Unforced errors – not controversies – cost England at Lord's

Posted by Marc Evans on 05/07/2023 at 21:42

Australia are the better side with more experienced test cricketers, yet we should have beaten then at Edgbaston and came pretty close at Lords. I'm sure the England set up knows what went wrong but it wasn't their approach, just Australia's proven ability to win the key moments by sensing what they are. We don't yet have the field craft to do this, it only comes with experience. Pretty much all the entertaining cricket has come from England, which is what puts bums on seats. This has to be the priority in any professional sport.

Posted by Charles on 04/07/2023 at 19:32

Spot on. We lost both Tests before they started with poor selections behind the stumps. 5 catches dropped in 1st Test, 26 byes and a dropped catch in second. End the experiment it started with Buttler and is not fair on Bairstow. Time for the worlds best keeper (who can bat too).

Posted by rachel knights on 04/07/2023 at 18:29

Stokes decision to put Australia in on winning the toss was to blame just like his decision to declare on day 1 of t e1st test-a total incompetent captain

Posted by Charles on 04/07/2023 at 17:52

Yes, both defeats have been down to selection and their errors. Sorry but Foakes should be behind the stumps not Bairstow. 6 dropped catches in 1st Test, 26 byes and a dropped catch in this Test. When will the selectors stop experimenting, they did do with Buttler and now with Bairstow!

Posted by Adrian L on 04/07/2023 at 17:51

The Bairstow incident didn't win Australia the game, nor did it lose England the game - that's the beauty of five day Test Cricket, so many contributory factors. In fact, it detracted from the noticeable nervousness from Australia that England were just about matching them, and could go on to win. They were out of ideas and fading fast; this rarely seen wicket may have kept them in it on the final day, but everything you say about missed chances and brainless slogging is also true. Let's hope it gets under the (thick) Aussie skin and fires up the England XI (although we're dropping like flies, half expecting my 15yo son to get a call from Baz on Wednesday evening...)