The commentary from Nassar and Ricky was amazing, because they are experienced captains who had excellent insight into what should be happening. I agree with Ricky to hand the new ball to Anderson in that critical moment. What an excellent coverage from Sky and 9 Now.
Only because the ball didn’t move then they all can’t play. The wicket of Warner was a good ball that moved, any ball that moved against Usman he played and missed but it was only a few which moved.
*👉It's surprising and shame that no one is even talking about Usman Khawaja's sheer performance let alone appreciation. He is the only man who played a big part in winning this match.*
2005 was something else. That's probably one of the most balanced English squads I've seen. They were underdogs going in but they shouldn't have been given how they'd destroyed sides since early 2004. That Australia side though was unbeatable a legend in every position 1 to 11. I do think though that if McGrath hadn't been injured on the morning of the second test, it probably would have been 2-1 to Australia. If I'm not mistaken, he's never lost an ashes test. 2005 was something else.
Paying scoop shots is not the only way to make Test cricket more entertaining. In fact I dont think you can make anyone who does not like Test cricket, like it by playing more shots. People who love Test cricket love it because of the patience, the grit and the hard work needed to build an innings, or to take a wicket. You cannot shortcut your way out of that.
Home conditions and a great deal of confidence, England have been playing great cricket, in 2021-22 they were in shambles well before they ever stepped foot in Australia.
The reality is that man for man this Australian team is far superior. Bazball and the chaos it creates is the great equaliser. It's not a choice for England, it's a necessity if they want to be competitive.
@@Dee-gx8ok absolutely, compare the lineups man for man 8-10 of the Australian team blows it's english counterpart out of the water. The home conditions, the crowd and the style of play all tilt the ledger towards a more competitive game but this Australian team is by far the more talented.
@Dee-gx8ok Get out of your feelings. Best 3 test batsmen in the world. Best pace attack globally. Superior fielding skills etc. Australia ARE a far superior team. That's just the facts of it. Australia played at about 70% of available talent and STILL won.
@@Dee-gx8ok It's statistically evident. Like the other commentator said the number 1,2 & 3 ranked test batsmen are all Australian bolstered by the best pace attack in the world (statistically proven). There is a clear reason that Stokes is requesting the curators prepare flat roads mate and it's because they too know player for player they're outgunned. If anything this goes to show the brilliance of McCullum and Stokes' leadership & ingenuity. They have turned around a playing group that was basically a rabble 18 months ago and created a structure that allows them to compete above their talent. It's the same way Klopps early Liverpool teams was able to take it to Peps Manchester City teams. He spoke about creating so much chaos you can bring the more talented team down to your level. Again all credit to this England team it is making for incredibly great viewing and even allowed a result to be actualised where as the rain delay in this test match would typically have resulted in a draw.
If anything Bazball hurt the English bowlers…. So Broad 44 overs , Ollie 40 overs , Anderson 38 overs…. Total 🟰 122 Pat 32 overs , Josh 25 overs , Scott 26 overs … 🟰 83 overs just pace bowlers England bowled 39 more …. Over 5 tests that’s 195 more overs Broad and Anderson can’t do it it’s too many
excellent point. For all of the Poms talk about aggression their selection & pitch preparation was very defensive. They know that in a shoot out, the Aussie pace attack is superior to their own.
...also Ali's finger has been ripped open by the Duke.. Wood will come into rotation but I don't think the English have the bowling depth to rotate effectively. We will probably see a repeat of years gone by, Anderson and Broad rested then calls for retirement 🤣 .. As a rabid Australian, one must take into consideration the fact that Warner, Smith and Labuschangne only scored 80 runs between them this test... This is what we in the business call " foreboding " 😉
Sky's commentary team was the best. Gower/Holding/Athers/Hussain/Willis/Botham/David Lloyd (bumble)/Cozier/Boycott Then they'd have special guests like Warne etc. Warnes cricket knowledge and analysis were fantastic. Greatest captain Aus never had. Miss it quite a lot.
As an aussie I love nassar, he class and a ultimate profesional, punter tells it how it is no sugar coat. Nassar and Punter deffs have massive respect for each other
You have to take your hat off to England for the way they approached the 5 days of this test match. They pushed us Aussies all the way with 'Bazball' , exposed some of our weaknesses (which I hope we iron out for the next test) and played the game hard but fair despite the tension. Test cricket at its finest - England v Australia; all 22 players should be proud of the entertainment they provided and the excitement they generated. Can't wait for the 2nd test!
I didn't agree with the overly defensive tactics employed by the Aussies in the field, but you gotta feel good pulling out a win with one batsman firing in two innings. As for Bazball, it's great to watch and ultimately, the Poms were unlucky not to get the win over us. Two ways to skin a cat and the winner is Test cricket
@@cotswoldscricketcoaching Only because Australia set those stupid fields when England's kamikaze approach had once again backfired-needed pressure on Root, not letting him get easy singles & two's.
Agree Steveo, that's definitely a factor. Broad, Anderson are great and have incredible endurance, but they are long in the tooth. Robinson also injury prone if asked to bowl long spells. And Moeen injured as well asks some questions. Four more tests in short order. Who will come in? Wood, Woakes ...?
@@mamill193 I'm confused. You say Anderson is "long in the tooth" yet also state that he has incredible endurance. Effectively your second comment cancels out the criticism about his age. Are you referring to his bowling pace? This shouldn't be a factor either. You are talking about a player currently sitting at number 2 in the ICC test bowler rankings!
@@robbawden9855 I think both statements can be true at the same time. Ha ha. 40 years old and still bowling at a very high level. I'm just saying that ten years ago, even five, he would've been kicking the captain to give him that new ball at the end ... but he didn't bowl an over with it this time! I think that's a sign that he had to bowl a lot through this match, and both he and Broad need to be managed. Add Robinson (never the fittest, though he has improved) and Stokes (dodgy knee) as well as Ali's finger... No doubt Anderson is an absolute gun but it was a big load in the first match of a five Test series. Both teams have talked about rotating bowlers, so we will see how it pans out. But I think the Aussies would be planning to bat as long as they can to grind the England bowlers down.
the amount of pressure on both sides in the last hour of the match was immense, you can see it in the way Cummins and Lyon batted, where the weight of expectations was on their shoulders, to the bowlers and fielders doing as much as they can to get those last two wickets, and as each run was scored, you can tell that the pressure was starting to have an effect on the English players. If this is a taste of what this Ashes series is going to be like, it gives a blueprint on what other teams need to do in order to make Test cricket great again, Apart from my guys picking up an enthralling win, the other winner is test cricket.
