Ashes 2023

[Donnywolf]

Jonny Bairstow is a very competent WK and can Bat for sure , but he is making errors , probably more than that cheating piece of s**t Carey , so he needs to go at least temporarily

As a Tyke judging a Tyke and having watched his dad keep Wicket for Yorkshire I feel semi traitorous but it's a pragmatic opinion

Get the cheating ( sorry gamesmanship only ) Aussies beaten 3 -2 please

[Mike_F]

I was on the Western terrace yesterday. A brilliant day's entertainment but we were more than a little worried when Stokes went with plenty of runs still required. Root was playing himself in nicely then needlessly played a stupid shot and Bairstow was bobbins again. The last 50 runs seemed to tick over in no time at all though. Excellent from the England lower order.

[Donnywolf]

Yes , I would have loved to be there yesterday but listening to Sky commentary Hugh Laurie had rung or texted to say something like every run scored against England aged him a day

Every wicket England lost aged him a Decade

That would have been me and especially the wickets of Crawley and Rooooot

But well done England , come on 3 2 will do

[mugnapper]

This is getting unpleasurably tense. Moreso with tomorrow's weather forecast. (Unpleasurable isn't a word but I hope you get my drift).

[Dutch Uncle]

While there is of course tension that the weather might wash away England's brilliant effort in this match I have to say I did take enormous pleasure in seeing the Aussies visibly rattled - we don't see that very often.

[Filo]

Its a shame there’ll be no more play, a good innings thumping would have been nice, that 6 was enormous by Johnny

[Padge_DRFC]

Match drawn. Batted probably too long. I don't see another over bowled now. Raining through until Sunday night

[BillyStubbsTears]

Outside chance of a couple of hours play late tomorrow. It would be a real shame if the weather killed the best series in history.

[Donnywolf]

Match drawn. Batted probably too long. I don't see another over bowled now. Raining through until Sunday night

Probably history will conclude we batted too long , and should have quit on 150 lead.

We knew we had to bowl them out to keep Ashes alive but maybe just maybe we may win if we get the chance weather wise.

Come on Mark Wood. 6 Balls is all it takes at 90 plus mph

[i_ateallthepies]

The day's rest today for the bowlers could improve the chances of snuffing them out tomorrow in a couple of hours if that window does materialise.

[Donnywolf]

Let's hope so. I would love it to go to The Oval with everything on the line



Local forecast says rain all day today and tomorrow though so they will retain the Ashes in the Dressing Room


Maybe we will go on to tie series 2-2 with Old Trafford a draw

[scawsby steve]

Some of you weather forecasters on here are as bad as those at the Met Office.

[scawsby steve]

Yabadabadoo. 5 wickets down now.

It's on.

[Padge_DRFC]

What a shame it's going to be decided like this after 3 really good matches

[Filo]

Some of you weather forecasters on here are as bad as those at the Met Office.

Turns out those Weather forecasters are not too bad eh?

[Spud]

Roll on Old Trafford. I've got tickets for day 5. Hope I'm celebrating 2-2 rather than walking back to the station with a face like a slapped arse.

Blimey, just come back onto this topic & yours is the first post I see.
I've been bored shitless at home all day, God knows how you've held up. I hope you're in a pub somewhere, at least.

What a grim ending, I hope we can still find the will to smash em all over The Oval & restore some kind of justice.

[scawsby steve]

Some of you weather forecasters on here are as bad as those at the Met Office.

Turns out those Weather forecasters are not too bad eh?

They were yesterday.

[Filo]

Cheated to win the 2nd test and rain rescued them here, retaining or winning the ashes will be hollow for them

[Donnywolf]

I bet it isn't

However that said I hope we shred them at The Oval to make it 2-2.

We had chances to take it to them and I am in no position to criticise the Captain and Management . Like McCann I put my trust in him and them because I have no expertise whatsoever

I trust them and hope.

[Monkcaster_Rover]

Roll on Old Trafford. I've got tickets for day 5. Hope I'm celebrating 2-2 rather than walking back to the station with a face like a slapped arse.

