NFR - The Ashes

[Somerset Fulham]

Anyone watching?

After a bright start from England (that opening ball was glorious!), the Aussies have clawed their way back into as they do.

The next session is going to be vital.

[HV71]

Not watching but listening to TMS . As you rightly point out this afternoon's session may well prove key. Good wicket but there is a little ( uneven ) bounce which will give the Aussies heart

[Dr Know]

Anyone watching?

After a bright start from England (that opening ball was glorious!), the Aussies have clawed their way back into as they do.

The next session is going to be vital.

Not me , I find cricket  boring !

[filham]

Longing to see a few English sixes, that is the signal that the Ausies are facing defeat.

[bencher]

Considering the flat pitch, England have struggled to get any serious fluency so far. A few decent starts but no one *yet* has kicked on. Stokes reminded us that if you live by the sword, you die by the sword. The Aussies will be happy as things stand.

[Twig]

Absolutely loving day 1 and have hardly missed a ball. The day has swung back and forth and this evening session will be critical.

[Twig]

That declaration was a very bold decision.

[ron]

That declaration was a very bold decision.

You might even call it "a declaration of intent" !

The 'bazball' era has chucked convention into the bin and opened an era of focusing on winning....like the Aussies have for years. Lucky us at last !

[HV71]

Bold decision - definitely . Insane in test cricket on day one - probably. I love it ! There is simply nothing " vanilla" about our approach. If we carry on playing like this - I can actually cope with defeat because this attitude is what sport should be about.

[Somerset Fulham]

This England team is bonkers. Utterly bonkers.

I think that the Aussies have just about taken the day there, I do fear ther batting line up on this pitch but that doesn't mean that we are by any means out of this.

Mental, mental day that as Twig says, swung back and forth pretty much by the hour.

Love it!

[Southcoastffc]

Sunday and Monday's forecast rain will likely have a big effect on the match.

[sunburywhite]

Did anyone see Roots revervse swot for 6

Madness

[Motspur]

After years of being on back foot to Australia England/Stokes came out today fighting; we are batting and positively too; 400 runs in less than a day's play and declare to give a bash at Aussie openers.
I've been used to over the years of us being on the back foot to Australia in cricketing terms; good on you Stokesy for the positivity in your decisions and play.

[filham]

That is not a bad first day for England, The Ausies certainly know they have to perform well to win.

[Woolly Mammoth]

Pure Theatre and i love it, with Englands attacking intent it is good to put the Aussies on the back foot.

Fortune favours the brave, and Englands batting and the speed England accumulated the runs on the first day deserves a reward.

Nevertheless the match has lived up to expectations and England have thrown down the gauntlet.
Great viewing and entertainment in front of a full house.

[Thailand Mick]

The entertainment continues on the first day, just hope Stokes hasn't over cooked it with his declaration. I believe due to the weather forecast he sees this as a four day game. We must try to make sure Australia don't score as quick as we did. I personally would have liked to see us continue to bat like we were just before the declaration but I'm sure he was hoping to take an early wicket. If Australia bat for five sessions we could be facing a 200+ deficit on a pitch that could be turning to save the game. Let's hope fortune favors the brave on this occasion.

[filham]

A month without rain, start a Test match and it is threatened with rain. ???

[alfie]

Let's see if Moeen's return will pay off. Certainly did for Bairstow

[Somerset Fulham]

I think I put this dead even at the moment. An early wicket tomorrow and we are into their tail and it isn't as though the chain rattlers didn't give us the opportunities to do just that today, on numerous occassions.

[HV71]

I think I put this dead even at the moment. An early wicket tomorrow and we are into their tail and it isn't as though the chain rattlers didn't give us the opportunities to do just that today, on numerous occassions.

Good assessment of the situation