Ashes

[WFDom]

Huge innings from the Bison

Fantastic 1st day. England taking the 1st . Mitch taking the 2nd!

[jargan83]

Australia all out 263, which is probably 100 more then I thought we'd get thanks to Marsh.

[WFDom]

Not sure the Aussies would have been 2-0 up if Wood had been playing in the first two

[AndyS]

They wouldn't be 2-0 up if England had taken even half the chances they shelled...

[Sheikh]

They wouldn't be 2-0 up if England had taken even half the chances they shelled...

Well, if you don't practice the basics (like catching, throwing and staying in your crease! )

[jargan83]

Not sure the Aussies would have been 2-0 up if Wood had been playing in the first two

Blokes bowling 150km/h isn't too uncommon these days in International Cricket, the pitches haven't really offered to much for the bowlers in terms of swing unless there has been some heavy overhead and virtually no seam movement. There was nothing after lunch on Day 1 of Lords.

Personally I find it hilarious given England's strength for years has been movement through the air and off of the deck with Broad and Anderson. A couple of months ago Stokes and McCullum asked for flatter pitches which actually suits Australia more.

Importantly though, you gotta take your chances! England have dropped 15 catches this series so far and there have been a couple of wickets cancelled out due to No Balls as well.

[Burgs]

Not sure the Aussies would have been 2-0 up if Wood had been playing in the first two

My interp of commentary is if he'd been fit for the first he wouldn't have been fit for the second, consecutive matches not being a strong point?

[jargan83]

My interp of commentary is if he'd been fit for the first he wouldn't have been fit for the second, consecutive matches not being a strong point?

He's played 29 Tests (including the current live match) out of a possible 108 Tests since his debut in 2015.

[shasta]

A couple of months ago Stokes and McCullum asked for flatter pitches which actually suits Australia more.

Which is why we should applaud Cummins' game plan, cunningly hatched after deducing that this wicket had a bit of life in it. Lose the toss bat first and score quickly. End up all out so's they could get a shot at the England batting before it turns into a road. No sandpaper needed. Dead set.

[Burgs]

He's played 29 Tests (including the current live match) out of a possible 108 Tests since his debut in 2015.

I'll take Lyon...

(Well, maybe not today...)

[Burgs]

I understand a batsman is pretty cranky when heading back to the sheds, I understand in limited overs matches there is a rapid change of batsmen required, but I don't understand why there is seemingly no exchange of intel when the two cross over? Surely a few quick sentences on their observations would be useful?

[shasta]

Marsh does a Stokes. Can Stokes do a Marsh?

It's all happening as they say. In Wollong too where ex-Pally Jordan Rapana has probably won the try July charity promo already by combining with Hudson Young to stump Johnny Bairstow again using a Steeden and a corner post.

https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/raiders-mimic-bairstow-stumping-in-epic-post-try-celebration-20230707-p5dmh1.html

The remote is doing OT again tonite.

[jargan83]

The Australian bowlers really remove their brains when bowling to the tail.

[AndyS]

Don't they just. I sometimes feel they get by on the batsmen taking them seriously. When they actually need to figure out a way to take the wicket or contain someone who doesn't give them that respect, they do often seem a little hard of thinking.

[blueandblack]

Poms might wrap this up by lunch the way its going just now. Second session drinks at the latest.