Australia clinch a famous 2-wicket win in the 1st Ashes Test against England at Edgbaston

[MenInG]

What a brilliant Test match this is!

Down to the last day and basically 2 results possible unless weather intervenes

==

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[Unbiased-Fan]

Test cricket best cricket.
Australia to win with 1 wicket in hand

 

[Double Trouble]

This game has brought a interest back into cricket in general.

Test cricket is the real deal.

 

[MenInG]

Poll added

 

[gibsyhesperis]

Magnificent match to date - reminiscent of 2005.
I’m so excited and the start is still two hours away — so much more exciting, and more importantly, meaningful, than the endless Mickey Mouse at the IPL and PSL

 

[Devadwal]

Australia game to lose , England first innings declaration might haunt them .

 

[Salman]

Will be a draw most likely, we will not get much more than 2 hours of play going by the weather forecast
.

 

[Protea Fan]

It seems first session is washed out

 

[MenInG]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">A nail-biting day for the cricket at Edgbaston, but will the weather play ball? Louise Lear has the forecast.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Ashes?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Ashes</a> <a href="https://t.co/6ySWskGoxl">pic.twitter.com/6ySWskGoxl</a></p>— BBC Weather (@bbcweather) <a href="https://twitter.com/bbcweather/status/1671083414546464771?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 20, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[MenInG]

Will Moeen Ali still be a spin option for England?
Sky Sports Cricket's Kevin Pietersen:

"I don't think he is an option, just because of the last over he bowled to Marnus Labuschagne.

"When you see that image - and I was an off-spinner, albeit not a very good one! - it's not fun.

"His job is that finger, and every time you grip that ball and it's sore, it's a problem. It's like bowler with a knee or an ankle problem.

"Will he be as effective? I don't think so. But that's also another reason why I think a guy like Cameron Green, if Moeen Ali comes on you should smack him."

 

[MenInG]

No play before lunch
News coming through from Edgbaston that lunch will be taken early at 12.30pm.

That also means no play on day five before 1.10pm at the earliest.

 

[James]

Weather might curtail this one

 

[Noman]

Weather might curtail this one

Can not see AUS winning this one in this condition, Fresh bowler, light on and need 3,5 runs to score. AUS Will be happy for draw now, England Can attack all want their want

 

[sweep_shot]

This game should be over in 2 sessions. So, there is still opportunity for a result despite the first session washout.

 

[MenInG]

1320 UK Time pitch inspection as per ECB

 

[jnaveen1980]

About 174 required in slightlly less than 2 session. Not impossible. But each wicket will increase the pressure. Depends on how the overnight pair does.

 

[jnaveen1980]

This game should be over in 2 sessions. So, there is still opportunity for a result despite the first session washout.

For both teams. But ENgland can on the defensive if needed. Same way AUstralia can also go on the defensive if needed. But ball is in ENgland's court as they can set even more attacking field.

 

[wrongun]

Australia to get 32 overs of play and defeat England with bazball.

 

[MenInG]

Hours of play after Lunch

1415-1630
1650-1900

52 overs plus the last hour (15 overs)

 

[sweep_shot]

Hours of play after Lunch

1415-1630
1650-1900

52 overs plus the last hour (15 overs)

52 overs should be enough to get a result.

 

[JattMaula]

It's getting spicy!

 

[Faisalabadimunda]

Boland gone

 

[MenInG]

WICKET! Boland c Bairstow b Broad 20 - Australia 121-4

 

[Faisalabadimunda]

Amazing how stuart broad manages to get the batsmen out in similar ways. Pitches the ball up and intices the batsmen to drive and gets them to nick the ball to the keeper

 

[Faisalabadimunda]

Aussies still have a bit of batting left . Carey Green and Cummins

 

[Protea Fan]

Broad single-handedly keeping poms in the game

Even with cloud anderson is below par this morning

 

[Faisalabadimunda]

I feel stokes might do something special today

 

[Faisalabadimunda]

Broad needs someone to support him from the other side. Could be moeen stokes or robinson.

 

[Faisalabadimunda]

Sun coming out. England need another quick wkt before aussies settle

 

[Ahmed216]

Sun coming out. England need another quick wkt before aussies settle

This is a high pressure chase especially with crowd behind England. Sun or no sun England will produce reverse swing with this old ball.

 

[Faisalabadimunda]

This is a high pressure chase especially with crowd behind England. Sun or no sun England will produce reverse swing with this old ball.

Anderson seems to be struggling. Main concern for England

 

[Ahmed216]

Broad has been brilliant. On a slow pitch inducing outside edges

 

[Rana]

Khwaja needs to take charge here

He is putting on too much pressure on the other Australian batters by not building any momentum for them

 

[KingKhanWC]

Khwaja needs to take charge here

He is putting on too much pressure on the other Australian batters by not building any momentum for them

I don’t think you understand test cricket , it’s not ipl .

Usman goes It’s over for Australia. Stay in & build partnerships , this will get them to the finish line . He has 2-3 who can do this with him

 

[Protea Fan]

Aussies are batting with too much caution apparently

May be they are waiting for stokes to set aggressive field and then open up scoring shots

 

[Ab Fan]

Travis Head is a better batsman tha any English batsman from modern era except Root and KP.

 

[imshally81]

Gone....

 

[Ahmed216]

Travis Head is a better batsman tha any English batsman from modern era except Root and KP.

