Come on Crawley please make a half century at the very least.

comment by The Welsh Xavi (U15412)
posted 3 minutes ago
Root should feast if they keep these fields to him
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Yeah Root will absolutely relish this. I can't see Stokes going on the defensive and this could be where the captaincy comes into this series.

Not sure who said it but Stokes as a 9/10 captain vs 7/10 for Cummins feels right.

He will probably be out cheap now we've said it though

comment by Emile Death Rowe (TCM) (U8959)
posted about a minute ago
comment by The Welsh Xavi (U15412)
posted 3 minutes ago
Root should feast if they keep these fields to him
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Yeah Root will absolutely relish this. I can't see Stokes going on the defensive and this could be where the captaincy comes into this series.

Not sure who said it but Stokes as a 9/10 captain vs 7/10 for Cummins feels right.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
It does seem like a bit of an uninspired way to combat England. I suppose it works in some respects but it doesn't exactly move the game forwards - doesn't seem like the best way to take 20 wickets, put it that way. So yeah - seems like 7/10 captaincy

comment by Duncan1987 (U2291)
posted 5 minutes ago
Looking ominous for aussies here.
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I think this could well be a pitch where big partnerships are then followed by 2 maybe even 3 quick wickets. Hopefully they'll be more aggressive in the field when a wicket falls and they don't set fields like this all day. Well I hope they do but for the sake of the contest, let's see some more pressure put on the batters.

Bit of turn already

Bazball working perfectly.

Batting 2nd/last on this could be difficult. Really need a score here. Zak looking superb tbf though

comment by Duncan1987 (U2291)
posted 34 seconds ago
Bazball working perfectly.
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Always need both teams to bat before we see the game start to take shape. We could score 500 in 4 sessions but then you could bat for 7 sessions and score 750 leaving us another 4 sessions to try to force the result and I've no idea how Stokes thinks we could win from there.

Not complaining right now as it's early but I hope the pitch doesn't stay flat for all 5 days, and likewise we don't see 5 flat pitches the entire series.

That one spat and Crawley was all over the place. Only takes one ball

Have to say, I can't remember ever watching a run rate of 5 look quite so comfortable in tests

Can't believe I'm hoping for a draw already, couldn't believe the pitch when I saw it this morning. If aussies get 5 wickets today I'll be ecstatic.

Oooh Crawley actually edged that delivery

Could be looking at 350-3 at stumps.

Cricinfo says Ultraedge nicked that one in the last Boland over. Hopefully the bit of luck he has needed.

LOL WTF didn't they appeal?

Debate, should Crawley have walked if he knew he knicked it? I think so

comment by The Welsh Xavi (U15412)
posted 5 minutes ago
Not complaining right now as it's early but I hope the pitch doesn't stay flat for all 5 days, and likewise we don't see 5 flat pitches the entire series.
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I think the spinners, even part time, should come into play. I think Stokes will go for the short ball barrage early despite not having the bowlers to do it too and see if he can force some errors.

comment by sandy, golden boot winner fa cup 1901 (U20567)
posted 2 minutes ago
LOL WTF didn't they appeal?
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Because sometimes human beings make mistakes?

comment by Bake 'em away toys (U7303)
posted 2 minutes ago
Debate, should Crawley have walked if he knew he knicked it? I think so
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No

Crawley is genuinely very good....on flat pitches.

If only he could do the same when the ball moves.

comment by Bake 'em away toys (U7303)
posted 2 minutes ago
Debate, should Crawley have walked if he knew he knicked it? I think so
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Spirit of the game says yes. I'm one of those old-fashioned sorts who still thinks that sort of gentlemanly conduct actually has a place in the sport, so I agree with you.

That said, it was a VERY minor nick at the Aussies didn't even appeal, so Crawley might have been smiling ironically because he was beaten all ends up, not because he knew he'd nicked it

comment by Bake 'em away toys (U7303)
posted 46 seconds ago
Debate, should Crawley have walked if he knew he knicked it? I think so
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Yes but it's the Aussies so no.

comment by Duncan1987 (U2291)
posted 52 seconds ago
comment by Bake 'em away toys (U7303)
posted 2 minutes ago
Debate, should Crawley have walked if he knew he knicked it? I think so
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No
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If it was anyone else then yes, but the aussies? No chance.