Now there is a mountain to climb. Still, it ain't over yet, if they can bowl us out for so few runs, we can do the same to them. Would be a brave man to predict an England win from here, but it's still possible. A draw is off the table now though.
Just needed one or two of our batsmen to keep their discipline, but none of them could manage it. It's been an Achilles heel for a while.
Surely in this day and age, partly due to Phil Hughes but mostly due to the laws of cricket imposed by the ICC Ball should still be in. Those last two deliveries should have been no balls.
Not even going to comment on Broad and Moen, other to say that the Convicts don't need the help of dubious decisions. Can see them cantering to this total will only two or three down.
Four consecutive bouncers in an over. That contravenes ICC rules. If only we had a FAST bowler!
I was thinking just that. I'm not an expert on the rules, but I thought it was no more than 3 an over.
Never mind what do you expect from a bunch of cutthroats & cheating bastards. Ali out due to the crease line being about as wide as a bus & Broad out when the ball clearly missed the bat.
I did say that we wouldn't get a lead of over 180. Just watch the Aussies now get all the luck their way, plus Ball & Woakes throwing down some pies.
Reviewing Broads decision I can't see a hot spot on the bat at all. There is a small mark on the BACK of the bat, but that is about at least an inch above where the ball passed the bat, and as for snicko.........the "sound" comes after the ball has passed the bat.
Just who is the 3rd umpire............Dennis Lillie ??
Reviewing Broads decision I can't see a hot spot on the bat at all. There is a small mark on the BACK of the bat, but that is about at least an inch above where the ball passed the bat, and as for snicko.........the "sound" comes after the ball has passed the bat.
Just who is the 3rd umpire............Dennis Lillie ??
If you want a serious answer... Chris Gaffaney, a New Zealander. :-)
I haven't totally given up on this Test, I've seen plenty fail to get a total like this including Australia on quite a few occasions. However what does encourage me is that they are not that good (not that I ever believed they were) and the rest of the series will be very close.
Bloody Aussie commentators. Earlier, when Bairstow was batting, one of them said something along the lines of "he's doing ok with tea approaching, just better not take on the hook" and next ball Bairstow did just that & was out. Now Gilchrist said that Anderson & Broad want to keep it tight & no boundary balls just as Broad bowls one to Bancroft who flicks it down to 3rd man for a 4 !!
I'm off to bed. Can only see this going one way. By close tonight they will be around 100-2 & game over.
The Aussie bowling attack may be very potent but this pitch isn't. I can see England scoring quite a few
I will remind you of that when they have knocked us over for 180.
I nearly got the England score right. I can't see us getting 400 runs in any innings on this tour. I will say it again, Australia's bowling attack is too good for us. It is a pity but that is how I see it.
I haven't totally given up on this Test, I've seen plenty fail to get a total like this including Australia on quite a few occasions. However what does encourage me is that they are not that good (not that I ever believed they were) and the rest of the series will be very close.
Their batting is better than us. Their Bowling in Australian conditions is better than us and their fielding is better than us. Apart from all that we are quite equal. I had us down at the beginning of the series as The Aussies winning four Tests, I have seen nothing to change that prediction.
Day four - here's my spin on it. I won't apologise for being more positive than many posters. I sometimes like to see things from the point of view of "how to win", rather than "it's all going as badly as I thought it would". If you don't enjoy positivity, please feel free to stop reading this post now!
The third innings is the only important one in this match so far. So, while it's frustrating that England scored fewer than Australia in their respective first innings, none of that matters in terms of what needs to happen next.
First, a few facts:
1. England are ahead, albeit by only 7 runs. 2. England have eight wickets left in order to extend their lead. 3. The ball is already 16 overs old. 4. The new ball is still 64 overs away. 5. The conditions (ie heat and humidity) are in favour of the batting team. 6. The Australian bowlers have already had to bowl more than 132 overs in the match. 7. Starc and Cummins have already slogged through 33 overs each.
And now, some opinions.
Joe Root is the best batsman in the world (I know Steve Smith has the "official" title, but honestly, who looks the better player? Who strokes the ball with the more consummate ease? Whom would you honestly pay to watch bat?). But, so far, in one of the three, key disciplines, he's been out-played by his opposite number.
1. Root's captaincy has been exceptional. (Some people are moaning about him not using Anderson either side of lunch. But do those moaners genuinely believe that the pain-killer popping, grimacing Anderson, unable properly to throw the ball in from close to the boundary, wasn't carrying an injury?). His inventiveness and control have been in marked contrast to Smith's staid, conservative, chip-on-the-shoulder (I hope he gets fined for complaining about not being "given" wides while he was batting) captaincy. Smith's a very effective batsman, but he's no Alan Border.
