The last time I recall such an embarrassing performance in a test series in Australia was around 74/75. Thompson and Lillie were terrifying our batsmen into surrender. Colin Cowdrey and Brian Close were sent . This was the days of no helmets , thigh pads and other protective gear.
They took plenty of body blows but never showed any fear as I recall. Did it help ? Can't remember but it certainly raised spirits at home.
Thomson was the quickest I've seen live. I saw him at Lords in 1975, side on from in front of the Tavern. It was difficult to see the ball before it thudded into Rodney Marsh's gloves. England were 46-4, before David Steele dug in, and Greig batted with Knott in a good partnership.
Holding in 1976 at Lords and the Oval, and Waqar Younis in a Nat West semi final at the Oval, before his back injury, were almost as quick. Sylvester Clarke was also consistently quick.
Brett Lee was pretty quick too. Both he and Jeff Thomson could bowl over 160mph
So what do we think from here? Nine wickets or 203 runs? Still got to be the Aussies hasn’t it? Lose no more than three wickets tonight and we are in with a shout.
I can forgive Burns that, a split second of indecision going to leave but then realising his bat was in the way, that demon Green again making things happen. No more wickets lost today please England
So, so pleased for Wood. If any young bowler what's to know what the definition of "resilience" is they just need to look at him - back from injury after injury, he bowled his heart out on this tour and until today hadn't really got his true reward for his efforts, The other thing is that he plays with a smile on his face despite the fact that he is under as much pressure as anyone else out there and that can be positively contagious.
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We have to face the Australian bowlers doing the same to our batting lineup and expect our batsmen to really hold it together and get a score
Carey 49 (88) c Billings b Broad
Cummins 13 (33) b Wood. Career best figures of 6-37 for Mark Wood.
Australia need 10 wickets to win. England need 271 runs (don’t laugh).
Still about fifty overs left in the day’s play..!
49-0
Crawley 22 (31)
Burns 19 (29)
England odds on in this test for first time on tour ….
my 3-1 series prediction is back on !!!
Australia need 9 wickets, England need 203 runs.
Burns 26 (46) b Green
And that’s the end of the session because it was the last over scheduled.
Crawley 32 (51) n/o
Next ball, he's clonked on the helmet
82-1
Crawley 36 (59)
Malan 10 (15)
Malan 10 (20) b Green