The International Cricket Thread

[KevinGage]

Question marks over the fitness of the captain, big question marks over Moeen's fitness for the rest of the series. And Father Time seems to finally be catching up with Anderson (and Broad, to some extent).

Aussies must be very confident of going 2-0 up @ Lords.

Not sure how they rejig it to make full use of Brook and Bairstow in the batting order, but Foakes needs to come in on JB's showing here.

[simboy]

What other options do England have for out and out spinners, with Leach out?

Ahmed took 7 wickets in his first and only test, but not bowling brilliantly for Leicestershire apparently, Carson and Dawson are the other real contenders I think.

English cricket will of course fine a county preparing spinning wickets …

[Villafirst]

Well, even with a half-fit bowling attack England threw the match away. That early declaration came back to bite them. Mark Wood has to come in to give the attack some real pace at Lord's. Oh for a Jofra Archer! - we'd have blown them away if only he had been fit.

[Proposition Joe]

A lot to unpack, England's popgun attack did pretty well to almost defend 281 on that pudding of a pitch, but then that pudding of a pitch is probably why England put as many runs up as they did. Hazlewood, Boland and Cummings on a pitch with pace and movement - yikes.

This is also a bit of a bonus win for the Aussies, considering how passive and defensive they were in the field, and considering none of their gun bats made a real impact.

[PaulWinch again]

It’s two defeats, so not something to overreact to. But we need to be careful that we don’t become a bit soft. It’s alright saying we’re not result driven, but good will for style won’t hold without results. It kind of has to be both. I suspect Stokes and McCullum are fully aware of that.

Questions I’d be asking - Does the bowling attack have enough legs of a flat pitch? And is Bairstow fit enough to keep? It’s understandable after his injury if he’s not, but he shouldn’t be keeping if he’s not.

[TonyD]

Not sure I agree with all the hype saying what a great Test match.  It was decent but never really swung either way. And didn't get the sense of pure rivalry you normally have in the Ashes.  Even the bouncers were a bit tame.  But Sky love to hype it up.  Stokes screwed up and didn't seem bothered about losing because it was a good match.  Strange times. 

[TonyD]

Maybe it lacked super super fast bowlers and a shite pitch.

[TonyD]

The crowd were brilliant. 

[PaulWinch again]

Like I said you can’t divorce results from enjoyment. So if England go on to win the series this game will be looked back on with fondness in the round, but if we lose it’ll be looked on as a missed opportunity. Not being results driven shouldn’t be confused with results being a vitally important outcome.

[Lsvilla]

Got over the test loss by booking tickets for all the matches in the Caribbean in December which went on sale tonight.

[shirley_villan]

I only made today this year and am only 33 (first one 97), but I think the Ashes atmospheres post 2015 have been a lot less partisan and more like a load of pissed up dickheads singing.

Great match. Hate to say it but think we'll be comfortably beat now.

[olaftab]

Got over the test loss by booking tickets for all the matches in the Caribbean in December which went on sale tonight.

So you going for the one dayers, a total heathen😂 I am only jealous. Where are the matches?

[olaftab]

The crowd were brilliant. 

Is that correct?

[olaftab]

Unfortunately we have lost a test match where ICC 1,2 and 3 failed to make an impact. This will change, they will turn up and we will regret it. It’s not going to be pretty.

[Gareth]

We need a spinner. Lyons bowling was the difference in the two teams overall imho.

We cannot have a frontline spinner out with a dodgy finger on day 3 when he is needed for day 5. I’m afraid we needed to look around the county 4 day circuit, not call Mo out of retirement.

If there was one good enough or performing well enough I’d agree but there isn’t and wasn’t so Mo was the best option.  Can’t imagine it was much fun trying to spin it with that injury mind.