England 2021-22 Ashes Tour

Cricket is arguably the most unforgiving sport of them all (not much of an argument against it being so to my mind). The comms - Gilly to be precise - highlighted the stats of the bottom four contributions, and the material difference they would have made, together with the missed chances in the field from England which again, meant that instead of a healthy lead, England were always behind the curve!

By the way, I thought the comms from Aus were excellent!! Gilly,Huss,AB etc. The only fly in the ointment?? Isha Guha's hysteria. Matt Smith on the other hand along with Harmison trying to suggest that they were hard work and apologising for having to return to them - gentlemen, the aussie comms were a HUGE relief from having to listen to the two of you!! Enough already............back to vanarama and out of ear shot and harms way.

By the way, the Aussie comms team were even handed, and represented the England angle very well. Learn a lesson from them matt and harmy, and enough of the kindergarten jibes at what are cricketing legends, together with your own rabid bias!!

I was lucky to be able to record play overnight and FF past the studio. Unfortunately in the 2nd test given the time, no such luck. I actually felt sorry for Alistair Cook who was trying to stay professional and on point!

To add insult to injury, England were docked 100% of their match fees for a slow over-rate, & 5 WTC points.

Unconfirmed reports regarding Josh Hazlewood, he could miss the 2nd Test with a side-strain, Jhye Richardson would be the most likely replacement.

This is my final word on the subject, over the non-selection of Broad, he's been diplomatic, say he was disappointed in not playing, but wasn't angry, like he'd been when dropped against the West Indies. In this case he hadn't played the last few Tests due to injury.
I'll give some evidence as to why I believe England were wrong to not play one of our 2 greatest seam bowlers at the Gabba, in a vain hope that we would sneak a win somehow. Not we're behind & on the back foot.
So much has been made of a pink-ball Test offering England their best chance, Anderson's only 5 for, came in such a fixture. But what about Australia's own chances ? Adelaide has hosted by far the most Day/Night Tests, & guess what, they're 5-0 in these matches.

On a broader front, we should have very low expectations, as our record in Australia in the last 10 years, over 3 series, (including this years 1st Test) stands at 10 England losses, with the only draw coming on the flattest pitch ever at the MCG. Memorable for the fact that an out of form Cook managed 244, yet our next best score was 61.

Anderson has been added to the squad for the 2nd Test, with Wood being rested, after bowling 90+ mph it's a pity he finds it hard to back-up matches, as he is the one bowler we have with a point of difference, extreme pace. I do agree with the decision, it's no good him playing & bowling mid 80's. The original plan was the swap in Archer & Stone, but injuries curtailed that.
Final selection could be between Broad & Leach, who got hammered, but Lyon has has a lot of success at. this venue in Day/Night Tests

If Broad doesn’t play then what was the point in leaving him out of the first test?

But we know it spins here … so Woakes plays because our batting is pathetic just because he might get a 30? Even though his bowling is inadequate 9 times out of 10 away from England.

I have this fear we will bat and be out before the sun sets, making it irrelevant Jimmy swings the pink ball round corners unless he gets 7/20.

Aussie skipper Pat Cummins is out of the 2nd test after being deemed a close contact of someone testing positive for Covid19. He is replaced by Michael Neser.
Hazlewood is out and Jhye Richardson replaces him.
Steve Smith returns as captain.

England recall Anderson and Broad.
Out go Wood and Leach.

Australia won the toss and bat.

More selection fuck-ups then, Leach had to play this Test but not the 2st Test, the opposite applies to Broad. The surface suggests it will spin, in fact there's more guarantee for it to spin than there is for it to swing, it will swing at the start, but for how long, & under lights, but also there will be long periods were it will do nothing. Root will be required to bowl, if his team are to avoid another hefty fine, & docked more WTC points. Broad & Anderson aren't exactly renowned for bowling their overs quickly. Root will have to cut-out his constant tinkering with the field-placings.
Apparently, even some Aussies haven't forgiven Smith, the cheat, I know I haven't, both him & Warner are lucky to be even representing their country. Let's hope that Stokes can get a few balls into Warner's sore ribs. Haxlewood & Cummins are a big loss, but Jhye Richardson looked impressive in his 2 previous outings, before injury set him back. Neser has just had a successful game against England Lions last week.
After attending a pink-ball County Match I have to say that until the lights take effect, tracking the ball is not good.

Australia 12-1 Only 12 overs bowled in the first hour, reviews haven't helped the slow over-rate.