India did very well, A rather tricky period for Australia tomorrow morning but the stat that stood out for me most was that Kohli’s 186 was his first test century since 2019…I was frankly amazed.
Baring last minute injuries, most teams name a squad of 12 a couple of days before the start and it’s only that decision of 12th man which is officially announced by the captain just prior to the coin toss. And usually the non-selected guy is aware of their status before then.
Most of the guys in the vests know days before that their duties will be restricted to running conveniences and equipment to the playing 11.
Surprised no one has mentioned South Africa’s record chase of 258 with 7 balls remaining. Missed the game but can’t wait to watch the replay.
Broke the prior record for a successful T20 chase of 246, set by Bulgaria vs. Serbia.
Resembled not so much a cricket match as tossing ping pong balls at an electric fan.
I watched the West Indian innings but had to miss the reply. That pitch was a road but must have been an incredible chase.
It’s been a while, but England cricket is back, with a single game against Ireland as a precursor to the Ashes. And the ball has been properly Bazzed - 524/4 off 82 overs, with Pope coming so close to a run-a-ball double ton.
And now Ireland already 2 down in reply, not looking good for them.
My Irish coworker (in London) was saying before the match that he wouldn’t buy tickets for Sunday.
Right now Ireland are trying to avoid the indignity of losing in two days.
Normal service is resumed, a comfortable 500+ at better than 6 an over and Ireland in all sorts of trouble.
Those Sunday tickets are looking redundant at this point (and I was tempted myself, glad I didn’t)
Nice to see Broad getting in the groove for The Ashes and unsurprising that Anderson is rested but the real story for me is where the next Jimmy comes from. I was listening rather that watching so didn’t get a real feel for Tongue (though he’ll be happy with his first wickets on the board)
Ooh, matron!
Looking forward to the ‘Tongue in the groove’ sports headline when he gets his first fivefer.
ETA: ‘Tongue makes the ball talk’.
Ah!
I’m faintly ashamed of myself. I think I’m coming down with a cold this morning and feeling rather dopey. The fact that I completely missed an open smutty goal is inexcusible.
Somehow Ireland have avoided The Indignity.
With McBrine on 85* I’m wondering how close to hundred he’d need to be before McCollum is tempted to hobble out wearing a cast or even a boot.
McBrine didn’t farm the strike in the final partnership at all - quite the opposite, he often took a single at the very beginning of an over and allowed Hume to take the rest. In that final partnership, McBrine faced 9 balls, Hume faced 33.
Good win in the end, although I would obviously have preferred a more clinical finish. This isn’t anything close to a preferred bowling attack, though.
World Test Championship final next, India vs Australia. Is there a way they can both lose?
Ah dear. Do old habits not die hard??!!!
You got the revelation of da Bazball and still want others to play negative. 
I just hope it’s a good game! And also that whatever the result, it either dents Australia’s confidence or makes them complacent, and doesn’t give them a much needed wakeup call or boost in confidence.
138 years of competition between two nations who understand each other sufficiently well that we don’t need to worry too much about being polite. 'ish.
| Series played | Australia Australia wins | England England wins | Draws |
|---|---|---|---|
| 72 | 34 | 32 | 6 |
So a bit of preliminary sabre rattling and piss taking 'tis fair game eh what? 
Hazlewood is out of the WTC, we’ll see if he’s fit enough to get carted around the park by Duckett in the Ashes
Hazlewood has been a worthy servant to the antipodean game and, though he has been ranked near the ICC top as a strike bowler for some time, when AUS play him, Starc and Cummins by necessity Hazelwood tends to get the job as the stock bowler which has worn him down. He’s a big unit and if his legs are dodgy he might not get his spot back.
If you haven’t seen him in action, the guy in his spot Boland might be the leather flinging revelation from the tour. I’m thinking up there with the Terry Alderman of 1989 sort of level.
If Bazball overlayed on huge expectations is delivering 250 in 40 overs and the reply is 400 in 150 you can have the romance and the death or glory, we’ll take the Ashes.
IND have done a reasonable job getting Warner back in some semblance of form.
They also maintain their ranking as the worst judges of decision reviews in Test cricket.
Another snippet:
Nathan Lyon who is likely to get into the 500 career wickets pantheon during the English summer has now played 97 consecutive Tests. The last Test he missed through injury, form or team balance was Lords in July 2013 when they played Ashton Agar on debut who didn’t perform with the ball but got 98 batting at #11.
Difficult to see India coming back from a day like that, to be honest. It’s possible, of course - a lot of the scoring was done by Head, who’s living on the edge a little, and teams can always collapse. But Aus will be looking for 500 and declare here
What are the chances of a few days of rain. Gonna be tough for India to get a draw with everyone still in T20 mode. I say they stay in that mode and go full steam. Who wants a draw anyway? Maybe rely on Pujara as an anchor.