What an utter cunt of a man
This is one of the all time great winds up. Itâs a bit of a slow burner. Sir Geoffrey famously scored his 100th first class century in the 1977 Ashes on his home pitch at Headingley before his adoring Yorkshire public. That was jubilee summer, England won back the Ashes, Virginia Wade won Wimbledon. Sir Geoffrey made a fortune on memorabilia on the back of his 100th century on home turf.
Boys are commentating on England v South Africa test in 1977. Sir Geoffrey has a big commemorative dinner coming up to mark the 40th anniversary of his landmark achievement. The boys have just received a communique from the ICC that on the back of lobbying from the anti-apartheid movement and the South African government, a series involving England v Rest of the World in the early 1970âs has been downgraded from first class status because a few South African players featured. Of particular interest to Sir Geoffrey is he scored a century in that series, so if thatâs taken off him, what he thought was his 100th hundred at Headingley in 1977 was actually only his 99th. His 100th hundred would then have been brought up in Faisalabad on a tour of Pakistan.
Jofra Archer unplayable this afternoon.
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The Ashes gets underway this night two weeks. A big break with tradition with the first test taking place in Perth and not Brisbane. The first test of the Australian summer was always traditionally at the Gabba. The Gabba will be a day/night test and not Adelaide this time round, so they werenât starting the Series with a day/night test.
It will be the first test match for England at the new stadium in Perth as the 2021 Perth test was switched to Tasmania because of Covid restrictions. England had a truly appalling record at the WACA in Perth. They had lost the last 8 Ashes tests played there and since Perth assumed test status in 1971, England had just 1 win out of 14 played there, in 1978, when both sides were depleted by Kerry Packer World Series absentees.
It is very difficult to see one or possibly both of Jofra Archer and Mark Wood staying fit for the entire series. First test in Perth might actually suit England this time round, as youâd be hoping that both will be fit enough to take the field first test. Perth is traditionally the fastest wicket in the world and Archer and Wood could really prosper there.
Josh Hazelwood out of the first Ashes test which gets underway in Perth on Friday morning as well as captain Pat Cummins. It will be quite a depleted Australia pace attack.
Thereâs a good discussion in the comments section.
Headley Verity is a sad story.
If England canât beat this Dadâs Army outfit they are at nothing
Thereâs a fair chance thatâs the case.
England could do anything. They need to play with a bit of common sense, which has largely been in short supply since all this Bazball stuff started.
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If their pace attack stays fit theyâve a good shout. Archer is outstanding.
Thatâs a very big if though
Not sure itâs an if. They wonât. Shame though
Theyâll throw it away with stupid batting and some bowler will inevitably break down. Sure Wood is out already.
My understanding is that Mark Wood had a hamstring twinge scare in warm up game but has been passed fit to play in first test. Heâll most likely get selected for Perth, break down first morning and England will have to muddle through 5 days, a bowler down.
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That seems the most likely event.
I feel England have real prospects of winning the series if they play smartly. Plenty of England teams go to Australia with no chance, regardless of how they play. I have very little confidence in this England team or set up, playing smartly though. Harry Brook will be key if England are to prevail. The manner of his short innings and dismissal in the warm up game doesnât inspire confidence in that regard.
Any reports of high jinx from the Barmy Army?
England win the toss and elect to bat.
Yes