It's the hope that kills you. Knowing England Root and Malan will probably add single figures to their overnight totals before we are skittled for 270!
Great little come back from malan and root but need to press on and bat for a while together tomorrow. Ideally they’ll see off the new ball and Ben stokes can come in and smash about some tired Aussie bowlers.
Lot more reason to be optimistic rather than just hopeful. Obviously tomorrow is a new day but having watched every ball so far I haven’t seen the pitch change at all. Just need these two to get to the new ball, see off about 15-20 overs of that for the loss of one wicket and then it’ll be a batters paradise again.
Also Hazelwood bowled 8 overs today, nothing in the evening session possibly carrying a niggle?
*I realise this is England and we could quite easily mess it up and be 260 all out.
Pleasant surprise, but not even half the job done yet. Great effort so far and a bit of fight, still seems a huge task ahead this innings but hopefully it will give us some confidence going into the next with a good score. 550 for half a chance?
My not entirely serious prediction wasn't as far out as I expected. Batting conditions are good, so no reason for the rest of the team to crumble without putting on some more runs
Credit where credit's due. Root and Malan have done a superb job. However, I think we ought to commend Hameed on his efforts too. His scores of 25 and 27 are nothing to write home about but he has faced 75 (5th man out) and 58 balls respectively and more to the point, he looks like a Test opener. He knows his game - compact and with minimal moving parts. He is the complete opposite of the likes of Burns and Sibley.
His comeback from oblivion is by no means complete - released by Lancs and not able to even get a 2nd X1 game - but to return from where he was to where he is now is a fantastic achievement. We can't imagine how many times he has sat in a dressing room wondering where his future lies and whether he should give up the game. One man who should take some credit in "re-building" Hameed both technically and mentally is Peter Moores.
If he can build on that we will have an opener for years to come. After all, he's still only 24 and a Test average of 34.25, achieved in two spells five years apart achieved solely against two of the best teams in the world, namely India away and at home and Australia in their back yard, makes him King on those available. All he needs is that one big score. That might even come in this series.
Hameed feels like he’s been around forever but he could easily open for England for another 11 years. Great come back story, really want him to get a big score down under.
Hameed needs a big score to really cement his place in the side second time round. Dogged 20s and 30s with the odd 50 won't keep him in the side forever (as Joe Denly will note)
Star West Indian import Andre Russell will be under strict instructions not to touch any teammates on Friday night at the MCG. Russell will make his Melbourne Stars debut after landing in Australia earlier this week. He spent 72 hours quarantining in Sydney and spent Thursday night in Melbourne. Cricket Australia has given the green light for the all-rounder to play under rigid Covid-19 guidelines, which are more strict in Victoria and NSW than they are in other states. When Russell arrives at the MCG, he must enter through a different gate to his new teammates, use a different lift, and set up in changing rooms understood to be in the Great Southern Stand. When he warms up, he will do so at least two metres away from all players and support staff, and must remain at least two metres apart from his teammates - even when outdoors - for the duration of the night. His dugout will be separate to the rest of the team’s. Additionally, aside from accidental contact, Russell cannot high five after wickets, glove punch his partner while batting, or go within two metres of an opposition player. If Russell is interviewed post-match, he will need a separate microphone organised specifically for him. And when he leaves the ground, the big-hitting West Indian will need to do so away from teammates and he will only re-join them when he has completed seven days of isolation (aside from playing). These measures were communicated to the Melbourne Stars and are designed by Cricket Australia to minimise the risk of a Covid-19 positive player infecting teammates, coaches or opponents.
Hameed needs a big score to really cement his place in the side second time round. Dogged 20s and 30s with the odd 50 won't keep him in the side forever (as Joe Denly will note)
I do think though that averaging 34.25 at the age of 24 is different to averaging 29.53 at the age of 33. Hameed has also hit four 50s in his 13 innings with two of them coming in his last five innings so he's not just about dogged 25s. Equally, Zac Crawley has that massive score to his name (267) that kept him in the side but he still only averaged 28.34 because his other 25 innings amount to just 18.80 apiece. Crawley will, undoubtedly, get another chance but it will, more likely, be at the expense of Burns than Hameed.
