Cricket

[Nickslikk2112]

Bit tighter this time around.

[pxr5]

Yes it was, but another fine win.

[Nickslikk2112]

First Ashes of the Bazball era. England declare on Day one. I'd like to see a bit more application actually.

All the crims have to do is bat for two and a half days, get 700 runs and win by an innings Oh me of little faith.

[Slim]

What is this "Bazball" I keep hearing about on 5 Live?

[pdw1]

What is this "Bazball" I keep hearing about on 5 Live?

It is a cricket ball with an oversized seem that works like a boomerang. Spinners can use it to run out a batter at the non-strikers end.

[Nickslikk2112]

Does Bazball work in the Ashes? The Jury is out.

Do England always have problems bowling out tail-enders? YES 

[Slim]

Was that unexpected declaration a bit unwise in hindsight, then?

[dom]

Baz ball is a mindset. Traditionally cricket, especially test cricket, seemed to be about not losing. Not losing wickets, not conceding runs. Once you were in a position not to lose, then you could try and win.

Bazball has turned that on its head. The England team bat like its a 1 day game, scoring at 5 or 6 an over, not the traditional 3 or less.

Bowling is also more attacking. Fields designed to take catches rather than slow down the opposition from scoring.

In the past there's no way an England captain would have declared towards the end of the first day, but Baz ball likes to gamble, take risks. Not huge risks mind but calculated ones.

Personally I think its all to be applauded. Makes the game more entertaining and exciting. So far it is paying off despite the close defeat yesterday.

[Nickslikk2112]

Was that unexpected declaration a bit unwise in hindsight, then?

Maybe, maybe not. Lots of people say they should have carried on batting to get 450-470 runs, but they were 8 wickets down and Joe Root never starts well the next day after a big not out score.

[Nickslikk2112]

Bazball needs taming a little. Honours roughly even so far.

[Nickslikk2112]

Feck Bazball

But then again English cricket in the last few years has been collapsing due to batsmen playing piss-poor shots. At least now they try and get some runs in in between all the crap brain-dead shots.

[Nickslikk2112]

Back in it

[Slim]

Well - I don't follow cricket closely, as you know but normally I seem to recall the Ashes as a sort of ritual embarrassment where one side, usually Australia, is manifestly too good for the other. Seems to be much more evenly matched this time and a proper contest, nice to see.

[pxr5]

USA beating Pakistan in the T20 WC today. WOW! And a super over finish too.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/scorecard/ECKE1219904