Well with the footy season well and truly shagged some of us need to turn our focus to other sports we’re passionate about and as far as cricket goes, there’s nothing bigger than the Ashes. 

First test is already off to a rocky start with Warner out LBW! Didn’t even challenge and ball tracking showed he would’ve survived but to be fair he was looking as lost as an MFC player kicking for goal. 

Anyway, let’s hope we can stick one up these smelly poms and raise the Urn in victory!!

2 hours ago, McQueen said:

Well with the footy season well and truly shagged some of us need to turn our focus to other sports we’re passionate about and as far as cricket goes, there’s nothing bigger than the Ashes. 

First test is already off to a rocky start with Warner out LBW! Didn’t even challenge and ball tracking showed he would’ve survived but to be fair he was looking as lost as an MFC player kicking for goal. 

Anyway, let’s hope we can stick one up these smelly poms and raise the Urn in victory!!

Anderson out with a calf injury by the looks of it (gone for a scan)

And there was talk of England playing an extra quick with Jofra Archer and they could certainly do with the extra bowler now.

A matter of keeping them out there now whilst perhaps targeting Moeen Ali and/or Ben Stokes. 

At 3 - 98 the game is interestingly poised.  We need one of these 2 (Smith or Head) to make a big hundred.  If that happens we're right in this Steve.

*Mozz factor deactivated (these in-match posts often bring about almost immediate change in the game circumstances) 

Edited August 1, 20196 yr by Macca

haha, very true, just reading and now Head is LBW!!!

Hopefully Wade will earn his recall and make some runs?

1 minute ago, Spud said:

haha, very true, just reading and now Head is LBW!!!

It's like clockwork the way it happens.

Need to post more when the poms are batting!

Anyway,  it's down to Smith now you'd imagine.  Needs support of course but he's the one who can make a big score. 

Smith will be the only hope of making any decent score this innings. 

Very good appeal that. 

17 minutes ago, Spud said:

Hopefully Wade will earn his recall and make some runs?

nah....could be a looooong series

TBH I thought the idea of having the Australia A team over there to get used to conditions etc would be a good one but no luck so far.

Was so looking forward to the Ashes as a relief from the footy and then this! We never win at Edgbaston, its the Etihad of cricket. The wicket has done nothing really, we just are not moving our feet. England will make 400 on this pitch.

Question...how many reviews does each team get ? Is it 4??

Ah well there go the Ashes 

Was gonna be my compensation for my crappy footy team.

Rain ! Thank god.....i can go to bed. Lets hope its a great series.

Just woke up and checked the score. OMG what an innings. Maybe we're not so stuffed.

48 minutes ago, Jara said:

Just woke up and checked the score. OMG what an innings. Maybe we're not so stuffed.

He is a weird unit Smith, but it works and he does fight, absolutely great dig. Credit to Siddle and Lyon as well who hung around to ensure we didn't get run over for 130-140. If the ball moves around a bit like it did for the poms, I reckon there batting is just as brittle. Both sides have good bowling attacks, but a bit soft in batting.

As the late Mike Williamson said "It's not over yet"!! BTW I am knackered this morning after staying up!! Could make for long days at work this ashes!

7 hours ago, Wadda We Sing said:

Was so looking forward to the Ashes as a relief from the footy and then this! We never win at Edgbaston, its the Etihad of cricket. The wicket has done nothing really, we just are not moving our feet. England will make 400 on this pitch.

Question...how many reviews does each team get ? Is it 4??

Haha seemed that way as the umps butchered every decision. Even Warner and Pattinson would have been reprieved if they appealed the decision. still just the 2 if they get them wrong.

7 hours ago, Wadda We Sing said:

Rain ! Thank god.....i can go to bed. Lets hope its a great series.

Smith is elite ... great grit shown by Siddle & Lyon.  Was surprised to see the scoreline as when I nodded off we were 8 - 130 so a fantastic recovery

The bowling has a score to defend so you never know.  All things being reasonable England will have to bat last on this wicket and that might be tricky.  Might take turn later on Wadda (?)

Edited August 1, 20196 yr by Macca

1 hour ago, Macca said:

Smith is elite ... great grit shown by Siddle & Lyon.  Was surprised to see the scoreline as when I nodded off we were 8 - 130 so a fantastic recovery

The bowling has a score to defend so you never know.  All things being reasonable England will have to bat last on this wicket and that might be tricky.  Might take turn later on Wadda (?)

I got a txt message as i woke up this morning, i couldnt believe it. I was really questioning Siddles inclusion, but he stay now! Steve Smith broke all the rules by taking a leadership role when hes not allowed to until 2020! 144 in your first game back! If only he could captain the Dees.

I think England really had their tails up at Edgbaston after their win in the World Cup a few weeks before. Think we might have bought them back to earth. Looks like we are in for a great series now. Bring it on.

2 hours ago, Spud said:

Haha seemed that way as the umps butchered every decision. Even Warner and Pattinson would have been reprieved if they appealed the decision. still just the 2 if they get them wrong.

