A year ago, and every year before that, right up to the start of Test cricket, the question being asked now would be "can England hold on for the draw?"
Now, all the questions being asked are about how England will chase the total.
371 to win. What do we reckon? Any chance we can do it?
Certainly with Bazball.
Not if we go into our shells & try to play out a draw.
Aussies proved themselves (Head, Carey… to a lesser extent Green who just got bored) that trying to defend against this short pitched stuff isn’t going to get the job done.
It might look a bit brainless coming up but if we have intentions of winning the Test, we have to attack the short stuff. Either it’ll come off and we’ll be 300-2 or all out for 200.
Ben Stokes and Ollie Pope should be talking to the third umpire right now, demanding that Nathan Lyon - fit enough to bat before tea - should be fielding.
Ben Stokes and Ollie Pope should be talking to the third umpire right now, demanding that Nathan Lyon - fit enough to bat before tea - should be fielding.
Comments
England target will be 371. They chased 378 against India last summer.
Not if we go into our shells & try to play out a draw.
Australia have three bowlers plus Cameron Green and Smith/Head as part-time spinners.
England were doing well in the first innings until the craziness. I suppose one issue will be Ollie Pope.
We'll get a lot of short pitched bowling though.
Now, all the questions being asked are about how England will chase the total.
It might look a bit brainless coming up but if we have intentions of winning the Test, we have to attack the short stuff. Either it’ll come off and we’ll be 300-2 or all out for 200.
9-1
Duckett given lbw, reviewed.
13-2