He’s the only one bar Root that can dig in.
Yeah sorry meant to say Bairstow as well. 3 & 5 major problem positions in batting order. Cook is a long way from his peak days but with nobody putting their hands up to open, he’s not going anywhere.
Hard to know what to expect from Australia. They were atrocious at home to South Africa last year but much improved in their last test series in India back in March and pushed the Number 1 ranked India to the wire. They have a decent array of quick bowlers so it will be the usual onslaught for England in that regard. Maybe @Fitzy can provide an update as to how Australia are shaping up.
Australia have a two test series in Bangladesh at the end of this month which will tell us a bit.
That Adelaide test against South Africa was a turning point for Australia and introduced Peter Handscomb and Matthew Renshaw to the team and they’ve done very well since. This has seriously strengthened the batting line up which was effectively falling apart.
I think Australia will win the Ashes comfortably enough,3-1 or 2-1, based on strength in batting and a decent pace attack. David Warner is not great overseas, but imperious on Australian soil and England will really need to get him out early in each test. Otherwise, Warner has the ability to take a test away in the first 2 sessions and he could well go to town on England. Khawaja will also be dangerous here and then you have Smith coming in.
Starc, Hazlewood, Cummins will lead the attack. Cummins will probably be injured, but there’s plenty of cover and a few potential bolters if Nathan Lyon isn’t performing. There’s a big push for Ashton Agar to claim a place and I’d expect him to be used in Bangladesh. It won’t be the all out Mitchell Johnson potentially fatal attack, but it won’t be fun for the English batsmen. Especially Cook’s opening partners, of which I’m sure there will be many.
The players have a point to prove after the wages dispute and Steve Smith will want to have a comfortable and convincing home Ashes series win under his belt before the real business starts with the next Ashes series in England, the holy grail for any Australian captain (never mind this bollocks about winning a series in India, an away Ashes victory is what everyone wants).
First day night test in England today. England 348-3 v WI.
Caught the last hour and a half or so. Windies were shambolic in every way possible.
It’s a laugh - in the late eighties there were genuine fears that they would dominate cricket for ever.
England behind the loop again when it comes to saving cricket
Just like the Galway hurlers in the late eighties.
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The Windies are deplorable.
England won’t learn much in this series.
Looks and sounds great under lights. Wonder if they’ll repeat against proper opposition in future years
Broad goes past Beefy to second behind Anderson on the all time England wicket takers list
Over. Two more Tests isn’t exactly a mouth watering prospect
19 wickets lost in a day
How much longer can the Windies hold onto test status? What an utter shambles. Can’t be many traditions and great institutions in any sport that have plummeted the depths they have.
Aussie rugby getting there from once great heights.
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Much better from the Windies at Headingley on the first Day of the second test. They had England reduced to 37/3 and 71/4 but England have rallied to 140/4 with yet another half century from Joe Root, a world record equaling half century in 12 consecutive tests. Make that 140/5, the recalled Devendra Bishoo has just picked up the big wicket of Root.
Another dismal failure from the England top order. Problems of an opening partner for Alastair Cook and at Number 3 & 5 rumble on.
152/6 - Bairstow departs.
Who won the toss Geoff?
England