First Ashes Test, Edgbaston, 1-5 August 2019

[sussexpob]

Roy now planning his 10 ball counter attack...

[sussexpob]

I have 284 as a par score. Ball did far little after tea. Pitch isn't a horror show, runs are there if you bat well and give yourself a chance.

So in other words get money on the follow on here

[GarlicJam]

Well that ended up far far vetter,than it looked like being. Nothing like a good tail wag to take the wind out of the opposition's sails.

Go Smith!

[Arthur Crabtree]

Going to be hard for England in the second Aussie innings with the leading England bowler struggling. Quite fancy the tourists. That total must look a long way off to England bats. Though Root tends to do well in the first Test of a series.

[sussexpob]

Going to be hard for England in the second Aussie innings with the leading England bowler struggling. Quite fancy the tourists. That total must look a long way off to England bats. Though Root tends to do well in the first Test of a series.

On that note it was mentioned Smith averages something like 130 in first test efforts, and only (only,pft) 48 after...so there is hope

[backfootpunch]

Well that ended up far far vetter,than it looked like being. Nothing like a good tail wag to take the wind out of the opposition's sails.

Go Smith!

That was one of the better test knocks of recent times

Hes the best run scorer I have seen

I'd rather watch Brian Lara, KP or sehwag score a hundred but if I wanted some to bat for my life it would be smith

[andy]

Stunned we got through 0 down loL!

[ianp1970]

Going to be hard for England in the second Aussie innings with the leading England bowler struggling. Quite fancy the tourists. That total must look a long way off to England bats. Though Root tends to do well in the first Test of a series.

On that note it was mentioned Smith averages something like 130 in first test efforts, and only (only,pft) 48 after...so there is hope

If that was on TMS, I thought they said on the first 'day' of tests?

[Durhamfootman]

Blimey... Durham often concede a match defining lower order partnership, but they rarely follow that up by conceding another one straight after

Durham must therefore be a better team than England..... woo hoo!

watching Burns and Roy go hard at the two overs available to them perhaps says much about England's batting intent for this series. It will either be thrilling or horrifying.... I haven't decided which yet

Take a bow Steve Smith. Easy to see why he made it back into the Australia side at the very earliest opportunity. Although it hurt England I was quite satisfied that he was able to shove one up the nose of the baying crowd. I hate yah boo supporters. Apart from anything else it more often serves to motivate the opposition players. I much prefer the silent approach to registering disapproval... not applauding anything... stony silence after every shot... Give them nothing to feed off

of course I'm generally not bladdered by lunchtime, so perhaps I have a ridiculous view of these things

I hope someone has thanked Santiago for declaring himself fit to play in the first test. 4 overs? that's quite a return for the faith shown in him... or was it desperation rather than faith? If I was an Australian, I'd take a lot of heart from a decision like that. Thank goodness Broad was up to the job

[backfootpunch]

The batsmen need to do broad and woakes a favour

They need to bat all day

[Arthur Crabtree]

Wonder if the England bats AND lower order can learn something from the Aussies today in how to bat out a crisis. Of course, on another day it won't come to anything, but it might be your best chance is to guard every wicket preciously, rather than having a dart and seeing what comes off. Hats off to Sid and Lyono.

Horror day for the rest of course.

[ianp1970]

Wonder if the England bats AND lower order can learn something from the Aussies today in how to bat out a crisis. Of course, on another day it won't come to anything, but it might be your best chance is to guard every wicket preciously, rather than having a dart and seeing what comes off. Hats off to Sid and Lyono.

Horror day for the rest of course.

That recurring nightmare of an opposition number 10 - started by Andy Bichel in 2003 - came back to haunt me for the umpteenth time...

[GarlicJam]

There's probably not too many Australian cricket fans that aren't pleased to see the name Andy Bichel (and Queenslanders probably get emotional).

Not the greatest bowler, batsman or fielder, but he was a player that gave his absolute best every single time he played, with every single thing he did. The 2003 world cup wouldn't have made it to Australia if not for him.

[ianp1970]

Innings per Test century:

Bradman 2.8

Smith 4.9
Kohli 5.2
Sangakkara 6.1
Sobers 6.2
Kallis 6.2
G Chappell 6.3
Tendulkar 6.5
Lara 6.8
Ponting 7.0
V Richards 7.6
de Villiers 8.7
Border 9.8

Not a bad list to be second on...

[GarlicJam]

very interesting stat Ian.