I don't think the Aussies have a hope of winning. They haven't batted well for a few games and they seem mentally done. Wouldn't be shocked if we knock them over cheaply.
They can take their time and sorry to say they do have players who can play long innings. They aren't really under pressure because they are taking home the Ashes. I wouldn't be surprised if some punters take the 22/5 or other odds are available if the rain isn't as bad and long as Manchester.
I really wanted to be wrong but sometimes the tea leaves are ominous.
Whats the point in hoping for rain? We'd lose the series
But by 2-1, not 3-1. And we can say if it wasn't for the rain we would have won 3-2.
Series is lost. They are a 3rd of the way there without losing a wicket. I know 1 brings 2 and Broad/Woakes/Wood could go on a charge but we just don't look like getting a wicket.
Bottom line is the way we bat, we don’t score enough runs which keeps the other team in the game when there should only be two possible results
Yesterday was a case in point. We were something like 320/4 and should have easily got 450. But we lost 5 for 50 something & ended up having to send out Broad & Anderson this morning to get another half a dozen runs.
Whats the point in hoping for rain? We'd lose the series
But by 2-1, not 3-1. And we can say if it wasn't for the rain we would have won 3-2.
Series is lost. They are a 3rd of the way there without losing a wicket. I know 1 brings 2 and Broad/Woakes/Wood could go on a charge but we just don't look like getting a wicket.
But now we can say, if it wasn't for rain, we would have lost 3-2 instead of 2-1?
As I've said previously the only thing that matters is what's in the book.
Bottom line is the way we bat, we don’t score enough runs which keeps the other team in the game when there should only be two possible results
Ridiculous. Setting Australia nearly 400 with rain forecast was perfect. They've not bowled well is the problem. Some of you are hellbent on sticking it to how this England team bats, but they've justified it in most cases
Bottom line is the way we bat, we don’t score enough runs which keeps the other team in the game when there should only be two possible results
Yesterday was a case in point. We were something like 320/4 and should have easily got 450. But we lost 5 for 50 something & ended up having to send out Broad & Anderson this morning to get another half a dozen runs.
It’s ok to point out the batting collapses as long as you remember that we also most likely don’t get to 320-4 without batting the way we do.
As @Leuth says, near 400 as a target in these conditions should be more than enough…
Bottom line is the way we bat, we don’t score enough runs which keeps the other team in the game when there should only be two possible results
Ridiculous. Setting Australia nearly 400 with rain forecast was perfect. They've not bowled well is the problem. Some of you are hellbent on sticking it to how this England team bats, but they've justified it in most cases
Not just talking about this game but the whole series. Crazy declaration in the first innings at Edgbaston, silly batting in the 2nd from Root among others leaving them a chaseable target then lost the plot at 200-2 in the first innings at Lord’s.
Good teams (across any sport) find ways to win games they probably shouldn’t have. This team is in danger of losing a series it should have won 3-0.
And that’s not just the way we bat but poor team selection too.
Really hard to work out why but I'm sure that question will be asked of Ben Stokes. The Broad retirement statement seems to have back fired on the England bowler's against pragmatic Aussie openers.
The Tortoise Khawaja, has gone past the Hare Crawley.
I’m Scottish and don’t pretend to be a cricket aficionado so shoot me down, but for me there are a few glaring errors with England this summer that bazball is glossing over. Namely:
1. This was clearly a series too many for Anderson. Most people knew it before the summer but didn’t like to say;
2. Going scratching around a couple of weeks before the series to find a retired spinner off the shelf isn’t a good look;
3. Second best wicket keeper selected purely on the basis of being best mates with the skipper and ex skipper. The fact that he had one belter of an innings doesn’t excuse the amount of chuff he has been guilty of behind the stumps throughout;
4. The skipper can barely walk. It was obvious to a blind man that he would only be able to bowl selectively and not at his best. A real cutthroat manager would have dropped him before the series started.
The fact that they’ve made a fist of it against the best team in the world despite the above is a source of pride and credit. But you just wonder what would have happened if a few hard decisions had been taken and it wasn’t so much of an old boy’s club.
Weather forecast for tomorrow has improved so I can't see there being much time lost. Aussies need 249 to win 3-1 or a draw for 2-1. We need 10 wickets for 2-2. All 3 results possible. Should be a great final day. Hopefully we bowl a lot better than we did today!
I'll be interested to see who goes to India in terms of spinners. I'm assuming no Leach given it was a stress fracture and we've seen enough of the likes of Bess to know what he does
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I only want it to piss down tomorrow early evening when the Aussies are within 10 runs of victory and still 5 wickets left 💃🏼🌧️
I really wanted to be wrong but sometimes the tea leaves are ominous.
Series is lost. They are a 3rd of the way there without losing a wicket. I know 1 brings 2 and Broad/Woakes/Wood could go on a charge but we just don't look like getting a wicket.
As I've said previously the only thing that matters is what's in the book.
Eng 3.15
As @Leuth says, near 400 as a target in these conditions should be more than enough…
Really hard to work out why but I'm sure that question will be asked of Ben Stokes.
The Broad retirement statement seems to have back fired on the England bowler's against pragmatic Aussie openers.
The Tortoise Khawaja, has gone past the Hare Crawley.
1. This was clearly a series too many for Anderson. Most people knew it before the summer but didn’t like to say;
2. Going scratching around a couple of weeks before the series to find a retired spinner off the shelf isn’t a good look;
3. Second best wicket keeper selected purely on the basis of being best mates with the skipper and ex skipper. The fact that he had one belter of an innings doesn’t excuse the amount of chuff he has been guilty of behind the stumps throughout;
4. The skipper can barely walk. It was obvious to a blind man that he would only be able to bowl selectively and not at his best. A real cutthroat manager would have dropped him before the series started.