In the land of the blind there are very few better - our Lions were 103 all out and the top five made 22 between them. On the same track the Aussie A side have scored 213 and 158-1 so far.
Star West Indian import Andre Russell will be under strict instructions not to touch any teammates on Friday night at the MCG. Russell will make his Melbourne Stars debut after landing in Australia earlier this week. He spent 72 hours quarantining in Sydney and spent Thursday night in Melbourne. Cricket Australia has given the green light for the all-rounder to play under rigid Covid-19 guidelines, which are more strict in Victoria and NSW than they are in other states. When Russell arrives at the MCG, he must enter through a different gate to his new teammates, use a different lift, and set up in changing rooms understood to be in the Great Southern Stand. When he warms up, he will do so at least two metres away from all players and support staff, and must remain at least two metres apart from his teammates - even when outdoors - for the duration of the night. His dugout will be separate to the rest of the team’s. Additionally, aside from accidental contact, Russell cannot high five after wickets, glove punch his partner while batting, or go within two metres of an opposition player. If Russell is interviewed post-match, he will need a separate microphone organised specifically for him. And when he leaves the ground, the big-hitting West Indian will need to do so away from teammates and he will only re-join them when he has completed seven days of isolation (aside from playing). These measures were communicated to the Melbourne Stars and are designed by Cricket Australia to minimise the risk of a Covid-19 positive player infecting teammates, coaches or opponents.
"So that's most of the field sorted, except you, Charlie. I want you to stand as close to the stumps as you can, when Andre is facing. Make sure you're within a couple of metres. Closer. No, closer. No, a bit closer. Closer still. Yes. Just there".
Hameed needs a big score to really cement his place in the side second time round. Dogged 20s and 30s with the odd 50 won't keep him in the side forever (as Joe Denly will note)
I do think though that averaging 34.25 at the age of 24 is different to averaging 29.53 at the age of 33. Hameed has also hit four 50s in his 13 innings with two of them coming in his last five innings so he's not just about dogged 25s. Equally, Zac Crawley has that massive score to his name (267) that kept him in the side but he still only averaged 28.34 because his other 25 innings amount to just 18.80 apiece. Crawley will, undoubtedly, get another chance but it will, more likely, be at the expense of Burns than Hameed.
In the land of the blind there are very few better - our Lions were 103 all out and the top five made 22 between them. On the same track the Aussie A side have scored 213 and 158-1 so far.
Looking at his stats Hameed averaged 43.80 in his first spell back in 2016, but just 27.42 in 2021. Early days yet, but he'll need some better numbers to establish himself, even if the competition is weak.
Hameed needs a big score to really cement his place in the side second time round. Dogged 20s and 30s with the odd 50 won't keep him in the side forever (as Joe Denly will note)
I do think though that averaging 34.25 at the age of 24 is different to averaging 29.53 at the age of 33. Hameed has also hit four 50s in his 13 innings with two of them coming in his last five innings so he's not just about dogged 25s. Equally, Zac Crawley has that massive score to his name (267) that kept him in the side but he still only averaged 28.34 because his other 25 innings amount to just 18.80 apiece. Crawley will, undoubtedly, get another chance but it will, more likely, be at the expense of Burns than Hameed.
In the land of the blind there are very few better - our Lions were 103 all out and the top five made 22 between them. On the same track the Aussie A side have scored 213 and 158-1 so far.
Looking at his stats Hameed averaged 43.80 in his first spell back in 2016, but just 27.42 in 2021. Early days yet, but he'll need some better numbers to establish himself, even if the competition is weak.
But that 27.42 is considerably distorted by his first two scores back - 0 & 9. Since then he has returned 68, 0 63, 25 & 27. Warner might have got the score but he should have been out well before that (Stokes over stepping) and Hameed looked better than him, Harris and Burns of those batting up top. Opening is the hardest job in the business. It's why the likes of Root and Kohli don't want to bat at 3 in Tests let alone open. And we literally have no one better at the moment.