Thanks Spud. I couldnt work it out, cause i thought it was 2? Nassar Insane pointed out at one stage just how many they got wrong, albiet all pretty close calls really. Guess theyre only human, although i think one of them shops at the same fancy dress place as i do, judging by that beard!

Smith is a legend. The haters can keep booing & hating.

Edited August 2, 20196 yr by Wadda We Sing

Smith is an absolute legend. I wish we had player types like him at Melbourne.

The Warner dismissal I found interesting. I cant believe he did not appeal. Warner seems to have changed his style since the ball tampering. Australia used to be a ruthless side and if that gets taken away from them then they will be no good. It was like Warner was told to be politically correct when playing the game. I smell a Langer.

1 hour ago, Wadda We Sing said:

I got a txt message as i woke up this morning, i couldnt believe it. I was really questioning Siddles inclusion, but he stay now! Steve Smith broke all the rules by taking a leadership role when hes not allowed to until 2020! 144 in your first game back! If only he could captain the Dees.

I think England really had their tails up at Edgbaston after their win in the World Cup a few weeks before. Think we might have bought them back to earth. Looks like we are in for a great series now. Bring it on.

At the start of the day I would have taken 284 (batting first therefore not having to bat last - in theory)

I questioned a number of the selections especially around our late middle order and the 3 quicks we chose.  But if it works,  it works.

But it hasn't worked yet as we need to restrict England to 320 or less.  Even them getting to 340 only really evens things up.

Batting 2nd a team would ideally prefer to be 80+ in front on the 1st innings. 

So right now,  England have to get themselves into a strong position.  They'd be really annoyed that they let us off the hook ... this conversation would have been way different if we'd only made 150 or so. 

Edited August 2, 20196 yr by Macca

3 minutes ago, Macca said:

At the start of the day I would have taken 284 (batting first therefore not having to bat last - in theory)

I questioned a number of the selections especially around our late middle order and the 3 quicks we chose.  But if it works,  it works.

But it hasn't worked yet as we need to restrict England to 320 or less.  Even them getting to 340 only really evens things up.

Batting 2nd a team would ideally prefer to be 80+ in front on the 1st innings. 

So right now,  England have to get themselves into a strong position.  They'd be really annoyed that they let us off the hook ... this conversation would have been way different if we'd only made 150 or so. 

Agree Macca, its a pretty reasonable score on what looks a pretty flat track atm. (Considering we lost 5-23, we really climbed off the canvas)!

I have also questions about the bowling, inc why no Stark? It remains to be seen if we can bowl them out cheaply on what looks like a 400+ track. Roy is the one i worry about, need to get rid of him early. Certainly will be an interesting first session tonight.

Lets hope theyre very annoyed. I think we shut the Balmy Army up for a while.

31 minutes ago, Wadda We Sing said:

Agree Macca, its a pretty reasonable score on what looks a pretty flat track atm. (Considering we lost 5-23, we really climbed off the canvas)!

I have also questions about the bowling, inc why no Stark? It remains to be seen if we can bowl them out cheaply on what looks like a 400+ track. Roy is the one i worry about, need to get rid of him early. Certainly will be an interesting first session tonight.

Lets hope theyre very annoyed. I think we shut the Balmy Army up for a while.

More than handy innings by Siddle, but preferred to Starc? Seems a defensive move to me. Seems we have swapped roles with the poms. Interesting if we can't bowl them out.

I didnt stay up, but apparently when we were 9 down with Smith batting, England had 9 players on the boundaries....with Root looked totally lost.

Edited August 2, 20196 yr by Wadda We Sing

6 hours ago, loges said:

More than handy innings by Siddle, but preferred to Starc? Seems a defensive move to me. Seems we have swapped roles with the poms. Interesting if we can't bowl them out.

Starc was injured, that's why he missed.

25 minutes ago, Spud said:

Starc was injured, that's why he missed.

The latest reports I can find say he was omitted not injured.

8 hours ago, Wadda We Sing said:

Agree Macca, its a pretty reasonable score on what looks a pretty flat track atm. (Considering we lost 5-23, we really climbed off the canvas)!

I have also questions about the bowling, inc why no Stark? It remains to be seen if we can bowl them out cheaply on what looks like a 400+ track. Roy is the one i worry about, need to get rid of him early. Certainly will be an interesting first session tonight.

Lets hope theyre very annoyed. I think we shut the Balmy Army up for a while.

I'd expect Lyon to be used reasonably early and he might end up bowling a number of overs today.  There's some turn there and Moeen Ali extracted a bit of movement yesterday.

53 minutes ago, Macca said:

I'd expect Lyon to be used reasonably early and he might end up bowling a number of overs today.  There's some turn there and Moeen Ali extracted a bit of movement yesterday.

Yep any minute now Macca! 13th over tho is rather early, but it is England i guess. Good start so far this morning. Nothing like prime time cricket!

Whats with the dinner napkins hanging out the back of several players trousers?

Edited August 2, 20196 yr by Wadda We Sing