The 1st ashes test

Don’t know who made the decisions to leave Broad out, and then to bat first on winning toss but has to be wrong.
Was it Root or Silverwood or both?
Given so little cricket and lack of techniques the chances of Englands batting failing must have been what say 80%.
The chances of England bowling and doing well were surely around 50/50. So makes no sense at all to me.
We could surely only lose the test on day 1 by batting first, even if Aussies batted well we still wouldn’t have been completely out of test.
Like I say big mistake for me.
 
Wicket didn't really do very much.
looked as though there was maybe a couple of good balls to Root, Butler & stokes.. the rest of wickets were thrown away.
not much swing, small amounts of movement off the surface.
 
It’s too bad that England have had no time to come to terms with the pitches etc. as we know the usual schedule would be that England would have 4-5 warm up games as a run up to the first test. Aussies not really playing fair or is it both cricketing authorities couldn’t agreed on a program?
 
Expat Smoggie said:
It’s too bad that England have had no time to come to terms with the pitches etc. as we know the usual schedule would be that England would have 4-5 warm up games as a run up to the first test. Aussies not really playing fair or is it both cricketing authorities couldn’t agreed on a program?
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Covid plays a big part in it.
But so does the increased workload of the players.
They're asked to play more and more which has a massive effect on prep time.
Pretty much the same for both teams tbh.
 
davidmills said:
Don’t know who made the decisions to leave Broad out, and then to bat first on winning toss but has to be wrong.
Was it Root or Silverwood or both?
Given so little cricket and lack of techniques the chances of Englands batting failing must have been what say 80%.
The chances of England bowling and doing well were surely around 50/50. So makes no sense at all to me.
We could surely only lose the test on day 1 by batting first, even if Aussies batted well we still wouldn’t have been completely out of test.
Like I say big mistake for me.
Click to expand...
Before the toss was made, Alistair Cook and Harmison said that by picking the team they had, they had to bat if they won the toss.

I agree with a lot of your argument but just repeating what they said.
 
If they can get to Sunday the weather might save them
Don't hold out much hope for that though.
 
Yearbyred said:
Before the toss was made, Alistair Cook and Harmison said that by picking the team they had, they had to bat if they won the toss.

I agree with a lot of your argument but just repeating what they said.
Click to expand...
They did. They must have made the Broad decision on seeing his form in the nets. He hadn’t bowled a competitive ball since August I understand.
 
Cardiffdaffs said:
They did. They must have made the Broad decision on seeing his form in the nets. He hadn’t bowled a competitive ball since August I understand.
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Plus the memory of Hussain winning the toss and putting the Aussies in, in 2002, when I think they were 350-2 at close of play on day one and scored 500.

England lost by nearly 300 runs in the end.

Aussies said they would have batted first too.
 
davidmills said:
Don’t know who made the decisions to leave Broad out, and then to bat first on winning toss but has to be wrong.
Was it Root or Silverwood or both?
Given so little cricket and lack of techniques the chances of Englands batting failing must have been what say 80%.
The chances of England bowling and doing well were surely around 50/50. So makes no sense at all to me.
We could surely only lose the test on day 1 by batting first, even if Aussies batted well we still wouldn’t have been completely out of test.
Like I say big mistake for me.
Click to expand...
Yearbyred said:
Before the toss was made, Alistair Cook and Harmison said that by picking the team they had, they had to bat if they won the toss.

I agree with a lot of your argument but just repeating what they said.
Click to expand...
The Aussie also said they would have batted first if they had won the toss. The commentators discussed it at length and all seemed to think it was the decision they would have made. They also said it was a good toss to lose.

Regarding Broad and Anderson, I just don't get it. Surely you are better playing your strongest team in the first test. It looks like we will be playing catch up right the way through this and I think being 1-0 will be the closest we get, I hope I'm wrong.

I will watch until lunch tonight and see how the bowlers do. (y)
 
Just checked the weather forecast - possible thundery showers in the afternoon Thursday but Friday and Saturday no rain now shown.

Just realised they are starting earlier at 11:30 tonight to catch up time too.

Fear the worst, hope for the best.
 
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