Yet aus haven't won a series in England since 2001 but eng have won a series in aus as recently as 2011... It's easy to bend stats to fit your personal narrative 😂
@@yeggydegz4330 3-2 , 2-2 Eng won in England,, 5-0, 4-0, 4-0 Aus won in Australia 😅😅 , it's not bending, it's domination,, last 12 yrs means after 2012,, play bazball & your point will destroy after this series 😂
Nassar, what a gentleman. He was always approachable, and would come and have a chat as we recoated the grass signs before the days play, at Adelaide Oval He was also really good sort when we ribbed him about his newborn son , being an aussie as well
All bazeball does is wear out Englands bowlers and allow Australia more time at the crease. That’s properly why Ollie was so frustrated at Uzzie. Bazzball simoly won’t work against Australia.
Nasser gets it. Australia have always been dominant through Ashes history. Tough, uncompromising, aggressive cricket. England trying to do the same and think its revolutionary! Hahaha.
Not trusting Jimmy at such a crucial occasion, not even for an over, wasnt ideal for me, specially when they had new ball. When stoksey took the new ball, I think the bowlers didn't execute the plan as they did when they had old ball. They had leg side field and aiming for hitting bouncers. Even stokes almost took a blunder with that plan but the moment new ball was taken, bowlers kinda deviated away from the plan and did a lot of full length deliveries and went for runs. Maybe they were hoping that the ball would move around if they go for full length.
So true! If anything, the old ball was moving around more. It was noticeable how they changed their lengths with the new ball, which gave Aussies a chance to hit through the line. Quite a few fours up and over the infield, which shows they were pitching it fuller. Lyon likes a hook, so should’ve kept on giving him short ones to hit, he inevitably hits to a fielder. Agreed, Anderson should have been given the ball, with all his experience and control.
*👉It's surprising and shame that no one is even talking about Usman Khawaja's sheer performance let alone appreciation. He is the only man who played a big part in winning this match.*
Another way to look at it is this: Can AUS really hope to win the Ashes if these batsmen don’t do better? You can’t keeping expecting Uzi, Carey and the bowlers to do it all.
@@gwh3013 that’s another problem. Their bowling stocks are not as deep either. Stokes is fragile and will limit his bowling because you will not want to lose him as a batter or captain. Also the fact they had to parachute Ali in also says a lot.
Starc in for Boland, and it's game over and 2-0 for Aus just like that. Starc's pace and yorkers are going to be the final nail in the coffin for BaZbAlL
@@debasismohanty1952 I think that will be the only selection decision for Australia ahead of Lords. My hunch is they have Cummins & Hazlewood to fulfil that line and length seam type of bowler. Starc gives them a left arm option, a bit more pace and more than useful with the bat but they may decide why change a winning team?
@@iandawson3171 Boland is also more prone to being shut out of the game with bazball. Starc isn't. Starc is the only bowler out of both teams that is capable of throwing down 150kph yorkers consistently. That kind of bowling is immune to bazball. Seriously, what are they going to do if Starc's hitting their feet every over at 150 clicks. Give him short sharp spells. Fight fire with fire. They have to fight fire with fire with our bowling. We can afford to bat however we want. It's the bowling that will be the tough part.
The best factor in the Ashes is you have two teams both trying to win (attacking), instead of two teams trying to not lose (defensive) - makes for entertaining cricket, and big kudos to England for ramping that energy up to the next level.
KP and Sanga's comments are especially hilarious after having practically creamed their pants watching Stokes' captaincy and berating Cummins' for most of the 5 days.
Great game of cricket! Amazing to watch as a South African. I think England should be kicking themselves for their poor fielding. Dropped catches and misfields under pressure were the issue, in my opinion. Lots of chatter about methods and mindset, but basics cost them. Two and threes turned into boundaries a few times due to bad out fielding. Dropped catches meant more runs between fall of wickets. Was frustrating to watch, but hell of a game nonetheless
Couldn’t agree more. I’ve found over the years that, never mind what people do with bat and ball, when Australia are winning they have usually been far better in the field than their opposition. They weren’t perfect in this test, but they took far more opportunities and made far less mistakes than England
It’s a fair analysis. The basics indeed. And as has been said the declaration. I find it hard to take, so soon after the decision to enforce the follow on cost England the game in New Zealand, only two Tests previously to this one. I enjoy the way that Stokes plays the game but over confidence seems to be a weakness in the team. Two of those Tests in Pakistan could have gone either way and they weren’t all that convincing against South Africa, although they managed the win, their experience over a younger team telling in the end.
The interesting comment about what Warner said- he invented Bazball he has played that way all his career. The first anyone heard of Warner, was in a T20 game against SA. after that people said he couldn't play test cricket but he has been very successful albeit a bit lean when Broad is playing in the UK. Seriously entertaining game, i hope the rest of the series is likewise.
tbh i’ve always been a football fan, but i started watching a bit of t20 last year and enjoyed it but i have to say that this game absolutely enthralled me - had it on the radio constantly, I was just pacing around the kitchen for 2 hours yesterday at the close. Really looking forward to the rest of the ashes, I’m going to have to absorb as much cricket knowledge as possible in the meantime so i don’t show myself up in front of friends! congrats australia, really stout batting at the end there, but england… you’ve got me hooked
A lot of experts think England's way of playing is the only right way and they are calling anyone playing old school cricket as having negative approach. AUS just made them eat the humble pie.
Brilliant / test cricket should only be in England Australia and South Africa Great match and resilience- always a delight to see match won by team batting last Amazing to see Starc picking trash from balcony
"There is more than one way to skin a cat." Brilliant by Ricky! It doesn't matter if we lose The Ashes 5-0, as long as we entertain the crowd. It's naive to think that England will be the savior of test cricket.
Great game. The two different approaches to the game, to me, evoke the story archetype of “the tortoise and the hare!” Slow and steady did seem to just make the difference but could have gone either way. Both teams created a great game together.
England declared too early in the first innings, rather than batting the other side out of the game. Too aggressive field placing for too long in both Australian innings and then far too defensive field placings at the end, allowing Australia to score at a high rate. Test cricket over five days is all about constantly applying pressure throughout the five days, making it hard to score freely etc….
Nasser said they don't need Bazball to beat Aussies - well they need something of T20 style with these batters, cause they can't really stick around or play in non-good batting conditions (barring Root). But As RP pointed out, there's more than one way to skin a cat. The way it played was entertaining on hand, but couldn't wonder how this English side would play in some decent bowling conditions.
Interesting to note that the first ball and the last ball of the Test were both boundaries. That can't be THAT common an event, surely? But what a superb performance by the mighty Aussies! Captain Pat, Ussie and Lyon were outstanding, but it was a magnificent Team effort also. Well done, lads! 😃👍 M 🦘🏏😎
England almost all thier players did their role, whereas Aussies had only 50 percent of players who did justice and the main players failed but still won the game, If smith and Marnus and Starc play at thier best then it’s game over for Poms
England made plenty of mistakes (Bairstow missed a bagful of chances, Broad overstepping when bowling Kawaga) yet only just lost the game. I think both teams can step it up.
