Ashes 2023 - First Test Friday June 16-Tuesday June 20, Edgbaston

[Sedat]

Re: Ashes 2023 - First Test Friday June 16-Tuesday June 20, Edgbaston

Was mostly asleep on the couch 12-2, and then saw every ball after Cam Green went out. So glad I did. Brilliant win.

A 4th inning run chase should never be undersold. One of the great test matches.

One of the great test matches and a brilliant 4th innings chase by the Aussies, especially when they were 54 behind with only 2 wickets in the shed and all the recognised batsmen out - we are enjoying an exceptional 12 months of test cricket.

England's style is very taxing on their bowlers, far more than their opponents. They are bowling anywhere from 25 to 100+ over a match more than their opponents due to their brisk run rate when batting. In that amazing test in Rawalpindi late last year, they bowled almost 110 overs more than Pakistan to try and force a result - this massive workload has to impact on the health of their bowlers.

[Ozza]

Re: Ashes 2023 - First Test Friday June 16-Tuesday June 20, Edgbaston

One of the great test matches and a brilliant 4th innings chase by the Aussies, especially when they were 54 behind with only 2 wickets in the shed and all the recognised batsmen out - we are enjoying an exceptional 12 months of test cricket.

England's style is very taxing on their bowlers, far more than their opponents. They are bowling anywhere from 25 to 100+ over a match more than their opponents due to their brisk run rate when batting. In that amazing test in Rawalpindi late last year, they bowled almost 110 overs more than Pakistan to try and force a result - this massive workload has to impact on the health of their bowlers.

Bodes well for our series prospects. A 40 year old and 36 year old spearheading the attack, Moeen with finger issues and Stokes not at full bowling health. Keep them out in the field as long as possible!

[Sedat]

Re: Ashes 2023 - First Test Friday June 16-Tuesday June 20, Edgbaston

Bodes well for our series prospects. A 40 year old and 36 year old spearheading the attack, Moeen with finger issues and Stokes not at full bowling health. Keep them out in the field as long as possible!

They do have some depth in fast bowling and I reckon they will rotate heavily during the series.

Their poor quality spinning stocks will hurt them massively compared to Australia (especially if the decks are flat), who have a world class 500 wicket taking spinner at the peak of his powers. Root is better than a part-timer now and is doing a lot more bowling lately because their front-liner (Leach or Moeen) is not much chop.

Stokes on restricted bowling duties hurts them as well, as it increases the workload on the rest of the attack.

If I was England, I'd also consider bringing Foakes in, losing Moeen (Root picking up the slack) and have Bairstow batting only - he is a bit of a spud as a keeper.

[Flamethrower]

Re: Ashes 2023 - First Test Friday June 16-Tuesday June 20, Edgbaston

This game was England's to lose and IMHO there were 3 monumental errors made by Stokes.

1. Declaring their first innings closed and leaving 50 to 100 runs out there. Root was on fire, the Aussie bowlers running on fumes, and the BazBall declaration keeps the Aussies in the game. Australia chasing 350 would have been a lot different outcome.

2. Not taking the new ball as soon as Carey was dismissed. Leaving Joe Root on to entice a false stroke from Carey when the new ball was available was genius. Not immediately taking the new ball next over was foolhardy.

3. And just as bad was using Robinson in tandem with Broad and leaving your match winner in Jimmy Anderson twiddling his thumbs. I don't care that Anderson hadn't been at his best - give him at least 3 overs to work some magic, and if it isn't his day, then go to the lesser bowler in Robinson.

Despite all that what an amazing partnership at the end by Cummins and Lyon - so much determination sprinkled with a little luck has led to one of the best test match finishes of all time. The ghosts of 2005 have been exorcised.

[GVGjr]

Re: Ashes 2023 - First Test Friday June 16-Tuesday June 20, Edgbaston

Will Starc come in for the next test?

