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

One of our more impressive test performances of recent vintage.

There was lots of crying over the pitch on the first day, but it seems to have made for a good game of cricket, deteriorating enough to offer the bowlers and batsmen value, without being disproportionately in favour of either. Wickets did come about due to poor stroke-play, but that's the way the game has always been played. I think that's a few memorable matches at Cardiff now for England. Defying Australia with a 10th wicket stand to take a famous draw, obliterating Sri Lanka on the final day, and now this.

Good win.

Brilliant performance by England. Didn't pick it at all. Not at all.

As for the pitch - no. It was turgid. Mediocre. Fortunately there was enough swing to keep the bowlers interested and the batsmen are aggressive.

Brass Monkey wrote:Brilliant performance by England. Didn't pick it at all. Not at all.

As for the pitch - no. It was turgid. Mediocre. Fortunately there was enough swing to keep the bowlers interested and the batsmen are aggressive.

We'll probably get four more like it now.Not that our groundstaff prepare piches to order,oh no.

So, barring any niggles, England will be unchanged. There could be a couple of significant changes in the Aus team, though.

Well done England.  Outplayed Aust in every facet and it's hard to see anyway for Aust to win at Lords without Starc. 

Therefore, well done England on regaining the Ashes too.

Basil wrote:

Brass Monkey wrote:Brilliant performance by England. Didn't pick it at all. Not at all.

As for the pitch - no. It was turgid. Mediocre. Fortunately there was enough swing to keep the bowlers interested and the batsmen are aggressive.

We'll probably get four more like it now.Not that our groundstaff prepare piches to order,oh no.

Yeah you're most likely right. Although I'd say this is a typical Welsh pitch and it will be a typical Lord's pitch.

Brass Monkey wrote:

Basil wrote:

Brass Monkey wrote:Brilliant performance by England. Didn't pick it at all. Not at all.

As for the pitch - no. It was turgid. Mediocre. Fortunately there was enough swing to keep the bowlers interested and the batsmen are aggressive.

We'll probably get four more like it now.Not that our groundstaff prepare piches to order,oh no.

Yeah you're most likely right. Although I'd say this is a typical Welsh pitch and it will be a typical Lord's pitch.

I doubt it will have as much grass on it as for the match against India last year.

Henry wrote:So, barring any niggles, England will be unchanged. There could be a couple of significant changes in the Aus team, though.

You'd drop Watson and Haddin. That's probably it?

Brass Monkey wrote:

Henry wrote:So, barring any niggles, England will be unchanged. There could be a couple of significant changes in the Aus team, though.

You'd drop Watson and Haddin. That's probably it?

Starc will probably be out too.  Can't see Aust making 3 changes.  Watto definitely now that we need to win Tests.

What's the word on Starc? Is his ankle farked?

Brass Monkey wrote:

Henry wrote:So, barring any niggles, England will be unchanged. There could be a couple of significant changes in the Aus team, though.

You'd drop Watson and Haddin. That's probably it?

Nevill for Haddin, M.Marsh for Watson, and probably Siddle for Starc assuming his ankle isn't up to scratch.

Most impressive thing was that everyone contributed, with runs, wickets or catches. That's what is reminiscent of 2005. Even those struggling for form chipped in at a crucial point. Root was the star man, but a genuine team effort across the board.

In one bound,England have exorcised the ghosts of 2013/14. Aus. may well come back hard, but there will be no psychological advantage to them.

Yeah, could still be a 1997 as opposed to a 2013, but the pressure is on the tourists now, along wih the team selection questions.

Well played, England. A remarkable turnaround in approach since WC and WI.


Things that may make it difficult after this Test:

1. Winning the toss?
2. Traditional bouncebackability of Aussie teams
3. Johnners' tail up after a big innings
4. Smith and Clarke can't bat v much worse
5. Tendency to relax too far after a win (as v WI, NZ)
6. Shortage of a front-line spinner could be exposed if pitch is dry
7. Numbers 1, 2, 3, 4 all still pretty iffy
8. Root can't be dropped that early again, surely?

Only eight obvious potential problems makes a refreshing change for England.

A very good start, where about 8/11 contributed something of note. Perhaps even 9/11.

(9/11??)

Keep it up, you lot!

Not sure who didn't contribute, really... all the bowlers did, only Cook of the batsmen didn't really get much of a start in either innings and he certainly played his part in the field.

Henry wrote:Well I'm going to cal it- that is England's best test win since Trent Bridge 2005. Why? Because no one predicted they would win, let alone win this emphatically.

Apart from every Aussie on this board?

FWIW I don't think this series is anywhere near completion. The England top 3 are still seriously flaky and let's face it, the Haddin drop in the first session was the turning point

Yeah, a long way to go, and the Aussies will deserve full credit if they turn it around. Just pleased we haven't capitulated from the first match this time.

I'm just glad that the whitewash won't happen. The Aussies will come back hard and have better personnel from now on. They'll also be more acclimatised, they seemed to think they'd cruise after a couple of rank tour matches. So did I TBH

Agreed, no matter what happens now it won't be as bad as I feared. We've won a live test, 10th time in my Ashes watching life time, I won't be too greedy, the series will be alive until at least the 4th test, can't really ask for much more when I didn't think we would win a test, let alone a live test.

Incredible after what happened last time. I think I'll actually be able to enjoy the series now, if we lose 4-1 we have achieved more than I thought we would so anything above that is a bonus.

Cracking effort by England. I hit the hay when Warner was dismissed in the final over before Lunch. He and Smith showed how easily it could be done, but that was the writing on the wall for me.

So no surprises to get up to news of the defeat. Well done England, who can never be underestimated when competing at home. Your supporters must be absolutely delighted.

Now, can we fark Twatson off forever? Colour me shocked - lbw Wood. And well done to Midge on showing more heart than the top 7 put together.

14 times lbw v England, zero bowled, only something like 19 times caught and a couple of run outs. Wonder if he and the coaches spot the pattern everyone else does?

And for those Aussies who missed it, yes, he did review as usual...

Basil wrote:In one bound,England have exorcised the ghosts of 2013/14. Aus. may well come back hard, but there will be no psychological advantage to them.

Frankly - I doubt that.
I watched them live on the first three days at the Swalec and was glued to the box today...
they looked f**ked.... perplexed ... vexed....uncomfortable....uneasy.

Clueless with the bat (bar Roy first dig and Mitch in the 2nd); they're surprised at the aggression and
consistent lines the England bowlers maintained, and shocked at the resilience and aggression
in England's  batting (42-3 to 423 first dig) throughout this match,
They were outplayed in every one of the 12 sessions.
Not often you see that happen.

They can't use the "we were undercooked" line ... as they came fresh off a successful Carribs series,
and then played and beat (well) two decent counties.

Fair dues to Clarke - he readily admitted they were outplayed in "every facet of the game" in his interview.

Basically (IMO) the Aussies are shell shocked - and for that, thank you New Zealand and Macca.
I doubt they've had this "in your face" cricket thrown back at them in a long while ...

It's all very well Warner and Lyon hogging the crease at the end of a Lyon over pretending to tie
their shoelaces (childish) and having a chat thus preventing Stokes from re-marking his
guard and brushing the dust away (habitual ...a la Trott) ... but top marks to Stokes for totally ignoring them!

England are holding things together nicely and now have momentum ... let's hope it is maintained.
It's good to see the harnessed aggression knocking off the Aussies.
Long may that aggression continue.

PS Am still concerned at Ballance - but hey ... never change a winning team.