Stokes can’t bowl. Robinson and Wood are also totally gone for at least the rest of the day. Leach and Root are leaking runs like it’s nobody’s business.
That just leaves Woakes who has probably been the least effective bowler!
Wouldn’t say today has been lame. More that it’s been exactly what anyone could have predicted. With the exception of Leech who has been shocking our bowlers did everything to keep us in the game. Unfortunately fielding has not been at a high enough standard. All of this comes down to the complete lack of preparation, playing Leech ahead of Broad and more criminally, playing the combination of Wood, Robinson and Stokes with the two former prone to injury and the latter not having played a game in months.
Terrible selection. We leave out our most experienced & highest wicket taking bowlers & play a spinner who is better known for his batting than his bowling. Then we overstep & drop catches.
There's a post of mine somewhere where I strongly suggest taking Parkinson and Crane to Australia because finger spin gets murdered unless you're top tier. That stands
Australia had three players who scored big runs - we had none Australia didn't bowl a single "no ball" - we bowled four, one of which cost us a wicket Australia didn't drop a catch - we dropped a few and at least one "regulation" at slip Australia didn't miss a run out from three yards - we did Australia didn't have a spinner, who was meant to tie up an end and give the quicks some respite, go at 8.63 an over - Lyon went at 2.33 Australia don't have two injured bowlers
So, forget this Test as it's lost unless rain intervenes and there still won't be enough to make a difference but where do we go from here? The chances are that we will go without a spinner in the next Test even more so if Stokes is out. Bairstow would probably come in but if he does then, hopefully, he will do so at 6 and we will take the opportunity to move Pope up one. Anderson and Broad will probably come in at the expense of Leach and an injured Robinson or rested Wood
Our fielding and catching specifically is a real concern. It's no use highlighting the fact that our players are "under cooked" in that respect - we have one of, if not the worst, record for pouching catches at slip in the world. We should, with all the coaches and facilities available to us, be one of the best.
massacre .. the end of Leach's test career and hopefully the woeful captaincy of 'skipper Root', though the latter will not happen yet, (if ever ?) .. England's bowlers kept right at it but the Aussie batsmen were just too good and too determined .. thank the Lord for a rare Smith failure
Comments
Green gone as well
Warner caught on 94 off Robinson.
195-5.
Green bowled first ball by Robinson.
Carey survives the hat-trick ball.
Carey pulls a shorter Woakes delivery straight at short mid wicket. We’re into the bowlers now but they already have a lead of 89.
That just leaves Woakes who has probably been the least effective bowler!
Root gets Cummins caught at leg slip.
343-7 and a lead of 196.
Head 112 n/o
Starc 10 n/o
1-0 down unless the weather can save us
Morning - 31 overs
Afternoon - 23 overs
Evening - 30 overs
Not sure what happened through that middle session..!
Australia win by an innings and 56 runs
take a 1-0 lead in the series
Australia didn't bowl a single "no ball" - we bowled four, one of which cost us a wicket
Australia didn't drop a catch - we dropped a few and at least one "regulation" at slip
Australia didn't miss a run out from three yards - we did
Australia didn't have a spinner, who was meant to tie up an end and give the quicks some respite, go at 8.63 an over - Lyon went at 2.33
Australia don't have two injured bowlers
So, forget this Test as it's lost unless rain intervenes and there still won't be enough to make a difference but where do we go from here? The chances are that we will go without a spinner in the next Test even more so if Stokes is out. Bairstow would probably come in but if he does then, hopefully, he will do so at 6 and we will take the opportunity to move Pope up one. Anderson and Broad will probably come in at the expense of Leach and an injured Robinson or rested Wood
Our fielding and catching specifically is a real concern. It's no use highlighting the fact that our players are "under cooked" in that respect - we have one of, if not the worst, record for pouching catches at slip in the world. We should, with all the coaches and facilities available to us, be one of the best.