Ashes 2021-22.

[GarlicJam]

This is awful.

that is a biased view...

[bigfluffylemon]

This is awful.

that is a biased view...

I dunno. I was watching some analysis that suggested that in the first hour, only three deliveries were on the stumps. Obviously one was the Burns wicket. Australia were bowling too short, England were playing things they didn't need to play, and at least two of the first four wickets were pretty tame dismissals from batsmen poking at something they could have left. Poor cricket all round, really.

[bigfluffylemon]

England's lowest scores batting first in tests in Australia:
https://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engin ... ew=innings

Not counting the 1800s, only three times have we failed to make 150. Looks like we're about to add a fourth.

So not the worst batting performance in Australia, but up there with them.

[Durhamfootman]

it's going well then

[sussexpob]

Burns gets out to a leg stump half volley 5 seconds into the highlights and I'm already wondering why I woke up in the dark to watch this before work.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Least prepared England side ever?

Given that grand plans have apparently been in the works for four years, or at least two (since the World Cup win) to focus on tests and win here, the preparation does look like an abject failure. Sure, Covid hasn't helped. But have England actually moulded a capable squad? No, they continue to rely on Root, Stokes, Anderson, Broad and helpful home conditions. And just had their worst test summer in a very, very long time. Promising players like Archer and Pope have failed to live up to expectations or been beset with injury, or both. And they keep defaulting back to those who are proven not to cut it at the highest level, like Bairstow and Moeen, rather than develop new talent. And when was the last time we found a new batsman capable of high performance? Stokes and Root came on the scene in 2013. No-one who debuted since since has managed to average over 37. Ballance was the closest, and he started strong and faded fast. Australia has had 7 players debuting since 2013 with an average of 38 or better. Even the much maligned Shaun Marsh averages better than every member of the England batting line up bar Root and Stokes (just).

Geez I hope I'm wrong. But I haven't been less confident in England's batting since the 90s.

Excellent summation.

After being 60-5, that total was a bit of a recovery.

Maybe the weather is on their side.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Good day for new Aussie skipper Pat Cummins though.

Wonder if I was the ony person thinking this was starting tomorrow night!

[Durhamfootman]

I wonder if I'm the only person hoping the storm that ended play early hangs around for the next 3 days

[Red Devil]

I wonder if I'm the only person hoping the storm that ended play early hangs around for the next 3 days

McGrath reckons showers tomorrow so a bit of moisture - conditions may well suit the Eng seamers...

[sussexpob]

I dunno. I was watching some analysis that suggested that in the first hour, only three deliveries were on the stumps. Obviously one was the Burns wicket. Australia were bowling too short, England were playing things they didn't need to play, and at least two of the first four wickets were pretty tame dismissals from batsmen poking at something they could have left. Poor cricket all round, really.

I remember a few years back Michael Hussey commented that the biggest problem away batsman have on pitches in Australia is they leave the ball on the line alone, and never trust on pitches that have bounce in them that they can leave the ball on length.

This feels really applicable today because save for that mini recovery where Hameed and Pope had trust in the bounce and left a lot of balls on the stumps that went over, all the other batsman played at things they could have left. A couple also have a stab at short balls without really getting over the ball and in control, with Hazlewood taking two nice catches in the deep.

No really swing out there judging on the extended highlights. Bounce and maybe some movement off the pitch, but the ball didnt move in the air after the new ball wore off.

[sussexpob]

Other than that, the most striking part of the play today for me was Hameed's technique, which I have to say leaves clues as to why he struggled so much in recent years. While he made a decent effort at leaving the ball, his wrists/hands position at times is poor, and the straightness of the bat coming down is pretty random and inconsistent. I counted maybe 5 times he got served a ball he should have crunched with a straight bat to the boundary, but despite getting his body and feet into position, as the bat comes down he closes the face on it and get a naff contact on it. Not noticed this in his game before

If I were AUS, I would pick up that and get the ball into his pads. If he has a problem with a dominant hand meaning he closes the face a lot, I'd be bowling middle stump and full all day at him.

[mikesiva]

Captain Cummins led the way with a five fer.

[alfie]

I see this place is as chirpy as I would have expected after that lively first day

Think I will confine my comments to praise for some generally excellent Australian bowling - and catching ; and express the hope that (as , Red I think it was ? suggested) England's bowlers can hit back tomorrow and give us a contest.

If this keeps up there will be plenty of time to wallow in misery later...

[sussexpob]

Wood is going to be essential for England tomorrow. With the bounce in the pitch, I expect him to be England's main threat

[bigfluffylemon]

Wood is going to be essential for England tomorrow. With the bounce in the pitch, I expect him to be England's main threat

I read that Robinson's high release, akin to Josh Hazlewood, might also be beneficial at the Gabba. We can hope.