The International Cricket Thread

[tomd2103]

I suppose if you laud them for the style of play when they are winning, you shouldn't pile in on them when they lose playing that way.  I did think they were a bit reckless in New Zealand and it cost them a series win and again I thought they were reckless at times in this game and it has cost them really.  It's all good and well prioritising style of play, but this is the Ashes and results mean everything.

I think it was important that we got off with a win as it Lord's next and we haven't got a great record there.  Think it will be very hard to come back from 2-0 down to even get a draw.

[tomd2103]

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.

It's not just that, Lyon bowling long spells from one end means the seamers can rotate from the other one. 

I accept that we might not be able to produce a Warne or Murali, but surely to goodness we can produce another Ashley Giles who can just tie up an end and keep things tight while the seamers attack from the other one. 

[TonyD]

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.

Yep, non of them got away this test.
But we live in hope.

[Meanwood Villa]

Disappointing to lose a close one but we've shown we can match them. Looking forward to the rest of the series.

[Meanwood Villa]

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. 

A match decided by two wickets, with all four results possible going into the final day and both teams able to win it in the final session. I'm not sure how you categorise a great Test match but this was certainly up there for me.

[edgysatsuma89]

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. 

A match decided by two wickets, with all four results possible going into the final day and both teams able to win it in the final session. I'm not sure how you categorise a great Test match but this was certainly up there for me.

Yep. Just imagine if Stokes keeps hold of that catch. Shiiiit.

[Rory]

I suppose if you laud them for the style of play when they are winning, you shouldn't pile in on them when they lose playing that way.  I did think they were a bit reckless in New Zealand and it cost them a series win and again I thought they were reckless at times in this game and it has cost them really.  It's all good and well prioritising style of play, but this is the Ashes and results mean everything.

I think it was important that we got off with a win as it Lord's next and we haven't got a great record there.  Think it will be very hard to come back from 2-0 down to even get a draw.

Agree 100%. I think our aggressive approach is great, but play the situation.

Unless you're on 500+, you don't declare in the first innings of a series. Aggressive vs reckless. Okay, we made a statement... then dropped a shitload of catches, and lost.

The question is, would the Aussies have allowed us to win that test at the Gabba? Would they fuck.

We can get back in this series, but Lord's will be tough. Mo did well and bowled his fingers to the bone. Our worst seamer was Jimmy, but you don't drop Jimmy for Lord's.

I can't see us making changes. He gets in the side on his batting, but the only real question is whether Bairstow is light enough to 'keep. No shame in asking that, because he's returning from a serious injury.

Putting on entertainment is great, but we need to make sure we act when we smell blood, because the Aussies were bleeding throughout, and we let them rack up a win - from nothing.

[OzVilla]

Today is a truly horrible day.

[Villan For Life]

They have to find a way of getting Foakes and Bairstow in the same team.

[PaulWinch again]

They do, but I don’t think they will.

[PaulWinch again]

Ultimately I think they got the selection wrong from the squad they picked. On that pitch Wood should have played instead of Jimmy.

[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. 

A match decided by two wickets, with all four results possible going into the final day and both teams able to win it in the final session. I'm not sure how you categorise a great Test match but this was certainly up there for me.

A great test match has several big swings and twists either way.  It was decent but the media are as usual OTT. The close ending was more frustrating than exciting. 

[olaftab]

Today is a truly horrible day.

Gutted Ozvilla. I did not want them to win like they did and  no way at Edgbaston. Stokes has had  high praise in the past but he threw this match away.

[OzVilla]

Thing is, this was inevitable at some point playing ‘Bazball’. The truth is they were always going to take some risks and end up losing a close one. One you could look back on and ask questions.

Just wished it wasn’t yesterday against them.

[Chris Smith]

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.

It's not just that, Lyon bowling long spells from one end means the seamers can rotate from the other one. 

I accept that we might not be able to produce a Warne or Murali, but surely to goodness we can produce another Ashley Giles who can just tie up an end and keep things tight while the seamers attack from the other one. 

Leach is just such a bowler but he got injured before the match and his replacement during it.