In a test like this it doesn't not matter who is the winner when both sides produce such great entertainment. The 1-0 up doesn't matter when both sides were equally balanced, it adds more entertainment to come!
Australia's only question is does Starc come in at Lords? England need to ask themselves: -Do we order another flat, lifeless pitch? -Do we stick with Bairstow because sometimes he scores runs, or do we pick a proper wicket-keeper? -Moen Ali? -Ollie Robinson; he bowls slow pies and has a big mouth... surely England has a better bowler? - For all bravado, they will question their 'BazBall' approach. A win would have papered over these but England are now have a lot to ponder.
I wonder about wisdom of flat pitches? Surely the Aussies are used to flat pitches and greener pitches that swing with the Duke Ball would be more challenging or at least something not so similar to what they have at home?
You Aussies have a bee in your bonnet about Robinson as he gave your players some stick. Your lads have been doing it for years he is fine bowler look at his record
I hope Stokes orders another flat deck at Lord's and Australia wins the toss. Let's see how Bazball goes starting in the last hour of day 2 after the opposition has scored 4/600.
I think the more concerning thing for england is jimmy anderson. Hardly used and especually when the new ball was taken and i dont think robinson is a new ball bowler, great effort bowler though, has a role to play. Maybe a second spinner if one available if they have another flat pitch?. As a aussie happy to get that win though, would have been a heart breaker to get so close and lose it
When Nathan Lyon fumbled in collecting the ball and then in whipping the bails off back in 2019 ashes, it was Pat cummins who was stationed at short third threw the ball to Nathan. And in 4 years time, Gaz and cummins stitched a brilliant partnership together to win a remarkable test match for Australia, one for the ages I reckon.
Carey's numbers were just magnificent. 6 catches, 3 stumpings, ZERO BYES, 85 runs. Absolute class. England ended up going full negative cricket on that last day. This Bazball thing went out the window and they went back to the old leg theory negative tactic. Pack the leg side and bowl short at the body. As negative as it gets in cricket.
The most telling difference I see between the sides is in catching. I think England wins if it holds the chances they really should take. It's troubling for England if they cannot force a win after winning the toss on a wicket that became ever more difficult to score on with each passing day.
It was keeping Root on bowling too long that ultimately cost England the game. He’d done his job, taken the wicket. Those 14 runs off Joe in his last over gave Australia the momentum to get them over the line.
Get ready for heartbreaks moments for rest of the series... Loooooong series... Not for weak hearts... It will full of emotions... Im loving it... Waiting for next test...
If I'm an Australian, I'm not using this result as an indication the method is perfect. They need to be better. It could have easily gone the other way. If I'm England, I'd be reluctant to throw away the methodology. Other than the last hour or so, the aggression was generally working. They're driving the game while Australia is setting defensive fields that Border, Taylor, Waugh and Ponting would never have contemplated on day one. There are four matches to go. It was a close contest. Let's see how the next Test or two play out before making fundamental changes.
Nasser was spot on.... When you win a match every thing you have done was a masterstroke on the other hand when you lose a match it was a brain fade moment for you...
Doctoring flat pitches in order for "Bazball" to be more effective will hurt the bowlers in the long run. It further skews the balance between bat and ball which has over time been pushed in favour of the batsman. Great game of cricket but i would like to see fair pitches instead of doctoring to suit a style of play.
He is a former English batsman afterall and a great one too .. i like that biased commentary 😂😂 .. same with Ricky .. he was trying to stop Nasser from jinxing it at the end😂
Don't take Kevin Pietersen statement seriously 😂😂 he always criticise australia and praise England and Virat Kohli he praised Virat Kohli because of ipl contract
Cummins/Australia were criticised for going defensive very quickly on day 1, but if the batting side is scoring at a run a ball, what are the options for the bowling team? Under that sort of rapid scoring fielding teams fall apart. Over the history of test cricket there have been batters who have changed the momentum of a game with counter attacking innings. On these occasion one player has broken the spirit of the fielding side. Heads drop, the bowling becomes ragged, errors creep in. So what do you do when every batter in that side plays that way? What tactics can the fielding team adopt to counter the immense scoreboard pressure that the batting side is applying? There were lots of critics but history tells us that the teams that these same players played in mentality disintegrated when one batter changed the course of a game in one session with a fast scoring century. Australia withstood the onslaught and won. They never lost their nerve in a magnificent game.
Absolutely. England played some great cricket but Australia stayed in the fight and eventually won by playing smart cricket with what I think is a more talented team, they backed that talent, did the right thing and it's 1-0.
I’m Aussie (don’t worry guys I’m not gonna troll 😂, there is 4 more tests)… but if was an English fan and I hypothetically went back in a time machine and I could change only one thing from the 15 years… (the lame genie rubbing the lamp scenario thing)… I would have talked Alistair Cook out of retiring… because he was 33 and I feel he still had 4 years in him. He was absolutely remarkable, just pure brilliance… so when I heard his retirement in 2018… I celebrated harder than the English in 2005 when McGrath did his ankle before 3rd test 😂 Stokes, Root and Cook in 2019 Ashes?? In history I feel that the contest would be one of the great “what ifs” if Cook stuck around a little longer
I like this new england team. They have courage and i am backing them up. I know people will ask questions but its the best test cricket seen for a long time
Really interesting point, ‘bazball’ is entertaining and England on the whole are executing the game plan well, because let’s face it if they’re always all out for 150 it would be abandoned.
@@illhavenoneofthat I find it like the T20 stuff, The Hundred & more recently 50 over cricket to be highly unentertaining. Cricket has pandered to non fans who just want to see endless fours 7 sixes-so the pitches have become ever more lifeless to where teams are scoring the best part of if not 400 in a 50 over ODI & now England have transferred that to the purest format & ruined it. This was the first test I couldn't bring myself to watch & unless England change their mentality I will never watch another Cricket match again.
I love punter and as a legendary captain he has credentials!! However grit and courage puts you in a great position, at 8 fa with over 50 runs to get on the fifth day of a test where the conditions favour the bowlers big time. But Australia found something lion ans cummings not only batted well but at times they were patient and when lose balls were bowled cummings punished them. It was a slowly deteriating pitch scores got lower and lower as the innings progressed it was only the last innings that we were able to score them extra few runs to get us over the line. I know we won but as for who takes more out of this game i think its a 50/50 call as both teams had enough chances to win the test a super close struggle that witnessed a great display of batting from USMAN He was the highest scorer in both our innings a well deserved MOTM....
