He gets away with a lot on the grounds he is " Just Smithy".
But down the years, going back to the sixties when I first watched, the Aussies will be very vocal and arsey when they are on top. When they are under the cosh there is nothing from them.
They got a golden chance yesterday and took it. Gloomy conditions and some moisture spicing up a dead pitch. Before the rain you could see the slump in some bodies as the openers looked comfortable.
Big job on today for the batsmen. Need 250 plus to defend I'd say.
Agree totallyTalking to my cousin in Aus, Smith is the captain they don't want. Cummins may be the official captain for the media but apparently Smith runs the team on the pitch - you could see that in the England first innings
Agree. Just wish we had a fit spinner as Moeen is struggling! Spin will be massive on day 5. Rain forecast though tomorrow I believeLords up next and we've got a poor record there. We cant lose this but Stokes will dangle them a carrot.
With last nights rain and the forecast for the next two days, I think 250 could just be enough.
I was getting angry with our performance yesterday when we dropped catches and Aussies were just clipping their way to a hefty lead. Oh me of little faith! Every time I question Stokes, he proves me wrong. It's brilliantI agree that its crucial we don't lose this one, but Im not sure Stokes and the coaches think like that. I love the positive mind set, the random field positions, the will to win but a little bit of balance is also required imo.
Doesn't help that Ali's finger looked knackered yesterday and i doubt it will have healed enough (if at all) for him to bowl
Hopefully we call in Raheen Ahmed for the rest of the series. I'm a huge fan of his. Root is also underrated as a spin bowler, hes come on leaps and bounds lately.Agree. Just wish we had a fit spinner as Moeen is struggling! Spin will be massive on day 5. Rain forecast though tomorrow I believe
Just being saying to my old fella hes probably the best batsman our country has ever had.Root is absolutely superb isn’t he?
Yeah absolutely. Not sen much of him but my mate, who coaches and plays for Durham City , says he’s a top spinner as well.Hopefully we call in Raheen Ahmed for the rest of the series. I'm a huge fan of his. Root is also underrated as a spin bowler, hes come on leaps and bounds lately.
Pope done with a beauty there.
I think not being captain has made him a better player. Less stress i think.Root is absolutely superb isn’t he?
250 is very gettable. Just takes one of the top order to stay in there. This is Kawaja's type of wicket and he could hang around.I still think 250 will be tough for Australia to chase down.