On Tuesday, July 18, 2023 at 9:53:04 AM UTC+1, Richard Dixon wrote:
> On Monday, 17 July 2023 at 22:26:56 UTC+1, mike wrote:
> > On Monday, July 17, 2023 at 10:55:18 AM UTC+1, jack fredricks wrote:
> > > https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/england-recall-james-anderson-fourth-ashes-test-old-trafford-1387954
> > >
> > > Anderson recalled.
> > > Robinson dropped/rested.
> > > Ali to bat @ #3.
> > at 3 hes a walking wkt, so i expect he'll just t20 everything.
> > not really what you want 1st down. i think at least 1 solid
> https://pbs.twimg.com/media/F1TajDzX0AARUYa?format=jpg&name=large
>
> Makes you think, though...

lets hope all that experience batting no3 for worcs pays off!
however in tests he has 7 innings at no3 av 13, although he did
make a 50 once. But he gave up CC sometime ago and his recent remarks
show him to be a fully committed bazballer.

Englands tactics are pretty obvious by now and fairly easy to counter,
put the fielders on the boundaries and wait for our batters to hole out.

mike

On Tuesday, 18 July 2023 at 12:03:31 UTC+1, mike wrote:

> lets hope all that experience batting no3 for worcs pays off!
> however in tests he has 7 innings at no3 av 13, although he did
> make a 50 once. But he gave up CC sometime ago and his recent remarks
> show him to be a fully committed bazballer.

I partly jest - obviously would like to be proven wrong but I find wanting Mo to be back to his best after a two year break a bit whimsical.

well Australia going with just pace bowlers and allrounders, basically 5 quicks with Travis supplying a spin option

Hazelwood, Starc, Marsh, Green and Cummins look like giving the Poms a battering and now they will have a very good tail with Hazelwood basically the only one that cant hold a bat

In message <1c38f967-2aac-46bc-a0e8-d9036dc0e7f4n@googlegroups.com>,
mike <dmike204@yahoo.co.uk> writes
>On Monday, July 17, 2023 at 10:55:180 >>
>>https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/england-recall-james-anderson-fourth
>>-ashes-test-old-trafford-1387954
>>
>> Anderson recalled.
>> Robinson dropped/rested.
>> Ali to bat @ #3.
>
>at 3 hes a walking wkt, so i expect he'll just t20 everything.
>not really what you want 1st down. i think at least 1 solid
>run accumulator in the top 6 is desirable among all the bazballers.
>you dont have to go for boundaries all the time.
>
>clearly they are hoping for 1 last hurrah from jimmy. i just hope
>they havnt dropped 1 semi fit bowler for another although hes had a decent
>layoff. Oz have a good record at OT since 1985, unbeaten i think, and
>if our batters play in their usual way now, and if they miss vital catches,
>probably every chance this will continue, so my prediction of 4-1 to oz
>remains unchanged.
>
>mike

Nostradamus you aren't. :) Fortunately, from England's POV.

I have a nasty feeling, though, that the weather will just deprive
England of being able to force a victory, leaving the urn in Australia's
hands.
--
John Hall "[It was] so steep that at intervals the street broke into steps,
like a person breaking into giggles or hiccups, and then resumed
its sober climb, until it had another fit of steps."
Ursula K Le Guin "The Beginning Place"

On Thursday, July 20, 2023 at 2:58:20 PM UTC-4, John Hall wrote:
> In message <1c38f967-2aac-46bc...@googlegroups.com>,
> mike <dmik...@yahoo.co.uk> writes
> >On Monday, July 17, 2023 at 10:55:180 >>
> >>https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/england-recall-james-anderson-fourth
> >>-ashes-test-old-trafford-1387954
> >>
> >> Anderson recalled.
> >> Robinson dropped/rested.
> >> Ali to bat @ #3.
> >
> >at 3 hes a walking wkt, so i expect he'll just t20 everything.
> >not really what you want 1st down. i think at least 1 solid
> >run accumulator in the top 6 is desirable among all the bazballers.
> >you dont have to go for boundaries all the time.
> >
> >clearly they are hoping for 1 last hurrah from jimmy. i just hope
> >they havnt dropped 1 semi fit bowler for another although hes had a decent
> >layoff. Oz have a good record at OT since 1985, unbeaten i think, and
> >if our batters play in their usual way now, and if they miss vital catches,
> >probably every chance this will continue, so my prediction of 4-1 to oz
> >remains unchanged.
> >
> >mike
> Nostradamus you aren't. :) Fortunately, from England's POV.
>
> I have a nasty feeling, though, that the weather will just deprive
> England of being able to force a victory, leaving the urn in Australia's
> hands.
> --
> John Hall "[It was] so steep that at intervals the street broke into steps,
> like a person breaking into giggles or hiccups, and then resumed
> its sober climb, until it had another fit of steps."
> Ursula K Le Guin "The Beginning Place"

