I am going to revise my series prediction from 5-0 to 4-0
Ermmmm.....that is impossible of course.
In case it wasn't glaringly obvious, I meant to Australia!
The series cannot end 4-0. It would have to be either 5-0, 4-1 or 4-0-1 (with a drawn game)......if you have 5 games you must have 5 results not 4. So there!
And pedant of the year goes to.....
SoundAsa£
More like "Confused of the Year"
Doesn’t take much to confuse me nowadays......In fact over the last six months or so I have noticeably deteriorated in my speed of thought and memory as well as not being able to speak as concisely and fluently as I once did, getting old is fucking horrible. That’s life I guess but it’s very hard to come to terms with.
But we still love ya! You were missed on here when you took your sabbatical. I know we've had our differences but you're part of the furniture.
I said half jokingly that we would be bowled out for 380 and I was not far wrong. On this pitch I can see Australia getting upwards of 600. What has happened to Moeen Ali? He is not doing it with the bat or ball.
I said half jokingly that we would be bowled out for 380 and I was not far wrong. On this pitch I can see Australia getting upwards of 600. What has happened to Moeen Ali? He is not doing it with the bat or ball.
The WACA’s an off-spinner’s graveyard to be fair - Swann decided to throw in the towel after Perth four years ago, the big wuss, and didn’t take any wickets the tour before that either
It all depends how quickly we can get Smith out tomorrow. The issue is that he usually converts to big scores once he gets a start - he averages 80 on first innings score and has twice as many tons as he has fifties.
Rose colored spectacle prediction. Bowlers come out fired up, remove Smith and the Marsh boys in the first hour. Demolish the tail in the 2nd hour. Stoneman does his best gritty Geordie bit, Ellen comes in creams the ball around for an hour or so and England finish the day 240 ahead with 8 wickets in hand.Sir Geoffrey lambasts Australia powder puff attack, mentions rhubarb, his Moom and England’s grit at least three times. England bask in the glory of another wonderful day down under and we dream of the 3-2 comeback. Simple really.
PS perfect day is completed by the much maligned Mag scoring a hat trick and me getting all 6 numbers on the lotto.Not asking much
I said half jokingly that we would be bowled out for 380 and I was not far wrong. On this pitch I can see Australia getting upwards of 600. What has happened to Moeen Ali? He is not doing it with the bat or ball.
The WACA’s an off-spinner’s graveyard to be fair - Swann decided to throw in the towel after Perth four years ago, the big wuss, and didn’t take any wickets the tour before that either
In fairness, a big part of why he packed it in was because he dropped his baby when holding him/her with his bowling arm because he couldn't feel anything.
Broad's bowling has been completely innocuous in this series, 5 wickets at 43 so far, after a pretty innocuous summer with the ball too. With all the attention on the failures of Cook and Moeen, he's also been really disappointing
At the risk of stating the obvious here but we need Smith gone asap. Sean's hundred aside, I've never really rated the Marsh brothers much and Paine is rarely good for anything more than a quick 50.
If we can get a slim first innings lead then that's got to be seen as a positive. Batting for a 300 lead in the third innings has to be the aim and make the Aussies chase it down.
Well this is going exactly how I thought it would. I reckon England could bowl for a week with a new call every 10 overs and still not get Smith out. Apparently he has played and missed just twice in this entire 5 hour long innings. I don’t care how ugly is style is compared to Joe Root, Smith is absolutely destroying Root in the batting battle of the captains. So determined, so disciplined. I hate to sound like Geoff Boycott, but he is a shining example of the value of a batsman who just makes himself incredibly tough to get out. Not a bad run scorer either. Very very impressive.
Even if we’d made the 500 I was hoping for, I’m not sure it would have been enough.
Draw this one, take out a contract on Smith, win the next two, keep the Ashes. Easy.
Wouldn’t be so sure we can get even a draw. Not convinced the rain will last long enough or be at the right time. We could be chasing a lead of 250 to 300 in our second innings. With the Aussie quicks bowling at 90 mph + on a wicket which is starting to crack and with only 3 of ours in any kind of form with the bat and one of them looking very uncomfortable vs the short stuff in the first innings. I think an innings defeat is on the cards here.
England have had opportunities in all 3 tests but lacked the mental strength to take any of them. The Aussie’s on the other hand have pounced on the opportunities they have got, and that’s why they are well on top here and in the series.
A familiar story in Ashes cricket since I stratted watching cricket 20 + years ago.
One of the directors at work is going to Australia for Christmas, got tickets for the 5 days at Melbourne, he's hoping there will be something to play for.
One of the directors at work is going to Australia for Christmas, got tickets for the 5 days at Melbourne, he's hoping there will be something to play for.
Comments
So this should set up another century partnership then!!
PS perfect day is completed by the much maligned Mag scoring a hat trick and me getting all 6 numbers on the lotto.Not asking much
He was miles overbowled at times imo
Broad's bowling has been completely innocuous in this series, 5 wickets at 43 so far, after a pretty innocuous summer with the ball too. With all the attention on the failures of Cook and Moeen, he's also been really disappointing
If we can get a slim first innings lead then that's got to be seen as a positive. Batting for a 300 lead in the third innings has to be the aim and make the Aussies chase it down.
Either that or this game is draw bound.
Bowled out cheaply in 2nd innings
They knock off 209 for loss of 3
Ashes go back to the Aussies.
Not Smith but much needed.
248-4. Marsh 28 c Root b Ali
Didn't take a wicket with the new ball. We're going to be 100-150 behind here.
Even if we’d made the 500 I was hoping for, I’m not sure it would have been enough.
Front foot no ball.
Fuming.
Australia are 184-1 on the day.
England have had opportunities in all 3 tests but lacked the mental strength to take any of them. The Aussie’s on the other hand have pounced on the opportunities they have got, and that’s why they are well on top here and in the series.
A familiar story in Ashes cricket since I stratted watching cricket 20 + years ago.