It's The Ashes (again)

[Ted Maul]

Dekka has just been on the pitch at Lords. Nice day out for him and his quest to make cricket 'relevant'.

[SuperBob2002]

These Just Stop Oil protesters are cunts.

The cause is worth protesting about, let's make that clear, but they're going about it the completely wrong way. What a fantastic way to get the public on side to help fight your cause - by consistently causing disruption, making a nuisance of yourself, pissing people off and just generally being a fucking wanker.

Actually they sound a lot like me!

[Cunninghamismagic]

Just stop Oil wankers tried to protest.

Baristow just carried one of the cunts all teh way to the boundary. Jesus.

I assume the police rushed on and arrested Bairstow as these MCW Just Stop Oli protestors seem to be untouchable

[SuperBob2002]

The Stop Oil protester is the first thing Bairstow has taken cleanly this series.

[Lurker#3]

No wicket yet. Disgraceful selection and the Aussies are well on top here.

 Only 9 overs played. You bad biff.

[Cheshire East Baggie]

Still don’t understand the exclusion of Woakes, particularly in these conditions plus useful with the bat

Woakes has not played a Test match in 15 months, and he hasn't played one at home for nearly three years. His knee injury really knocked him back last year and since returning has done a bit of T20 and that's about it (I think?).

He’s played three 4 day county games this season Saus, just think these conditions are perfect for him and his record at Lords is outstanding

Come on, MP, get with the programme! Broad and Anderson play until they are declared clinically dead. Robinson is the new Messiah. Woakesy is not and never has been one of the gang - comprehensive school scum as it happens. And to be serious, he doesn't have to the pace to be the difference. He could only play if one of the other three didn't. Younger and/or quicker bowlers are going to get priority.

Chris Woakes has been really unlucky, what with injuries and selection policy. He could easily have played 70+ Tests and taken 200+ wickets. Them's the breaks.

[Ted Maul]

No wicket yet. Disgraceful selection and the Aussies are well on top here.

Perhaps a bit knee-jerk but an hour gone and we've barely created a chance. 

Can't say I'd back our openers to have us in a similar position after an hour of Cummins, Hazlewood and Starc in these conditions.

[SuperBob2002]

No wicket yet. Disgraceful selection and the Aussies are well on top here.

Perhaps a bit knee-jerk but an hour gone and we've barely created a chance. 

Can't say I'd back our openers to have us in a similar position after an hour of Cummins, Hazlewood and Starc in these conditions.

My post was tongue in cheek. I posted after 1 ball!

But it's not been an encouraging first hour. A few have gone past the edge and Root has dropped a very difficult chance, but other than that we've looked very flat and Australia are comfortable.

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Another dropped catch. This time by Pope. It was a dolly.

Our catching has been abysmal so far this series.

[Ted Maul]

Right on cue, one chance and we've shelled it. Do we practice catching, or is just just slogging and vibes we're into now?

[Albionmad]

Have to give the Aussies credit. They've batted sensibly. There was always going to be some playing & missing. By and large they've left balls they didn't have to play at.
England have had one chance and didn't take it. I think that's going to be a major factor in this series.