England are playing exciting cricket, hope they win by 51 runs?!

On Thursday, July 20, 2023 at 7:58:20 PM UTC+1, John Hall wrote:
> In message <1c38f967-2aac-46bc...@googlegroups.com>,
> mike <dmik...@yahoo.co.uk> writes
> >On Monday, July 17, 2023 at 10:55:180 >>
> >>https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/england-recall-james-anderson-fourth
> >>-ashes-test-old-trafford-1387954
> >>
> >> Anderson recalled.
> >> Robinson dropped/rested.
> >> Ali to bat @ #3.
> >
> >at 3 hes a walking wkt, so i expect he'll just t20 everything.
> >not really what you want 1st down. i think at least 1 solid
> >run accumulator in the top 6 is desirable among all the bazballers.
> >you dont have to go for boundaries all the time.
> >
> >clearly they are hoping for 1 last hurrah from jimmy. i just hope
> >they havnt dropped 1 semi fit bowler for another although hes had a decent
> >layoff. Oz have a good record at OT since 1985, unbeaten i think, and
> >if our batters play in their usual way now, and if they miss vital catches,
> >probably every chance this will continue, so my prediction of 4-1 to oz
> >remains unchanged.
> >
> >mike
> Nostradamus you aren't. :) Fortunately, from England's POV.
>
well its not over yet!

> I have a nasty feeling, though, that the weather will just deprive
> England of being able to force a victory, leaving the urn in Australia's
> hands.

yep, and if the metoffice forcast is right they might not get much play before
lunch tomorrow, and everyone has saturday as a washout. sunday not looking
great either. but its their own fault for dropping those catches in the first 2
tests.

but i expected another early declaration when root got an awful grubber.
plus has brook been talking to boycott? in for over an hour and just pushing the
singles. twas all a bit odd, like thats enough bazball for the day, but with the forcast
as it is, i expected the full fireworks and then declare, get say 5 overs at em?

mike

On Friday, July 21, 2023 at 8:15:56 AM UTC+10, mike wrote:
> but i expected another early declaration when root got an awful grubber.

There's zero point declaring now.
Much better to go and T20 every single ball. Try to score at 10-12 per over..
Any run now is worth 4x when chasing in the last innings, and we WILL have to chase in the last innings, as our lead is only 67.

What an amazing day's cricket.
Did anyone here manage to go?
I can't imagine how electric it must be watching these days live.

I, of course, went to sleep (10pm here in Bris) during the lunch break so missed all the good stuff.

Ali did wonderfully well @ #3. The perfect contribution.
Crawley's innings was breath-taking. I'm one of the many who have criticised him, and I'm happy to have been wrong. Stokes and Baz have been steadfast in selecting him.

On Tue, 11 Jul 2023 06:36:05 -0700, mike wrote:

Meanwhile in Oz....

After D3 'Australian' cricket writers are suffering a massive & collective
writers block. Not only can they not roll out their usual rivers of
effluence about 'their' superstars, but they can't even blame any Others
for the Manchester Massacre! Cheap booze stocks in Sinney must be getting
low...

Go the poms!

alvey
About to be in glorious Sunny Coast winter sunshine. Boardies, thongs and
Tee...

On Friday, July 21, 2023 at 12:24:46 PM UTC+10, alvey wrote:
> About to be in glorious Sunny Coast winter sunshine. Boardies, thongs and
> Tee...

