Australia are going to have a lead but at least we won't be batting tonight. However, we need to batting in the first session tomorrow, see off the new ball before sunset.
The old phases catches win matches seen apt. We all knew that opting out the game in Canberra under the lights was stupid and today's performance shows why, lack of match practice
He took SA to two world cup SFs. The t20 WC in 2014 (when they lost to India) and the 50 WC in 2015 (when they lost to NZ). That NZ game was the famous one where SA looked favourite to make their first final, only for Grant Elliott to hit a 4 and a 6 in the final over off Steyn. He recently won SA domestic coach of the year, I think for winning the league and cup double.
I've just checked. In the 2024-25 season, he won the domestic t20 competition (not the SA20) and the domestic four day competition with the Lions. And his t20 captain is Fortuin. I see that Cricinfo are saying that he'll continue in his role as head coach for the Lions. But I wonder how long that might last. It looks like their current 2025-26 season ends on 21 March (having started on 2 October). And then our season runs from 3 April to 27 September. So it's difficult to see him carrying on with both roles on a long term basis, because that's a full 12-month a year ask.
England need to show more match awareness like Australia but I don’t think a big change of approach is needed.
You simply cannot play the way Mccullum wants us to play and be successful over a sustained period of time. You may win a test but not a series. Lack of match build up to the biggest series in two years. Players need to know when to attack and when to defend. They don't and as of yet the management shows no inclination to change that and come out with the staple line, " That is the way we play". This is generally regarded as the poorest Aussie team in generations who are poor at batting. And here they are at over 500, after the easiest possible rum chase in the first test.
The lack of match preparation has been the same in previous tours. Like I said, more match awareness required. Australia were attacking and if someone had stayed with Root longer it could have been an entirely different story. But their tail enders grafted, ours didn't - that's what I'm most annoyed at.
