It's The Ashes (again)

[SuperBob2002]

Another wicket needlessly thrown away. Just as we were getting a foothold back in the game.

It's so frustrating. It really is.

You really don't get Bazball do you?

I don't 'get it', no. I understand what they're aim is and what they're trying to do, but I don't agree with it. 

We needed to play the situation today and get into a strong position. Instead we've thrown wickets away with needless shots. At least we've given ourselves a chance. But I don't feel confident. It's still an excellent pitch. Especially when you don't have a frontline spinner to face! Let's hope for a couple of wickets tonight, and a slow run rate, and we can hope tomorrow brings favourable bowling conditions.

---

Yet again England look to be getting the upper hand, and we let the Aussies back in.

If the shoe was on the other foot the Aussies would be ruthless and wouldn't allow us back in the game. That'll be the difference this summer.

This is bollocks. Both teams have had significant spells on top during the game - that’s the beauty of test cricket.

You mean like th hammerings we had down under in the 5-0 whitewash, and two 4-0 hammerings in the previous 3 Ashes down under. We're the home side and should be imposing our will on them, and going for the kill when we're on top, like they do to us when they're the home team.

[AnelkasBeard]

281 to win. Again, nicely poised. I make Australia favourites from here on in - weather dependent.

Surprise surprise. Honestly, you're so negative, I'm surprised you don't develop overnight in the dark.

Fantastically poised test match. This would be the 3rd highest chase ever at Edgbaston, and one of those was a Bazball YJB/Root special last year. If the Aussies do this, then fair play.

[SuperBob2002]

Another error from Bairstow.

I wouldn't drop him, and he needs to be in as a batsman, but we must find a way to include Foakes next Test. Bairstow is costing us, and I feel for him. He shouldn't be asked to take the gloves.

[backsidebaggie]

I really wish the phrase bazball would be retired for good. It wore thin long ago.

Mccullum calls it silly. Stokes said earlier this year he dislikes it. It can’t just be me who finds it cringe?

[SuperBob2002]

281 to win. Again, nicely poised. I make Australia favourites from here on in - weather dependent.

Surprise surprise. Honestly, you're so negative, I'm surprised you don't develop overnight in the dark.

Fantastically poised test match. This would be the 3rd highest chase ever at Edgbaston, and one of those was a Bazball YJB/Root special last year. If the Aussies do this, then fair play.

How is that negative? I think most reasonable folks would make Aussies favourites. Weather dependent, there's plenty of time in which to get the runs, and we've not got a front line spinner to go to, unless Ali has sorted his sore finger out (I doubt as it looks painful and is causing him issues). 

Of course we can win, especially if we can cause a mini-collapse in potentially tough conditions tomorrow.

---

I really wish the phrase bazball would be retired for good. It wore thin long ago.

Mccullum calls it silly. Stokes said earlier this year he dislikes it. It can’t just be me who finds it cringe?

You're not alone.

[Malcolm Tucker]

Another wicket needlessly thrown away. Just as we were getting a foothold back in the game.

It's so frustrating. It really is.

You really don't get Bazball do you?

I don't 'get it', no. I understand what they're aim is and what they're trying to do, but I don't agree with it. 

We needed to play the situation today and get into a strong position. Instead we've thrown wickets away with needless shots. At least we've given ourselves a chance. But I don't feel confident. It's still an excellent pitch. Especially when you don't have a frontline spinner to face! Let's hope for a couple of wickets tonight, and a slow run rate, and we can hope tomorrow brings favourable bowling conditions.

---

Yet again England look to be getting the upper hand, and we let the Aussies back in.

If the shoe was on the other foot the Aussies would be ruthless and wouldn't allow us back in the game. That'll be the difference this summer.

This is bollocks. Both teams have had significant spells on top during the game - that’s the beauty of test cricket.

You mean like th hammerings we had down under in the 5-0 whitewash, and two 4-0 hammerings in the previous 3 Ashes down under. We're the home side and should be imposing our will on them, and going for the kill when we're on top, like they do to us when they're the home team.

We get hammered in Aus because our batsmen can’t bat against the pace and bounce in their conditions and our bowlers and fucking useless down there. 

Also, we do go for the kill when on top. Sometimes going for the kill means that you give a wicket or two away, though.

[SuperBob2002]

Another wicket needlessly thrown away. Just as we were getting a foothold back in the game.

It's so frustrating. It really is.

You really don't get Bazball do you?

I don't 'get it', no. I understand what they're aim is and what they're trying to do, but I don't agree with it. 

