Ashes in England 2023

I need a lie down in a darkened room after that .

Chris Woakes played with such maturity in a clutch situation.
Well played Sir.

Maybe going out on a limb here, but a match of relatively low skill quality - M Wood, B Stokes (how many more times??) and T Head apart!! It appeared that the team that produced slightly fewer errors would fall over the line, and so it proved! Unlikely that England can go bang bang from here, but at least the next match is 'live' with the series still to be won!

Excellent team selection to bring in three fresh bowlers.
Wood and Woakes managed to get England over the line after an class innings by Harry Brook.

But you have to ask if Australia have found a weakness in Bairstow's batting.

Might be controversial to leave Bairstowe out but would bring him back in if Oval was decider plus feel Old Trafford is likely to be more suited to pace. Also it shows howc much we're missing Archer's pace & delivery and the injuries to Pope & Leach haven't helped orherwise we'd probably be 2-1 up or at 1-1 now. I knowcitseems i'm picking Anderson for sentiments' sake but feel he'll enjoyb a home test.

Your team is a bit bowler loaded. Woakes in at 6?

Ollie Robinson isn't fit and that would allow Anderson to come back for the Old Trafford match. Stokes has already promised him.
Old Trafford is often spin friendly so Ali needs to be playing so that we can have spin from both ends.

So the only other change could be Foakes for Bairstow.. I believe that Stokes and McCullun will stick with Bairstow.

I originally Picked Tongue for 11

Disgusted to see that there's no Northern test matches for the 2027 Ashes.

But there's the usual two in London

Stuart Broad has claimed the scalp of Travis Head and moves to 600 test wickets

England edged the day for sure! After polishing off the Australian 1st Inns in quick time, England had their best day with the bat of the entire series to - date! In fairness, that included Zak Crawley's most telling innings which - while it may not end the discussion around his long term future (one Innings doesn't prove form) - certainly answered - this time around - a lot of lingering questions- (caveat again being that Australia clean forgot where Crawley has been historically vulnerable - and where they themselves bowled to him previously 4th - 5th stump outside off)

Although he ultimately gave it away, M Ali proved what many of us have been shouting about for so long - he belongs at #3. He knew it, and asked to go there! Relieved the management - for once - saw 'the light' and gave him his head! It looked to me like the best - and most balanced - team line - up - in a while, and that decision was a key factor I think! Add J Roots knock, and Bazball won the day today!

Australia though, way off the pace - (strange bowling and fielding tactics) and M Starc is a major concern! Still don't get why S Boland has been ejected so readily also. If Starc goes down (Subs ICC? do the right thing for once) Boland - although a different pace - would have been more than useful in a depleted attack. The spin option I don't think is as crucial an omission as many think. Labuschagne may not be a 'go to' but S Smith can give a few overs with decent control! Not sure T Murphy - had he been picked - would necessarily give mush more?? and M. Ali as a spin option for England leads me to think that S Smith - who to my mind is not that much worse - could do a job! Not convinced by T Head in this regard!

Interesting take on the Aussie workload this tour (WTC Final) and how it might come back to bite them, particularly if the pressure ramps up should England - weather permitting - get across the line here! Maybe the series is there for England now?? - outside chance?? but still...........!!

Starc injured, Marsh limping, Cummins looking jaded after a long days bowling.

It should lead to England putting up a big score. However the pitch is acting up, Root was out to a ball which keep low.

The target for England must be to get 500 as soon as possible and then get the Aussie's back in again.