Cricket fred

[Banquo]

I don't see how we can persist with Crawley though. I do see why they have - he's definitely got something under there and they've done well out of trusting players and giving them time so far. However, I just don't see it coming out regularly enough.

Problem is that, while we'll have a log-jam of middle-order batsmen waiting for a space when Bairstow comes back, I don't rightly know who we'd bring in to open if we do ditch Crawley.

Puja

Hear what you say, but he does have a ton and a fifty in his last 5 tests and a 40. BUT his overall f/c average is only 30, and his test average only 28 after 32 (!) tests....so tricky. When he gets in, he tends to score well, as it were.

[Banquo]

another great day. Nothing left to say re Anderson, but Leach may be 'turning' a corner

[Galfon]

Anderson & Broad cumulative totals..
340 matches, 1260 wickets.
Jimmy will surely overtake Warne to reach #2 on the World list, ,and stay ahead of Broad (!)

[Galfon]

another great day. Nothing left to say re Anderson, but Leach may be 'turning' a corner

Few more turns, few more corners!
Another chance tomorrow.Good resilience, NZ.

[Puja]

Ouch: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/64779863

Isle of Man were dismissed for 10 - the lowest score in men's Twenty20 history - as they were beaten by Spain in the final game of their tour on Sunday.

Spain won the toss and chose to bowl, and Isle of Man were all out within 8.4 overs. Seven players were dismissed without scoring and Joseph Burrows top-scored with four.
...

Spain needed just two legitimate deliveries to chase the target. The first ball was a no-ball before right-handed batter Awais Ahmed hit the next two for six.

Puja

[Banquo]

another great day. Nothing left to say re Anderson, but Leach may be 'turning' a corner

Few more turns, few more corners!
Another chance tomorrow.Good resilience, NZ.

Great effort from enzid. Should be a good final day.

[Puja]

I don't see how we can persist with Crawley though. I do see why they have - he's definitely got something under there and they've done well out of trusting players and giving them time so far. However, I just don't see it coming out regularly enough.

Problem is that, while we'll have a log-jam of middle-order batsmen waiting for a space when Bairstow comes back, I don't rightly know who we'd bring in to open if we do ditch Crawley.

Puja

Hear what you say, but he does have a ton and a fifty in his last 5 tests and a 40. BUT his overall f/c average is only 30, and his test average only 28 after 32 (!) tests....so tricky. When he gets in, he tends to score well, as it were.

Have any of those scores been under any kind of pressure though? It just always seems like, whenever we've got a run chase to do, first wicket is Crawley, with some lazy shot or defence. Same again this time.

Puja

[Banquo]

I don't see how we can persist with Crawley though. I do see why they have - he's definitely got something under there and they've done well out of trusting players and giving them time so far. However, I just don't see it coming out regularly enough.

Problem is that, while we'll have a log-jam of middle-order batsmen waiting for a space when Bairstow comes back, I don't rightly know who we'd bring in to open if we do ditch Crawley.

Puja

Hear what you say, but he does have a ton and a fifty in his last 5 tests and a 40. BUT his overall f/c average is only 30, and his test average only 28 after 32 (!) tests....so tricky. When he gets in, he tends to score well, as it were.

Have any of those scores been under any kind of pressure though? It just always seems like, whenever we've got a run chase to do, first wicket is Crawley, with some lazy shot or defence. Same again this time.

Puja

well yes, 1st test v Pakistan, when under personal pressure. But not convinced as above. And as you said, who else.

[Galfon]

Root the lynchpin as Eng stutter towards the line.
Just about favourites at this juncture, but plenty drama already..

[Puja]

Root the lynchpin as Eng stutter towards the line.
Just about favourites at this juncture, but plenty drama already..

Root's got to do two batsmen's worth of batting after that comedy runout of Brook before he'd even faced a ball, and fair play to him, he's doing it so far.

Puja

[Banquo]

Great finish! Great for the game.

[Galfon]

Great finish! Great for the game.

Twoo.
Meanwhile Malan sees Eng. home (just) in another close finish, 50 ov. version (1st of 3). in Bang.

[Banquo]

In solidarity with Lineker and the rugby team, England's T20 team have failed to turn up in Bangladesh. A tour too far for some of them.

