The Cricket Thread.

[victor meldrew]

Disappointment for Denly, so near yet so far. Bairstow & Buttler required to show what they are made of by occupying the crease until the close.

[scoundrel]

Originally Posted by countjimmoriarty

I'm on about the FACT that the schedule changes were agreed between the two boards, not an independent decision by the ECB. They were made with the 2019 (and onwards) World Cup in mind, not the 2015. The rest of your rant is irrelevant speculation.

Part of England's problem in this series is clearly that they hadn't rested before it - but Australia had much the same issue, they were in the World Cup too. Some teams seem able to adjust between formats a lot better than we do - Pakistan comes to mind, as well as Australia.

Meanwhile back at the ranch, Australia have struck back sharply with two fine catches to get rid of Buttler and Woakes and get at the tail. Archer and Leach are batting, only Broad left to come in, and the lead is 379. That lead should be enough, but I am not convinced, not with Steve Smith lurking. A double hundred for him would win it for Australia and I don't think England's bowlers have any answers to Steve Smith. I think there can't be a declaration until lunchtime tomorrow and I doubt we will still be batting by then. We should win this game, but while Australia can't draw it, I think they might get the runs.

[victor meldrew]

On a day when we need to occupy the crease, yet again gifting wickets to the opposition and judging by the baggy greens body language, smiley faces, they believe they can win this test as well as the series.

[pierrelm]

As a footnote, I wonder if anyone will go through the series and see what the outcome would have been had all the correct DRS calls been made. No, someone will...

[DB83]

^^ Hardly think that is practically possible unless you have full recordings at your disposal.

There will always be 'what ifs'. And I have said it before I would still prefer all decisions in the hands of the umpires. Even if they cock it up as they did earlier in this series. Much better in the last two Tests but even then mistakes are made. It's called being human.

As for the current game is it even thinkable that a repeat of Headingly is on the cards ? If the last two wickets fall quickly there is ample time in the game with the weather, I believe, set fair.

But you could see the 'fear' in Warner's eyes, and a rue smile, as the wickets tumbled late in the day. Even the remote prospect of facing a single over

[scoundrel]

Originally Posted by victor meldrew

On a day when we need to occupy the crease, yet again gifting wickets to the opposition and judging by the baggy greens body language, smiley faces, they believe they can win this test as well as the series.

I don't think that's quite all there was to it. First Peter Siddle, who has had a mediocre tour, showed that the fire still burns and produced a fine spell of bowling in his best style to get rid of the well entrenched Joe Denly. Denly saw off and survived some peaches of deliveries from Siddle before the one which dismissed him.

Then Mitchell Marsh was given the new ball alongside Cummins and used it very well. Sure, Woakes played a loose shot, but he is a No.9 and he was playing like it was still the old ball. He was beaten by a fraction of outswing - if the ball had held its line it was a boundary for certain. As it was, Woakes at least flashed very hard and it flew like a missile wide of Smith at second slip. Smith took a really athletic and improbable catch, which will make him feel a bit better for dropping a couple which were easier than that one. Fair play to Australia, the wicket of Chris Woakes was quite brilliant work. The one from Siddle which Buttler didn't properly get hold of was a pretty good ball too.

You'd rather be England than Australia on this situation - but England will know this isn't a done deal, and Australia have fought back hard to give themselves a sniff of this game. Truth is, Archer, Leach and Broad have a bit of batting to do tomorrow and need to push this lead north of 400 runs - the further north, the better. Australia wont need 5.5 sessions to score 425 runs - therefore every run counts because England have to bowl Australia out on a very good batting pitch.

[stardust2003]

wITH 2 whole days left in the match Ozzie could have a go at getting
even 400 ... if they get on top of the bowlers and Steve Smith hits a
double century.......

Could be Joe will declare at lunch and have 1 and half days to knock them over

[scoundrel]

Originally Posted by stardust2003

wITH 2 whole days left in the match Ozzie could have a go at getting
even 400 ... if they get on top of the bowlers and Steve Smith hits a
double century.......

Could be Joe will declare at lunch and have 1 and half days to knock them over

With Jack Leach and Jofra Archer in now and only Stuart Broad still to bat, I think England should be pleased if they last an hour and get another 40 runs. Half an hour and 20 runs is more realistic. In ordinary circumstances a victory target of 382 should already not be possible; but it is possible, because our bowling (Jofra Archer excepted) is nothing like as good as Australia's bowling.

[DB83]

The 'master' plan could be for the tail just to take time out of the game. Not enough to kill it but enough to make Oz work harder for the possible runs.

I'll report back 'when the fat lady sings'

[pierrelm]

Originally Posted by scoundrel

In ordinary circumstances a victory target of 382 should already not be possible; but it is possible, because our bowling (Jofra Archer excepted) is nothing like as good as Australia's bowling.

It's possible only because of Steve Smith. If, as a generalisation, you take his innings as being 50% of the Aussie total, Smith notching up a double century would not be out of the question - the other ten making a similar amount might be stretching things too far. There's too many poor batsmen in this Aussie side for the Aussies to win this, but the potential for indifferent English bowling, fielding and captaincy will keep them hoping...

I quite fancy Curran to make a difference again. It would be helpful if Woakes could rediscover his form, though.