| Ashes 2023 16:47 - Jun 8 with 93885 views | Hoopstar |
Ah the home Ashes series is almost upon us, my personal favourite sporting event (not down under, that's just generally depressing.) I need something big sporting wise to focus on and quit my worrying about QPR for a while.
Anyone going?
I was at the first day of the World Test Championship at the Oval yesterday. The Aussies looked in depressingly good nick with the bat and their pace attack appears as terrifying as ever.
I think it's going to be an exciting, tough, tense series that'll go down to the wire. I only managed to get tickets to the very final day of the Ashes on 31st July at the Oval, you never know.
I predict...
Crawley to average less than 20 with Duckett getting closer to mid 30s
Brook to really secure his position as an outstanding talent and mainstay of the team
Pope to struggle again~
Root, in what could be his last home Ashes, proving his worth again
Bairstow - haven't a clue which version turns up post broken foot
Broad - an Ashes too far? You'd be mad to write him or Jimmy off.
Robinson to nab Smith at least four times..
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| Ashes 2023 on 10:42 - Jul 23 with 2057 views | LimehouseR |
| Ashes 2023 on 17:36 - Jul 22 by Superhoops2808 |
I half agree...
However, playing devils advocate, if the boot was on the other foot and we only needed a draw to retain the ashes, would we want to change start and finish times? Imagine the uproar.
So, whilst I agree it is common sense, it has worked many times in our favour too |
I think if it is agreed at the start of a series or is enforced so everyone knows the rules then it is fine. Yeah we'd pray for rain too if he were in there position but ultimately a match should be decided by actual play not an uncontrollable factor like the weather.
The umpires have been awful this match. England have had to overturn two LBW decisions in the first innings and the last wicket had to be appealed too, it was clearly out. Then they took ages to do a pitch inspection, about half an hour after the ground staff had prepared it. Then they said play to start in 45 minutes?! Ridiculous. The biggest joke was the umpire yesterday claiming it was bad light so we couldn't bowl seam, without consulting the light meter first and whilst wearing sunglasses. Slightly fishy if you ask me...
I'd be amazed if we get any significant play today so that's it really. England did the best they could. Some people moan and say they should have declared earlier but Australia would now have a lead so I think it was the right call anyway. |  | | |
| Ashes 2023 on 10:56 - Jul 23 with 2033 views | GaryBannister86 |
| Ashes 2023 on 10:42 - Jul 23 by LimehouseR |
I think if it is agreed at the start of a series or is enforced so everyone knows the rules then it is fine. Yeah we'd pray for rain too if he were in there position but ultimately a match should be decided by actual play not an uncontrollable factor like the weather.
The umpires have been awful this match. England have had to overturn two LBW decisions in the first innings and the last wicket had to be appealed too, it was clearly out. Then they took ages to do a pitch inspection, about half an hour after the ground staff had prepared it. Then they said play to start in 45 minutes?! Ridiculous. The biggest joke was the umpire yesterday claiming it was bad light so we couldn't bowl seam, without consulting the light meter first and whilst wearing sunglasses. Slightly fishy if you ask me...
I'd be amazed if we get any significant play today so that's it really. England did the best they could. Some people moan and say they should have declared earlier but Australia would now have a lead so I think it was the right call anyway. |
The umpires' decisions have been poor but don't think you can blame them on the amount of play. Not many would have let us get underway so quickly.
Can't see anything happening today and to be honest with their batting line up we would need around 50 overs I think so all over. It is what it is, we gave it a very good crack and can be proud. Just some sloppy mistakes in the first couple of tests to have a think about. All very well larking about and playing golf, but perhaps we were just a little undercooked? |  | | |
| Ashes 2023 on 11:20 - Jul 23 with 1985 views | connell10 |
Don't see why they can't play tomorrow, not much rain about , cricket is so inflexible. Also it takes ages to get the teams actually out on the pitch . It's like a slow turning super tanker , ridiculous. |  |
| AND WHEN I DREAM , I DREAM ABOUT YOU AND WHEN I SCREAM I SCREAM ABOUT YOU!!!!! | | Poll: | best number 10 ever? |
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| Ashes 2023 on 12:24 - Jul 23 with 1887 views | Nov77 |
Play resumes at 1pm |  |
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| Ashes 2023 on 12:34 - Jul 23 with 1871 views | Nov77 |
| Ashes 2023 on 12:24 - Jul 23 by Nov77 |
Play resumes at 1pm |
Raining again | |
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| Ashes 2023 on 13:15 - Jul 23 with 1800 views | ted_hendrix |
| Ashes 2023 on 12:34 - Jul 23 by Nov77 |
Raining again |
We can't do anything about Mother nature what we can do though Is make contingency plans, I was reading the TMS site earlier and as it was drying out and virtually playable they all went of for lunch because It was bloody lunch time.
To quote Phil Tuffnell at the time;
*Let's skip lunch today lads. Get yourself a boiled egg and a tomato and let's get on with it.