[Sedat]

Re: Ashes 2023 - First Test Friday June 16-Tuesday June 20, Edgbaston

1. Declaring their first innings closed and leaving 50 to 100 runs out there. Root was on fire, the Aussie bowlers running on fumes, and the BazBall declaration keeps the Aussies in the game. Australia chasing 350 would have been a lot different outcome.

A lot has been made of this but even if they only batted the remainder of the 6 overs on day 1 (2 overs lost for change-over) the match would have ended in a draw, as we only chased down the 4th innings target with 4 overs left in the match. That's assuming they wouldn't have lost those last 2 wickets before stumps anyway. Had they batted on into the morning of day 2, it would have definitely ended up being a draw - Australia would have shut up shop in the 4th innings at some point.

Agree 100% with point 2 - momentum changed in an instant after those two sixes.

Point 3 is a toss-up - Robinson was bowling with better rhythm throughout the test but you're right, Anderson is world class. He just looked off the pace all game.

If you want a real game-changer, Broad overstepping when he bowled Usman was a very costly error. England with a 75-100 run lead changes things entirely. Likewise Bairstow's dropped catches allowed us to reach parity in the 1st innings.

[whythelongface]

Re: Ashes 2023 - First Test Friday June 16-Tuesday June 20, Edgbaston

A lot has been made of this but even if they only batted the remainder of the 6 overs on day 1 (2 overs lost for change-over) the match would have ended in a draw, as we only chased down the 4th innings target with 4 overs left in the match. That's assuming they wouldn't have lost those last 2 wickets before stumps anyway. Had they batted on into the morning of day 2, it would have definitely ended up being a draw - Australia would have shut up shop in the 4th innings at some point.

Agree 100% with point 2 - momentum changed in an instant after those two sixes.

Point 3 is a toss-up - Robinson was bowling with better rhythm throughout the test but you're right, Anderson is world class. He just looked off the pace all game.

If you want a real game-changer, Broad overstepping when he bowled Usman was a very costly error. England with a 75-100 run lead changes things entirely. Likewise Bairstow's dropped catches allowed us to reach parity in the 1st innings.

Can’t agree with this. This was the first innings of the first test in a series, not just any series, but the Ashes. The first principle should be to pile on as many runs as possible to bat the opposition out of the game or making it as difficult as possible for them. The declaration achieved nothing except for giving us an opportunity to win the game. Who knows how much England would have got all out for- it could have been 393 or 500. But giving Australia any opportunity to win at that stage of the game is one of the most stupid decisions of all time. Just unbelievable. Now they find themselves behind the 8 ball.

[jeemak]

Re: Ashes 2023 - First Test Friday June 16-Tuesday June 20, Edgbaston

If the wicket wasn't a flat track I'd understand the decision to declare a little better.

Additionally, the timing piece doesn't really make much sense to me. The runs they scored in the first innings just reduce the runs required to score in the second. Plus, if Australia had to chase a little harder they probably would have, and thus had more pressure on them to play shots.

[FrediKanoute]

Re: Ashes 2023 - First Test Friday June 16-Tuesday June 20, Edgbaston

The declaration was a brave, but ultimately stupid call. As much as the media dresses the call up as aggressive, inspired, aimed at keeping the Aussies on their toes, the reality is that it handed an advantage to Australia that England didn't need to do. Get the extra 20/30/40 runs and make Australia work.

England bowled 171 overs. Australia bowled 144. More importantly the English quicks bowled 122 overs and the Aussie quicks bowled 83. If you extrapolate that over 5 tests the English quick's will bowl 200 more overs. Bazball has a cost and the method in Australia's approach is very much aimed at drawing the game out. England's aggressiveness means that they can put a score on the board quickly. What that does though is take the pressure off Australia to score quickly to push a result. So long as Australia still in the game they have the change to win without taking very many risks. At some point this series its going to fall apart for England.

Either way, what an outstanding game of cricket. ODI's, T20's just don't have the tension, drama or depth that test cricket has.