2019 ASHES: 1st Test Australia v England, Edgbaston Aug 1-5

[AlwaysGreen]

So you think right now he is the best since Bradman? Or that he might be on potential?

Context. AB scored runs when he was surrounded by plodders facing the West Indies, England, New Zealand and Pakistan at their best. He for mine is the best since Bradman as his contribution to Australia kept us competitive or at least not a hospital case.

Ponting was surrounded by Gilchrist, Hayden, Langer, The Waughs etc.

Averages have gone up in the last 15 or so years due to better equipment and smaller boundaries too.

Smith is up there in that group with Ponting, Chappell, Border but a fair way off Bradman

 

[Timbo]

Just a quick reminder, we dropped Joe Burns and Kurtis Patterson who both scored tons in the most recent test Australia played, for Cameron Bancroft and Matthew f**king Wade.

If you still haven’t let the gravity of that sink in, I invite you to do so now.

 

[Raiders_Premiers]

His career needs to play out more to be able to make a proper judgement. As good as he is, at the moment I don't he's up there with any of those guys. A number of the great batsman averaged 60 at one point in their career but couldn't sustain it.

If his career somehow starts taking a dive people will change their minds very quickly. If he keeps it up, he will be worthy of making the best XI ever lineups.

 

[Fangs]

I'd like to see the next 4-5 years. If he plods around (as unlikely as that is) then he won't be in the conversation.

Still an amazing player. And like Clarke before him he is holding the batting together with very little support.

 

[TheParraboy]

Just a quick reminder, we dropped Joe Burns and Kurtis Patterson who both scored tons in the most recent test Australia played, for Cameron Bancroft and Matthew f**king Wade.

If you still haven’t let the gravity of that sink in, I invite you to do so now.

You could argue Smith and Warner replaced them.

Wade for Labuschagne

 

[Bazal]

Just a quick reminder, we dropped Joe Burns and Kurtis Patterson who both scored tons in the most recent test Australia played, for Cameron Bancroft and Matthew f**king Wade.

If you still haven’t let the gravity of that sink in, I invite you to do so now.

Tbh the gravity of that situation has made me two inches shorter...

 

[Tommy Smith]

talking to some poms on an english forum, they seem to think they have let us off the hook and expecting us to bowl them out for under 100 like Ireland did

I concur.

Australia are clearly ahead imo. We need 350 which is probably a pipe dream given how we've been batting lately.

 

[hineyrulz]

Context. AB scored runs when he was surrounded by plodders facing the West Indies, England, New Zealand and Pakistan at their best. He for mine is the best since Bradman as his contribution to Australia kept us competitive or at least not a hospital case.

Ponting was surrounded by Gilchrist, Hayden, Langer, The Waughs etc.

Averages have gone up in the last 15 or so years due to better equipment and smaller boundaries too.

Smith is up there in that group with Ponting, Chappell, Border but a fair way off Bradman

AB would average over 60 if he played today, he averaged over 40 against the Windies for over 15 years against the greatest pace battery the world has ever known. We have blokes who can’t even average that in shield cricket scoring test tons lol.

 

[AlwaysGreen]

Definitely let off the hook. Playing Anderson was a gamble that didn't pay off.

That said Smith and The Steak Avoider showed that if you apply yourself there's runs in that pitch.

Bairstow and Stokes and maybe premature ejaculator Ellen are the type of guys who might do well for the poms

 

[Eelectrica]

Hopefully we're not much more than 50 runs down for the second innings.

Show more grit with them a bowler down and break their attack.

Just gotta convince Wadey that perhaps setting a tricky low total might not be the best strategy in this instance.

 

[jargan83]

Definitely let off the hook. Playing Anderson was a gamble that didn't pay off.

That said Smith and The Steak Avoider showed that if you apply yourself there's runs in that pitch.

Bairstow and Stokes and maybe premature ejaculator Ellen are the type of guys who might do well for the poms

You fool, you’ve left out the great Joe Denly.

 

[typicalfan]

Just a quick reminder, we dropped Joe Burns and Kurtis Patterson who both scored tons in the most recent test Australia played, for Cameron Bancroft and Matthew f**king Wade.

If you still haven’t let the gravity of that sink in, I invite you to do so now.

The same Bancroft that England worked out in the last Ashes out here. And Matthew Wade, say no more.

 

[Twizzle]

I concur.

Australia are clearly ahead imo. We need 350 which is probably a pipe dream given how we've been batting lately.

well there will be plenty of overs from Bananaman to feast off

 

[TheParraboy]

Will be a great test match if poms get bowled out for around 250..

 

[mozza91]

How can Smith be the 2nd GOAT? He’s never faced the might of John Snow whilst wearing his best short pants. Helluva challenge.

 

[Front-Rower]

How Halzewood isn’t playing amazes me. They sat him out of the World Cup ffs then they don’t pick him.

 

[lockyno1]

How Halzewood isn’t playing amazes me. They sat him out of the World Cup ffs then they don’t pick him.

We probably have 100 less runs if he did- Siddle scores 44 and put on 80+

 

[AlwaysGreen]

We probably have 100 less runs if he did- Siddle scores 44 and put on 80+

So we're picking Bowlers based on their batting

 

[TheParraboy]

So we're picking Bowlers based on their batting

Raiders win/ Siddle 5 for - double tonight mate?

 

[Pommy]

Did anyone notice this last night