Ashes 2023

Tense day ahead.

 

We definitely need 2 very quick wickets, in the first half hour, to put some pressure on the batters
If Khawaja & Boland hang about for 30 or 40 more runs, then it's just a chase to the end. A few big hits from Head, Green Carley and Cummings and they can very quickly put 100 more on the board.
The first hour, 1ish, will be massively important.

 

Rain radar map for rain tracking purposes. https://www.netweather.tv/live-weather/radar
Looks like the heaviest rain is pretty much through by 9.20am (putting the "anim on") but how long to dry out the outfield ??

 

My guess is that they won't start before midday and the Beeb suggests after lunch.

It rained very heavily here in Brizzel for about four hours from 3am but it is dry now.

 

Yes I think a post lunch start - not sure how advanced their equipment is these days at sucking the water up out of the outfield and how good the drainage is ?

 

What a great start to the series. As much as I want England to smash them out of sight part of me is please it's a game like this with all results a possibility. You would think the conditions suit bowling today. Hopefully Anderson comes to the party. I suspect he won't play the next test so we can bowl him a bit more

 

Very close to call, Broad took out the night Watchman and Moeen got Travis Head.

 

Two wickets to get and were in the tail although Cummins can bat a bit. If we can get them with them still needing 80 I think we're big favourites. Right now I would say it's 50/50

 

100 runs and 5 wickets to get them. 75/25 to Aus. Need rain, but nothing on the radar.

 

Not what the win predictor says but I agree they look quite comfortable.

 

Has Winviz always been such a big thing on Sky's coverage? I know it's been used plenty in the past but they seem to be leaning on it especially heavily in this match to me.

 

46%-50% just came up. I agree they look very comfortable. Doesn't help that Ali is struggling and the ball isn't doing much for Anderson. Desperately need a wicket

 

I guess because it seems a tight call.

 

47% chance it's because it's a tight match, 49% chance it's because it's a gimmick they want to use more and 4% chance it's Boris' fault.

 

I think it's Khawaja's fault.

 

I'd still make them favourites, just, but if we can get another quickly....

 

Stokes bowled Khawaja, game on!

 

New ball in 5 overs too. Australia really need to pick up some runs before then you’d think. Which should create some chances (as with that Root drop)

 

Nice of Carey to give Root a couple of sighters before the c&b!

Bonkers shot selection but I suppose imminent new ball on his mind.

 

Australia’s required run rate is not around 3.4. If they want to keep the win alive they’ll have to get a move on. But maybe they’ll try and get out of this unscathed with a draw.

 

Maybe that last over put paid to that...

 

Persevering with the old ball seems a ballsy move right now.

 

I’m loving Stokes’ creative captaincy but at a certain point the done thing is done for a reason.

 

Useless chinless public school jacklegs.

Did you see that Pope cringe away from that catch at the end? You'd never see an Aussie do that.

That's what cost 'em.

 

If only because I was mulling a bet at the time, I can say Australia were 6/1 to win before Cummings hit his first 6 off Root, 5/1 before the next ball and then 9/2 after he creamed it for another 6. That was the point we lost it I think.

 

Lots of what ifs but, at the end of the day, it was a fantastic game of cricket. Bazball might not always get the right result but it has made Test cricket very exciting to watch.

Can't wait for the second test match now.

 

4-1, we're going to win 4-1.

Hold catches, get Foakes in, fix Moeens finger and don't declare like that again and we'll win the next 4.

 

We had em at 8 down then we blew it