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How is it a shocking decision? We have to bowl at them twice, and we have to win inside 3 days to have a chance here, so we have to force it and hope. We wouldn’t have bowled had it been a full 5 days expected, but in the circumstances I’m not sure we could have done anything different. Had to bowl them out quick, ie today, bat once and then bowl them out again in the on and off conditions of day 3.Yep shocking decision.
Surely you'd want to be bowling at them when the weather gets worse. On and off all the time.
How is it a shocking decision? We have to bowl at them twice, and we have to win inside 3 days to have a chance here, so we have to force it and hope. We wouldn’t have bowled had it been a full 5 days expected, but in the circumstances I’m not sure we could have done anything different. Had to bowl them out quick, ie today, bat once and then bowl them out again in the on and off conditions of day 3.
Just because it didn’t work out like that for us, doesn’t mean it was a bad decision, as batting first is never likely to lead to winning inside 3 days
How? We’d then bowl them out and have to bat a second time and guess at a declaration, and have to set one based on them having 3 days to chase itGiven our usual run rate, I think batting first on a good pitch and racking up a big total was a better option surely? Especially if weather conditions are likely to worsen by day 3.
Pretty Dull.
Obviously you can't have 5 Tests 5 weeks in a row but after the other week and how intense the momentum felt for England, had a feeling the break would work in Australia's favour
How? We’d then bowl them out and have to bat a second time and guess at a declaration, and have to set one based on them having 3 days to chase it
Arrogance ‘they love chasing’ craic againStill don't know why we put them in to bat.
It’s very optimistic to believe we’d hit the follow on. But that’s the only situation we can realistically win a 5 day test in 3 days batting first. At least bowling first opens up chances for us either bat once, or chase a small second innings total in very limited time.We also have the oldest bowling attack since the 1920's and the close proximity of the tests in this series can't be helping.
No guarantees we'd have to bat a second time if we made the most of good batting conditions and the weather turned.
Absolutely awful take this. There is nothing about chasing in this, it’s about bowling them out twice in 3 daysArrogance ‘they love chasing’ craic again
Smith looking ominously good
It’s very optimistic to believe we’d hit the follow on. But that’s the only situation we can realistically win a 5 day test in 3 days batting first. At least bowling first opens up chances for us either bat once, or chase a small second innings total in very limited time.
I can’t fault the decision - especially when the weather is as it is - and I doubt Ben would have bowled first had there been a clear forecast
Absolutely awful take this. There is nothing about chasing in this, it’s about bowling them out twice in 3 days
Us going at 4+ an over and scoring 300-400 today when it's sunny. Then bowling at them when they'd be going on/off due to rain and it being overcast. Plus keeping our bowlers fresh in the process.How is it a shocking decision? We have to bowl at them twice, and we have to win inside 3 days to have a chance here, so we have to force it and hope. We wouldn’t have bowled had it been a full 5 days expected, but in the circumstances I’m not sure we could have done anything different. Had to bowl them out quick, ie today, bat once and then bowl them out again in the on and off conditions of day 3.
Just because it didn’t work out like that for us, doesn’t mean it was a bad decision, as batting first is never likely to lead to winning inside 3 days
I'm not so sure about that - it seems to be the new way of thinking for England to bowl first allied with the belief that they can chase down any total they are set in the fourth innings.I doubt Ben would have bowled first had there been a clear forecast
Given it looks like we’ll get 4 days of cricket (340 overs given the poor over rates) I don’t mind the decision to put them in. If we get them all out today, even for 300+ then we are well in the game.
Slightly ominous that we haven’t created loads of chances, but at least we haven’t dropped anything (yet!)
Still plenty of time left in the game mate. Wood could steamroller through!Given it looks like we’ll get 4 days of cricket (340 overs given the poor over rates) I don’t mind the decision to put them in. If we get them all out today, even for 300+ then we are well in the game.
Slightly ominous that we haven’t created loads of chances, but at least we haven’t dropped anything (yet!)
Bizarrely he did it vs West Indies in a Covid test when he stood in for Joe Root. On that day it was very overcast and had perfect bowling conditions!I'm not so sure about that - it seems to be the new way of thinking for England to bowl first allied with the belief that they can chase down any total they are set in the fourth innings.
Don't think Stokes has ever won the toss and batted first in Tests in England.
I like your style. Parody is always good
If we know that batting fourth is likely going to see the worst time to bat(because weather will see us on and off)Given it looks like we’ll get 4 days of cricket (340 overs given the poor over rates) I don’t mind the decision to put them in. If we get them all out today, even for 300+ then we are well in the game.
Slightly ominous that we haven’t created loads of chances, but at least we haven’t dropped anything (yet!)