Blimey, just come back onto this topic & yours is the first post I see.
I've been bored shitless at home all day, God knows how you've held up. I hope you're in a pub somewhere, at least.

What a grim ending, I hope we can still find the will to smash em all over The Oval & restore some kind of justice.

Not long got home. Paid for 1 flat pint at £6.60 in the ground then decided to set up camp in a pub down the road for the rest of the day.

Gutted. Pissing weather.

[i_ateallthepies]

I bet it isn't

However that said I hope we shred them at The Oval to make it 2-2.

We had chances to take it to them and I am in no position to criticise the Captain and Management . Like McCann I put my trust in him and them because I have no expertise whatsoever

I trust them and hope.

Agree on the first point DW but I can't help feeling we cheated ourselves out of the win at Edgbaston.  For so many of the batsmen to gift their wickets in the way they did from a very strong position was unforgivable.  We should have been going to Old Trafford 2-1 up not 2-1 down.


I am encouraged though that they have learned from this series and the intelligent Bazball they played at OT looks to be a far more promising prospect for future success.  Still, somebody really needs to give Ducket a bloody good talking to about his blithe insistence that trying to play every ball is ok for Test cricket just because "that's the way I play".  He needs reminding cricket is a team game and he certainly isn't an irreplaceable part of it.

[BillyStubbsTears]

I bet it isn't

However that said I hope we shred them at The Oval to make it 2-2.

We had chances to take it to them and I am in no position to criticise the Captain and Management . Like McCann I put my trust in him and them because I have no expertise whatsoever

I trust them and hope.

Agree on the first point DW but I can't help feeling we cheated ourselves out of the win at Edgbaston.  For so many of the batsmen to gift their wickets in the way they did from a very strong position was unforgivable.  We should have been going to Old Trafford 2-1 up not 2-1 down.


I am encouraged though that they have learned from this series and the intelligent Bazball they played at OT looks to be a far more promising prospect for future success.  Still, somebody really needs to give Ducket a bloody good talking to about his blithe insistence that trying to play every ball is ok for Test cricket just because "that's the way I play".  He needs reminding cricket is a team game and he certainly isn't an irreplaceable part of it.

This morning was a perfect example of why Duckett's approach is broadly right.

The ball was zipping around all over the place. A bowling attack as good as this Aussie one was always going to take wickets. Losing three in the first 75 mins was about par for  the course. In the old days, given the conditions, you could be 25-3 after that time if you'd tried to defend. As it was, Duckett's aggression meant we were 75-3. Very different scenario and momentum.

Brook has capitalised on that. Yes Carey dropped a dolly, but that happens. Brook has been remorselessly aggressive. Another hour of that and he could tip the balance massively in our favour.

[BillyStubbsTears]

Ah well...

[i_ateallthepies]

You're disregarding the importance of putting work into the legs of the bowlers and taking the edge off the new ball to improve the prospects for the middle-order run scorers.  I'll stick with my take on Ducket, thanks.

[BillyStubbsTears]

Australia have scored 65 runs off the bat in the first 40 overs.

That may or may not be effective. It would certainly destroy test cricket if everyone played that way.

[BillyStubbsTears]

Makes Chris Tavare seem positively reckless.

[BillyStubbsTears]

Marnus Labuscagne. The test cricket equivalent of Dave Cusack with his arm up for offside.

Efficacy is debatable.

Enjoyment of watching it is zero.

[drfchound]

Of course the Aussies don’t need to chase a win, so why would they need to hurry the scoring along.

[NickDRFC]

Of course the Aussies don’t need to chase a win, so why would they need to hurry the scoring along.

Their slow scoring rate isn’t looking like such a good strategy now that they’re 6 down and still over a hundred behind. They need a decent wag from the tail now and I’m sure we won’t see the rate continue at 2.5 an over.

[Donnywolf]

11,600 v 3400 say Smith out

I try to be objective and I can't see how he isn't given run out

Bairstow has clearly moved the Stump backwards and Smith is still approx 2 inches out of his ground . Maybe one frame or two frames later and he would be categorically out ( although that calls for speculation )