The Ashes 2023

https://www.ja606.co.uk/articles/viewLiveArticle/455391

Big talking points so far

Australia retain the ashes in circumstances that nobody wanted.
What can we do about rain rain rain
Did England bat too long?
Has Crawley finally stepped up or is this a false dawn?
Should Australia play a more attacking brand of cricket?
Is Wood the nicest fast bowler ever?
Are Bairstow and Root dropping the Ashes between them?
Have the weather gods been kind to England throughout?
Do you sit or stand when you wipe and do you fold or scrunch?
The Smith/Smudge debate
Todd Murphy selected for the 3rd test
Wood and Woakes selected for the 3rd Test
Anderson dropped/rested - should he retire after this series? Does he look old now or is he just off form?
Should England change their approach / Is BazBall working?
Pope out of the series with shoulder injury
Carey runs out Bairstow / spirit of the game
Taking on the short ball
Lyon out of the series with calf injury
Robinson tells Khawaja to F off
England declare on Day 1 of the first test match
Moeen Ali recalled as he ends retirement from test cricket albeit likely to go back into retirement after this series
Leach out of the series with stress fracture in the spine
Josh Tongue called up to the Ashes squad
Ben Foakes left out of the Ashes squad

Results

1st test - Edgbaston: Australia win by 2 wickets.

2nd Test - Lords: Australia win by 43 runs

3rd Test - Headingley: Thursday 6th July - Monday 10th July
England punch back and keep the series alive with a thrilling 3 wicket victory over Australia. Putting the Australians into bat, England restrict Australia to below 263 but then put in a sub par performance with the bat themselves and face a deficit. Albeit a smaller once thanks to some Ben Stokes fireworks. England look like chasing a sub 200 total but some late big hits from Head push it to over 250. England look to be cruising as they build partnerships in their chase before Australia fight back with crucial break throughs. Brook produces his best knock of the series and forms a vital partnership with Woakes to see England over the line. Not without late drama as Brook goes before a couple of blows from Wood finish the job.

4th Test - Old Trafford: Wednesday 19th July - Sunday 23rd July
Cummins loses the toss and with a sad looking forecast for the weekend, Stokes opts to bowl and despite a load of starts for Australia, no one goes big. Duckett goes early in reply but then Crawley after a slowish start by his standards goes into 5th gear after lunch. Him and Moeen pile on the runs before Root joins the party as well. Both go by the end of the day leaving Brook and Stokes at the crease overnight on day 2. England bat on and on knowing they have to bat once and hope the weather holds long enough piling on the runs but leaving Bairstow stranded on 99 not out. England have an encouraging final session taking 4 wickets to only need 6 wickets across the final 2 days plus maybe a small chase. A lot of rain falls but a 30 over window opens up. England only take the wicket of Marsh as Labuschagne scores a century to hold England off. More rain comes on Sunday and no further play is possibly as we lose 150 overs in 2 days.

5th Test - The Oval: Thursday 27th July - Monday 31st July