Ashes 2023

Dalai Lama.

 

Not the day you were dreaming of I guess ?!

 

Spent most of the afternoon in The Pilgrim pub near the ground. The series has been so exciting with wickets falling allover the place until the day I go!

 

No!

 

Wickets tended to fall in the afternoon sessions so it's a real pity the rain took away any chance of a wicket or 2 though Australia looked well on top.

Today is a new day but with Australia only needing 249 i now fancy them if the openers bat as well as yesterday and if Smith and / or Labuschagne put in a big performance. Think we'll regret losing 5 wickets for circa 50 runs

 

Yes, last match we batted too long (though probably didn't affect result) whereas this time we rushed to finish our innings too quickly.
We could have won this series 5-0. We could have lost it 4-0.

 

Two...

 

Two down. Both openers gone.

 

This is high skilled swing bowling from Woakes! Not many better with a Dukes ball! Criminal he hasn't played more.

 

Great morning!

 

Marnus gone! Head a danger if we let him settle. Pepper him!

 

Three down. Why didn't I go today instead of yesterday!

 

Work?

 

Reckon you got the worst of all worlds yesterday.

 

I could have thrown a sickie

 

Will be nice if Jimmy Anderson can come to the party today. His inclusion for the majority of the series has potentially cost us. Legend of the game but way past his best.

 

Yep. Tongue should have played at least one more match in this series. All I can think is that with the cloudier weather since Headingly, they thought it would swing more than it has.

 

Got to break this partnership.

 

Looking very much like a draw to me.

 

looking like an Aussie win to me. 98 overs today so plenty of time. Need to get a wick or two quickly

 

Unless you're thinking weather will play a factor I can't see that at all.

 

Perhaps it was Debbie Alli,or Delia Smith?

 

The Aussies have picked up the scoring rate so I am less confident than before! I had thought if England can pick up a couple of wickets they would be less likely to go for their shots to ensure they don’t lose. Not looking good now though. Had thought there might be a bit of time lost to the weather as well, hammering it down here!

 

Wow Ben Stokes, what have you done?!?!

 

Radar looks awful. I'd be surprised if there's any more play today.

EDIT - we might be lucky if the bulk goes south of London and Oval rain stops in about an hour or two.

 

Yes, if he had made no attempt to throw the ball up, it would have been out. Over-excitement at the very best.

 

Seems unlikely it will matter.

 

This rain is killing my pre-series prediction of 3-1 to the Aussies, with one drawn game ruined by the weather .

 

I've been expecting you to dredge this up.

Doesn't feel like that, though, does it? 2-1 would be a closer reflection of the balance although arguably 2-2 would be most appropriate.

 

Before The Ashes started he's still been very good but he is now a weak link. I kind of hope he calls it a day after today. The GOAT as English bowler and it would be shame to tarnish that by carrying on. We have 5 tests in India next up, I can't imagine he wants to do that

 

.....I've been expecting you to pass comment on my dredging it up . As I recall you agreed.
No a 2-2 draw would be fair but I genuinely think that had the weather played fair over these last 2 tests we would have won both and this series could stake a claim to be the best Ashes series ever. We woz robbed !

 

I really don't understand why when Broad came to tell him Sat night, he didn't decide to go at the same time. Stokes should have made it easy by saying he wouldn't be selected for India. He must ache like hell after a day's play at the age of 41 !!!!

 

I did, yes. I expected the gap between the sides to be greater than it has been.

The weather has spoiled it but there were definite England errors in the first two Tests which have contributed to the outcome as well. And, as noted above, some selection missteps which might well have made the difference. But England have improved as the series has gone on, not sure the Aussies have.

What is utterly ridiculous is that Test match cricket is finishing for the summer before August even starts.