Cricket-Match-Special ... A forum for discussion

It's finally here, the sporting event of the summer. The football season kicks off again on Saturday.

But playing a distinct second fiddle, the Ashes summer is about to begin. Does anyone care after the world cup and opposite the premier league in England, and AFL/NRL finals season in Oz? I guess we'll find out.

Five tests in seven weeks, going into the back end of September. Crazy, but that's the way these days.

England XI (according to TMS): Rory Burns, Jason Roy, Joe Root (capt), Joe Denly, Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler (wk), Jonny Bairstow, Moeen Ali, Chris Woakes, Stuart Broad, James Anderson.

Australia (from): Tim Paine (capt, wk), Cameron Bancroft, Patrick Cummins, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Michael Neser, James Pattinson, Peter Siddle, Steven Smith, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade (wk), David Warner.

England are unbeaten at Fortress Edgbaston since 2013, while Australia have not tasted victory here since 2001. Both sides' have strong bowling and iffy batting. With a cloudy forecast and Edgbaston generally giving some assistance to bowlers, I wouldn't be betting on a fifth day.

Going on Friday - one of the highlights of my summer

Super. Have fun Ian.

I'll be on a plane back to the land down under for most of days 2 and 3...

Great stuff Ian. Doesn't look like you'll get sunburn. But given the flooding in the UK this week, fortunately shouldn't be too wet either.

Denly is looking a bit more vulnerable at four than he did at three, given there are so few top order options in the CC.

This present England team only has one ton at Edgbaston, Joe Root's 136 against WI two years ago.

Only one current England bowler has taken a five-fer there, James Anderson, twice against Australia in 2009 and 2015.

Edgbaston pitch is not reckoned to last very well, but it should be a bowling day tomorrow. So some doubt about what to do at the toss. I suspect both sides will want to bowl.

Vic Marks' hunch for the Aussie XI. Wasn't expecting Pattinson to be playing myself. No Haze or Mitch2.

Warner, Bancroft, Khawaja, Smith, Head, Wade, Paine, Cummins, Pattinson, Siddle, Lyon.

Arthur Crabtree wrote:
Denly is looking a bit more vulnerable at four than he did at three, given there are so few top order options in the CC.

They are making a very ham-fisted effort at solving the top order issue. If Root is the answer at 3 (maybe?) then he obviously didn't believe so. Moving Denly, imo, is only shifting the problem.

Arthur Crabtree wrote:Vic Marks' hunch for the Aussie XI. Wasn't expecting Pattinson to be playing myself. No Haze or Mitch2.

Warner, Bancroft, Khawaja, Smith, Head, Wade, Paine, Cummins, Pattinson, Siddle, Lyon.

I'd be pretty happy with no starc or hazlewood

backfootpunch wrote:

Arthur Crabtree wrote:Vic Marks' hunch for the Aussie XI. Wasn't expecting Pattinson to be playing myself. No Haze or Mitch2.

Warner, Bancroft, Khawaja, Smith, Head, Wade, Paine, Cummins, Pattinson, Siddle, Lyon.

I'd be pretty happy with no starc or hazlewood

The Aussies have said Cummins, starc and Hazelwood won't play together anymore, as they will look to rotate them around a series to prolonge their careers. Was deemed too much to have all three around, and feeling is siddle and pattinson will play.

I love pattinson when he's bowling. Without the injury history I have no doubt he'd have been the top bowler of his generation....wouldnt be grudge him smashing us apart this series

Aussies elect to bat.

The track is supposed to be good for batting. It's just the overheads.

Good for England I think. But they still have to score run. Apart from Root, the only current England qualified players who average over 40 are Haseeb and Foakes, who have played 3 and 5 Tests. Bairstow at 36 is averaging well for a number seven-keeper, but he's been at five and his average is plummeting like summer sterling.

Arthur Crabtree wrote:Aussies elect to bat.

The track is supposed to be good for batting. It's just the overheads.

Good for England I think. But they still have to score run. Apart from Root, the only current England qualified players who average over 40 are Haseeb and Foakes, who have played 3 and 5 Tests. Bairstow at 36 is averaging well for a number seven-keeper, but he's been at five and his average is plummeting like summer sterling.

Yeah, but when the ball swings just a little, and Australia's second innings starts by 5pm, we will have Root telling us the pitch was substandard again....

Not going to catch the first session as I have chores to do.... Anyone know how to get TMS on the radio abroad, because for some reason the website of the BBC is now blocking the stream in my country? Or any online independant alternatives?

JB1 is keeping.

It's on youtube around the world isn't it?