Ashes 2023

[MajorRage]

@KiwiPie they were t minnows but the 10 test results before and after his appointment are in complete contrast!

[Donsteppa]

From various comments either a form slump, now due, or because he's been all but opening the batting...

[No Quarter]

@Donsteppa I think I remember him living a charmed life early in his career. He may have been been dropped more than Nicholls one year which is some feat. He's got a lot of talent but still plenty of work ons.

[KiwiMurph]

Bairstow lives a charmed life. A keeper as a coach and they don't seem to value wicketkeeping.

[Catogrande]

@KiwiMurph

It seems odd to this Englishman too. I'd want Bairstow in the side for his middle order batting but would prefer Foakes behind the stumps. It is just how to shoehorn them both in. Ideally you don't want Bairstow batting any higher than 5 or Foakes any higher than 6, so who do you leave out?

With pope gone do you put Root up to 3 and Brook to 4? Not sure I'd want that. Moeen is not a test 3.

I see it as a narrow call either way between Bairstow and Foakes with the actual problem being who come is at first drop.

[Duluth]

So if the rumours are correct Warner is safe and the last decision is a choice between Green or Murphy

[KiwiPie]

@Duluth Cummins seems to think he is due a big score - so I presume Cummins is taking a cricket bat to Broad's knees pre-game

[NTA]

Australia XI: David Warner,
Usman Khawaja,
Marnus Labuschagne,
Steve Smith,
Travis Head,
Mitch Marsh,
Cameron Green, A
Alex Carey (wk),
Mitchell Starc,
Pat Cummins (c),
Josh Hazlewood

[Donsteppa]

Australia carrying extra batting for when they're promptly 5/1.

[mariner4life]

that's an incredibly strong batting lineup. Cummins at 10?

and very interesting to not have a spinner.

[KiwiMurph]

@mariner4life Been raining a lot in Manchester and Murphy bowled under 10 overs the whole of the last test. It's a good move to can the spinner I think.

[mariner4life]

yeah i get the reasoning, but with Lyon ever-present, it just looks weird.

[NTA]

@mariner4life said in Ashes 2023:

yeah i get the reasoning, but with Lyon ever-present, it just looks weird.

First Test in a bajillion years (or just over a decade in real terms) we haven't had a spinner.

[MajorRage]

Blighty has reverted to shit Blighty summer last few weeks after a very hot spell. Should be good for bowlers with lots of cloud, moisture in the air and a fair bit of wind of late too.

Khawaja is going to need a North Face jacket to bat this test.

[Donsteppa]

England win the toss and will bowl. Looking at that cloud in the background, Broad will be especially happy.

[KiwiMurph]

England have won all 4 tosses

[Donsteppa]

For Australia, it'll be interesting to see if Labuschagne and Smith finally front with the bat. One top innings aside from Smith, they've mainly been AWOL. Likewise if Cummins has learnt any captaincy lessons.

Warner might jam one, but only on the stopped clock basis.

[Donsteppa]

As for England, their bowling attack looks about right. Just the bewildering choice of concrete shoes Bairstow for keeping duties to back them up. Some good keeping analysis from Dinesh Karthik in the buildup.

Ali at 3 is a puzzler. I imagine there would have been large odds on that selection two months ago...

[MN5]

Ashes live on TVNZ ! How fucken good ? I love free sport !!!!

Nice start from Warner.

[Donsteppa]

@MN5 the last Test was as well. And even better, they show the full build up each day as part of the coverage unlike the Spark Sport corner cutters...