1st Test, Edgbaston, Birmingham

[stephen]

You’ll be at least 3 down before you take the lead.

Probably, but 200 is enough to bowl to. Odds still heavily in England's favour but it's possible. Another 20 or 30 runs and it's a hell of a lot harder.

 

[NUFAN]

Would be really, really good if we can reach England's score being at most 1 down.

This is how I would hate to see any of our batsman get out..

Warner - Half-hearted leg side flick or full blooded shot at catchable height to point/cover
Bancroft - LBW or repeat of first innings
Khawaja - Moeen getting him, especially edging to keeper/slip or caught on the boundary
Smith - not out (heh)
Head - bowled through the gate
Wade - Caught in the slips, can't exactly describe the shot but he just feels for the ball when he should be leaving.

 

[igorbalis]

I'm going tomorrow, I think I've been quite lucky on a personal level. When Aus were nowt for 8, and to a lesser extent when mo left this morning I was starting to worry there might not be much of a 4th day at all.

I will accept us finishing off the Aus lower order tomorrow then Roy bashing a quick 50* while I have a few pints with the fancy dress bantz ladz, or us skittling them for 80 tonight and spending tomorrow morning sleeping in my lovely bed.

 

[Stowford Mess]

if Aus get a lead of 150 I reckon that makes it a 50/50 game.

 

[hazsa19]

Jimmys injury is just massive. If he’s fit Australia are probably already on their way to losing this. As it is, I reckon it’s 60/40 England.

 

[aussie tragic]

Not sure how Aus wasn't required to face 2 overs before tea there. Must have been seconds in it

 

[NotMcKenzie]

Can't wait to see us collapse again. I think we'll have a hard time putting up a score even remotely large enough. And the fact that the patch is turning quite a lot probably means that Broad's cutters will grip nicely, so to confuse batsmen who go years without recieving one.

 

[mr_mister]

Bancroft has such a neat, compact technique. He should have test success eventually

 

[NotMcKenzie]

Bancroft has such a neat, compact technique. He should have test success eventually

Ultimately, I think technique means little if you can't—you know—score runs

 

[GotSpin]

England are massive favourites

 

[mr_mister]

Apparently we haven't won an ashes test in England after copping a first innings deficit since 1981

 

[91Jmay]

Broad on the money first up. Great length.

 

[mr_mister]

Ultimately, I think technique means little if you can't—you know—score runs

Yeah something's stopping him obviously but unlike some other failed openers in recent times there doesn't seem to be an obvious fault. Guess it's mental

 

[Spark]

His technique isn’t great. He squares up far too easily against deliveries that seam away.

 

[mr_mister]

His technique isn’t great. He squares up far too easily against deliveries that seam away.

Ah okay. I'm no expert I suppose but he looks very orthodox and calm as the balls being bowled

 

[91Jmay]

Yeah something's stopping him obviously but unlike some other failed openers in recent times there doesn't seem to be an obvious fault. Guess it's mental

He squares up so much, that is a blatant technical flaw.

 

[aussie tragic]

Woakes really does have a poor bowling record given his skill. Less than 3 wkts per match and average touching 31

 

[Stowford Mess]

Woakes really does have a poor bowling record given his skill. Less than 3 wkts per match and average touching 31

For a swing bowler, away tours in India and Aus can be tough going.

 

[Daemon]

Woakes really does have a poor bowling record given his skill. Less than 3 wkts per match and average touching 31

It’s the overseas tests that **** it up. Very different bowler at home.

 

[91Jmay]

Woakes really does have a poor bowling record given his skill. Less than 3 wkts per match and average touching 31

His home record is great his away is all time bad.

63 in 16 games @ 22 home

18 in 12 games @ 61 away