First Ashes test, Edgbaston - Australia V England

[Ghost Dog]

Re: First Ashes test, Edgbaston - Australia V England

Happy for Smith. Saved our butts. A lot asked of the tail. Who is our best quick at the moment?

[Bornadog]

Re: First Ashes test, Edgbaston - Australia V England

I know it's all been said about Smith before, but he's such a special cricketer.

Hopefully the 12 months off just adds to his longevity.

One of the best in the world.

[Axe Man]

Re: First Ashes test, Edgbaston - Australia V England

Aleem Dar really is an average umpire.

I missed out on Joel Wilson, hadn't seen him before but he's awful too. I don't think I've ever seen so many incorrect decisions in just 2 sessions.

[Bornadog]

Re: First Ashes test, Edgbaston - Australia V England

I missed out on Joel Wilson, hadn't seen him before but he's awful too. I don't think I've ever seen so many incorrect decisions in just 2 sessions.

Some real hollowers.

[whythelongface]

Re: First Ashes test, Edgbaston - Australia V England

I know it's all been said about Smith before, but he's such a special cricketer.

Hopefully the 12 months off just adds to his longevity.

Yep i love watching Smith bat. A little unconventional but has a beautiful eye and wonderful timing of the ball. I love the way he shuffles across in front of his stumps before the ball is bowled to allow himself to get into position so early. Almost anyone else this is a recipe for disaster but for Smith it is what allows him to be great (and of course having such a wonderful eye).

[whythelongface]

Re: First Ashes test, Edgbaston - Australia V England

I had a quick look online when we were around 3/98 and thought 250 will be an OK first innings stand to give the bowlers something to bowl at. Smith has really given the finger to basically everyone - even those who didn't deserve it!

Now at 9/248 getting the best out of the pitch gives us some hope once the innings is wrapped up.

Went to bed just after Cummins dismissal thinking that we would be all out for < 140. Happy to wake up and read that we scored 284. The test is evenly poised. Need to at least have them 2 to 3 down at lunch.

[Bornadog]

Re: First Ashes test, Edgbaston - Australia V England

Went to bed just after Cummins dismissal thinking that we would be all out for < 140. Happy to wake up and read that we scored 284. The test is evenly poised. Need to at least have them 2 to 3 down at lunch.

Not only was Smith brilliant, but what a great backup from Siddle. 88 partnership and 44 each.

[Happy Days]

Re: First Ashes test, Edgbaston - Australia V England

Tremendous effort to get to 284. Broad’s first spell is just about as well as I’ve ever seen him bowl, and <150 seemed certain after Cummins forgot to review.

On the other hand - SURELY this is the end of Paine. A pathetic dismissal that harked back to Haddin trying to cut over slips in South Africa at 5/17, except at least Haddin might’ve actually clear the rope if he connected. Give me the tangible performance-based leadership that Smith showed any day over meaningless rhetoric about changing standards backed up by a phony handshake “tradition”. We’re cutting our nose off to spite our face here.

[Twodogs]

Re: First Ashes test, Edgbaston - Australia V England

Yep i love watching Smith bat. A little unconventional but has a beautiful eye and wonderful timing of the ball. I love the way he shuffles across in front of his stumps before the ball is bowled to allow himself to get into position so early. Almost anyone else this is a recipe for disaster but for Smith it is what allows him to be great (and of course having such a wonderful eye).

With every other great batsmen I have watched that little shuffle has been the tell that their career is almost over. Ponting, Tendulkar, even Kohli is starting to do it and it usually means that the hand/eye coordination is starting to wain and they have to get into position before the bowler bowls the ball and if an international class bowler knows what a batsman's first move is going to be then they knock them over 9 times out of 10. Smith and MS Dohni are the only elite standard batsmen who have done it for their whole career. I have read that early in his career that Bradman did the same but I haven't seen enough footage of him to confirm it.

All I know is that it would have been coached out of us at an early age (I can remember a coach threatening to nail my back foot into "the proper" position before I was even a teenager) when I first started to play.

[Axe Man]

Re: First Ashes test, Edgbaston - Australia V England

Tremendous effort to get to 284. Broad’s first spell is just about as well as I’ve ever seen him bowl, and <150 seemed certain after Cummins forgot to review.

On the other hand - SURELY this is the end of Paine. A pathetic dismissal that harked back to Haddin trying to cut over slips in South Africa at 5/17, except at least Haddin might’ve actually clear the rope if he connected. Give me the tangible performance-based leadership that Smith showed any day over meaningless rhetoric about changing standards backed up by a phony handshake “tradition”. We’re cutting our nose off to spite our face here.

Do you mean Pattinson, Cummins was plumb.

Bit harsh on Paine over 1 bad shot. By and large his test batting has been good and he's dug in when required. Might as well drop half the batting order if you are basing it on that innings.

[Bulldog Joe]

Re: First Ashes test, Edgbaston - Australia V England

Do you mean Pattinson, Cummins was plumb.

Bit harsh on Paine over 1 bad shot. By and large his test batting has been good and he's dug in when required. Might as well drop half the batting order if you are basing it on that innings.

Happy Days is not basing it on that innings. He is on a mission and each and every mistake by Paine will be highlighted until the selectors agree with him.

[lemmon]

Re: First Ashes test, Edgbaston - Australia V England

Happy Days is not basing it on that innings. He is on a mission and each and every mistake by Paine will be highlighted until the selectors agree with him.

Absolutely no chance that Paine will be dropped in the series.

Will he go on past this Ashes? I'd say no if he doesn't make a meaningful contribution, but there's no chance the selectors won't pick him for these 5 tests.

[Ozza]

Re: First Ashes test, Edgbaston - Australia V England

Paine has done a great job leading the way in navigating a difficult period - but the time has come to move on from this era.
We should have Carey or Wade keep and get another batsman in. Paine is not good enough.

[Happy Days]

Re: First Ashes test, Edgbaston - Australia V England

Happy Days is not basing it on that innings. He is on a mission and each and every mistake by Paine will be highlighted until the selectors agree with him.

So I’m basing it on his form?

[Topdog]

Re: First Ashes test, Edgbaston - Australia V England

Tremendous effort to get to 284. Broad’s first spell is just about as well as I’ve ever seen him bowl, and <150 seemed certain after Cummins forgot to review.

On the other hand - SURELY this is the end of Paine. A pathetic dismissal that harked back to Haddin trying to cut over slips in South Africa at 5/17, except at least Haddin might’ve actually clear the rope if he connected. Give me the tangible performance-based leadership that Smith showed any day over meaningless rhetoric about changing standards backed up by a phony handshake “tradition”. We’re cutting our nose off to spite our face here.

Its very surprising that he is still captain. I'm so confused by pretty much everything CA do, including adding in Bancroft again.