The Ashes

Well the first test is over and we lost big time.

Why?
Well the England played like Australasia and Australia played like England!!

The English bowlers bowled a disciplined line . They swung and seamed the ball. The batsmen were never in at any stage. They made the batsmen take risks and then the fieldsmen took their catches.

The English batsman guts it out and hit the bad balls for four. Joe Root hit a magnificent century and had back up.

Our batsman played extravagantly and probably not giving the bowlers the respect they were due.
Our bowlers tried to blast their batsmen out and when they didn't work did not have a plan B.

The pitch was a typical English pitch. Low bounce with the ball seaming around. When their was cloud around the ball swung and Jimmy Anderson showed just how good he is when it does.

As Boycs said on the BBC ( the BBC are an absolute pleasure to listen to. all the commentators are great except for Glen McGrath is is dead boring) on this type of pitch you need a good technique and it showed up all the Australians.

Onto Lords.

I do not believe the Poms can play as well as that again nor we as bad as that again but we shall see.
On the other hand the Poms come into the 2nd Test full of confidence and the Australians must have seeds of doubt in their heads.

I am definitely looking forward to Thursday night!

Whoopsy, I should have added I loved how little sledging went on. As a former player,  as a coach and now as an Umpire sledging is not allowed under the laws of the game. I wished the Umpires would intervene when it does in tests!