Personally thought Hameed let himself down more than Burns second innings. Burns got a fine touch on a peach of a delivery, whereas Hameed was settled and went chasing, which was mad in that situation. First innings, on the other hand...
Personally thought Hameed let himself down more than Burns second innings. Burns got a fine touch on a peach of a delivery, whereas Hameed was settled and went chasing, which was mad in that situation. First innings, on the other hand...
Hameed had a horrible slash outside the off stump in the first innings. If that had gone to 3rd slip, he would have been out for a low single digit score
Ponting going in on the officials and he has a point. Stokes first FOUR deliveries before the wicket taking ball to Warner were no balls. Not a single one was called and the 3rd umpire responsible for checking didn’t tell the infield umpire to tell Ben to watch his front foot.
You can say a bowler shouldn’t be bowling no-balls which is fair but, for someone who’s been out of the game for a period of time, desperate to make a breakthrough and known for pushing himself to the absolute limit, the umpires have a duty to give him that information.
In terms of performance I feel that yesterday went as well as we could have hoped for up until the last hour. The extended days play for a reduced bowling attack suffering with fitness and injury problems, Australia could take advantage of that late in the day. Obviously the dropped catch and missed run outs are things that could have been the difference between a lead of 120 odd or 250 but it just shows you have to be absolutely flawless when playing Ashes cricket and I think our current group just aren’t experienced, technically able or (barring a couple) fully understand playing test cricket.
It’s obviously a lot easier to sit and say what I think they should do compared to them facing 90mph hostile bowling from Hazwelwood, Cummins and Starc but I just don’t feel like any of our batsmen other than Root and Stokes have the patience, ability or frame of mind to just stick around ignoring the score for an hour and just properly getting themselves in like Labuschagne did.
Tonight might be the first night I don’t watch the entire days play. If we are 50/4 again at lunch then I’ll probably write this one off and watch the NFL before going to sleep.
As you say this is so wrong on so many counts. Stokes shouldn't be getting his run up so wrong from the off right up until he is corrected. He has been bowling in the nets AND practice games. If the standing Umpire isn't calling them then the 3rd Umpire has to call it each and every time. Sides are missing out on runs and a bowler like Stokes doesn't know he's doing it until he's called for it only because a wicket has fallen.
Ponting going in on the officials and he has a point. Stokes first FOUR deliveries before the wicket taking ball to Warner were no balls. Not a single one was called and the 3rd umpire responsible for checking didn’t tell the infield umpire to tell Ben to watch his front foot.
You can say a bowler shouldn’t be bowling no-balls which is fair but, for someone who’s been out of the game for a period of time, desperate to make a breakthrough and known for pushing himself to the absolute limit, the umpires have a duty to give him that information.
In terms of performance I feel that yesterday went as well as we could have hoped for up until the last hour. The extended days play for a reduced bowling attack suffering with fitness and injury problems, Australia could take advantage of that late in the day. Obviously the dropped catch and missed run outs are things that could have been the difference between a lead of 120 odd or 250 but it just shows you have to be absolutely flawless when playing Ashes cricket and I think our current group just aren’t experienced, technically able or (barring a couple) fully understand playing test cricket.
It’s obviously a lot easier to sit and say what I think they should do compared to them facing 90mph hostile bowling from Hazwelwood, Cummins and Starc but I just don’t feel like any of our batsmen other than Root and Stokes have the patience, ability or frame of mind to just stick around ignoring the score for an hour and just properly getting themselves in like Labuschagne did.
Tonight might be the first night I don’t watch the entire days play. If we are 50/4 again at lunch then I’ll probably write this one off and watch the NFL before going to sleep.
