Quick comment on Ashes Day 2: I heard some interesting interviews on BBC today. One with Ben Duckett who was convinced Jonathan Agnew was going after him for being reckless (he was nothing of the sort) and was quite belligerent in defending Bazball. Is a siege mentality developing? Also heard Steve Smith, who basically said England are easy to plan for because “you know they are going to go hard”. The rhetoric in the English commentariat has shifted a little - Pietersen, Hussain, Vaughan are starting to say you’ve still got to use your brain as well. England have had the best of the conditions in this test and a stroke of luck in having Lyon go down but are yet to convert it to advantage on the field. With a long tail they’re 6 out all out, but with Australia down to 3 bowlers they should at least think about batting time - but will they?
Quick comment on Ashes Day 2: I heard some interesting interviews on BBC today. One with Ben Duckett who was convinced Jonathan Agnew was going after him for being reckless (he was nothing of the sort) and was quite belligerent in defending Bazball. Is a siege mentality developing? Also heard Steve Smith, who basically said England are easy to plan for because “you know they are going to go hard”. The rhetoric in the English commentariat has shifted a little - Pietersen, Hussain, Vaughan are starting to say you’ve still got to use your brain as well. England have had the best of the conditions in this test and a stroke of luck in having Lyon go down but are yet to convert it to advantage on the field. With a long tail they’re 6 out all out, but with Australia down to 3 bowlers they should at least think about batting time - but will they?