Ashes 2013/14

[PaulWinch again]

Mixed day, because losing the toss was bad. I'm glad we went with a bold selection, because I think it will help the batsmen mentally. Stokes playing means that the main batsmen can't look down the order and go 'if I mess it up someone else will dig us out of trouble.' 270-5 is decent enough on that pitch, but the Haddin drop was really bad. I hope we get him out early in the morning, we really need them out for less than 360. We then desperately need to turn up with the bat.

[Proposition Joe]

Mixed day, because losing the toss was bad. I'm glad we went with a bold selection, because I think it will help the batsmen mentally. Stokes playing means that the main batsmen can't look down the order and go 'if I mess it up someone else will dig us out of trouble.' 270-5 is decent enough on that pitch, but the Haddin drop was really bad. I hope we get him out early in the morning, we really need them out for less than 360. We then desperately need to turn up with the bat.

Decent day on paper, after losing the toss, but I'm afraid I think Aus have already made more than England are going to make in their first innings. With their best batsmen at the wicket and still to come, the Aussies will probably get over 400 and lead by 150-200 on 1st innings.

[PaulWinch again]

Well if that's the case it makes no odds what we do, because we'll never win any games if we can't bat. However I have a feeling we'll perform in this game, Carberry can make up for his drop by catching Clarke and Haddin early tomorrow and then scoring a double century.

[Villan For Life]

Honours even but I do worry about our batting.

[Chris Smith]

Mixed day, because losing the toss was bad. I'm glad we went with a bold selection, because I think it will help the batsmen mentally. Stokes playing means that the main batsmen can't look down the order and go 'if I mess it up someone else will dig us out of trouble.' 270-5 is decent enough on that pitch, but the Haddin drop was really bad. I hope we get him out early in the morning, we really need them out for less than 360. We then desperately need to turn up with the bat.

Decent day on paper, after losing the toss, but I'm afraid I think Aus have already made more than England are going to make in their first innings. With their best batsmen at the wicket and still to come, the Aussies will probably get over 400 and lead by 150-200 on 1st innings.

Still to come?

Take another wicket and we're into the bowlers. Yes, Johnson can play a bit but he's not amongst their 'best batsmen' by any stretch of the imagination.

Game nicely balanced and a good first session tomorrow, for either side, "might" be decisive.

[PaulWinch again]

I think we really need to get them out for under 360-370 and then bat long and well. Our ideal scenario would be to have a 130-180 lead going into the second innings, but it means we have to bowl very well tomorrow morning, hold our catches and then bat excellently. The batsmen owe the team and it's time they turned up.

[olaftab]

England bowlers have done better than expected on this pitch. However knocking them over for under 350 will be good and than the batters have to post 450+ by close of play on the third day to stand a chance of winning this match.
A tall order all around.

[olaftab]

Monty

I can not believe that this was on their official site. Apologies if it has been discussed previously.

[PaulWinch again]

It is a tall order, but we need to start playing well if we want to have any chance. On the Monty tweet, it's ridiculous and naive.

[taylorsworkrate]

I thought the bowlers performed brilliantly on that pitch, but weren't backed up by the fielders. 450 would seem to be the bare minimum batting first under normal circumstances on this deck, but with our batsmen I just can't see us getting a competitive score on any surface at the moment.

The Carberry drop is only forgivable if he comes out and smashes a big hundred. Can't see it though, he's not good enough.

[PaulWinch again]

For all of the criticism of Cook's captaincy he's starting to become pretty inventive and forceful in my opinion.

[eastie]

Bollocks to it ...i am going to bed....take TMS with me!!!

All these friggin breaks for rain.

I thought you said  TSM then for a minute

[eastie]

Interesting state of play - fairly much all to play for on both sides - a big 1st session tomorrow.

[aj2k77]

Get stuck into them in the morning. Forget what could have been with the couple of catches, if we had said before start of play Australia would be 270-5 I would have said honours even, maybe slight swing to England. Get them gone for around 350. Then put in a batting effort. The bottom line is if we cannot post 400+'s during the series then the bowling isn't really going to matter and neither are a few drops, we need runs.

[eastie]

Get stuck into them in the morning. Forget what could have been with the couple of catches, if we had said before start of play Australia would be 270-5 I would have said honours even, maybe slight swing to England. Get them gone for around 350. Then put in a batting effort. The bottom line is if we cannot post 400+'s during the series then the bowling isn't really going to matter and neither are a few drops, we need runs.

Pretty much spot on .