[Puja]

Leach ruled out of the entire Ashes: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/65805317

Poor sod, but massive problem for England. Our plan of three seamers and praying for Stokes was parlous enough when we were hoping that Leach would be good enough to hold down an end. Without him, I don't know what the hells we do. Play a fourth seamer and just have Root if a pitch takes spin? Chuck Ahmed in at the deep end and hope Australia don't batter him out of the attack?

This is the problem with Stokes/McCullum having shown such faith in Leach - it's transformed him as a player, but it's meant the cupboard is utterly bare now he's gone down. The BBC are mooting asking Moeen to make a comeback - tbh, I've heard worse ideas.

Puja

[Puja]

Moeen has returned! Good call by all concerned, I think.

It does also open up a potential option elsewhere, because Moeen is perfectly capable of opening, and I think would thrive there under the freedom of Bazball. Crawley needs to be given the first test, but if he fails again, as his constant edging against Ireland suggests he might, then the case is very strong for Moeen to move to opening, and using the middle-order space to either recall Foakes or bring in a fourth seamer if Stokes isn't able to bowl.

Puja

[Banquo]

Head and Smith batting ominously well today.

Moeen has a poor record bowling v Oz, who historically play off spin pretty well. But I can't see an alternative that makes sense, other than a 5 man seam attack with JYB at 1 or 6....which doesn't make sense If Stokes could only get 10 overs an innings in, would help immensely.

[Banquo]

we have our work cut out this summer, in case we didn't know already

[Puja]

Bit worried that India are using up all of the bad luck that the Australians have in them today. Three dropped catches, a wicket overturned for a no-ball, Steve Smith out cheaply taking a random swing at a spinner and skying it - we need to save some of these for the Ashes!

Puja

[Banquo]

indians hammered. Oz look pretty decent all round.

[Banquo]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/65906467

England XI for first Ashes Test v Australia: Ben Duckett, Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (captain), Jonny Bairstow (wicketkeeper), Moeen Ali, Stuart Broad, Ollie Robinson, James Anderson.

Hope the old fellas have still got it in them......gotta hope Stokes is fit enough to shake it up a bit.

[Puja]

Crawley, under enormous pressure, facing the first ball of the Ashes, against Australia's captain opening the bowling, decides to step forward and drive it beautifully for 4. Absolutely glorious shot and statement definitely made.

England are now 60-1 after just 12 overs and Australia are already setting defensive fields. So far, so good, although another wicket would change that perception drastically. Crawley's answering a few questions here - 31 off 37 balls against a quality attack without a chance or a streaky shot amongst it - but he needs to make 50+ and preferably 100+ from this position. So far I'm thrilled that he looks to be proving me wrong.

Puja

ETA 66-1 after 13 (Crawley on 35 from 38). It's drinks, which hopefully won't result in a loss of momentum/concentration. If we can have a morning of pelting the Aussies around in the baking sunshine, it'll knock a great deal of the stuffing out of them for the rest of the test, maybe even the series.

[Banquo]

Crawley, under enormous pressure, facing the first ball of the Ashes, against Australia's captain opening the bowling, decides to step forward and drive it beautifully for 4. Absolutely glorious shot and statement definitely made.

England are now 60-1 after just 12 overs and Australia are already setting defensive fields. So far, so good, although another wicket would change that perception drastically. Crawley's answering a few questions here - 31 off 37 balls against a quality attack without a chance or a streaky shot amongst it - but he needs to make 50+ and preferably 100+ from this position. So far I'm thrilled that he looks to be proving me wrong.

Puja

ETA 66-1 after 13 (Crawley on 35 from 38). It's drinks, which hopefully won't result in a loss of momentum/concentration. If we can have a morning of pelting the Aussies around in the baking sunshine, it'll knock a great deal of the stuffing out of them for the rest of the test, maybe even the series.

like ODI at the mo- oz started defensively and its got more so.

[Puja]

Crawley gets away with a loose shot that got a feather edge that no-one heard or appealed for. Tbf, he's possibly owed a bit of luck over his international career so far.

Puja

[Banquo]

bu55er. bit soft, decent ball bit quicker.

[Puja]

92-2 is a very different kettle of fish. Bit soft, like you said - Pope got a bit complacent. It's taken a chunk of pressure off the Australians and taken the opportunity away to demoralise them that I was hoping for.

Puja