How had Australia taken 5 wickets without trying to take wickets?
Because the Aussies believe that we will still go for our shots rather than doing nothing other than milking singles. And that is exactly what we've done.
I don't really think you can blame 2 or 3 of the wickets on playing too many shots.
shambles if we get anything less than 350 on such a good wicket.
I think we need 450 at least to put ourselves in a reasonable position. Ok we may bowl brilliantly/they bat badly, but I'd expect them to get around 450 on this wicket.
So tell me again. Why did Stokes, who has faced 14 white ball deliveries in the last four months, not take the opportunity to get the feel of bat on willow against Ireland? Root was in more or less the same position but at least 56 off 59 balls gave him some semblance of doing so.
Brook could have benefited from time in the middle too, having struggled in the latter part of the IPL.
Meanwhile we have Foakes scoring a ton this week for Surrey, having scored 408 at 51 this season.
shambles if we get anything less than 350 on such a good wicket.
I think we need 450 at least to put ourselves in a reasonable position. Ok we may bowl brilliantly/they bat badly, but I'd expect them to get around 450 on this wicket.
Really looks like Stokes isn't fully fit at all and is basically playing because he's skipper.
This is because Stokes isn't fully fit at all and is basically playing because he's skipper (which I think ridiculous), which is one of the reasons I predicted 1-4.
How had Australia taken 5 wickets without trying to take wickets?
Because the Aussies believe that we will still go for our shots rather than doing nothing other than milking singles. And that is exactly what we've done.
I don't really think you can blame 2 or 3 of the wickets on playing too many shots.
That is true. But both Crawley and Brook should have been out doing so - Crawley when he came down the track and tried to whip a ball from outside the off stump through leg and the Aussies didn't appeal and Brook, when he should have been caught by Head, trying to throw the kitchen sink at the ball.
Root, by contrast, scored his 50 off 74 balls and that included just 4 boundaries. He has hardly played a shot in anger. That is more than 4 runs an over.
Really looks like Stokes isn't fully fit at all and is basically playing because he's skipper.
This is because Stokes isn't fully fit at all and is basically playing because he's skipper (which I think ridiculous), which is one of the reasons I predicted 1-4.
I'd rather have played Woakes at Edgbaston given its his home patch. Probably give you as much with the bat as an out of sorts Stokes
Atherton: "The crowd just finding their voice again" Crowd to Lyon: "You're just a shit Moeen Ali, just a shit Moeen Ali, you're just a shit Moeen Ali....."
Look at you all, throwing Bazball in the bin because England lost five wickets. How about trusting the process a bit?
I'm not throwing Bazball in the bin. But there are ways of playing Bazball which is about scoring quickly not recklessly. Stokes was reckless. He usually needs time to get in. He'd faced 7 balls without scoring a run and then decided to throw his hands at the ball.
Root playing the reverse sweep is slightly different in that it isn't as risky a shot on a wicket of even bounce for a player who plays it as he would a forward defensive. He hits the ball on the deck and finds the gaps. He milks the singles and is now 66 off 97. That's 66-0 at a S/R of 4.08. The rest of the team are 170-5 at a S/R of 4.74. Which is better?
Neither the BBC nor Sky at the time thought Zak had feathered that nick which everyone on the pitch missed either, which makes you wonder if he really touched it!
if you don't like bazball at his ben stokes, you don't deserve bazball at his jonny bairstow
I'm not quite following that because Bairstow is actually batting as if he is building a base to then launch it - he has 33 off 45 (S/R of 73.33) but is earning himself the right to be punish the bowling as when the opportunity to do so arises. Stokes didn't do that.
We also should clear something up about Bazball. Both Stokes and McCullum have said that they aren't looking for players who just hit the ball. They are looking for players who can hit the ball when the circumstances are right to do so.
Comments
Ok we may bowl brilliantly/they bat badly, but I'd expect them to get around 450 on this wicket.
Meanwhile we have Foakes scoring a ton this week for Surrey, having scored 408 at 51 this season.
That is true. But both Crawley and Brook should have been out doing so - Crawley when he came down the track and tried to whip a ball from outside the off stump through leg and the Aussies didn't appeal and Brook, when he should have been caught by Head, trying to throw the kitchen sink at the ball.
Root, by contrast, scored his 50 off 74 balls and that included just 4 boundaries. He has hardly played a shot in anger. That is more than 4 runs an over.
England 42%
Aus 36%
Draw 22%.
I'd rather have played Woakes at Edgbaston given its his home patch. Probably give you as much with the bat as an out of sorts Stokes
Crowd to Lyon: "You're just a shit Moeen Ali, just a shit Moeen Ali, you're just a shit Moeen Ali....."
Root playing the reverse sweep is slightly different in that it isn't as risky a shot on a wicket of even bounce for a player who plays it as he would a forward defensive. He hits the ball on the deck and finds the gaps. He milks the singles and is now 66 off 97. That's 66-0 at a S/R of 4.08. The rest of the team are 170-5 at a S/R of 4.74. Which is better?
I've never been a fan of reckless Bazball.
We also should clear something up about Bazball. Both Stokes and McCullum have said that they aren't looking for players who just hit the ball. They are looking for players who can hit the ball when the circumstances are right to do so.
Being my usual critical self (proper Charlton) we need this partnership to last this whole session. Otherwise it's been naff.
Aus 24%
Draw 27%