Damn, looks like the Aussies will avoid the follow on. Our attack isn’t up to much this series, all out of form except Overton and now he’s injured. Aussies to get 500 this innings, England all out for 200 next, series over. A couple of decent performances from individuals per Test just isn’t enough.
Usual story go to bed hopeful of a decent 1st innings score and wake up at 6:30 to find a tail end collapse and Aussies back in a game that they should have been batted out of, score is around 100 short of what was required...... 16 overs tomorrow before the new ball, have to strangle their scoring in those overs and be hopeful of picking up 1 or 2 quick wickets and let Anderson and co have a go at new batsmen once new ball is available......
New ball taken with the Aussies looking comfortable on 270-4, Smith proving a clear cut above all the others in this series. We have to get him out or this game will be slipping away from us...
480 for 4. Smith double ton. England in meltdown. Can’t bowl on hard pitches. Can’t really bat on hard pitches against pace. Or spin. Our captain came into the series as probably the second best batsman in the world is now not even the second best batsman in his very poor team. Psychological damage now being inflicted. No need for the Aussies to sledge soon. Worst of all they are making that twat Nathan Lyon’s threat to end careers come true.
This one is heading into seriously embarrassing territory now, 600+ looking likely and you can guarantee we'll roll over inside a day in our second innings. This side has looked beaten since Smith nailed them in the 1st Test...
It's very hard for sides to win away from home these days. We simply don't have the type of bowlers who are suited to these conditions. Very good sides can do it or you see the occasional upset, but generally teams win with their home conditions. I don't blame the players. They've kept trying since I've been watching. Unfortunately the whitewash still looks on. Anderson, Broad and Cook are all coming to the end of their careers too. Also Stokes has been missed, but I don't he would have swung it our way.
Undoubtedly true Col. My response was fresh from the shock of waking up and hearing the score. And I think on these pitches our lack of pace would have scuppered us even if more of the batsmen were firing properly. I do think the lack of acclimatisation in terms of tour games before the Test series starts exaggerates the impact of local conditions, as undoubtedly good players just don’t get the time to adjust their games to them before they are in the high pressure situation of a Test. Did Ali, who’s form and confidence have been woeful, have any real time in warm up games before Brisbane? Broad is on record as saying he doesn’t want to play in tour matches to save himself for tests - tough titty mate, you should never assume that your place is safe without proving yourself. I know that commercial pressures prevent the epically long tours of our youth, but a couple of half hearted warm ups against deliberately weak President’s XIs isn’t enough. Plus I used to love it when touring teams used to play quite a few County sides. In 1976 the West Indies played a staggering 22 3 and 1 day warm up games before the Test series started, against counties, Combined Universities and the MCC (I went to some of that one) enabling thousands of people to see them and themselves to get into perfect nick to humiliate us. England played 3 warm ups on this tour. Perhaps a rethink is needed, because Test series which you can guarantee the home side will win will be the end of the format, already under pressure from quick cricket. 539-4. Ouch.
When I said yesterday that we were 100 short of what was required I actually meant 200!!!!!! A meek attempt at defending the ashes, 10 straight defeats in Australia now very much on the cards.
You're right about the lack of preparation, but Australia are far from invincible at home - South Africa won there just last year. Our rookies - Malan, Stoneman, Vince, Overton - have all done pretty well, whilst our senior players have underperformed or are just plain past it.
My hopes for this series are now confined to having a good day on Boxing Day at the MCG, the biggest day in cricket.
Yeah, that's top of my list - maybe in four years' time. It would be good if the series was still alive come Boxing day, but we might need the weather.
So, England need 259 to avoid innings defeat. Have we made 259 in any 2nd innings over there on this tour?...
Go for it Strolls, but probably best to be in the frame of mind where you are there to enjoy the experience and trip, the results don’t matter. Look like I’ll never get back to Australia for work, last time was 2011, so I’ll have to dig in to my own pocket to go again. But it’s worth it, great country. Except for the deadly and sneaky beasts.