2. Root's currently top of the bowling averages in the series.
3. But Root's been out-scored by Smith. That's going to hurt. And he's going to be determined to put that straight. This year, he scored more runs in England in a calendar year than any other player, ever. So he's clearly very very hungry. And, while he may have scored more runs in the series so far than Bancroft, Khawaja, Handscomb, Paine, Starc, Hazlewood and Lyon, he won't be satisfied until his name is top of the list of scorers. And I think he'll be aiming to get back there on day four.
Root has other records to concentrate on. He's won every series in which he's been captain: he will want to protect that. That doesn't mean the run will continue automatically. But it shows he has something about him to complete wins. And England have won every Test match at the Gabba when they've reached 300 in the first innings. They exceeded that, of course, in this match. Whereas Australia's unbeaten run at the Gabba stretches further back than the lifetime of any of their players. Root will want to keep up his series-winning streak and England's first innings conversion streak at the Gabba; Smith will be desperate to avoid losing. Let's hope that, as day four progresses, Smith's mind turns more and more to avoiding defeat.
It will probably be hot. The pitch will offer more to the batman than at any other time during the match. And will offer less to the bowlers than it will on the final day. The Australian bowlers are injury prone and have suffered a heavy workload already - an injury or loss of form for any of them could prove disastrous for the remaining three bowlers, and the heavy lifting they will have to do.
England have to bat all day, that seems pretty obvious. But therein lies another opportunity. The team will be focused on reaching the end of play with wickets intact. And the incessant grind of bowling towards an unshiftable opponent will hurt Australia's bowlers more and more as the day progresses, so long as the wicket column doesn't progress.
So far, Australian have taken four, six and two wickets on days one, two and three. So both teams should set out knowing that eight in the day is a big ask. Stoneman, Mallan and, to an extent Moeen (more than two hours in his first innings) have already proved they are difficult to shift. Bairstow and Woakes will be out to prove they're better than their first innings showing. And every player knows their spot may be at risk if the prodigal son is gifted a place on tour by her majesty's constabulary.
Three of the current England team (Cook, Broad and Anderson) played in the Brisbane Test seven years ago. England's opener and captain failed in the first innings, we were bowled out cheaply and had to suffer a big century from a seemingly-unshiftable Aussie middle-order batsman. We were in a lot of trouble having conceded a first-innings deficit of 221. Cook, Broad and Anderson will be able to remind their team-mates how England's second innings proceeded, in the face of a barrage of negative media comment. We made 570-1. I don't expect England to score 570 on day 4 of this match. But, right now, I would take half of that.
If we lose no more than two per session in day four, we will be in good shape. And here is my big prediction: if we do so with Root still there at close of play, we will win.
Say what you want be as positive as you like but they’re gonna win by a mile and we’ll need a miracle to retain the Ashes now . I just don’t think we’re strong enough
I was stuck at another fire station from 3am this morning, whilst my colleagues slept on settees and armchairs I listened to tms. Even when everything is terrible they still provide entertainment..........but I wish I had slept instead.
I haven't totally given up on this Test, I've seen plenty fail to get a total like this including Australia on quite a few occasions. However what does encourage me is that they are not that good (not that I ever believed they were) and the rest of the series will be very close.
This this may well come back to haunt you. If Oz aren't very good ( and they are certainly not up there with the likes of Warne,Mcgrath,Ponting team), they are still certainly way better than us-especially in their conditions. 5-0 beckons.
Comments
Australia need 170 to win.
Just needed one or two of our batsmen to keep their discipline, but none of them could manage it. It's been an Achilles heel for a while.
Not even going to comment on Broad and Moen, other to say that the Convicts don't need the help of dubious decisions. Can see them cantering to this total will only two or three down.
Australia 91.3%
England 8.5%
Draw 0.2%
Never mind what do you expect from a bunch of cutthroats & cheating bastards. Ali out due to the crease line being about as wide as a bus & Broad out when the ball clearly missed the bat.
I did say that we wouldn't get a lead of over 180. Just watch the Aussies now get all the luck their way, plus Ball & Woakes throwing down some pies.
4-10 to end the 2nd innings.
Just who is the 3rd umpire............Dennis Lillie ??
I'm off to bed. Can only see this going one way. By close tonight they will be around 100-2 & game over.
1st innings cruising at 246-4, end up 302 all out.
2nd innings 185-6 to 195 all out.
10 wickets lost for 66 runs.
Looked so promising for us when we had the Aussies 209-7 in their first innings but from there it's been all Australia.
That's been the difference this match when the Aussies were in trouble they dug in a lot better than we did.
I had us down at the beginning of the series as The Aussies winning four Tests, I have seen nothing to change that prediction.
I just don’t think we’re strong enough
Oh well, mosr expected us to lose this one anyway.
5-0 beckons.