This Isn't a unique situation. |  |
| My Father had a profound influence on me, he was a lunatic. |
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| Ashes 2023 on 15:36 - Jul 23 with 1721 views | stowmarketrange |
Can’t we get the leaf blowers out? |  | | |
| Ashes 2023 on 16:59 - Jul 23 with 1652 views | Superhoops2808 |
| Ashes 2023 on 13:15 - Jul 23 by ted_hendrix |
We can't do anything about Mother nature what we can do though Is make contingency plans, I was reading the TMS site earlier and as it was drying out and virtually playable they all went of for lunch because It was bloody lunch time.
To quote Phil Tuffnell at the time;
*Let's skip lunch today lads. Get yourself a boiled egg and a tomato and let's get on with it.
This Isn't a unique situation. |
Yes I chuckled at Tuffers comment too
But its very true, what energy have they burnt off this morning that needs replacing?
Sadly, this will be a draw and that will be another wait for us to retake the Ashes. I think if we had won this test, the momentum would have meant us winning at the Oval. |  | | |
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| Ashes 2023 on 17:01 - Jul 23 with 1651 views | slmrstid |
Rain is only ever meant to stop England losing, not stop England winning. Booooo.
That said, its funny seeing Piers Morgan get angrier and more upset and petulant with every delay, so silver linings. |  | | |
| Ashes 2023 on 17:29 - Jul 23 with 1583 views | Rangersw12 |
Match drawn
England have made all the running in this series and the Aussies are very fortunate to retain the Ashes . |  | | |
| Ashes 2023 on 17:36 - Jul 23 with 1569 views | jeffranger |
F******g lucky c****s | | | |
| Ashes 2023 on 17:40 - Jul 23 with 1561 views | ted_hendrix |
| Ashes 2023 on 17:29 - Jul 23 by Rangersw12 |
Match drawn
England have made all the running in this series and the Aussies are very fortunate to retain the Ashes . |
The word disappointing dosn't come into It, what a crazy way for It to end.
Still, we knew the rules at the start so we'll just have to take It on the chin.
Oval next Thursday----kick they're arses. | |
| My Father had a profound influence on me, he was a lunatic. |
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| Ashes 2023 on 17:52 - Jul 23 with 1526 views | stevec |
If you choose Manchester as a venue then you can hardly complain about the rain. |  | | |
| Ashes 2023 on 19:12 - Jul 23 with 1437 views | Superhoops2808 |
Like the women, lets keep it to retained only rather than won the Ashes.
At least it will be the system and the weather that allows them to take the urn home because its not down to their cricket
A heavy defeat at the Oval will send them packing with their tails between their legs | | | |
| Ashes 2023 on 23:22 - Jul 23 with 1280 views | SydneyRs |
This is why cricket can't ever be taken very seriously. Everyone knew the weather was going to ruin that last two days and there's nothing in the rules to mitigate that. At times it really is a stupid sport. | | | |
| Ashes 2023 on 23:41 - Jul 23 with 1261 views | Hooparoo |
I don’t get why Stokes didn’t declare. We were a shambles and you already had enough runs to fck us up. Let us off the hook |  |
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| Ashes 2023 on 23:44 - Jul 23 with 1258 views | Match82 |
| Ashes 2023 on 23:41 - Jul 23 by Hooparoo |
I don’t get why Stokes didn’t declare. We were a shambles and you already had enough runs to fck us up. Let us off the hook |
Is that true though? Even if we had got play today I feel like it's unlikely we would have got the wickets quick enough to prevent us batting again anyway. So declaring say 50 runs earlier even less chance of that |  | | |
| Ashes 2023 on 00:45 - Jul 24 with 1206 views | SydneyRs |
In all seriousness, it could and should have been a terrific finish to the series going in to the last test at 2-2 and weather means it is now essentially a dead rubber. There's no way in hell on the play so far that Australia deserves to be ahead in the series.
Tennis, the one other sport that rain has impacted a lot, now has roofs over courts in the main tournaments and even when this wasn't the case all games get played to their natural conclusion sooner or later, even if it sometimes means playing into an extra day. Cricket is unique in this nonsense where weather prevents the game from finishing. | | | |
| Ashes 2023 on 01:03 - Jul 24 with 1190 views | Hooparoo |
| Ashes 2023 on 23:44 - Jul 23 by Match82 |
Is that true though? Even if we had got play today I feel like it's unlikely we would have got the wickets quick enough to prevent us batting again anyway. So declaring say 50 runs earlier even less chance of that |
I just think we were in total disarray and at 5 down 2nd innings even another hour might have got you home. England deserved to win and what a shame we aren’t going to go to the Oval at 2-2 with everything to play for. | |
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| Ashes 2023 on 09:39 - Jul 24 with 1075 views | terryb |
The part that I don't understand is why, on a clear day they have to finish at 6.30pm?
90 overs are meant to be bowled in a day & if the light is good enough make them play until 90 overs are bowled! Or make the playing time 10.30am-6.30pm.
