[Cricket] The Ashes- England v Australia- 1st Test, Birmingham, June 16 - 20, 2023

[Bodian]

Could really do with an extra 50 runs. Shame we got bowled out

Although if we win by bowling them out in the last possible over on Tuesday - then it will have been a genius decision!

 

[Jeremiah]

Surely if the game is washed out for the final two days we win on penalties ?

On first innings alone we scored more runs than them in 38 overs less than them and lost less wickets than them ?

I claim a (moral) victory !

 

[vegster]

I reckon this is called for the day....Could be a tricky first hours play which may decide where this Test is going.

 

[Eeyore]

Although if we win by bowling them out in the last possible over on Tuesday - then it will have been a genius decision!

I use my 'Bus to the AMEX' metaphor for that.

You have to get the bus otherwise you'll miss the match. It's on the opposite side of a busy road, you run across and get it. You arrive on time.

The fact that you didn't miss the match doesn't mean it's right to run across a busy road without looking for cars. More often than not you'll get run over.

Even if England win here, that declaration was still wrong. In my opinion anyway.

 

[Eeyore]

May yet be going out there again tonight. Waiting for the decision. I hope not.

EDIT: Thankfully, it's off.

 

[Pevenseagull]

Right, golf it is

 

[tigertim68]

Although if we win by bowling them out in the last possible over on Tuesday - then it will have been a genius decision!

It will never be a genius decision

 

[vegster]

I think that the huge significance of Ashes cricket played a part in the umpires non-decision.. going to be huge pressure to try to get play for the broadcasters and the sell out crowd and so they put off the inevitable abandonment well past the time when they should have just said " thats it for the day " ..... first couple of hours on Monday is going to be pivotal for the Convicts, quick wickets and its 70/30 on an Aussie win.

 

[Triggaaar]

Could really do with an extra 50 runs. Shame we got bowled out

Did Australia get 'an extra 50 runs' after they went 8 down?

 

[Bold Seagull]

It will never be a genius decision

Even if you don’t like the word genius it was certainly bold and despite losing a huge chunk of today’s play, and with 800 runs scored, a result is still favourite over the draw because of England’s aggression and bold decision to declare.

 

[PeterT]

Taken from my seat at Edgbaston today, just before the rains came!

 

[Sid and the Sharknados]

Even if you don’t like the word genius it was certainly bold and despite losing a huge chunk of today’s play, and with 800 runs scored, a result is still favourite over the draw because of England’s aggression and bold decision to declare.

A result would still be the most likely result even if we'd carried on batting.
It's not as if we were likely to bat until tea on day two. There were, what, 6 overs left in the day's play? The batters have to reset themselves the next morning, so the chances are we would have been bowled out early on the second morning.

 

[Miximate]

Is it just me? I know that Duckett likes to play the ball but I think he should/ could have left both balls that got him dismissed in this match. Commentators talk about him not leaving* many but hope he doesn’t start to play up to it.

 

[Goldstone Guy]

Taken from my seat at Edgbaston today, just before the rains came!

View attachment 162444

Great photo. Looks like an alien invasion is about to descend from the clouds, with some blokes carrying on playing cricket.

 

[PeterT]

Great photo. Looks like an alien invasion is about to descend from the clouds, with some blokes carrying on playing cricket.

Yes it does! Here is the same alien invasion gathering over the Hollies stand!

 

[Questions]

Silly declaration and missed chances
But we’re more than still in . Shame we haven’t got a top spinner for the 4th innings without blisters

 

[Questions]

Silly declaration and missed chances
But we’re more than still in . Shame we haven’t got a top spinner for the 4th innings without blisters because he doesn’t know what a red ball does anymore

 

[Machiavelli]

Is it just me? I know that Duckett likes to play the ball but I think he should/ could have left both balls that got him dismissed in this match. Commentators talk about him not leaving* many but hope he doesn’t start to play up to it.

Nope, it's not just you.
Apparently Duckett faced 38 balls in this Test, and left none of them. It's just not (Test) cricket

 

[vegster]

Yes it does! Here is the same alien invasion gathering over the Hollies stand!

View attachment 162448

Could even be the beginnings of a " Somebody Else's Problem" Field

 

[Eeyore]

Silly declaration and missed chances
But we’re more than still in . Shame we haven’t got a top spinner for the 4th innings without blisters

I prefer Root to Ali in that role.