It's The Ashes (again)

[rsbaggy2]

Australia as expected go in without a front line spinner.

Warner, Khawaja, Labuschagne, Smith, Head, Marsh, Green, Carey, Starc, Cummins, Hazlewood

Rain for the weekend, so they have strengthened(?) the batting line up to make it tougher to be bowled out twice in what maybe a truncated test match.

They'll also have an over rate of about 8 an hour. Carey batting at 8... jesus

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.dailyma...-Test.html

By "they" are you referring to England's finest?

[AnelkasBeard]

Australia as expected go in without a front line spinner.

Warner, Khawaja, Labuschagne, Smith, Head, Marsh, Green, Carey, Starc, Cummins, Hazlewood

Rain for the weekend, so they have strengthened(?) the batting line up to make it tougher to be bowled out twice in what maybe a truncated test match.

They'll also have an over rate of about 8 an hour. Carey batting at 8... jesus

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.dailyma...-Test.html

By "they" are you referring to England's finest?

You're aware that it's possible to comment on something without turning it into an attack based on your opinion? Both teams have been shocking at over rates. Most current Test teams are.

I was merely commenting on the fact that 5 quicks bowling with an already slow over rate, will slow it down even further.

[rsbaggy2]

Australia as expected go in without a front line spinner.

Warner, Khawaja, Labuschagne, Smith, Head, Marsh, Green, Carey, Starc, Cummins, Hazlewood

Rain for the weekend, so they have strengthened(?) the batting line up to make it tougher to be bowled out twice in what maybe a truncated test match.

They'll also have an over rate of about 8 an hour. Carey batting at 8... jesus

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.dailyma...-Test.html

By "they" are you referring to England's finest?

You're aware that it's possible to comment on something without turning it into an attack based on your opinion? Both teams have been shocking at over rates. Most current Test teams are.

I was merely commenting on the fact that 5 quicks bowling with an already slow over rate, will slow it down even further.

They was clearly aimed at the Aussies. I agree both sides have bowled appallingly slowly. The thing that struck me about England's bowling was the amount of discussions they had at lords .. several times in any one over even. That would inevitably lead to slow over rates.

Generally the monetary punishment is not enough of a deterrent. In game penalties would be more persuasive.. if possible to administer.

[Tom Joad]

Re- the slow over rate- and without wanting to print quote after quote. I agree it has been painfully slow although not helped by the absence of lengthy spells of spin bowling. What really puzzled me was why the teams went off at Headingley at regular close,  in brilliant sunshine on the Friday?  The weather forecasted for the rest of the game was dreadful and proved to be accurate. Why no urgency to play another half an hour when only 80 overs were bowled?

[Baggybenny]

possibly losing time to the weather, will we be declaring in the first innings?

[rsbaggy2]

possibly losing time to the weather, will we be declaring in the first innings?

Possibly before lunch! 

[Ted Maul]

Good toss to lose for the Australians, looks a great batting pitch.

A lot being made of them going without a spinner for the first time in over a decade, that's nothing when you consider England have been playing without a wicket keeper all series.

[SausEggBaton]

Getting Khawaja early is promising. Looks like there is a fair amount of swing on the pitch.

[SuperBob2002]

I'm watching proper cricket this morning. Bears v Lancs. Early wicket for us. Lancs scoring at just 2 and over. Wonderful stuff.

[strawman]

Good to see Bairstow is still consistent - shame it's consistently garbage