As you say this is so wrong on so many counts. Stokes shouldn't be getting his run up so wrong from the off right up until he is corrected. He has been bowling in the nets AND practice games. If the standing Umpire isn't calling them then the 3rd Umpire has to call it each and every time. Sides are missing out on runs and a bowler like Stokes doesn't know he's doing it until he's called for it only because a wicket has fallen.
There's an issue with the video relay to the third umpire. Normally, every delivery can be checked in real time and then reviewed immediately afterwards, on request from the third umpire. Those requests and the immediate replays were not available at the start of this match, so the Umpires agreed, between them, that the standing umpires would call the no-balls and only those that resulted in wickets would (and could) be reviewed.
The third umpire calling every no ball was not an option. So, we don't know how many no balls either side have bowled that have been missed in this match. But we do know of one, very expensive one.
Comments
211-2.
Root 85 n/o
Malan 72 n/o
220-2 off 70 overs & Australia lead by 58
Root 86 n/o
Malan 80 n/o
In reality one will go in the first over tomorrow, we can't have 2 good days in a row
At least we're putting up a fight
standard
His comeback from oblivion is by no means complete - released by Lancs and not able to even get a 2nd X1 game - but to return from where he was to where he is now is a fantastic achievement. We can't imagine how many times he has sat in a dressing room wondering where his future lies and whether he should give up the game. One man who should take some credit in "re-building" Hameed both technically and mentally is Peter Moores.
If he can build on that we will have an opener for years to come. After all, he's still only 24 and a Test average of 34.25, achieved in two spells five years apart achieved solely against two of the best teams in the world, namely India away and at home and Australia in their back yard, makes him King on those available. All he needs is that one big score. That might even come in this series.
https://www.foxsports.com.au/cricket/domestic-cricket/big-bash/cricket-australia-bbl-2021-melbourne-stars-sydney-thunder-andre-russell-debut-covid-protocols-latest-news/news-story/fecb431fa30ca2ca904dc41e109e3453
Russell will make his Melbourne Stars debut after landing in Australia earlier this week.
He spent 72 hours quarantining in Sydney and spent Thursday night in Melbourne.
Cricket Australia has given the green light for the all-rounder to play under rigid Covid-19 guidelines, which are more strict in Victoria and NSW than they are in other states.
When Russell arrives at the MCG, he must enter through a different gate to his new teammates, use a different lift, and set up in changing rooms understood to be in the Great Southern Stand.
When he warms up, he will do so at least two metres away from all players and support staff, and must remain at least two metres apart from his teammates - even when outdoors - for the duration of the night.
His dugout will be separate to the rest of the team’s.
Additionally, aside from accidental contact, Russell cannot high five after wickets, glove punch his partner while batting, or go within two metres of an opposition player.
If Russell is interviewed post-match, he will need a separate microphone organised specifically for him.
And when he leaves the ground, the big-hitting West Indian will need to do so away from teammates and he will only re-join them when he has completed seven days of isolation (aside from playing).
These measures were communicated to the Melbourne Stars and are designed by Cricket Australia to minimise the risk of a Covid-19 positive player infecting teammates, coaches or opponents.
I do think though that averaging 34.25 at the age of 24 is different to averaging 29.53 at the age of 33. Hameed has also hit four 50s in his 13 innings with two of them coming in his last five innings so he's not just about dogged 25s. Equally, Zac Crawley has that massive score to his name (267) that kept him in the side but he still only averaged 28.34 because his other 25 innings amount to just 18.80 apiece. Crawley will, undoubtedly, get another chance but it will, more likely, be at the expense of Burns than Hameed.
In the land of the blind there are very few better - our Lions were 103 all out and the top five made 22 between them. On the same track the Aussie A side have scored 213 and 158-1 so far.
https://www.espncricinfo.com/player/haseeb-hameed-632172/bowling-batting-stats
very much doubt we’ll save the test but a little glimpse of what we are capable of
First innings, on the other hand...
The third umpire calling every no ball was not an option. So, we don't know how many no balls either side have bowled that have been missed in this match. But we do know of one, very expensive one.
It's 100% Stokes's fault.