Off Topic The Ashes Series 2017-18

Can't see anything other than a whitewash in the series. Just second best in every department.

 

I'm pleased I'm not watching it

 

Australia pass 400 with three wickets left. We had them at 161-4 yesterday.

Pathetic.

I can see them scoring 500, skittling us out for 200, putting us back in and winning by an innings.

What a load of ****e England. Are you Sunderland in disguise?

 

They'll declare with 15 to 20 overs left and bowl Cook and a couple of others out under the floodlights before the close of play. I reckon the follow on will be a possibility tomorrow.

 

Bet everyone's not too bothered that it's not on Sky now.

 

Aye and I bet BT are delighted they've got this series

 

Aussies declare on 442-8. There's confidence for you.

 

Rain rescued us (for now), 29-1 at the close of play.

Massive day tomorrow, we are barely more than a week into the series and already it feels as though it could be lost if we cock up in the next two days.

 

England 142-7, an innings defeat is on the cards.

 

Root got this so wrong. Captaincy is massive and you have to be really on it down there - it’s like Nasser all over again. Some fight shown but to be honest our bowlers look like flat track bullies. Reality is Anderson and Woakes have just not bowled well. Too short on this tour so far and that really reduces your ability to take wickets because of the bounce. Players just leave on length. Overton has done well. Woakes and Anderson now look like they are useless without favourable conditions but it’s not the case. All they did was pitch it up because they lost that fear of being driven.

 

At least England are making a fist of it. We skittled the Aussies out for 138 and are currently 46-0 chasing an unlikely 354.

 

England quickly lose both openers.

 

My cousin is at the ground today, they emigrated to Adelaide when she was 8 and has been there for 36 years. She is still a Pom though

 

96-3

So chasing 257 with 7 wickets left and a day and a bit to go - if we can get two batsmen to grind it out for a while this should be doable (but this is England)

 

England 2nd Innings

Batsman How Out Bowler Runs Mins Balls 4s 6s SR

Total (53.2 overs) 154-for3wickets

Cook lbw bLyon 16 85 66 2 0 24.24
Stoneman c Khawaja bStarc 36 103 65 6 0 55.38
Vince cHandscomb bStarc 15 60 39 1 0 38.46
Root not out 52 127 83 8 0 62.65
Malan not out 27 83 67 4 0 40.30
Extras 0nb 0w 3b 5lb 8

 

Gripping stuff, we must not lose another wicket today. At last we are putting up a fight.

 

Root dropped on 56

Shhhhhhhhhhh, don't tell anyone.

 

Balls, Malan out. 169-4.

 

Posted at59.5 overs

WICKET

Malan b Cummins 29 (Eng 169-4)

Gone! What a player Pat Cummins is!

Wonder who opened his big mouth? Any suggestions Dorty?

 

And breathe...