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What gets me is the Ashes is the biggest cricket series bar none and should have the 2 best umpires in the world standing at either end and the next best 2 umpires should be the 3rd and 4th officials in the same Test for all 5 in the Series, I dont care if they are English, Australian or from Timbucktoo.
But we constantly get some of the worst umpires on the ICC world panel including the truly incompetent Joel Wilson in the last Ashes Series in England in 2019 who made some of the worst howlers I have ever seen including Stokes given not out lbw when absolutely plumb to Lyon at Headingly that ultimately cost us winning that Test and the Series. We have also in previous Ashes Series in England this century had the likes of Billy Bowden, Steve Bucknor, Aleem Dar etc who were nothing short of bloody ordinary!


Back to the cricket I reckon that Starc catch given not out has given England some massive momentum leading in to this last day and with Stokes looking good along with Duckett who just loves the Lords wicket another Headingly 2019 is on the cards!

Wow England's 5th wicket partnership over 100,now.
The pressure is already fever pitch.It will only increase as the day progresses. 
Another Edgbaston finish on the horizon. 

Unless we can pull a rabbit or two out of the hat, it's Headingley 2019 looming all over again.
I think the Aussies are going to have to forget their second servings of tucker and do some serious strategising over lunch or it will be 1-1 in the series before tea.
The injury to Nathan Lyon has really exposed the lack of depth in our bowling, as feared. 
That said, hats off to Ben Stokes - I'd love to have a combative player like him in our line-up. 

Some putrid Captaincy by Cummins to keep bowling Green before lunch who unfortunately looks like a deer in the headlights in England with both bat and ball.
Stokes just kept hitting his half track pies further and further, not even the thought of pitching one up at the stumps.
As I posted above before play whilst Stokes is at the crease the ghosts of Headingly 19 revisited is on the cards!

UZZIE had words in the booing long room.Stewart Broad is sledging any Aussie he stands around.
On a personal note, imo the Bairstow dismissal was crapola

Australia are absolutely rattled by Stokes.
The bowling and captaincy is even dumber than it was at Headingly 19 and how many times are they going to drop him ffs!

Seen this movie before. How is it that one player can completely own the Australian teams arse? He bowled on one leg and we had no idea ok negative tactics but we have employed the same and he carts us for sixes. FMD embarassing.

Just after I posted the above a rare rash stroke and error of judgement by Stokes hands the advantage to Australia. Very lucky.

gtrxuone wrote:

UZZIE had words in the booing long room.Stewart Broad is sledging any Aussie he stands around.
On a personal note, imo the Bairstow dismissal was crapola

No it wasn’t mike, you are supposed to ground your bat behind the crease before leaving it. Out every day of the week. Smart bit of cricket by Cary and skilful.

Not sure how happy the JL fan club will be after that Cummins / McDonald win.....totally agree Cummin's tactics were bordering beyond bizarre... but hey Aust are 2 nil up, despite all the momentum on day 5 with Eng, and Eng winning both tosses, and having the better of the conditions most days so far in the series.

Crazy to think the ridiculed pairing of Carbon Pat and Ronald McDonald, are on the cusp of achieving something, better credentialed and more liked Aust captain/coaches haven't conquered since 2001... a UK Ashes victory.....though still time for the haters to get their wish of those 2 fellas falling at the final hurdle.

Fantastic knock by Stokes, took advantage of some shoddy bowling, fielding and captaincy...to nearly drag his team over the line to an epic win.....but sadly not to be. Enjoyed hearing Broad have a tasty at anything Australian and  more so Robinson holing out to Smith in the deep.....pure karma.

As for Bairstow....totally agree with DD...for once.....schoolboy error....takes a millisecond to ground your bat in the crease to indicate you wish to wander down the track.....perhaps the thought of that upcoming succulent Lords lunch clouded Bairstow's judgement.

Eng will be doubly pissed and will double down hard on Bazball now....be interesting to see if they parachute Wood in for some express chin music....all Aust need to do is keep their nerve and let the English implode....like they have done repeatedly so far......onwards to Leeds....and hopefully the Ashes....

Pity some of the dismissals or non-dismissals took away shine from a good match
Almost let Stokes take it away but now they've got to get a new spinner sorted fast
I'd say he'll be ruthlessly targeted now
Better start than anybody could have predicted but they've had some luck let's see when that runs out