England v Australia, 1st Test, Cardiff, 8-12 July, 2015

All together now... He bowls to the left...

Well, full toss and half volley in his first three balls, we'll take that. Even if Cook can't put them away to the boundary.

beamer wrote:Definitely a Nasser-influenced decision, here... putting the opposition in (especially first Test in the series) will always be seen as the "scared" option now. Maybe this decision from Cook will redress the bal(l)ance...

Everyone still has "We'll have a bowl, mate" ringing in their ears. It's a 10-year anniversary thing.

Ethics? The Gall! wrote:at least starcs second over is a bit cheaper

think that first wicket can be put down to the opening ceremony

Poor judgment to try to emulate shyte, though.

dead pitch, shit bowling. well be lucky to get another wicket today

PeterCS wrote:

beamer wrote:Definitely a Nasser-influenced decision, here... putting the opposition in (especially first Test in the series) will always be seen as the "scared" option now. Maybe this decision from Cook will redress the bal(l)ance...

Everyone still has "We'll have a bowl, mate" ringing in their ears. It's a 10-year anniversary thing.

Was 12 or 13 years ago now, that one...

Anyway, Cook races to double figures.

Agree with you ETG - dead arse pitch.

In 42 balls though what have we shown in terms of attacking intent.

3 or 4 attacking shots at most?

Ballance especially - his approach is so negative.

Allows bowlers to hit a line and length repeatedly - puts little pressure on them and loads on us.

How's your confidence Starc?

Captain's turned to the bloke from the dumpster already.

Lindsay no.2 wrote:Agree with you ETG - dead arse pitch.

In 42 balls though what have we shown in terms of attacking intent.

3 or 4 attacking shots at most?

Ballance especially - his approach is so negative.

Allows bowlers to hit a line and length repeatedly - puts little pressure on them and loads on us.

We're scoring at 3 an over... that's more than acceptable in these conditions given we lost a wicket in the second over. If you expect them to play like Gayle and McCullum, perhaps see if there's a T20 on the other channel...

Just wait for the rank full toss and put it away, that's absolutely fine at this stage. If they were tying them down with maiden after maiden, fair enough there would be a problem there...

beamer wrote:

Lindsay no.2 wrote:Agree with you ETG - dead arse pitch.

In 42 balls though what have we shown in terms of attacking intent.

3 or 4 attacking shots at most?

Ballance especially - his approach is so negative.

Allows bowlers to hit a line and length repeatedly - puts little pressure on them and loads on us.

We're scoring at 3 an over... that's more than acceptable in these conditions given we lost a wicket in the second over. If you expect them to play like Gayle and McCullum, perhaps see if there's a T20 on the other channel...

The rate has been helped by a few edges through slip - but rate is not really what I'm driving at. It's the intent to score rather than the actual rate. At least Cook has tried to get after Lyon - right intent, unfortunate in that he's picked out the fielders with his attacking shots so far.

Ballance just sits there and allows people to bowl at him. Every time the ball is pitched up he looks likely to get out. So far the Aussies haven't been on the mark enough - but he almost looks like a tailender when he plays the full ball.

If and when they find their rythym, either in this match or in the series, he will surely struggle.

WTF is this shit from Starc?  Where is the bowler of the WC?

Bugger, the star bowler "drinks" gets his first wicket of the series...

Piss weak dismissal.

Now Bellance, time to prove everyone wrong and see it through to lunch.

JGK wrote:WTF is this shit from Starc?  Where is the bowler of the WC?

White ball!

Belf gets away with one there. Take your time, Shermanator...

Awful stuff from Cook

The 'weak link' got a scalp much earlier than one expected.

Brass Monkey wrote:Awful stuff from Cook

Poor shot selection.

Missing by the looks of it.

Nice support from Ballance. Still he struggles to see the ball under his nose so I guess you can't expect him to have a clue where it is from the other end.

Is it too early to say "I told you so?".

Not that it counts for much, as I've said before I'd rather be clueless with my cricket knowledge but win the Ashes....

Generally bowling rubbish... and yet have 3 wickets.

tricycle wrote:Generally bowling rubbish... and yet have 3 wickets.

I could bowl, if they knew I was Australian it would scare them enough for me to get a few wickets.

F*ck me.

Starc on fire all of a sudden.

Cheers Brad.

Farking Haddit