Even though England lost they were positive and good to watch. Australia has turned into how the English side used to be. Hard to watch at times the Australians batting. And thats coming from an Australian. Need to improve a lot on that test for us to retain the ashes. We were lucky with that one.
There were heroes on both sides and in the end Australia romped home. But the real winner in my mind was Cricket. The game provided the stage and both teams were really the actors and they played their part so well.
England did give their wickets away at times and the declaration was early, that said as an Englishman I love the way we play. I believe it is our bowling that lost us the match. Our bowlers did their best however, Broad apart we looked a little undercooked and off the pace and Moeen although tried his absolute best is no match for Lyon. A stronger bowling team with more pace and a spinner who plays regular Test cricket would have made the difference oh and a fully fit Ben Stokes attacking with the ball. Unfortunately this is where we are because we lack bowlers in the class of Cummins and Lyon. Please keep on batting the same England; however, we need to find a way with the ball. Wood has to come in at Lords.
England way of playing Bazball needs correction make good pitches and bring back 2021 Duke ball which moves more. At present Ben Stokes and co are flat track wonder boys
@@canwelook Exactly, granted they were 8 down but just bat out the rest of the innings. Root was on 118 just smack the ball around at the end of the innings and get 420-430 and then put them under pressure. I genuinely believe if they had a 50 lead at the start of the 2nd innings they would have won the game
...You'd talk differetly if they'd picked up 2 or 3 wickets. The declaration was valid - 20 minutes at a tired top order could well have won the test. To have Australia going in at stums 3/18 was worth the declaration. It didn't happen, but the idea should be applauded, not condemned.
Cracking test cricket for 5 days regardless of result, both teams should be congratulated. England dropped a few on day 5 so it could have been different, Baz ball and positive cricket is a winner for test cricket regardless, the declaration made no difference, plenty of chances in the other 4 days to change the result, some great efforts by players in both teams but Usman stands out for pure time in the middle and runs scored when needed.
Ponting is so blunt I love it. Plus you can't really question his credentials, he's one of the 4 or 5 best to ever do it.
'You answer it then'
Yeah. Idk who that other idiot is but imagine pushing Punter about the subject of Test cricket. Absolute flog
Literally the best captain ever..if you think everyone can captain a team of that stature, you're wrong
Yeah love watching him talk about the game.
@@mahmudulhasan0206I will go with Steve Waugh thanks
First ball: 4 off Cummins
Last ball: 4 from Cummins
The commentary from Nassar and Ricky was amazing, because they are experienced captains who had excellent insight into what should be happening. I agree with Ricky to hand the new ball to Anderson in that critical moment. What an excellent coverage from Sky and 9 Now.
I agree mate ! can sense the mutual respect each have for each other too, not so much with the other two 😂
It was fantastic. Cummins' innings is one of the greats. Usman being hard as nails. JOE ROOT.... utterly fantastic.
Only because the ball didn’t move then they all can’t play. The wicket of Warner was a good ball that moved, any ball that moved against Usman he played and missed but it was only a few which moved.
Bazball 😂😂😂
@@Truth_Seeker1aussies got the ball to move 1-2 times an over. Cry more and learn to play to conditions at home
*👉It's surprising and shame that no one is even talking about Usman Khawaja's sheer performance let alone appreciation. He is the only man who played a big part in winning this match.*
Yeah root was carving
Ponting and Nass are magnificent pundits. So many good points
Ponting is a rare genius. Successful batsmen, captain and now such a joy to listen to his commentary.
It took him way to long to grow up into an adult, but what a guy he became when given the captaincy.
@@n_mckeanwdym when you mentioned about him becoming adult?
@@Ameyiscool before captaincy he was a lot of trouble. Misbehaving in casinos , fights, etc etc
@@n_mckean Then his story is best for any Hollywood movie. Million dollar man would be the name lol
He has a great mind for cricket
From the very first ball to the last ball of this Test match, it was enthralling cricket. Up their with 2005 👏🏻
Nothing can beat 2005 ashes series so many legends playing
2005 was something else. That's probably one of the most balanced English squads I've seen.
They were underdogs going in but they shouldn't have been given how they'd destroyed sides since early 2004.
That Australia side though was unbeatable a legend in every position 1 to 11.
I do think though that if McGrath hadn't been injured on the morning of the second test, it probably would have been 2-1 to Australia. If I'm not mistaken, he's never lost an ashes test.
2005 was something else.
@@smartsquirrel1 surely...has 87 wickets in just 14 tests in England...he was unplayable
@@kabby2287 I disagree. This was as good as 2005.
@@smartsquirrel1 He was perfect for English conditions
Oooof, that was a stressful game to watch. If the rest of the series is like this, I’ll need some blood pressure medication
Same mate😂
Awesome match 😎
Two tough teams playing with grit. Great cricket.
Mate I had 6 heart attacks in 2 hours ❤
Absolutely! But let's be honest Australia have at least 8 of the best 11 players of the 22. It's like surviving drowning playing Australia.
@@hammygk4395😂
Paying scoop shots is not the only way to make Test cricket more entertaining. In fact I dont think you can make anyone who does not like Test cricket, like it by playing more shots. People who love Test cricket love it because of the patience, the grit and the hard work needed to build an innings, or to take a wicket. You cannot shortcut your way out of that.
Hard to believe this match was played between pretty much the same sides that contested the last Ashes series down under.
Amazing what home conditions can do isn't it?
England v Australia in England = even contest. Australia v England in Australia = no contest.
Home conditions and a great deal of confidence, England have been playing great cricket, in 2021-22 they were in shambles well before they ever stepped foot in Australia.
@@silence.5368 and the one in England before that, and the 2 other series in Australia before that as well?
@@spookavision my point exactly.
Big Merv Hughes hanging out with the Aussie fans, glorious :)
He's running the tour group
Michel Starc was cleaning his teams place. Kudos!!!
He be back for Lords I think
@PranavPrakash It will be interesting when he will be back, if they could win without him.
The reality is that man for man this Australian team is far superior. Bazball and the chaos it creates is the great equaliser. It's not a choice for England, it's a necessity if they want to be competitive.
@@Dee-gx8ok absolutely, compare the lineups man for man 8-10 of the Australian team blows it's english counterpart out of the water. The home conditions, the crowd and the style of play all tilt the ledger towards a more competitive game but this Australian team is by far the more talented.
@Dee-gx8ok Get out of your feelings. Best 3 test batsmen in the world. Best pace attack globally. Superior fielding skills etc.
Australia ARE a far superior team. That's just the facts of it.
Australia played at about 70% of available talent and STILL won.
