The Ashes (Australia tour of England)

[Aalay]

Matt Wade has scored a lot of runs in the last few years in domestic cricket but jeez he looks like a walking wicket against the moving ball.

 

[Bevab]

The horrible umpiring from the World Cup has continued it’s way into the Ashes.

On the other hand, Broad has been brilliant. One of the best red ball bowlers on his day!

 

[wasteyouryouth]

Australia need to practice this

 

[Dutch]

blimey they are pretty poor outside of Smith.....

 

[El_Cannon]

Looks like a difficult pitch to bat on. Notwithstanding the averageness of both batting lineups

 

[aditya123]

If Mattew Wade plays in the XI as a specialist batsman, Australian batting resources must be in serious trouble. No matter how many domestic runs he scored, he isn't good enough to play as a specialist batsman. Why not fit in Marcus Harris as an opener and drop one of the two openers down to No.3 or No.5? At least Harris showed he could bat against high quality pace bowling in helpful tracks in Australia (Adelaide and Perth) against India. Also, the decision to drop both Hazelwood and Starc together is a bit baffling. I`d have stuck with Hazelwood in seaming conditions. This is Kohli-Shastri like selection. Despite all that, they have managed to push towards 250 and given the fact that they are batting first, it might just be enough.

 

[wasteyouryouth]

Steve Smith is some player.

If Mattew Wade plays in the XI as a specialist batsman, Australian batting resources must be in serious trouble. No matter how many domestic runs he scored, he isn't good enough to play as a specialist batsman. Why not fit in Marcus Harris as an opener and drop one of the two openers down to No.3 or No.5? At least Harris showed he could bat against high quality pace bowling in helpful tracks in Australia (Adelaide and Perth) against India. Also, the decision to drop both Hazelwood and Starc together is a bit baffling. I`d have stuck with Hazelwood in seaming conditions. This is Kohli-Shastri like selection. Despite all that, they have managed to push towards 250 and given the fact that they are batting first, it might just be enough.

I don't know how Marnus Labuschagne didn't get in the side. Not only can he bowl a bit of spin, he's averaged 65 and scored 5 centuries in county cricket this season.

 

[Bevab]

Absolutely amazing knock from Steve Smith.

 

[Dutch]

Great play from Smith. Prats booing in the crowd....Warner yeah, but noit when a bloke has just played a knock like that. Its time to move on from this. give the Aussies stick fair enough but feck me what a dongs!

 

[wasteyouryouth]

Great play from Smith. Prats booing in the crowd....Warner yeah, but noit when a bloke has just played a knock like that. Its time to move on from this. give the Aussies stick fair enough but feck me what a dongs!

Yeah, fine having a bit of pantomime booing when he comes in and that. But any player getting a century like that deserves a standing ovation.

 

[Dutch]

England have just not put the foot on the throat when they could. Missing Anderson fair enough but both Stokes and Ali havent pulled their weight.

 

[Bevab]

England have just not put the foot on the throat when they could. Missing Anderson fair enough but both Stokes and Ali havent pulled their weight.

This is something that I noticed when India toured England last year. When Kohli got fully settled in, Root almost stopped trying to get him out and instead went for bouncing him out with Stokes bowling, especially when he was batting with the tail. Surely you would try to use your better bowlers and attempt more wicket taking deliveries than resort to giving the best batsman of the opposition who also happens to be well settled a free pass?

 

[Dutch]

122 for 8 remember........it wil be England against Smith this whole series, mark my words. Steve Smith is the most brilliant of batsmen.

 

[Dutch]

This is such a negative ploy by root. i like root but man....really just showing your fecked here. Surely he is going to score anyway......give something around the bat for him to think about.

 

[LiveLoveABD]

Steve Smith!! Always rated him, always disliked him but now even that's changing!