OT - The Ashes

[Branston Pickle 3,680]

19 minutes ago, Herman said:

We've given ourselves a chance. Just need to cut out the stupid shot choices.

That’s easier said than done - we’ve resorted to the Aussie short ball tactic, their runs dried up and we have taken wickets; there’s nowhere to go to score unless you take it on (where you’ll get out before long) or go for the random (how Brook got out) - and look stupid in the process.  V strange Test.

[Wacky Waving Inflatable Arm Flailing Tube Man 3,852]

3 minutes ago, Ken Hairy said:

I'm no cricket expert, but why the hell are they not going for Lyons Stumps???

It did seem pretty baffling. Allowing this final pair to score 15 was probably a worse case of throwing away runs than that declaration on the first day of the first Test.

[Ken Hairy 3,779]

Worst possible start to the innings 🙄

[Wacky Waving Inflatable Arm Flailing Tube Man 3,852]

I think Bazball needs to be put on the backburner for an hour or so. England could easily lose a few early wickets here if they're not careful, and could've lost another couple already and we're only three overs in. 

[Ken Hairy 3,779]

Game over I'd say now, superb delivery though.

[Herman 9,820]

FFS! Just got my hopes up a bit too.

[Branston Pickle 3,680]

We need to be a maximum of 3-down at close to even have a sniff.  Seems unlikely right now….

[Ken Hairy 3,779]

Stephen Fry chatting up the ladies there🤣

[Pyro Pete 1,916]

46-4.

This is the England we know and love.

[Ken Hairy 3,779]

Well unless these two put on 220 plus it's 0-2

[Graham Paddons Beard 2,448]

Pathetic. 

[Wacky Waving Inflatable Arm Flailing Tube Man 3,852]

I'd argue that so far in this innings it's more of a case of Australia being excellent than England being dreadful (although England haven't been great, of course).

[Ken Hairy 3,779]

That answers the question from the other day with Smiths catch also touching the floor but still being given out, he had his fingers under whereas Starc didn't. You learn something new 👍

[Hank shoots Skyler 2,094]

13 minutes ago, Ken Hairy said:

That answers the question from the other day with Smiths catch also touching the floor but still being given out, he had his fingers under whereas Starc didn't. You learn something new 👍

It is strange though as I felt Starc had the ball firmly in his grasp the whole time and before it touched the grass. Whereas the catch for Smith seemed to pop through his fingers and it looked like the turf helped support the catch? I know he had a finger under the ball, but the ball was in no way locked into his hand the same way it was for Starc at all IMO.

Game over either way, expected they’ll rip through us by lunch tomorrow…

[Branston Pickle 3,680]

I think there’s been a couple of catches recently v India where Aussie got the decision.

It’s an interesting one - he definitely had it under control but no one can argue that he does drag the ball on the ground whilst still moving, so it’s not out. Bit fortunate for England, but I doubt it will make that much difference in the final reckoning.

Edited July 1, 2023 by Branston Pickle

[Ken Hairy 3,779]

It's an interesting one especially as Strauss thinks the Starc one was wrong, and Ponting thinks the Smith one was wrong.

[How I Wrote Elastic Man 1,192]

Laws of cricket - caught

"33.3 Making a catch

The act of making a catch shall start from the time when the ball first comes into contact with a fielder’s person and shall end when a fielder obtains complete control over both the ball and his/her own movement."

I haven't seen the catch. If he grounded it while diving, I would expect it to be  not out 

[Branston Pickle 3,680]

The bbc has it on a clip here https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/live/cricket/64959132
Thing is he didn’t ground it when catching it as such, more that his momentum continues and he drags it - you’ll think it’s out for the most part and then think that it isn’t. Per the law it’s clearly not out. 

[BroadstairsR 2,199]

There was a time before cameras, replays and slo-mo when players would own up if they thought their catch was in some way unfair.

The benefit of doubt was always given to the batsman in any case.

In batting it was called "walking."

The last great walker was Adam Gilchrist who, incidentally, was the first great bazballer.

Edited July 1, 2023 by BroadstairsR

[BroadstairsR 2,199]

Double post

Edited July 1, 2023 by BroadstairsR

[Branston Pickle 3,680]

21 minutes ago, BroadstairsR said:

There was a time before cameras, replays and slo-mo when players would own up if they thought their catch was in some way unfair.

The benefit of doubt was always given to the batsman in any case.

In batting it was called "walking."

The last great walker was Adam Gilchrist who, incidentally, was the first great bazballer

Gilchrist was a great player for sure. and to be fair to Starc, he is a fantastic player and I don’t think he ‘cheated’.

These days you won’t find many ‘walkers’, they say it’s up to the umpires. And to be fair, they will undoubtedly have had plenty of poor decisions against them so imo that’s fine.

[Dame to Blame 96]

Stopped watching it once we were all out in the first innings  it was game over being a 100 runs behind against such a good team. And TBH i hate watching the aussies P**s all over us, you cant play one day cricket in a test match against this lot you have to use your brain and hold back at times. 

Edited July 1, 2023 by Dame to Blame

[How I Wrote Elastic Man 1,192]

I'm geoblocked, so unable to see the link that @Branston Pickle has put up

 I'll try to see if I can find a video tomorrow 

From what I've read, Duckett was on his way to the pavilion before he stopped.

Walking was honourable, but difficult to accept as normal as the batter still had to go when they had a bad decision against them. I remember Nasser Hussain getting some really rough decisions for some time

I guess its possible that Mitchell Starc didn't fully understand the law. I didn't, until I looked it up.

Australia have been the best team in this test, and I expect them to win. It would need something extraordinary from England to get close. Stokes and Bairstow are capable of it  but it's the longest of shots 

[BroadstairsR 2,199]

10 minutes ago, Branston Pickle said:

Gilchrist was a great player for sure. and to be fair to Starc, he is a fantastic player and I don’t think he ‘cheated’.

These days you won’t find many ‘walkers’, they say it’s up to the umpires. And to be fair, they will undoubtedly have had plenty of poor decisions against them so imo that’s fine.

Probably not intentionally, but there's cheating and there's cheating:-

(As I said, there's 'benefit of doubt.' ) 

[Hank shoots Skyler 2,094]

Betting odds in cricket are absurdly poor.

England 7/2 to win. 7/2 for a record breaking run chase when they’re already 4 down with a long tail?

I know that’s not how the odds are calculated but I’d guess are actual chances are more like 50 to 1?

[ricardo 7,396]

8 minutes ago, Hank shoots Skyler said:

Betting odds in cricket are absurdly poor.

England 7/2 to win. 7/2 for a record breaking run chase when they’re already 4 down with a long tail?

I know that’s not how the odds are calculated but I’d guess are actual chances are more like 50 to 1?

No value in those odds. Keep your money in your pocket.

[king canary 7,654]

Killer wicket. 

Carey has been fantastic behind the stumps this series. Bairstow has been a liability for us. Makes a big difference.

[Branston Pickle 3,680]

You do feel that’s it, but you never know.  Carey is a very good keeper, sadly Bairstow isn’t a patch on him or we’d have won the first test comfortably

[ricardo 7,396]

11 minutes ago, Branston Pickle said:

You do feel that’s it, but you never know.  Carey is a very good keeper, sadly Bairstow isn’t a patch on him or we’d have won the first test comfortably

Miracles can happen but I'd be  shocked if we get more than 250/270.

[Wacky Waving Inflatable Arm Flailing Tube Man 3,852]

Hopefully England win the next Test thanks to a Mankad.