While we are led to believe we are falling to pieces before we even begin the Series, the impression is that the Aussies are solid and settled and have “plans”
But actually their selection system seems to be muddled. Might raise the concept of the possibility of the beginning of the glimmer of a chink of light through their armour
(As in we might get a Test to last more than 3 days)
Oh and nice call @dinger unfortunately Moeen has a side strain and has now missed both the warm-up games. At best it will leave him short of practice in Aussie conditions (ie under cooked) at worst he could do a Woakes on us and that side strain could take a while to heal.
Luckily, the Gabba is traditionally “Seam Friendly” and the usual role of a spinner is to burn up time (unless you’re Graham Swann or Warnie I guess)…
Even on a seam friendly pitch, we can ill afford to lose another of our magic middle order. Moeen has dug us out of trouble loads of times, coming in at 7 or 8.
Latest I read says that they expect him back in time for the tests. But yeah, short of game time.
But all of these are fiddling while the top order burns. Can anyone really see Vince getting into double figures on this tour?
England suffered another injury scare in the early stages of their Ashes tour when Jake Ball collapsed in his delivery stride while bowling.
Ball has suffered a right ankle sprain and will be further assessed later on Thursday and on Friday.
The Nottinghamshire fast bowler, who has made an impressive start to this tour, saw his right ankle buckle as he attempted to bowl the fifth ball of his fourth over on the second day of this tour match against a Cricket Australia XI in Adelaide and was clearly in pain on the ground.
An honorary Dubai Saint playing for England on an Ashes Tour.
Wow.
Paul Collingwood rolled back the years as he fielded for a depleted England team in their latest Ashes warm-up match in Australia.
The 41-year-old, who is meant to be there in a purely coaching capacity, was forced back into fielding action after bowler Jake Ball sprained his right ankle on the second day of the fixture with a Cricket Australia XI in Adelaide.
Durham veteran Collingwood pulled on England white for the first time in almost seven years and filled in at mid-on, where he showed he remains as sprightly as ever by getting down to prevent Matthew Short hitting Mason Crane for four.
England have called up cover for Jake Ball who HAS damaged ankle ligaments
And I have to ask WHO?
Only played 9 first class games!
But was picked for the Lions squad and is supposed to be more fit than Helms and Wood… And will probably only be there for a week and jeez better look for my whites at this rate
OK so I have the time to spend thanks to being unemployed, but I have secured BT Sport online (only) for the total cost of Zilch. Mrs Bucks is a BT Broadband customer and they had a deal.
I can of course stream to the TV and I have just switched on the final Women’s T20. By the time we get to St Mary’s, I should have had four solid sleepless nights
