Don't know if it's generally realised that until Monday there had been 10 occasions in Ashes history since 1926 when a team had won by either fewer than 25 runs or by three or fewer wickets and on each occasion the winner had been England! On that basis alone, Australia deserved to win. Khawaja v Robinson merely reinforces that feeling.
McCullum has dismissed any talk of change. Bairstow will keep the gloves and Ali will be selected if fit!
I don't understand:
Completely agree with your post and assessment...certainly this current team, and style of play is a classic case of "it it ain't broke, don't fix it " .
Quite possibly the worst hattrick ever, considering all 3 were from Middlesex batsmen desperately trying to clear the ropes and holing out!
In reply to the first part above, Australia reduced England to 116-5 at the close of the fourth day.Deja vu all over again. England Women end 10 behind Australia Women after the first innings, then Australia score 257 in their second innings. England are thus left to score 268 to win - what chances a 2 wicket victory?
I wondered why Sam Curran opened the bowling for Surrey in their current championship match against Lancashire. having inserted them. Turns out Ed Smith, ex head selector, proposes in today's 'Sunday Times' that the left armer Curran be brought into the test team for Lords. As it happened, he took an early wicket, but the Australian Sean Abbott has four wickets currently. Mitchell Starc, the Aussie leftie, may well be picked for the test. of course.
Deja vu all over again. England Women end 10 behind Australia Women after the first innings, then Australia score 257 in their second innings. England are thus left to score 268 to win - what chances a 2 wicket victory?
268 would be the highest fourth innings score to win in women's Test history so there would be pretty long odds on a 2 wicket victory. Extremely long now. Two outstanding performances from England - Ecclestone's 10 wickets in the match and Beaumont's highest individual score for an England Test team.
In the last ten years before this I reckon they have only played 6 home test matches (never more than one a year). Two at Taunton and Wormsley, one at Bristol and Canterbury. Opponents were Australia (3), India (2) and South Africa (1). I think this might be their first 5 day test match in this country. Maybe there will be more in future?
I've known about him for many years. I'm surprised he never made it into the England setup other than for the Lions. I though would've be given a chance for England as an opener because they haven't been the strongest in that department for a while.
He can't be any worse than his team mate Zak Crawley can he?
He came to prominence for Kent when making his debut for Kent in an Ashes summer. and Kent's match against the touring side happened to take place just before the first (?) test and three of the Aussie fast bowlers were being tested to narrow down their choice in preparation. DB-D scored a fine century and was the most impressive Kent batsman on display. Alastair Cook had done the same sort of thing for Essex on an earlier tour which led to his coming into test selection focus, but Daniel seems to have missed out. Very few black players seem to make it for England compared to an earlier period, Jofra Archer being an obvious exception, but his talent and speed would have been hard to ignore. I'd like to see Bell-Drummond assume the Kent captaincy for the championship, he'd be able to lead by example far better than Sam Billings. Why oh why did Kent let the other Ollie Robinson go to second division Durham? Utter madness.
It is worth noting that on the second day, Surrey were 230-9 at one time, then a 10th wicket stand of 130 by tail-enders Abbott and Worrall saw them reach an all-out first innings total of 360.
He was dropped from the red ball team a little while ago. He now has one century and one 50 in 10 first class cricket innings this year. And I should add that there is a big difference between the Northants attack and the Aussies.
I think that's a good call. f I remember rightly he captioned the county in some white ball games a few years ago. We seemed to do OK, I would prefer him to Leaning as I suspect he responds more to responsibility.
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