Those rankings are probably right.
Thatās what makes it a potentially compelling series. Thereās holes in both sides. Englandās lack of an opening partner for Cook, Number 3 and a spinner are well documented. Australia made hay on a featherbed of a pitch batting first but doubts persist about Clarkeās failing body, Warner looks a bit low on confidence (albeit he did get runs 2nd innings when pressure was off) and Marsh, Voges and Nevill at 5, 6 & 7 all have very limited test experience.
After this debacle, itāll be a livelier wicket at Edgbaston but that will be to Broad and Andersonās liking as well. Australia may have an edge in terms of express pace, but they donāt have anyone as skilful as that pair.
I really do hope it is a compelling series, but England were so remarkably spineless yesterdat, that the most likely outcome is aus to win the next two tests in four days, and then England to win the last after the Aussies go on the beer, claim a corner turned, a moral victory, and continue to paper the cracks.
On current performance, There isnāt a more spineless team in test match cricket then the English team when facing fast bowling or adversity. If they arenāt winning in their head, they lie down.
Thatās a pretty stunning indictment from flatty.
Bairstow wonāt scare the Aussies much. The manner of the defeat was terminal for England in this series
Thatās it in a nutshell. If England donāt start scoring runs at the top of the order, they are goosed in this series. Its a re-run of 2009 in some ways. England muddled through a lot of that series not making a lot of runs at the top of the order with Ravi Bopara in particular at Number 3 horribly out of sorts. After humiliatingly been bowled out for 102 on a docile wicket at Headingley in the 4th test, England belatedly bit the bullet, dropped Bopara and gave Jonathan Trott his debut in the final and deciding test at the Oval. Trott top scored with a test century on debut as England won the match and the series.
There are doubts about the rest of the Australian order and they were shown up yet again in Cardiff. When England donāt exert any pressure like whatās happened at Lordās, possible Australian deficiencies can be papered over.
Will be interesting as well to see how things unfold with Mitchell Starc. He was the least effective of the Australian bowlers at Lordās, which is understandable as he didnāt look anyway match fit.
I see James Taylor scored 290 today. Doubt they will pick him though.
Root at three might make them think twice though. I think theyāre unlikely to score 500 anywhere. Another reason to produce a pitch with a bit of green where 300-400 is a decent first innings score.
Bairstow in for ballance
Bell to 3, Root to 4. Should be the other way around.
All the one. Root will be in soon enough.
I think thereās a chance (albeit a slim one) that Bell could build on a platform laid down by Cook and Root and score runs at 4. Iād say the Aussies will just see him as a walking wicket if he comes in in the first 10 overs, as heās likely to do at 3. He looks mentally shot to me anyway. If youāre going to play one veteran in the batting line-up, it really should be KPā¦
The Southern Stars won yesterdays third one dayer in the womens ashes yesterday to take a 2-1 lead.
The mens stuff starts today at Edgebaston, apparently there will be some grass on the wicket, which is nice. Australia will be unchanged, so Peter Nevill retains his slot after an impressive debut and Chris Rogers appears to have recovered from his dizzy spell.
Test is starting Wednesday, think youāve another day to wait.
Shit yeah, getting too excited and ahead of myself.
Australia are 72/3 at lunch. Good little mini-session recovery led by Rogers after the rain delay. England got a bit giddy and bowled too full there - leaked a lot of boundaries.
86/6. Jimmy Anderson is ripping through the racist scum.
Hello @thedancingbaby.
Hello @Little_Lord_Fauntleroy
Hello @Fitzy
I canāt hear you. Where are you? Where are you? Letās be 'avin you. Come on.
Iām in An SpidĆ©al anyway. Not sure where the other lads are
Australia 136 all out.
6 for Jimmy Anderson and 2 apiece for Broad and the returning Finn.
England are 7-0 in reply and rain has stopped play.
Best for us England supporters would be for it to rain for the rest of the day and we resume under blue skies tomorrow morning. The ballās moving all over the place in these gloomy conditions.