@@Dee-gx8ok It's statistically evident. Like the other commentator said the number 1,2 & 3 ranked test batsmen are all Australian bolstered by the best pace attack in the world (statistically proven).
There is a clear reason that Stokes is requesting the curators prepare flat roads mate and it's because they too know player for player they're outgunned.
If anything this goes to show the brilliance of McCullum and Stokes' leadership & ingenuity. They have turned around a playing group that was basically a rabble 18 months ago and created a structure that allows them to compete above their talent.
It's the same way Klopps early Liverpool teams was able to take it to Peps Manchester City teams. He spoke about creating so much chaos you can bring the more talented team down to your level.
Again all credit to this England team it is making for incredibly great viewing and even allowed a result to be actualised where as the rain delay in this test match would typically have resulted in a draw.
@@Dee-gx8ok don't need opinions, go and look at the ICC player rankings.
Absolutely! And Stokes has what it takes to run with it.
pat and nathon shows maturity . long experience is key to not crumble under pressure .
Ice in his veins....... 🔥
What a finish 🔥 from captain Cummins ❤🙏
If anything Bazball hurt the English bowlers…. So Broad 44 overs , Ollie 40 overs , Anderson 38 overs…. Total 🟰 122 Pat 32 overs , Josh 25 overs , Scott 26 overs … 🟰 83 overs just pace bowlers England bowled 39 more …. Over 5 tests that’s 195 more overs Broad and Anderson can’t do it it’s too many
Interesting thought. If this is correct then the English bowlers will start to struggle after the second test due to fatigue.
excellent point. For all of the Poms talk about aggression their selection & pitch preparation was very defensive. They know that in a shoot out, the Aussie pace attack is superior to their own.
I said this on day one. Test cricket is a grind and grind their bowlers into the ground. How only a few of us can see this is beyond me.
...also Ali's finger has been ripped open by the Duke.. Wood will come into rotation but I don't think the English have the bowling depth to rotate effectively. We will probably see a repeat of years gone by, Anderson and Broad rested then calls for retirement 🤣 ..
As a rabid Australian, one must take into consideration the fact that Warner, Smith and Labuschangne only scored 80 runs between them this test...
This is what we in the business call " foreboding " 😉
BAZBALL what a joke ???
This test was made all the more stressful by having to listen to Pietersens commentary for 5 days
"The rest is history"- he repeated this time and again.
Yeah... Crows feet
Ebsolute egony.
Just imagine sharing a dressing room with him !
😂😂😂
This is the beauty of test cricket, you cannot get this feeling in other format
Amen.
My respect for Hussain just went up big time after watching this...
He is one of the best on sky
Sky's commentary team was the best.
Gower/Holding/Athers/Hussain/Willis/Botham/David Lloyd (bumble)/Cozier/Boycott
Then they'd have special guests like Warne etc. Warnes cricket knowledge and analysis were fantastic. Greatest captain Aus never had.
Miss it quite a lot.
Hussain has always been class
Hussain has always been one of my favourite English players.
As an aussie I love nassar, he class and a ultimate profesional, punter tells it how it is no sugar coat. Nassar and Punter deffs have massive respect for each other
You have to take your hat off to England for the way they approached the 5 days of this test match. They pushed us Aussies all the way with 'Bazball' , exposed some of our weaknesses (which I hope we iron out for the next test) and played the game hard but fair despite the tension.
Test cricket at its finest - England v Australia; all 22 players should be proud of the entertainment they provided and the excitement they generated. Can't wait for the 2nd test!
Because Australia respect & play test cricket the way it is supposed to be played. Not treating it like a one day slogfest.
yet it still came down to the end of the last day. It’s two methods that were neck and neck for five days straight
I didn't agree with the overly defensive tactics employed by the Aussies in the field, but you gotta feel good pulling out a win with one batsman firing in two innings. As for Bazball, it's great to watch and ultimately, the Poms were unlucky not to get the win over us. Two ways to skin a cat and the winner is Test cricket
@@Dr_Trinh If England had won it would have been the end of test cricket.
@@cotswoldscricketcoaching Only because Australia set those stupid fields when England's kamikaze approach had once again backfired-needed pressure on Root, not letting him get easy singles & two's.
@@daveborder7751dross comment
Great to see Stokes sign that lad's bat, you could see the happiness in his face. Great thing to do.
02:30
Then ignored 2 hot chicks who would of done anything he wanted to him
@@StephenCarrIsBaldhot?
@@Ballz2you95 yes hot… telling me you wouldn’t finish all over their faces?
@@StephenCarrIsBald😂😂😂bro why 😂😂😂😂
worth noting that australia did it without contributions from marnus or smith in either innings which is rare
Thanks to England's fast scoring rate Australia's bowlers are well rested and ready to go for the 2nd test .
England bowled 70 overs more in this test
Yeah can't see England taking 20 wickets again if batting first this series
Agree Steveo, that's definitely a factor. Broad, Anderson are great and have incredible endurance, but they are long in the tooth. Robinson also injury prone if asked to bowl long spells. And Moeen injured as well asks some questions. Four more tests in short order. Who will come in? Wood, Woakes ...?
@@mamill193 I'm confused. You say Anderson is "long in the tooth" yet also state that he has incredible endurance. Effectively your second comment cancels out the criticism about his age. Are you referring to his bowling pace? This shouldn't be a factor either. You are talking about a player currently sitting at number 2 in the ICC test bowler rankings!
@@robbawden9855 I think both statements can be true at the same time. Ha ha. 40 years old and still bowling at a very high level. I'm just saying that ten years ago, even five, he would've been kicking the captain to give him that new ball at the end ... but he didn't bowl an over with it this time! I think that's a sign that he had to bowl a lot through this match, and both he and Broad need to be managed. Add Robinson (never the fittest, though he has improved) and Stokes (dodgy knee) as well as Ali's finger... No doubt Anderson is an absolute gun but it was a big load in the first match of a five Test series. Both teams have talked about rotating bowlers, so we will see how it pans out. But I think the Aussies would be planning to bat as long as they can to grind the England bowlers down.
the amount of pressure on both sides in the last hour of the match was immense, you can see it in the way Cummins and Lyon batted, where the weight of expectations was on their shoulders, to the bowlers and fielders doing as much as they can to get those last two wickets, and as each run was scored, you can tell that the pressure was starting to have an effect on the English players.
If this is a taste of what this Ashes series is going to be like, it gives a blueprint on what other teams need to do in order to make Test cricket great again, Apart from my guys picking up an enthralling win, the other winner is test cricket.