We were up there last weekend surf fishing. It was glorious.

Maybe for a while you'll be able to forget about Starc's 15 wickets @ 25.20 @ SR 33.40

On Friday, July 21, 2023 at 1:38:22 PM UTC+10, jack fredricks wrote:
> On Friday, July 21, 2023 at 12:24:46 PM UTC+10, alvey wrote:
> > About to be in glorious Sunny Coast winter sunshine. Boardies, thongs and
> > Tee...
> We were up there last weekend surf fishing. It was glorious.
>
> Maybe for a while you'll be able to forget about Starc's 15 wickets @ 25.20 @ SR 33.40

doesn't matter, we are getting smacked and only rain will save us

In message <5685c827-2f2a-4921-80b4-507ba80d2c0dn@googlegroups.com>,
mike <dmike204@yahoo.co.uk> writes
>but i expected another early declaration when root got an awful
>grubber. plus has brook been talking to boycott? in for over an hour
>and just pushing the singles. twas all a bit odd, like thats enough
>bazball for the day, but with the forcast as it is, i expected the full
>fireworks and then declare, get say 5 overs at em?

I think that, with the bounce becoming increasingly uneven, England must
see getting a big first innings lead and trying to win by an innings is
the way to go. Otherwise it's hard to explain the way Brook batted.
--
John Hall "[It was] so steep that at intervals the street broke into steps,
like a person breaking into giggles or hiccups, and then resumed
its sober climb, until it had another fit of steps."
Ursula K Le Guin "The Beginning Place"

In message <3e295fd4-072a-483f-b159-c1572fbd4ac5n@googlegroups.com>,
jack fredricks <jzfredricks@gmail.com> writes
>What an amazing day's cricket.
>Did anyone here manage to go?
>I can't imagine how electric it must be watching these days live.
>
>I, of course, went to sleep (10pm here in Bris) during the lunch break
>so missed all the good stuff.
>
>Ali did wonderfully well @ #3. The perfect contribution.

It was, reminding us that he was once a "proper" Test batsman.

>Crawley's innings was breath-taking. I'm one of the many who have
>criticised him, and I'm happy to have been wrong. Stokes and Baz have
>been steadfast in selecting him.

Yes, one can see why. Of course he didn't a bit of luck early on, but
once he reached 60 or so he was sublime.
--
John Hall "[It was] so steep that at intervals the street broke into steps,
like a person breaking into giggles or hiccups, and then resumed
its sober climb, until it had another fit of steps."
Ursula K Le Guin "The Beginning Place"

On Thursday, 20 July 2023 at 23:34:40 UTC+1, jack fredricks wrote:

> Ali did wonderfully well @ #3. The perfect contribution.
> Crawley's innings was breath-taking. I'm one of the many who have criticised him, and I'm happy to have been wrong. Stokes and Baz have been steadfast in selecting him.

Someone did an analysis and said his innings had 51 "false shots" in it, and in the history of detailed analysis there was only one innings that went on long enough to have a similar number of false shots (one by Kohli a few years ago). So he "made his own luck" or whatever that means.

On Friday, July 21, 2023 at 10:01:27 AM UTC+1, John Hall wrote:
> In message <5685c827-2f2a-4921...@googlegroups.com>,
> mike <dmik...@yahoo.co.uk> writes
> >but i expected another early declaration when root got an awful
> >grubber. plus has brook been talking to boycott? in for over an hour
> >and just pushing the singles. twas all a bit odd, like thats enough
> >bazball for the day, but with the forcast as it is, i expected the full
> >fireworks and then declare, get say 5 overs at em?
> I think that, with the bounce becoming increasingly uneven, England must
> see getting a big first innings lead and trying to win by an innings is
> the way to go. Otherwise it's hard to explain the way Brook batted.
> --

these tactics are precisely what i hoped they would do in the
1st innings at edgbaston, bat long and put oz under pressure. unlike
this test the weather gave them plenty of time, but unless oz do
something suacidal, oz will have the last laugh, or at least a
sigh of relief when the rain comes down.

