That's stumps 549-4, Smith 229 & Marsh 181. Looking like a 3rd loss, unless we can bat long in the 2nd innings. I was questioning during the last test whether Root performance was be affected by the captainship, and it seems a few pundits are saying it has now. Better make Broad captain and let Joe do what Joe does best and score runs.
Not so sure about that, all the English bowlers are struggling on this pitch, we just don't train players to bowl fast as in England it is not necessary. I still think there is 2 or 3 years left in Broad.
Broad is cooked. Your best bowler is Jimmy Anderson by a long shot. Overton looks like he has something to offer, just needs the experience and someone up the other end to support him
He may well be or just out of form, it was more to do with Root and is the captaincy affecting his performance? I feel it is, and now some of the pundits are now say they feel the same. I just put up Broad as a possible replacement for the moment.
I've criticised Vince many times for getting himself out, but not this time - he was cleaned up today by the most unplayable ball of the series. The end is nigh, unless rain comes...
don't think it'd have been that different, batting would have been stronger yes, but his bowling in tests isn't that outstanding. We'd still be 2 down and facing 3-0 I reckon
He is an utter shambles and frankly has been for a while, consistently wastes the new ball by trying to bowl too short and keep runs down, masked at home by the infrequent unplayable days and helpful pitches, offers absolutely nothing with the bat as well considering he's got a test ton - personally i'd bat him at 11. Only the utter lack of options in the bowling department keeps him out of the firing line up.
worth remembering too, that we've won the toss in each of the 3 tests here too, though we did a silly thing bowling at Adelaide. Things could have been even more gloomy had we not won those 3.
We need to pray for rain, but the likelihood is we'll be handing the ashes over in around 22 hours. we need to look at when we play County Cricket. This coming season it appears we play very few championship matches when the pitches are rock hard in August, we're simply breeding medium pace swing bowlers that are only effective in English conditions that also means no requirement for spin. That's what you get for chasing the money.
