Ashes 2025-26.

[andy]

Australia still flying though 84-1 England have wasted this new ball....lines and lengths haven't been good enough and runs been easy to come by...by the time the lights come on the ball will be soft if this carries on

[andy]

Stokes losing his temper already, pointlessly moaning about how wide archer was at mid on after he bowled a rubbish half volley outside off stump.....

Carse getting tap from weatherald he's going at nearly 8 an over!

[andy]

Stokes needs to do something quickly here...shine disappeared off the ball meaning under lights won't be anywhere near as threatening...wheels have come right off England getting bazballrd by Australia....109-1 after 18 overs!!!

Time for a jofra burst before lunch has to be

[andy]

Hindsight is a wonderful thing but I wonder if Potts would have been a better selection than carse for this test with this ball

[andy]

Haven't seen harry brook on the field don't know if there's a problem with him?

[andy]

Australia race to 130-1 after 21 overs as first session comes to a close ....archer probably the pick of the bowlers but they were awful that was a horror show from the bowling attack

[sussexpob]

Finally starts bowling fuller, and hey presto... Wicket.

England have just been too short.

[andy]

150 up this partnership has to be broken before it gets going

[sussexpob]

England have bowled 102 overs so far in this series, so not much over one full days play with 10 days rest added 70 odd overs into that ..... I confess I did not watch the new ball spell as was still in bed, but being backed up by Cricinfo's live feed registering bowling speeds....

Carse bowling mostly in the 82-83mph range with no ball over 85-86mph in he innings
Atkinson slightly quicker at 83-84mph average, but nothing has gone past 86-87mph range
Archer has bowled one ball over 90mph in the innings, and mostly been in the 84-87mph range.... he bowled one over after lunch where no ball in the over went over 84mph, and that was only his 6th over of the innings.

Where is this fire and brimstone attack we have all been told about? 100 overs into the series, two have faded into bog standard fast-medium, another isn't much better, and the fastest of them all is wandering around the comms box in crutches and a leg brace after bowling 10 overs, saying he wont be bowling till at least test 4 again.

[sussexpob]

I guess if the paceman end up bowling 75mph by day 4, we can always rely on Surrey's 5th best spin option to win us the game....

[andy]

The more I watch and see the ball causing problems pitched up the more this was tailor made for Potts not carse....it's a completely different game when the ball is pitched up....carse bowling half trackers is a waste of time

[andy]

Assuming stokes is saving himself for when the lights take full effect...

[andy]

I guess if the paceman end up bowling 75mph by day 4, we can always rely on Surrey's 5th best spin option to win us the game....

They're still l bowling arguably quicker than the Aussie quicks...don't see Jamie smith having to stand up to any of these guys

[andy]

Marnus looking more and more back to his best... ominous signs for the rest of the series

[sussexpob]

Assuming stokes is saving himself for when the lights take full effect...

He is off the field I believe....