mike

On Friday, July 21, 2023 at 10:34:13 AM UTC+1, Richard Dixon wrote:
> On Thursday, 20 July 2023 at 23:34:40 UTC+1, jack fredricks wrote:
>
> > Ali did wonderfully well @ #3. The perfect contribution.
> > Crawley's innings was breath-taking. I'm one of the many who have criticised him, and I'm happy to have been wrong. Stokes and Baz have been steadfast in selecting him.
> Someone did an analysis and said his innings had 51 "false shots" in it, and in the history of detailed analysis there was only one innings that went on long enough to have a similar number of false shots (one by Kohli a few years ago). So he "made his own luck" or whatever that means.

he had enough luck for an entire team in a series! no wonder he rarely makes big scores.
but no one who saw it live will ever forget it. even the hilites i saw of the day didnt do it
justice. his 100s have come in 8, 19,29 and 38th tests, so i wonder how long before the
next, same time next summer?

mike

On 21/07/2023 15:55, mike wrote:
> On Friday, July 21, 2023 at 10:34:13 AM UTC+1, Richard Dixon wrote:
>> On Thursday, 20 July 2023 at 23:34:40 UTC+1, jack fredricks wrote:
>>
>>> Ali did wonderfully well @ #3. The perfect contribution.
>>> Crawley's innings was breath-taking. I'm one of the many who have criticised him, and I'm happy to have been wrong. Stokes and Baz have been steadfast in selecting him.
>> Someone did an analysis and said his innings had 51 "false shots" in it, and in the history of detailed analysis there was only one innings that went on long enough to have a similar number of false shots (one by Kohli a few years ago). So he "made his own luck" or whatever that means.
>
> he had enough luck for an entire team in a series! no wonder he rarely makes big scores.
> but no one who saw it live will ever forget it. even the hilites i saw of the day didnt do it
> justice. his 100s have come in 8, 19,29 and 38th tests, so i wonder how long before the
> next, same time next summer?

The gaps between them have been 11, 10 and 9, so if he continues the
sequence, the next one should be 8 Tests from now, which would indeed
(if he plays all of them) be this time next year, in the 2nd Test v WI
at Trent Bridge (and he'll be a very good player in 3 or 4 years time).

--
David North

On 7/21/2023 2:02 AM, John Hall wrote:
> In message <3e295fd4-072a-483f-b159-c1572fbd4ac5n@googlegroups.com>,
> jack fredricks <jzfredricks@gmail.com> writes
>> What an amazing day's cricket.
>> Did anyone here manage to go?
>> I can't imagine how electric it must be watching these days live.
>>
>> I, of course, went to sleep (10pm here in Bris) during the lunch break
>> so missed all the good stuff.
>>
>> Ali did wonderfully well @ #3. The perfect contribution.
>
> It was, reminding us that he was once a "proper" Test batsman.
>
>> Crawley's innings was breath-taking. I'm one of the many who have
>> criticised him, and I'm happy to have been wrong. Stokes and Baz have
>> been steadfast in selecting him.
>
> Yes, one can see why. Of course he didn't a bit of luck early on, but
> once he reached 60 or so he was sublime.

Can he become consistent is the question.

In message <8e9f3d9c-3aa3-4acf-ad1b-967bc389a44en@googlegroups.com>,
mike <dmike204@yahoo.co.uk> writes
>On Friday, July 21, 2023 at 10:01:270 >> In message <5685c827-2f2a-4921...@googlegroups.com>,
>> mike <dmik...@yahoo.co.uk> writes
>> >but i expected another early declaration when root got an awful
>> >grubber. plus has brook been talking to boycott? in for over an hour
>> >and just pushing the singles. twas all a bit odd, like thats enough
>> >bazball for the day, but with the forcast as it is, i expected the full
>> >fireworks and then declare, get say 5 overs at em?
>> I think that, with the bounce becoming increasingly uneven, England must
>> see getting a big first innings lead and trying to win by an innings is
>> the way to go. Otherwise it's hard to explain the way Brook batted.
>> --
>
>these tactics are precisely what i hoped they would do in the
>1st innings at edgbaston, bat long and put oz under pressure. unlike
>this test the weather gave them plenty of time, but unless oz do
>something suacidal, oz will have the last laugh, or at least a
>sigh of relief when the rain comes down.
>
>mike