🌟 Australia won more games in Ashes in England in this series than England won in Australia in Ashes in last 12 years 😅
Damn 😂
Yet aus haven't won a series in England since 2001 but eng have won a series in aus as recently as 2011... It's easy to bend stats to fit your personal narrative 😂
@@survivortheoneincharge7875 😂😂
@@yeggydegz4330 3-2 , 2-2 Eng won in England,, 5-0, 4-0, 4-0 Aus won in Australia 😅😅 , it's not bending, it's domination,, last 12 yrs means after 2012,, play bazball & your point will destroy after this series 😂
Wow facts 🙄
Nassar, what a gentleman.
He was always approachable, and would come and have a chat as we recoated the grass signs before the days play, at Adelaide Oval
He was also really good sort when we ribbed him about his newborn son , being an aussie as well
Nasser makes a good point. England didn't need bazball to beat Australia in England.
Well they probably did, drawing the last series in home conditions did not bode well for this series.
Just lozenges and greentops
Yes they do
@@spookavisionor Sandpaper and bowls of sugar at tea
All bazeball does is wear out Englands bowlers and allow Australia more time at the crease. That’s properly why Ollie was so frustrated at Uzzie. Bazzball simoly won’t work against Australia.
Nasser gets it. Australia have always been dominant through Ashes history. Tough, uncompromising, aggressive cricket. England trying to do the same and think its revolutionary! Hahaha.
Not trusting Jimmy at such a crucial occasion, not even for an over, wasnt ideal for me, specially when they had new ball. When stoksey took the new ball, I think the bowlers didn't execute the plan as they did when they had old ball. They had leg side field and aiming for hitting bouncers. Even stokes almost took a blunder with that plan but the moment new ball was taken, bowlers kinda deviated away from the plan and did a lot of full length deliveries and went for runs. Maybe they were hoping that the ball would move around if they go for full length.
So true! If anything, the old ball was moving around more. It was noticeable how they changed their lengths with the new ball, which gave Aussies a chance to hit through the line. Quite a few fours up and over the infield, which shows they were pitching it fuller. Lyon likes a hook, so should’ve kept on giving him short ones to hit, he inevitably hits to a fielder. Agreed, Anderson should have been given the ball, with all his experience and control.
England played really well too.
While Indian IPL team played WTC final like a domestic team
Yes🙂
Wow...what an absorbing game of cricket...thrilling end to a fantastic test...
*👉It's surprising and shame that no one is even talking about Usman Khawaja's sheer performance let alone appreciation. He is the only man who played a big part in winning this match.*
Usman Khwaja Ki Technique Bahut Solid hai.
He deserve Appreciation.
Agreed, he played the quintessential test match knock
I think that England have a lot to think about
Their worry will be that Warner, Smith, Labuschange, Head and Green barely fired a shot.
Exactly
Another way to look at it is this:
Can AUS really hope to win the Ashes if these batsmen don’t do better?
You can’t keeping expecting Uzi, Carey and the bowlers to do it all.
@@MaxFromSydney1That's the OPs point though. Our batters will fire at some point, too much talent not to and when they do, it's over for the English.
England had only 3 main bowlers for most of the second innings.. stokes hardly bowled and Ali barely could..
@@gwh3013 that’s another problem. Their bowling stocks are not as deep either. Stokes is fragile and will limit his bowling because you will not want to lose him as a batter or captain. Also the fact they had to parachute Ali in also says a lot.
Starc in for Boland, and it's game over and 2-0 for Aus just like that. Starc's pace and yorkers are going to be the final nail in the coffin for BaZbAlL
No Boland perfect for lords lords always helps seam bowlers
@@debasismohanty1952 I think that will be the only selection decision for Australia ahead of Lords. My hunch is they have Cummins & Hazlewood to fulfil that line and length seam type of bowler. Starc gives them a left arm option, a bit more pace and more than useful with the bat but they may decide why change a winning team?
Nope. Boland has done enough over last year or so to keep his place. Starc is inconsistent.
@@iandawson3171 Boland is also more prone to being shut out of the game with bazball. Starc isn't. Starc is the only bowler out of both teams that is capable of throwing down 150kph yorkers consistently. That kind of bowling is immune to bazball. Seriously, what are they going to do if Starc's hitting their feet every over at 150 clicks. Give him short sharp spells. Fight fire with fire. They have to fight fire with fire with our bowling. We can afford to bat however we want. It's the bowling that will be the tough part.
England and Australia style of playing cricket is fantastic, As a cricket fan this kind of competitive cricket Test cricket is absolutely amazing.
The best factor in the Ashes is you have two teams both trying to win (attacking), instead of two teams trying to not lose (defensive) - makes for entertaining cricket, and big kudos to England for ramping that energy up to the next level.
What a game of cricket fantastic the game was swinging one way then the other that’s why test cricket is the best form of the game.😊😊
KP and Sanga's comments are especially hilarious after having practically creamed their pants watching Stokes' captaincy and berating Cummins' for most of the 5 days.
Great game of cricket! Amazing to watch as a South African. I think England should be kicking themselves for their poor fielding. Dropped catches and misfields under pressure were the issue, in my opinion. Lots of chatter about methods and mindset, but basics cost them. Two and threes turned into boundaries a few times due to bad out fielding. Dropped catches meant more runs between fall of wickets. Was frustrating to watch, but hell of a game nonetheless
Couldn’t agree more. I’ve found over the years that, never mind what people do with bat and ball, when Australia are winning they have usually been far better in the field than their opposition. They weren’t perfect in this test, but they took far more opportunities and made far less mistakes than England
And declaring the first day
Yeah well said mate.
It’s a fair analysis. The basics indeed. And as has been said the declaration. I find it hard to take, so soon after the decision to enforce the follow on cost England the game in New Zealand, only two Tests previously to this one.
I enjoy the way that Stokes plays the game but over confidence seems to be a weakness in the team. Two of those Tests in Pakistan could have gone either way and they weren’t all that convincing against South Africa, although they managed the win, their experience over a younger team telling in the end.
Yeah spot on. Dropped catches, missed stumpings and run outs, honestly always comes down to the fundamentals.
Australia was never "gone."
Both sides were fantastic. Great advertisement for why test cricket is still the premier form of the game.
Test cricket is exactly that. It is the ultimate test of cricket skills over 5 days. Not many can master this.
What a classic Ashes test match. Come on Aussies & Poms, give us more of this. Ashes crcket forever!!
Winning runs off Robinson was sweet.
