The Ashes Down Under - 2017-18

Or midgits

Hmmm

Ashes 2017-18: Mitchell Starc takes second hat-trick for New South Wales - http://www.bbc.com/sport/cricket/41898560

We’re sunk before we begin, aren’t we? Haven’t found a decent top order, and our life-saving middle order is missing Stokes.

I don’t think we’ll win any tests. Might be competitive in the ODIs.

Also, BT Sport?

May have lost Moeen as well…

They paid bucket loads in an attempt to get more subscribers, much like the Champions League football, trouble is most of the Tests are over night (is there a day nighter this time around) so people will just watch the highlights from aletnative sources…

And I have just sacked off BT sports :lou_facepalm_2:

I have a fundamental issue stumping up the extra fiver they demand so that I could watch it on my Sky box, despite being a broadband and BT sport subscriber - Well they just lost the lot, lines, calls, fibre. Wankers

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What’s this? NOOOOO!!!

He’s my favourite player. Has he been lynched by Baz for that mix-up with the poppy?

I think Stokes will be back.

Please.

Please please please.

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I just renewed my phone contract with EE. They chucked in BT Sport for 3 quid a month. MIrrorcast to the TV. Job done.

I’m also off work for 4 of the 5 tests. Smug.

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I can’t see it. From a playing point of view we need him like hell. Listened to the BBC “Omnishambles” documentary on 5 live. Was really revealing how much psychology and team togetherness is important.

I need glasses.

Just spent my morning coffee wondering how you could suck off a tv channel.

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An interesting read.

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)…

Dingo. I like that.

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?

Baylias can.

That’s about it I expect - even his 50 odd he was dropped 3 times - that won’t happen at Test Level

(Although tbh we are rather good at dropping catches ourselves)

If we’re like this against a Cricket Australia XI I’m glad I’ll be in bed

Wow, we got over 259 in a first innings? Things look more positive than I thought.

Meanwhile best use of the new 280 character limit on Twotter goes to …

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Oh

For

Fucks

Sake

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.

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