We needed to play the situation today and get into a strong position. Instead we've thrown wickets away with needless shots. At least we've given ourselves a chance. But I don't feel confident. It's still an excellent pitch. Especially when you don't have a frontline spinner to face! Let's hope for a couple of wickets tonight, and a slow run rate, and we can hope tomorrow brings favourable bowling conditions.

---

Yet again England look to be getting the upper hand, and we let the Aussies back in.

If the shoe was on the other foot the Aussies would be ruthless and wouldn't allow us back in the game. That'll be the difference this summer.

This is bollocks. Both teams have had significant spells on top during the game - that’s the beauty of test cricket.

You mean like th hammerings we had down under in the 5-0 whitewash, and two 4-0 hammerings in the previous 3 Ashes down under. We're the home side and should be imposing our will on them, and going for the kill when we're on top, like they do to us when they're the home team.

We get hammered in Aus because our batsmen can’t bat against the pace and bounce in their conditions and our bowlers and fucking useless down there. 

Also, we do go for the kill when on top. Sometimes going for the kill means that you give a wicket or two away, though.

Being ruthless, to me anyway, means you don't give the opposition a chance and completely take their chances of winning the match out of the equation.

[AnelkasBeard]

281 to win. Again, nicely poised. I make Australia favourites from here on in - weather dependent.

Surprise surprise. Honestly, you're so negative, I'm surprised you don't develop overnight in the dark.

Fantastically poised test match. This would be the 3rd highest chase ever at Edgbaston, and one of those was a Bazball YJB/Root special last year. If the Aussies do this, then fair play.

How is that negative? I think most reasonable folks would make Aussies favourites. Weather dependent, there's plenty of time in which to get the runs, and we've not got a front line spinner to go to, unless Ali has sorted his sore finger out (I doubt as it looks painful and is causing him issues). 

Of course we can win, especially if we can cause a mini-collapse in potentially tough conditions tomorrow.

---

I really wish the phrase bazball would be retired for good. It wore thin long ago.

Mccullum calls it silly. Stokes said earlier this year he dislikes it. It can’t just be me who finds it cringe?

You're not alone.

Your entries on this whole thread are so incessantly negative. Jesus christ man, you don't even see it.

Why are Australia favourites? This would be the third highest chase at Edgbaston ever.... bloody good effort if they get there, and they'd be deserving.

[SuperBob2002]

281 to win. Again, nicely poised. I make Australia favourites from here on in - weather dependent.

Surprise surprise. Honestly, you're so negative, I'm surprised you don't develop overnight in the dark.

Fantastically poised test match. This would be the 3rd highest chase ever at Edgbaston, and one of those was a Bazball YJB/Root special last year. If the Aussies do this, then fair play.

How is that negative? I think most reasonable folks would make Aussies favourites. Weather dependent, there's plenty of time in which to get the runs, and we've not got a front line spinner to go to, unless Ali has sorted his sore finger out (I doubt as it looks painful and is causing him issues). 

Of course we can win, especially if we can cause a mini-collapse in potentially tough conditions tomorrow.

---

I really wish the phrase bazball would be retired for good. It wore thin long ago.

Mccullum calls it silly. Stokes said earlier this year he dislikes it. It can’t just be me who finds it cringe?

You're not alone.

Your entries on this whole thread are so incessantly negative. Jesus christ man, you don't even see it.

Why are Australia favourites? This would be the third highest chase at Edgbaston ever.... bloody good effort if they get there, and they'd be deserving.

We'll see who is right. I am by no means ruling us out, as per my previous posts, where I also say it's nicely poised. But you'll only read what you want to read, I guess.

---

There's plenty of overs remaining. (Australia will need 0.5, give or take, runs an over, if we get all overs in (Up to 140, I believe). As unlikely as that is). It's still a very good wicket for batting. They've for the 3 best Test batsmen in the world. Spin looks the likeliest way to take wickets on this surface, and right now we don't know how Ali will cope with his injury and the demands on his body given he hasn't bowled in a Test for 2/3 years.

I think there's enough there to justify saying Australia are now favourites.

But we have reasons to be optimistic, too. Broad, Anderson and Robinson aren't bad bowlers, and we'll hopefully get bowler friendly conditions tomorrow. We just need to keep the run rate down over this session.

[rsbaggy2]

Warner nearly edges. But it quite clearly flicked his trousers pocket and not the bat. A valid appeal ... like many the Aussies made ...

This is not going to be easy to chase, weather withstanding.