England probably only need two rain-free sessions from here (the end of
day 3) to win the match. Unfortunately, the weather forecast for
Manchester for the weekend is about the worst I've ever seen at this
time of year, with heavy rain shown every hour for both days, so it
looks unlikely that there will be any play at all. The weather gods had
smiled on England up till now, with them generally having had the better
of the conditions, but it looks like Australia have somehow persuaded
them to shift their allegiance.
--
John Hall "[It was] so steep that at intervals the street broke into steps,
like a person breaking into giggles or hiccups, and then resumed
its sober climb, until it had another fit of steps."
Ursula K Le Guin "The Beginning Place"

In message <u9egsa$3c4f6$1@dont-email.me>, FBInCIAnNSATerroristSlayer
<FBInCIAnNSATerroristSlayer@america.com> writes
>On 7/21/2023 2:02 AM, John Hall wrote:
>> In message <3e295fd4-072a-483f-b159-c1572fbd4ac5n@googlegroups.com>,
>>jack fredricks <jzfredricks@gmail.com> writes
>>> What an amazing day's cricket.
>>> Did anyone here manage to go?
>>> I can't imagine how electric it must be watching these days live.
>>>
>>> I, of course, went to sleep (10pm here in Bris) during the lunch
>>>break so missed all the good stuff.
>>>
>>> Ali did wonderfully well @ #3. The perfect contribution.
>> It was, reminding us that he was once a "proper" Test batsman.
>>
>>> Crawley's innings was breath-taking. I'm one of the many who have
>>>criticised him, and I'm happy to have been wrong. Stokes and Baz have
>>>been steadfast in selecting him.
>> Yes, one can see why. Of course he didn't a bit of luck early on,
>>but once he reached 60 or so he was sublime.
>
>
>
>Can he become consistent is the question.

The way he plays, I don't think he can. But I think Stokes and McCullum
feel that's a price worth paying, in the hope that he can produce one
match-deciding innings per Test series.
--
John Hall "[It was] so steep that at intervals the street broke into steps,
like a person breaking into giggles or hiccups, and then resumed
its sober climb, until it had another fit of steps."
Ursula K Le Guin "The Beginning Place"

On Thu, 20 Jul 2023 20:38:20 -0700, jack fredricks wrote:

> On Friday, July 21, 2023 at 12:24:46 PM UTC+10, alvey wrote:
>> About to be in glorious Sunny Coast winter sunshine. Boardies, thongs
>> and Tee...
>
> We were up there last weekend surf fishing.

Did you do any good?
There's been a lot of mullett about and macks out wide, but all my mates
have been able to get in the surf are bubby sharks.

On Friday, 21 July 2023 at 19:46:15 UTC+1, John Hall wrote:

> England probably only need two rain-free sessions from here (the end of
> day 3) to win the match. Unfortunately, the weather forecast for
> Manchester for the weekend is about the worst I've ever seen at this
> time of year, with heavy rain shown every hour for both days, so it
> looks unlikely that there will be any play at all.

Two rain-free sessions at the moment seem highly unlikely - the draw at Evens is looking quite good value!

I hope a result can be forced but by the end of the series there ain't gonna be any backing down from the style - they've proven in the last two Tests (result or otherwise) that they can dominate playing this way. It was Starc and Hazlewood's 2nd most expensive innings and Cummins' most expensive.

If anything the main takeaway from this is how pivotal Lyon is to Aus's side... yes I'm sure he'd have gone for a few, but I'm pretty sure he would have taken wickets at more regular intervals than the quicks.

