47er

Can't remember another catch like that. He caught it cleanly and never let go of it but it definitely hit the ground in the process. Tough one--you could argue for either decision.

But Jim---you didn't like it! 😅

The rules are clear. I've always known it and I've seen dismissals like this before. Not often because batters aren't usually so dopey. Tragic because I think it meant we couldn't win but Bairstow has no-one to blame but himself.

3 fantastic Test Matches in a row (excluding Ireland for obvious reasons)--last Test in NZ, and first 2 of the Ashes----all absolutely wonderful games of cricket. The problem? We lost all three.

There's optimism and pessimism but in-between there's realism.

I'm thinking that Bazball is all too likely to hand the initiative to the opposition than to us when we play a good side.. We score at a faster rate than them because we take more risks. Therefore we lose more wickets and we give them more time to plod to a big score and more time to get us out. We to have forgotten its a 5 day game. We dominated the last test against New Zealand for 4+ days, had them following on and managed to lose. We had times in the first Ashes test to win it but gave our wickets away too cheaply. Both go down as among the best Test matches ever staged--- but we lost both! If we'd batted more sensibly in the first innings of the current Test, we'd have lost wickets more slowly. scored more runs and, importantly, took up more time. Take every ball on its merits should be the basis of our batting philosophy. if its there to be hit--hit it but don't play 20-20 cricket in a 5 Day Test.

I agreed a few pages back that only Root would make the Aussie eleven. The issue is how do you try to make up the difference? Its not by Bazball is it?

Mix Bazball with some common sense and we might get somewhere.

Quantity over quality though?

Looking at 0-2 I'm afraid. Baz ball in the undiluted way we're playing it will never defeat the World Champions. Started the day roughly evens, thrown away in half an hour. Back to the drawing board chaps.

I was thinking exactly that a few minutes ago! Certainly no English bowler would. Of the batters--yes to Root and also to a fit Stokes which we may well never see again. In reality the gap between the 2 sides is large. Home advantage and fanatical support might get us over the line but its unlikely.

Proving once again that the crowds will come if the price is right!

You were going well up to that point!

Bairstow making the most of his reprieve.

Crowd of 4000?

Pop-gun attack.

You don't have to be a brilliant cricketer or even play it at all to have a good opinion about the game though? It that were the case we wouldn't have a forum!

Some very wise words on Bazball from Mark Ramprakash" https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2023/jun/26/ben-stokes-brendon-mccullum-australia-england-the-ashes-cricket

If he's in for his runs mainly then he shouldn't be the WK should he? Its a specialist position and the best WK should always play. If he'd taken the chances he missed then his worth to the team would have been x times greater than the runs he scored.

All fair points Chaddy. As for who Bairstow could replace----possibly Duckett? Or possibly not picked at all. Broad's mistake cost us one wicket. Bairstow's 3 or even 4. Games at this level rest on very slender margins, Aussies are ruthless.

Fair enough, it is all about opinions. Mine is that the two biggest factors in our loss were 1)dropping Foakes 2) declaring on the first day when Root was slaughtering them. Having said that I enjoyed the game tremendously just not the result!

No Chaddy. When you look at Bairstow's runs you have to factor in the 3 errors he made behind the stumps. Would have made the difference. If Bairstow remains it should be as a batter. Similarly, anyone not regretting Stoke's declaration now? 50 more runs and we could have won! Stupid.

Absolutely!

A very fine distinction! So fine I can't see it. Daft because it was reckless!

Wonderful ball from Cummins to dismiss Pope.🥲