Globe Trotter

I’ve no issue with the approach in NZ or anywhere else up until this Test to be honest. The NZ ‘tour’ was not part of the Test championship and compared to the last NZ tour the entertainment value was 100x better (you’ll remember Root bowling Archer in to the ground at Mount Maunganui, BJ Watling scoring 193929 runs and Denly dropping the easiest catch at Hamilton). The Ashes though as you say is the most important and matters - I’m all for the attacking approach but surely the attacking thing to do when you are 180-1 against Aus is just duck and weave for 30 mins, they’ll get bored/tired and our dominance continues. Still room for a bit of old fashioned common sense surely!

If we just bat normally for an hour, duck and ignore their bouncers, when we’re 190 for 1 their bowlers will soon be tired and with Lyon looking injured for now we could then go on and grind them into the ground. Alas now we could be in for who knows what

Every cricket ground I’ve ever been to you can just sit and watch the cricket, you’ve just got to consider the most appropriate area / stand for your enjoyment. Some areas - Western Terrace at Headingley, Hollies at Edgbaston - clearly not the best for sitting quietly, same as you wouldn’t go in S82 if you wanted a peaceful afternoon

One of the unintended consequences of no Barmy Army / the ‘normal’ crowd means Lords is a much more relaxing experience for touring Australian teams. As for the Aussie touring parties these are generally much older groups, part of official tours arranged by Merv Hughes and the like and not perhaps in the ‘lager lout /football fan image’ Lords look to avoid which is why I imagine they are accepted

Barmy Army also not allowed group tickets at Lords (unlike all other English Test grounds) which along with the price putting people off contributes to a flat / different atmosphere

Missed chances cost us. It was a great decision to give Root another over to get Carey but then he should have immediately been taken out the attack, new ball taken with an attacking field and Broad and Robbo bowling normally at the tail. Can’t begrudge Cummins though after the year he has had, he batted excellently. Despite the result, another great day out at Edgbaston and I think we’re in for a close series

Outer covers coming off, brightening up here now!

You have to take that. The missed chances across our two bowling innings will be the difference sadly

Not gonna be enough runs sadly

17 minutes to double our overnight lead

He just needs to shut up, we’re here to watch the cricket not listen to him witter on

I love this but my nerves don’t!

We lost by 1 run! Anyway, tight finish ahead in this game me thinks..

We beat Ireland in the last Test? And I think a little too early to say he’s got it wrong it this Test. I’d have picked Wood in place of Robinson if Wood is fit enough but I’m sure he’ll be in for the next game, I certainly wouldn’t have dropped Jimmy. I’d move Bairstow to open in place of Crawley / Duckett but appreciate JB doing a fantastic job where he is in the order now

Results speak for themselves, 11 wins from 13 after 1 in 17 or whatever it was. Difference here is that Australia are the best team in the world and I feel like we have got selection wrong - need a point of difference in attack on this pitch (Wood) and I’d have found a way to sneak Foakes in.

I’m going to contradict myself here and say that we shouldn’t judge the pitch until both teams have batted, but whatever we get here feels short. Feels like a 450 pitch. Aus will bat much more traditionally and the lack of real pace in our bowling attack worries me, they can just wear us down. Lack of seam/swing movement so far, which is our strength.

This England team is less concerned about batting averages and more interested in the impact individuals can have on the game. Stokes himself has a modest batting average Ali is, if he’s in the right frame of mind and up for it, someone who has exactly the right mentality and attitude (and skills) for this England side - batting or bowling

And the reason he doesn’t get hit for runs is he’s hugely improved his confidence under Stokes thanks to how he’s been handled - being thrown the ball and told to attack and take wickets which he has done. a by-product of that is that his economy rate is generally good

Also under Stokes, economy rate is not a priority - he’ll set attacking fields to take wickets and support the spinner whoever that might be, as he’s done with Leach over the past year. We’ve already moved a long way from trying to ‘slow the runs’ - this England team demands attacking cricket whether that’s bowling or batting and I love it. If Mo is up for it get him in I say

Would love Everton and Leeds to be relegated but sadly I think other than Southampton, Bournemouth at home is about the easiest fixture Everton could have. O’Neil has done a great job there but I just don’t see them having the fight to get anything today with nothing riding on the fixture for them - would love to be wrong!

Quite right, and also, quite refreshing to know a different club will be promoted this year to the usual yo-yo teams like West Brom, Norwich, Watford.

Hmm tricky isn’t it. Both Bairstow and Brook have to play given their recent Test form, but Foakes as you say the better keeper and glues the lower middle order. I’d have Bairstow open and instruct him to play his natural game - could create havoc with the field up, new ball. Could treat it like opening in an ODI - aggressive running, punish the bad ball. His weakness between bat and pad and being bowled through the gate would be exposed at times but I’d fancy over a 5 test series against Aus he’ll do better than Crawley.

Shows the importance of keeping things simple and not over complicating football. Warnock with old fashioned man management and organisation, making Huddersfield far more robust (and entertaining at times). Roy giving his flair players the freedom to be brave and play to their individual and team strengths rather than being stifled as they were under Vieira

Quite right too. The Hundred is an abomination and a crime against both cricket and humanity

Wow! Still never seen anything as bad as Denly’s drop at Hamilton mind