The interesting comment about what Warner said- he invented Bazball he has played that way all his career. The first anyone heard of Warner, was in a T20 game against SA. after that people said he couldn't play test cricket but he has been very successful albeit a bit lean when Broad is playing in the UK. Seriously entertaining game, i hope the rest of the series is likewise.
tbh i’ve always been a football fan, but i started watching a bit of t20 last year and enjoyed it but i have to say that this game absolutely enthralled me - had it on the radio constantly, I was just pacing around the kitchen for 2 hours yesterday at the close. Really looking forward to the rest of the ashes, I’m going to have to absorb as much cricket knowledge as possible in the meantime so i don’t show myself up in front of friends!
congrats australia, really stout batting at the end there, but england… you’ve got me hooked
Good for you mate. Been a test cricket nut since continually getting pummelled by the Windies in 70's and 80's. Can't watch the other crap.
A lot of experts think England's way of playing is the only right way and they are calling anyone playing old school cricket as having negative approach. AUS just made them eat the humble pie.
Brilliant / test cricket should only be in England Australia and South Africa
Great match and resilience- always a delight to see match won by team batting last
Amazing to see Starc picking trash from balcony
Need to add New Zealand in it
South africa?????? a decade or so ago, not anymore.
"There is more than one way to skin a cat." Brilliant by Ricky! It doesn't matter if we lose The Ashes 5-0, as long as we entertain the crowd. It's naive to think that England will be the savior of test cricket.
Proud the way England played...well done stokes,Root is amazing
magnificent game, as an aussie i applaud england for how they are approaching cricket they will win more games than they lose
Great game. The two different approaches to the game, to me, evoke the story archetype of “the tortoise and the hare!” Slow and steady did seem to just make the difference but could have gone either way. Both teams created a great game together.
Looking forward to the rest of the series and the second test. 😊
Great to see such an exciting finish in Test cricket.
What a brilliant match from both sides. The back and forth was fantastic to watch.
England declared too early in the first innings, rather than batting the other side out of the game. Too aggressive field placing for too long in both Australian innings and then far too defensive field placings at the end, allowing Australia to score at a high rate. Test cricket over five days is all about constantly applying pressure throughout the five days, making it hard to score freely etc….
Nasser said they don't need Bazball to beat Aussies - well they need something of T20 style with these batters, cause they can't really stick around or play in non-good batting conditions (barring Root). But As RP pointed out, there's more than one way to skin a cat. The way it played was entertaining on hand, but couldn't wonder how this English side would play in some decent bowling conditions.
Interesting to note that the first ball and the last ball of the Test were both boundaries. That can't be THAT common an event, surely?
But what a superb performance by the mighty Aussies! Captain Pat, Ussie and Lyon were outstanding, but it was a magnificent Team effort also. Well done, lads! 😃👍
M 🦘🏏😎
England almost all thier players did their role, whereas Aussies had only 50 percent of players who did justice and the main players failed but still won the game,
If smith and Marnus and Starc play at thier best then it’s game over for Poms
England made plenty of mistakes (Bairstow missed a bagful of chances, Broad overstepping when bowling Kawaga) yet only just lost the game. I think both teams can step it up.
In a test like this it doesn't not matter who is the winner when both sides produce such great entertainment. The 1-0 up doesn't matter when both sides were equally balanced, it adds more entertainment to come!
Ricky ponting is a great player as well as analyst.
Australia's only question is does Starc come in at Lords?
England need to ask themselves:
-Do we order another flat, lifeless pitch?
-Do we stick with Bairstow because sometimes he scores runs, or do we pick a proper wicket-keeper?
-Moen Ali?
-Ollie Robinson; he bowls slow pies and has a big mouth... surely England has a better bowler?
- For all bravado, they will question their 'BazBall' approach.
A win would have papered over these but England are now have a lot to ponder.
I wonder about wisdom of flat pitches? Surely the Aussies are used to flat pitches and greener pitches that swing with the Duke Ball would be more challenging or at least something not so similar to what they have at home?
You Aussies have a bee in your bonnet about Robinson as he gave your players some stick. Your lads have been doing it for years he is fine bowler look at his record
I hope Stokes orders another flat deck at Lord's and Australia wins the toss. Let's see how Bazball goes starting in the last hour of day 2 after the opposition has scored 4/600.
I think the more concerning thing for england is jimmy anderson. Hardly used and especually when the new ball was taken and i dont think robinson is a new ball bowler, great effort bowler though, has a role to play. Maybe a second spinner if one available if they have another flat pitch?. As a aussie happy to get that win though, would have been a heart breaker to get so close and lose it
@@michaelmulhall5007 hahaha, Aussies never concern themselves with pie chuckers. What about Grandpa Jimmy?
Still have four tests left...... well done Australia 🦘❤
Simply majestic!
What a classic game of cricket!
When Nathan Lyon fumbled in collecting the ball and then in whipping the bails off back in 2019 ashes, it was Pat cummins who was stationed at short third threw the ball to Nathan. And in 4 years time, Gaz and cummins stitched a brilliant partnership together to win a remarkable test match for Australia, one for the ages I reckon.
Carey's numbers were just magnificent. 6 catches, 3 stumpings, ZERO BYES, 85 runs. Absolute class.
England ended up going full negative cricket on that last day. This Bazball thing went out the window and they went back to the old leg theory negative tactic. Pack the leg side and bowl short at the body. As negative as it gets in cricket.
The most telling difference I see between the sides is in catching. I think England wins if it holds the chances they really should take. It's troubling for England if they cannot force a win after winning the toss on a wicket that became ever more difficult to score on with each passing day.
A younger bowling lineup with more energy and athleticism would do you wonders. If only Jofra was still playing
I was quite surprised that Stokes didn't trust the ball with Anderson in the last 8 overs.
It was keeping Root on bowling too long that ultimately cost England the game. He’d done his job, taken the wicket. Those 14 runs off Joe in his last over gave Australia the momentum to get them over the line.
Get ready for heartbreaks moments for rest of the series... Loooooong series... Not for weak hearts... It will full of emotions... Im loving it... Waiting for next test...
Thinking of spending some of my kids inheritance and hoping on a plane to London to watch the next few tests
Spend it! And keep some people in jobs. (I think you meant 'hopping' not 'hoping'.)
If I'm an Australian, I'm not using this result as an indication the method is perfect. They need to be better. It could have easily gone the other way.
If I'm England, I'd be reluctant to throw away the methodology. Other than the last hour or so, the aggression was generally working. They're driving the game while Australia is setting defensive fields that Border, Taylor, Waugh and Ponting would never have contemplated on day one.
There are four matches to go. It was a close contest. Let's see how the next Test or two play out before making fundamental changes.
Nasser was spot on....
When you win a match every thing you have done was a masterstroke on the other hand when you lose a match it was a brain fade moment for you...
Doctoring flat pitches in order for "Bazball" to be more effective will hurt the bowlers in the long run. It further skews the balance between bat and ball which has over time been pushed in favour of the batsman. Great game of cricket but i would like to see fair pitches instead of doctoring to suit a style of play.
