

Very poor second hour from England. Stokes bowled a load of tosh and everyone's afraid Anderson is injured. Head has been gifted an easy start, while Smith is looking scarily composed at the other end.

Still marginally England's session, but if these two restart well after the interval, things could go south very quickly.

Considering the batting strength of the English and that the hosts have to bat last, 250 wouldn't be at all bad for Australia.

[guildfordbat]

England's morning but the visitors have steadied the boat with some sensible batting from Smith and Head together with some ordinary bowling at times in the last hour. As others have said, Stokes was particularly disappointing although he's never made his name being a regular and consistent up and down bowler.

[Gooseberry]

KP hasn't turned up the the Ashes team reunion

[Gooseberry]

Andersons injury is playing up, hes gone for a scan. Im surprised how long it took that news to filter through but it did seem pretty obvious despite him being on the field.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Andersons injury is playing up, hes gone for a scan. Im surprised how long it took that news to filter through but it did seem pretty obvious despite him being on the field.

Well, this is obviously really really bad news. And potentially a rather big blunder by England if they've played him when not fully fit...

[Soul Requiem]

KP hasn't turned up the the Ashes team reunion

Nor have a few others it should be noted.

[Duty281]

Andersons injury is playing up, hes gone for a scan. Im surprised how long it took that news to filter through but it did seem pretty obvious despite him being on the field.

Well, this is obviously really really bad news. And potentially a rather big blunder by England if they've played him when not fully fit...

So, quite possibly, England are down to three seamers (one doing very poorly) and Moeen (it's not turning) for the rest of the test. With Denly sending a few down when/if everyone's exhausted.

Still, at least Archer has a place (if he's fit!) for the next test.

[eirebilly]

I honestly cant believe that England would have risked bowling Jimmy if he was still carrying a niggle. If true then it is an absolute shambolic decision and heads must role. Curran would have been a very good option if Jimmy was not fully fit.

[alfie]

A blow indeed if Anderson has a serious problem. He looked fine in those four overs he bowled but obviously felt something and has apparently gone for a scan.

Easy to say don't play unfit players but I think he'd passed all the fitness tests and if anything they'd been conservative in holding him out of the Ireland game. Injuries can recur - especially as bowlers get older !

Important post-lunch spell now for Broad and Woakes ...

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

A blow indeed if Anderson has a serious problem.  He looked fine in those four overs he bowled but obviously felt something and has apparently gone for a scan.

Easy to say don't play unfit players but I think he'd passed all the fitness tests and if anything they'd been conservative in holding him out of the Ireland game. Injuries can recur - especially as bowlers get older !

Important post-lunch spell now for Broad and Woakes ...

Yeah he also came through a long net session of bowling all ok on Tuesday too - he was out in the field, so lets just hope its a little bit of tightness and nothing more serious like a strain or a tear...

Broad and Woakes bowling nicely after lunch.

[eirebilly]

Alfie, ye can pass a fitness test and still be carrying a slight niggle, I have passed many myself in rugby.
That said, I do not profess to know the level of fitness testing in the England cricket team but to only last 4 overs is not a sign of a player who is close to 100% fit or even 80% fit.

[alfie]

I honestly cant believe that England would have risked bowling Jimmy if he was still carrying a niggle. If true then it is an absolute shambolic decision and heads must role. Curran would have been a very good option if Jimmy was not fully fit.

Agreed. I'm sure they'd have played Sam if they'd been in any doubt. The trouble with that sort of injury is you can test it all you like but it is still possible to have it recur in the pressure of match play...and you cannot completely guarantee it won't so you have to make a judgement...
The surprise to me is it seems to have happened so early . I think it's more bad luck than deliberate risk taking.

Coud be very costly though. Batsmen looking fairly comfortable now...

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Update from Nick Hoult - England fear it is a different tear to the original one, but in the same calf, which is more worrying than a flare up of the original issue.

Not good

[Duty281]

Update from Nick Hoult - England fear it is a different tear to the original one, but in the same calf, which is more worrying than a flare up of the original issue.

Not good

For a 37-year-old like Anderson, that sounds like the short, brutal road to being a career-ender.

[alfie]

Reviewed lbw ...if it pitched in line it's out...

Head gone !

Chris Woakes strikes

[eirebilly]

Ooh that looks out...

[eirebilly]

[Soul Requiem]

I can't imagine Curran will be the replacement, the only reason Archer isn't playing is because they didn't want two players with niggles.

[Duty281]

Massive blow inflicted on the Aussies, just as the game was drifting back into the tourists favour.

Had Smith and Head got through the Broad/Woakes spell unscathed, they could have really cashed in afterwards.

[Gooseberry]

Smiths still there though

[alfie]

Update from Nick Hoult - England fear it is a different tear to the original one, but in the same calf, which is more worrying than a flare up of the original issue.

Not good

For a 37-year-old like Anderson, that sounds like the short, brutal road to being a career-ender.

Yes. Very bad news - not just for this match. Hope it isn't as bad as they fear...

[Nathaniel Jacobs]

Wade must've really improved to be playing as a specialist batsman these days.

[Duty281]

Garbage decision again. Never looked out.

You're gonna cry in a minute, sing the England fans.

[alfie]

I can't imagine Curran will be the replacement, the only reason Archer isn't playing is because they didn't want two players with niggles.

Curran would have been the replacement for this match...next Test is another matter.

Ironically enough , with Broad and Woakes both in good form , an Anderson injury is the only reasonable way Archer could get in the side...

Smith has the luck of the devil sometimes ! Brain fade , pads up , and gets reprieved by drs with a narrow miss...

[eirebilly]

That was a very poor decision from Dar...

[Nathaniel Jacobs]

4th incorrect decision inside 34 overs. Embarrassing

[alfie]

Yeah the umpires ain't getting much right today , are they ?

Man pads up , ball comes back...umpires get excited sometimes. Was a poor leave anyway ...too close to risk.

Good review to get Wade !

Ump wrong again

[Soul Requiem]

I can't imagine Curran will be the replacement, the only reason Archer isn't playing is because they didn't want two players with niggles.

Curran would have been the replacement for this match...next Test is another matter.

Ironically enough , with Broad and Woakes both in good form , an Anderson injury is the only reasonable way Archer could get in the side...

Smith has the luck of the devil sometimes ! Brain fade , pads up , and gets reprieved by drs with a narrow miss...

I don't think he would have been, Archer was brought into the squad as a point of difference, Curran would be an option as replacement for Woakes.

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