In message <521dc4a9-a8e7-44f4-b510-a4024d4d1a77n@googlegroups.com>,
Richard Dixon <richsdixon1975@gmail.com> writes
>On Friday, 21 July 2023 at 19:46:15 UTC+1, John Hall wrote:
>
>> England probably only need two rain-free sessions from here (the end of
>> day 3) to win the match. Unfortunately, the weather forecast for
>> Manchester for the weekend is about the worst I've ever seen at this
>> time of year, with heavy rain shown every hour for both days, so it
>> looks unlikely that there will be any play at all.
>
>Two rain-free sessions at the moment seem highly unlikely - the draw at
>Evens is looking quite good value!
>
>I hope a result can be forced but by the end of the series there ain't
>gonna be any backing down from the style - they've proven in the last
>two Tests (result or otherwise) that they can dominate playing this
>way. It was Starc and Hazlewood's 2nd most expensive innings and
>Cummins' most expensive.
>
>If anything the main takeaway from this is how pivotal Lyon is to Aus's
>side... yes I'm sure he'd have gone for a few, but I'm pretty sure he
>would have taken wickets at more regular intervals than the quicks.

All agreed.

The latest hourly forecast that I've seen this morning suggests that
there could be a dryish interlude of a couple of hours this afternoon.
But most of that time would probably be taken up by getting the ground
playable again.
--
John Hall "[It was] so steep that at intervals the street broke into steps,
like a person breaking into giggles or hiccups, and then resumed
its sober climb, until it had another fit of steps."
Ursula K Le Guin "The Beginning Place"

On Sat, 22 Jul 2023 10:16:14 +0100, John Hall
<john_nospam@jhall.co.uk> wrote:

>In message <521dc4a9-a8e7-44f4-b510-a4024d4d1a77n@googlegroups.com>,
>Richard Dixon <richsdixon1975@gmail.com> writes
>>On Friday, 21 July 2023 at 19:46:15 UTC+1, John Hall wrote:
>>
>>> England probably only need two rain-free sessions from here (the end of
>>> day 3) to win the match. Unfortunately, the weather forecast for
>>> Manchester for the weekend is about the worst I've ever seen at this
>>> time of year, with heavy rain shown every hour for both days, so it
>>> looks unlikely that there will be any play at all.
>>
>>Two rain-free sessions at the moment seem highly unlikely - the draw at
>>Evens is looking quite good value!
>>
>>I hope a result can be forced but by the end of the series there ain't
>>gonna be any backing down from the style - they've proven in the last
>>two Tests (result or otherwise) that they can dominate playing this
>>way. It was Starc and Hazlewood's 2nd most expensive innings and
>>Cummins' most expensive.
>>
>>If anything the main takeaway from this is how pivotal Lyon is to Aus's
>>side... yes I'm sure he'd have gone for a few, but I'm pretty sure he
>>would have taken wickets at more regular intervals than the quicks.
>
>All agreed.
>
>The latest hourly forecast that I've seen this morning suggests that
>there could be a dryish interlude of a couple of hours this afternoon.
>But most of that time would probably be taken up by getting the ground
>playable again.

If the weather is coming from this direction it will be too wet for
any play today.
A couple of hours of sunshine here and we're more likely to get
thunder storms than cricket.

max.it

On Saturday, July 22, 2023 at 11:51:34 AM UTC+1, max.it wrote:
> On Sat, 22 Jul 2023 10:16:14 +0100, John Hall
> <john_...@jhall.co.uk> wrote:
>
> >In message <521dc4a9-a8e7-44f4...@googlegroups.com>,
> >Richard Dixon <richsdi...@gmail.com> writes
> >>On Friday, 21 July 2023 at 19:46:15 UTC+1, John Hall wrote:
> >>
> >>> England probably only need two rain-free sessions from here (the end of
> >>> day 3) to win the match. Unfortunately, the weather forecast for
> >>> Manchester for the weekend is about the worst I've ever seen at this
> >>> time of year, with heavy rain shown every hour for both days, so it
> >>> looks unlikely that there will be any play at all.
> >>

well they got 30 overs more play than i expected, but it went mostly oz way..
perfect conditions for jimmy youd have thought but nothing happened. Hope
they put sentiment and history aside and choose Tongue for the oval
instead. Broads been a bit wayward in this test. Maybe he needs a rest too?

Wood said he needed only 6 balls, well he had quite a few more than that.

mike