The English pace battery will be cooked by the 3rd test at this rate. Too many overs.
KP's commentary make me so angry. Always hammering Australia negatively. Bring others please.
He is a former English batsman afterall and a great one too .. i like that biased commentary 😂😂 .. same with Ricky .. he was trying to stop Nasser from jinxing it at the end😂
@@kumarayush9950 He's South African.
@@wyattfamily8997that does nt erease the memory of his ist ashes century which saved english ass
@@wyattfamily8997 ik that .. he has played for England so obviously he's biased
Don't take Kevin Pietersen statement seriously 😂😂 he always criticise australia and praise England and Virat Kohli he praised Virat Kohli because of ipl contract
Stokesy, it’s all about Headingley man…
Cummins/Australia were criticised for going defensive very quickly on day 1, but if the batting side is scoring at a run a ball, what are the options for the bowling team? Under that sort of rapid scoring fielding teams fall apart. Over the history of test cricket there have been batters who have changed the momentum of a game with counter attacking innings. On these occasion one player has broken the spirit of the fielding side. Heads drop, the bowling becomes ragged, errors creep in. So what do you do when every batter in that side plays that way?
What tactics can the fielding team adopt to counter the immense scoreboard pressure that the batting side is applying? There were lots of critics but history tells us that the teams that these same players played in mentality disintegrated when one batter changed the course of a game in one session with a fast scoring century.
Australia withstood the onslaught and won. They never lost their nerve in a magnificent game.
Absolutely. England played some great cricket but Australia stayed in the fight and eventually won by playing smart cricket with what I think is a more talented team, they backed that talent, did the right thing and it's 1-0.
Well done England for playing with positive intent. Brings out the best in all. This game could have been won by England but it was not to be.
England need to balance their approach between risk and unnecessary Risk otherwise they might not be able regain the urn
I’m Aussie (don’t worry guys I’m not gonna troll 😂, there is 4 more tests)… but if was an English fan and I hypothetically went back in a time machine and I could change only one thing from the 15 years… (the lame genie rubbing the lamp scenario thing)… I would have talked Alistair Cook out of retiring… because he was 33 and I feel he still had 4 years in him.
He was absolutely remarkable, just pure brilliance… so when I heard his retirement in 2018… I celebrated harder than the English in 2005 when McGrath did his ankle before 3rd test 😂
Stokes, Root and Cook in 2019 Ashes?? In history I feel that the contest would be one of the great “what ifs” if Cook stuck around a little longer
A very entertaining match.
Nothing crows like an Aussie Victory.
I like this new england team. They have courage and i am backing them up. I know people will ask questions but its the best test cricket seen for a long time
Stokes signing autographs, legend, from an Aussie, great game both teams
Nasser looks like Mr Burns more and more each year.
Love Nasser Hussain Voice 😍😍😍
England would be better served saving cricket by getting it onto free to air television than behind a paywall over playing bazball.
Really interesting point, ‘bazball’ is entertaining and England on the whole are executing the game plan well, because let’s face it if they’re always all out for 150 it would be abandoned.
@@illhavenoneofthat I find it like the T20 stuff, The Hundred & more recently 50 over cricket to be highly unentertaining. Cricket has pandered to non fans who just want to see endless fours 7 sixes-so the pitches have become ever more lifeless to where teams are scoring the best part of if not 400 in a 50 over ODI & now England have transferred that to the purest format & ruined it. This was the first test I couldn't bring myself to watch & unless England change their mentality I will never watch another Cricket match again.
it was free to air in australia
It’s not free to air in England? Damn, we have the ashes free in Australia every series.
@@danielspencer4665 no it's behind a paywall in the UK. The Ashes!
I love punter and as a legendary captain he has credentials!! However grit and courage puts you in a great position, at 8 fa with over 50 runs to get on the fifth day of a test where the conditions favour the bowlers big time. But Australia found something lion ans cummings not only batted well but at times they were patient and when lose balls were bowled cummings punished them. It was a slowly deteriating pitch scores got lower and lower as the innings progressed it was only the last innings that we were able to score them extra few runs to get us over the line. I know we won but as for who takes more out of this game i think its a 50/50 call as both teams had enough chances to win the test a super close struggle that witnessed a great display of batting from USMAN He was the highest scorer in both our innings a well deserved MOTM....
Even though England lost they were positive and good to watch. Australia has turned into how the English side used to be. Hard to watch at times the Australians batting. And thats coming from an Australian. Need to improve a lot on that test for us to retain the ashes. We were lucky with that one.
There were heroes on both sides and in the end Australia romped home. But the real winner in my mind was Cricket. The game provided the stage and both teams were really the actors and they played their part so well.
England did give their wickets away at times and the declaration was early, that said as an Englishman I love the way we play. I believe it is our bowling that lost us the match. Our bowlers did their best however, Broad apart we looked a little undercooked and off the pace and Moeen although tried his absolute best is no match for Lyon. A stronger bowling team with more pace and a spinner who plays regular Test cricket would have made the difference oh and a fully fit Ben Stokes attacking with the ball. Unfortunately this is where we are because we lack bowlers in the class of Cummins and Lyon. Please keep on batting the same England; however, we need to find a way with the ball. Wood has to come in at Lords.
Plus Scotty Boland got a few. Good lad.
England way of playing Bazball needs correction make good pitches and bring back 2021 Duke ball which moves more. At present Ben Stokes and co are flat track wonder boys
England shouldn't have declared in the first innings. If they had got another 30-40 runs then it could have made all the difference
What did declaring give them? A measly four Day 1 overs at the Aussies?
And what did it cost them? The first test.
@@canwelook Exactly, granted they were 8 down but just bat out the rest of the innings. Root was on 118 just smack the ball around at the end of the innings and get 420-430 and then put them under pressure. I genuinely believe if they had a 50 lead at the start of the 2nd innings they would have won the game
...You'd talk differetly if they'd picked up 2 or 3 wickets. The declaration was valid - 20 minutes at a tired top order could well have won the test. To have Australia going in at stums 3/18 was worth the declaration. It didn't happen, but the idea should be applauded, not condemned.
Great game of cricket, England or Australia could of won this. This is why test cricket will always be the best form of the game.
Nasser Hossain is so right when you win everything you do is applaud but when you lose everything is questioned
Ashes for the last 20 years has been brilliant.
Cummins is constantly called defensive yet Stokes asking for a flat deck is as defensive as you can get.
Cracking test cricket for 5 days regardless of result, both teams should be congratulated. England dropped a few on day 5 so it could have been different, Baz ball and positive cricket is a winner for test cricket regardless, the declaration made no difference, plenty of chances in the other 4 days to change the result, some great efforts by players in both teams but Usman stands out for pure time in the middle and runs scored when needed.