The hourly drink breaks appear to take longer every year as well. I'm sure they are approaching 5 minutes. | | | |
| Ashes 2023 on 09:46 - Jul 24 with 1058 views | MedwayR |
| Ashes 2023 on 01:03 - Jul 24 by Hooparoo |
I just think we were in total disarray and at 5 down 2nd innings even another hour might have got you home. England deserved to win and what a shame we aren’t going to go to the Oval at 2-2 with everything to play for. |
Stokes should have declared earlier, it would have given us a better chance of winning but I still don't think we'd have got over the line. Whilst the weather has cost us in this match, the silly mistakes which threw away our chances in the first 2 tests have ultimately lost us the chance of winning the series. [Post edited 24 Jul 2023 9:47]
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| Ashes 2023 on 10:01 - Jul 24 with 2298 views | TheChef |
I don't think we can have any complaints. 2013 the boot was on the other foot, rain rescued us in Durham meaning a draw and we retained the urn.
Going 2-0 down in a series is always a tough ask. Damage was done day 2 at Edgbaston where we missed chances to get them out sooner, and day 3 at Lord's where we were well placed in our 1st innings but got skittled out in an hour (mainly through crap shot selection).
Wood has been a game changer - shame he wasn't fit till match 3. And Woakes should have been selected for Lord's where he has a brilliant record. That was just dumb by the selectors.
So we're the form team going into The Oval, unfortunately the weather later in the week doesn't look great either. And if the Aussies end up winning the series 2-1 then fair enough, as they've made the key moments matter while we've let them mostly slip away. |  |
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| Ashes 2023 on 11:03 - Jul 24 with 2221 views | ted_hendrix |
'Baz ball is not ending world hunger or reinventing the wheel'
Writing in the Herald Sun, Ben Horne had little time for sympathy.
"It's hard to tell when the rain stopped and the tears started but this much is certain - England's Ashes bellyaching has just become too much," he wrote, insisting that the home side only have themselves to blame for throwing away good positions in the first two Test matches.
"The best thing about this enthralling series, by far, has been Baz Ball. It is captivating and brilliant. But the most tedious thing has been how in love England are with themselves about Bazball.
"Scoring runs at seven an over is breathtaking to watch, but it's not ending world hunger or reinventing the wheel and at some point England needs to face the fact that for all their trailblazing bravado, they have, for the second time running, failed to win the Ashes on home soil." | |
| My Father had a profound influence on me, he was a lunatic. |
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| Ashes 2023 on 11:49 - Jul 24 with 2126 views | SydneyRs |
| Ashes 2023 on 11:03 - Jul 24 by ted_hendrix |
'Baz ball is not ending world hunger or reinventing the wheel'
Writing in the Herald Sun, Ben Horne had little time for sympathy.
"It's hard to tell when the rain stopped and the tears started but this much is certain - England's Ashes bellyaching has just become too much," he wrote, insisting that the home side only have themselves to blame for throwing away good positions in the first two Test matches.
"The best thing about this enthralling series, by far, has been Baz Ball. It is captivating and brilliant. But the most tedious thing has been how in love England are with themselves about Bazball.
"Scoring runs at seven an over is breathtaking to watch, but it's not ending world hunger or reinventing the wheel and at some point England needs to face the fact that for all their trailblazing bravado, they have, for the second time running, failed to win the Ashes on home soil." |
Herald Sun is one of the poorer newspapers here.
If Australia had started "bazball" they would be absolutely gushing over it. They're secretly gutted they haven't been able to neutralise it and know they are only ahead through a very large slice of luck, having almost two full days of play ruled out just when they needed it.
Australia retaining the ashes isn't ending world hunger either, but much of their media treats it as far more important than that. | | | |
| Ashes 2023 on 11:55 - Jul 24 with 2105 views | thame_hoops |
| Ashes 2023 on 11:03 - Jul 24 by ted_hendrix |
'Baz ball is not ending world hunger or reinventing the wheel'
Writing in the Herald Sun, Ben Horne had little time for sympathy.
"It's hard to tell when the rain stopped and the tears started but this much is certain - England's Ashes bellyaching has just become too much," he wrote, insisting that the home side only have themselves to blame for throwing away good positions in the first two Test matches.
"The best thing about this enthralling series, by far, has been Baz Ball. It is captivating and brilliant. But the most tedious thing has been how in love England are with themselves about Bazball.
"Scoring runs at seven an over is breathtaking to watch, but it's not ending world hunger or reinventing the wheel and at some point England needs to face the fact that for all their trailblazing bravado, they have, for the second time running, failed to win the Ashes on home soil." |
lots of Aussies (and Indian fans bizarrely) have not enjoyed hearing about this new style of play (bazball) over the last 14 months.
So important we win the next test, 2-2 vs The reigning WTC would be a great series score.
We do only have ourselves to blame for the first 2 tests, sounds strange but I think we were taken aback with how bad Aus actually were and it threw us off our usual game... maybe |  | | |
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