The Ashes 2023

So why have I seen it happen countless times? They got 393, if they got seven more runs it would have been fine? Oh 400 is a psychological milestone. Stokes has credit in the bank to make such a decision and after a great day I don’t feel it’s worth getting too angry about

Seen teams declaring to have a bowl before stumps. Stokes saw it as an opportunity to attack and was worth sacrificing runs for. Didn’t work this time. Oh well.

Seems the fast bowling stock is at an all time low over in England…. Brydon Carse and Sam Cook are the next tipped entrants into the test side. Neither are exactly putting batsmen under the hammer playing for their counties…

The leading English wicket taker in English county cricket this season is a soon to be 37 year old medium fast bowler, Chris Rushworth.

Then Joe Leach… 32 year old medium pacer…Then Ben Raine… 31 year old medium pacer

Matthew Potts… a quick, who hasn’t been quick to take wickets in the opportunity he’s had for England. 23 wickets in 6 tests, 11 innings ….poor.

Toby Roland-Jones & Lewis Gregory… 35 & 31 respectively. Forget it….

Where is the young talent ? Forever seeing on the ECB social media showing off of young quicks, darting in, bowling, at the state of the art centre’s of excellence, all sorts of gadgets, gizmos, fancy schmancy tech to monitor, film, evaluate, feedback, staticize and critique…

yet, for all that the English management don’t seem to be able to pull a couple of young international class quicks out from the county scene ? Strange.

Good start for England, they've got lucky with the conditions this morning, poor by Labuschagne.

Two pretty bad shots by the Aussie batsmen. Looked nervy and reaching for it….they’ll be hoping that’s not going to set the tone for the innings…. England will be satisfied, no they won’t they’ll be thrilled, Stokes gets Smith lbw…. 😳

Australia are too preoccupied with batting time, to show the conservative approach is better they’ve got themselves in a right mess. It’s not even their natural way of playing.

Seeing the replay of Smiths wicket, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him called for dissent due to his reaction to the umpires decision. It really wasn’t on. I’d be a firm advocate of law 42 being invoked responsibly… of course in 2023 it won’t be.

Is it just me or is Eoin Morgan an absolute pain to listen to on commentary.

If you think he's bad be happy that Danny Morrison isn't commentating, the most annoying man in history, a trundler who couldn't bat, and just keeps rabbiting on, the Australian home commentary team is pretty annoying too, think they are funny laughing at their own jokes

Khawaja bowled off a no ball 266/5

Khawaja deserved that bit of luck on the no ball he's been immense today, the fact it came off Broad makes it even sweeter 🙂

Warner's continuing presence is a mystery to me, are the Aussies that short of alternatives, he hasn't merited a test place for a couple of years IMO?

Khawaja excellent - tough to bat through a full day with wickets falling just at moment when a partnership might really get going. Puts the pressure back on him each time to steady things. Great opening batsman performance.

Warner? Did he not get 40+ recently as opener? If he can get a half decent score in any second innings here, be worth the place surely?

Where's this match going though? Assuming Aussies manage tomorrow morning, could well have a lead of 100. But suggested above that a day+ likely to be lost, so guess a draw is most likely. Unless the wicket/ weather turns devious and wickets tumble.

Carey out for a very well made 66, Australia 338/6

Which BBC website/ page is this? I looked in BBC radio and at Radio5 but can't see that option?

I see Khawaja is gone now, very patient innings from him but I guess they needed to get back in gear a bit as runs were drying up.

Some long tail for the Aussies, 9, 10 , 11 all genuine rabbits, 378/9

Australia made a hames of that. Very uninspiring so far Khawaja, Head and Carey aside. They will need a rethink.

England must be in disbelief they cleaned up the tail so quickly. Not what they usually do.

The close up of Moeen Ali’s finger isn’t pretty. Looks very painful.

Australia made use of some good bowling conditions. Only two down, so not quite game changing yet. England won’t want to get back playing today if it doesn’t shine out though.

That was then and this is now. A draw is a lot more valuable psychologically than a loss.

That break in the rain yesterday really shafted England with the loss of the 2 wickets.