just read mccallum is new red ball coach, appointed by 'cricket chief' rob key who appointed captain stokes

now, i get that i must be asleep and never see a paper, but fucking hell, ive missed all this happening

Smith and Khawaja look like they've parked the bus.

A captain with the magic touch

Come on England - get these f*****s out!

I am dipping my hand into cricket, I know little but how the fuck anyone watches this shite all day is beyond me. On in the background taking passing comment I can understand but christ it is dull.

1 hour ago, Winchester White said:

I am dipping my hand into cricket, I know little but how the fuck anyone watches this shite all day is beyond me. On in the background taking passing comment I can understand but christ it is dull.

Fair play for trying. But clearly cricket is not for you 😊.

This is enthralling stuff. If these first 2 days are anything to go by, we are in for a cracking series.

Cracking ball from Moen 

With a combination of Sky and TMS, I’ve watched or listened to almost every ball so far. I’ll have the ear pods in tomorrow whist watching Lancs at OT. It’s not for everyone 🤷‍♂️

Sounds like the pitch may be the winner.

11 minutes ago, Tonge moor green jacket said:

Sounds like the pitch may be the winner.

The weather also. We don’t have to bat on the fifth day though and that could also come into it. Assuming it goes that far of course. Its finely balanced. It’s why Test Cricket is the best. IMO.

Coming to the Toughsheet Stadium next season? 😊

 

21 minutes ago, BobyBrno said:

The weather also. We don’t have to bat on the fifth day though and that could also come into it. Assuming it goes that far of course. Its finely balanced. It’s why Test Cricket is the best. IMO.

Potential for storms tomorrow, as well as rain on Tuesday.

Play your best keeper!

1 hour ago, globaldiver said:

Play your best keeper!

As soon as he missed the stumping...

3 hours ago, globaldiver said:

Play your best keeper!

Maybe…..

But I like the BBC SPORT take on it:

Bairstow still has credit in the bank

There will be those questioning Ben Foakes' absence in the team after he was dropped for this series when Bairstow recovered from his leg injury and took the gloves.

Bairstow, though, has credit in the bank for his crucial run-ball-ball 78 on day one. Without his seventh-wicket stand of 121 with Joe Root, England would already be behind.

Bairstow must also be praised for his one-handed, diving catch to dismiss Marnus Labuschagne for a first-ball duck.

Bairstow will be annoyed at himself but he cannot be criticised too heavily.

9 minutes ago, desperado said:

Maybe…..

But I like the BBC SPORT take on it:

Bairstow still has credit in the bank

There will be those questioning Ben Foakes' absence in the team after he was dropped for this series when Bairstow recovered from his leg injury and took the gloves.

Bairstow, though, has credit in the bank for his crucial run-ball-ball 78 on day one. Without his seventh-wicket stand of 121 with Joe Root, England would already be behind.

Bairstow must also be praised for his one-handed, diving catch to dismiss Marnus Labuschagne for a first-ball duck.

Bairstow will be annoyed at himself but he cannot be criticised too heavily.

I know, just having fun. It’s like being on the big dipper!

How many of these opportunities would Foakes have taken?

20 minutes ago, Lt. Aldo Raine said:

How many of these opportunities would Foakes have taken?

We don’t know. Same as we don’t know how many runs Foakes would have scored,   how quickly he would have scored them, and how valuable a partnership he would have made with Root. 

Question is how much of a first innings lead the Aussies will get? They lost the world's top three rated batsmen fairly cheaply - which isn't likely to happen again in the series - but still have plenty in hand especially while Khawaja hangs around.

Moeen a bit fucked. Not good for the Aussies second innings.

Unless Root can hold an end/take wickets, then England may need more runs than initially planned.

Chuck in some weather, and there may be sparks in the batting.

1 hour ago, Wanderlust said:

Question is how much of a first innings lead the Aussies will get? 

-7, came the reply

Anyway, i think one way or another we need a 330 lead, which would then give the aussies time to get em

Anybodies guess if the aussies can stop us doing that

We do have a bad day in us, but hopefully not today

MInus 7 is good for me - although our declaration with Root set and Robinson capable of a swing looks a bit premature especially in a Bazball context when they could have been given the chance to have a go for it and still leave enough time for a bowl at the openers.

Duckett and Crawley need to perform now.

Oh dear

This all feels very familiar

I'd have to question why we're still out there in this light, though

The weather conditions helping Australia there.

No way should they have been playing in those conditions.