Off Topic The Ashes

ps. It is 2.30 am and had a hatful before I started on the gin

 

Bombay Sapphire I hope.

 

MATCH DRAWN, Aussies 263-4 declared, with Smith on 102, England shake hands at that. At least it is not going to be a white wash.

 

No whitewash was important, just to piss their media off if nothing else

 

Quiet a delayed start because of rain, England won the toss decided to bat, got off to a reasonable start, but wickets soon started to fall, Stoneman for 24, Cook for 39 & Vince for 25. At tea Root and Malan there on 17 & 16 respectively. 123-3.

 

Moved on to 161-3 at drinks, Root 43, Malan 28.

 

Root out for 83, C+B March. Malan 55 NO, 233-4, Bairstow just in.

 

Bairstow out. Night watchman you muppets!

 

What a disappointing end to what could have been a good day, Root and Bairstow out in the last throws of the day. Have to question why a night watchman wasn't deployed 233-5.

 

There have been some very strange decisions during this series.....no night watchman, Vince & Malan not reviewing in the last test match when they would have stayed at the crease if they had

 

The lack of night watchman is surprising. Bairstow got a good ball, which when you are new to the crease is quite likely to get you out. If it was Anderson or Broad or Curran it wouldn't have mattered they would have done their job. We needed Bairstow there tomorrow morning.

Huge day for Malan and Ali. We need Malan to get a century and Ali rediscover the form he showed in the summer.

 

Story of this ashes. Losing the key moments.


1st day: 2nd new ball: 3 down is a good day.

Within 8 balls that has been undermined.

Poor shot by Root. Stupid nightwatchman decision. Good ball to Bairstow.



Thank you and goodnight.

 

Out of the will? Get her out of the house.

 

England got off to a cracking start Broad bowled Bancroft for 0, 1-1 in the 2nd over. Warner then went on to get his 50 along with Khwadja, but then Anderson strikes with a great delivery to get Warner caught behind for 56. 86-2. Smith in now with Khwadja on 35.

 

At Tea 96-2 the Aussies, Smith on 3 and Khwadja on 36.

 

At Tea 96-2 the Aussies, Smith on 3 and Khwadja on 36.

 

Close of play

Total (67.0 overs) 193-for 2 wickets

Bancroft b Broad 0
Warner c Bairstow b Anderson 56
Khawaja not out 91
Smith not out 44
Extras 1nb 0w 1b 0lb 2

 

Did anyone see Cummins bowling and Marsh. Absolutely brainless. Fair enough it’s not gonna matter as they will get about 600. But if they’d have bowled at the wickets they have bowled us out for about 270!

 

Your young leggy Mason Crane looks like he will be a good bowler for years to come, along with your young paceman Curran. Moeen Ali hasn’t impressed although this final test he has done better than the rest of the tour. Too little too late.

 

Crane gets his first test wicket, got Khwadja out for 171 stumped by Bairstow.

Doesn't help much England getting battered, Aussies 381-4 with S Marsh on 65