Cricket

hmmmm bit flat atm. stokes to do a small spell ?

Rooooot

Fiiiiiiiiiinally.

Sounds like that might be it for the day?

does anyone know the amount of overs bowled today? I heard that there were 30 bowled, which would be unfortunate if it means no refund. 1445h-1700h (including breaks) doesn't seem like enough cricket to justify the cost.

edit: bought a ticket for tomorrow. gonna risk it. hope we get to watch some cricket!

https://twitter.com/tompeck/status/1682732981704687617

This Telegraph writer seems to be the only critic saying we should have declared yesterday. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/cricket/2023/07/22/not-declaring-could-cost-england-shot-at-ashes-victory/

Radar looking promising... will be touch and go all day I reckon

Yes - looking like showers on and off. Hopefully enough play to get a result.

Has he even held a cricket bat in a crucial innings, or bowled a ball when needed to make an impact, or owned a captain’s decision in a match.. his 3 year editorial for Wisden is probably stats alone, unless someone can enlighten me..

journalists with opinions based on hindsight can fuck right off, the Telegraph can fuck right off as well.

rant over

Let’s hope for some play and drama today, this series has been great so far

i haven't read the article so idk if he's been very critical in tone. but there was a case for declaring at lunchtime on Friday and having a longer bowl at them.

TMS commentators were saying so without hindsight and they have played in pressure situations.

Hi,
Thanks for that link.
I've never been to the Dome. Does it have any internal columns?

1pm restart!
(If no further rain).

Only the yellow pylons which go down to the ground, at a somewhat smaller diameter than their passage through the roof membrane

Enough to interfere with play?

Apparently cricket was played in there and it was pretty poor.

If no further rain

Showers rolling through constantly, breaks not long enough to prepare ground & start play. It doesn't look good if nothing improves.

This is enough reason to ditch northern Ashes tests

Bouncing down heavy now. Miracle if they can get any play in before tea.

It wasn't hindsight. He tweeted in favour of a declaration at the time, 3 balls after lunch, at 508 for 8. And people in this thread were saying 'why are we still batting'. But we are where we are. There've been so many times that this series has been on a knife edge. No use moaning about what might have been.

And does it really matter if it goes to a draw? The quality of play is the main thing. The entertainment has been off the charts.

If they had declared England would be waiting in the pavilion to score 100 or so in the 4th innings. I don't think the lack of declaration has had any material impact

and not had Bairstow’s redemption of 99 not out and Labuschagne impressive 111 knock when AUS needed him. Loving the Ashes for its twists, turns and unpredictable outcomes. If that means Australia deserve to retain the urn by winning the first two tests when it could have gone either way, then let the Oval be our hope to square the series. Bazball has made English cricket a great spectacle, reckless too I suppose

The TMS fellas seem to be saying that England have been seduced by the fun of Bazball: if we were ruthless we'd be 3 nil up. Isn't this what was said about England in every sport 50 years ago? That we are too gentlemanly to beat anyone?

This is total bollocks. Without Bazball we'd be 3-0 down. The mental attitude and approach is everything