He's looked like a bottler today under pressure

 

[Champ_Pal]

Darn it. Poorly played by Head. He should have been on front foot.

 

[Ab Fan]

Thank me, England supporters!

 

[Ahmed216]

Anderson seems to be struggling. Main concern for England

Expect the champion to come back strong in second spell

 

[Protea Fan]

Travis Head is a better batsman tha any English batsman from modern era except Root and KP.

Too much exaggeration

He looked clueless today and cant play short ball to save his life

 

[Champ_Pal]

Mark Taylor does not know how to be neutral when commentating. He is overtaken by his rivalry with England.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Australia have lost their discipline. There's enough for both seamers and spinners and their bats are not decisive in either attacking or defensive strokes .

 

[Amjid Javed]

Eng favourites to win from here khawaja needs to be more positive for Aussies

 

[Ab Fan]

Australia are clueless vs spin but the problem for England is Moeen every now and then is bowling hit me deliveries that can ease off pressure.

The best thing for Aus is to get to th target till 80 overs as the ball will get older and harder for their seamers.

 

[MenInG]

Australia's 4th Innings targets and results since 2017:

[/img]

 

[Ahmed216]

Khawajas calmness at the crease is so reminiscent of Hashim amla

 

[MenInG]

 

[MenInG]

Morgan makes Australia favourites
Eoin Morgan, speaking on Sky Sports Cricket:

“I would rather be in Australia’s position. It has been slow going so far but they have always said they will play the long game.

"Khawaja has been outstanding, almost unflappable. He holds the key and does not look like getting out. If he bats through, Australia win."

 

[goldenduk]

As good as England have been in the last few months this is the problem everyone highlighted: the bowling.

No genuine spinner, no genuine pace.

Broad has been terrific but when is he not in England?
Jimmy has been a let down but this has happened to him at time in the latter part of his career.

England need to pick a better bowling line up.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Very slow going from Australia . They are around 20 short of where they should be imo.

 

[Saj]

I really do rate Green very highly.

Proper all-rounder and a player who can win a match in any facet of the game.

 

[Rana]

Big wicket for England

Oh this is tense

 

[Protea Fan]

Felt like aussies running over with the game then comes the wicket

This is not finished

 

[Saj]

Nothing shot that from Green.

Aussies being too defensive in their approach and playing into England's hands.

 

[Visaal-E-Yaar]

89 looks like 890 right now

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Khawaja's Pakistani genes showing . Has played himself into a shell. Very poor batting.

 

[Saj]

Aussies playing very defensively and for survival.

Always a recipe for disaster.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

England heavy favourites. Khawaja continues to tuk tuk . Striking in the 30's. Playing into England's hands.

 

[Ahmed216]

Khawaja's Pakistani genes showing . Has played himself into a shell. Very poor batting.

Run scoring was always going to become increasingly difficult on a slow pitch. Look at England second innings

 

[Kroll]

Eng in the drivers seat. Amazing foresight by Stokes to declare when he did btw when he was able to forecast the rain. Soothsayer Stokes

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Run scoring was always going to become increasingly difficult on a slow pitch. Look at England second innings

Even on this pitch, Khawaja should have scored 30 more runs . No excuses for this pathetic batting . Unless they have already started looking for a draw.

 

[Ahmed216]

Even on this pitch, Khawaja should have scored 30 more runs . No excuses for this pathetic batting . Unless they have already started looking for a draw.

Agree. Khawaja should have been more aggressive after getting set

 

[Protea Fan]

One more wicket in next couple of overs then aussies will play out for the draw

Having said this the longer carey bats he can still win this as he is a busy player unlike khawaja

 

[Rana]

I said it before and I’ll say it again, but I fear I will be told that I don’t understand Test cricket and this isn’t IPL

Khawaja should have been the one taking the charge and making it easier for his partners on this wicket

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Looks like they really are playing for a draw as they don't expect all overs to be bowled. OZ dont want to risk losing wickets maybe.

 

[Marooned]

Sanga is an incredibly boring commentator.

 

[Rana]

I don’t think you understand test cricket , it’s not ipl .

Usman goes It’s over for Australia. Stay in & build partnerships , this will get them to the finish line . He has 2-3 who can do this with him

Comments like this

I would love to follow his comments now on Test cricket going forward.

 

[Rana]

Moeen’s trash has always shifted momentum in this chase

 

[Protea Fan]

Run scoring was always going to become increasingly difficult on a slow pitch. Look at England second innings

Eng somehow threw it away with extra aggressive approach

Root was smashing effortlessly until that rash step out try against lyon

 

[MenInG]

Still time to add your vote to the poll!

 

[Saj]

Love watching Carey bat.

Always positive and looking to score runs.

 

[MenInG]

Moeen’s trash has always shifted momentum in this chase

He has an injury to his hand - that wicket of Head was amazing.

 

[KingKhanWC]

Incredible mental application and skill by Khawaja.

The pressure will transfer to England soon if both stay at the crease.

 

[Rana]

Incredible mental application and skill by Khawaja.

The pressure will transfer to England soon if both stay at the crease.

Great insight into Test cricket

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Khawaja gone after a pathetic knock.

 

[Protea Fan]

Khawaja gone

Now actually cummins and carey can win it

 

[KingKhanWC]

8 overs until new ball due.

Aus need to ensure no wicket falls before this. Take is steady, survive the new ball and then go for it.

 

[Rana]

Missed out on at least 15-20 runs due to not putting boundaries away