We have a couple of decent bowlers if they click and their remaining batsmen aren’t great. Two average teams, Aussies slightly better at home.
Our body language suggests to me that the players don't believe they can win this series, whereas the Aussies look confident and more pumped up. England seem to become shrinking violets when they tour.
England looking pretty toothless as the Aussies, without being exceptional, have moved to 321-7 just after tea. England bowlers just don't have the raw pace to trouble the Aussie batsmen and Broad and Anderson, good as they are, haven't got the conditions that make them so effective at home. I wouldn't be surprised to see England undone by the Aussie pace attack again, especially if they get past 400...
Marsh century and Aussies sail past 400, the best we can hope for now is a draw but we'll be under the cosh now...
416/8 after winning toss and choosing to bowl.....thus is Joe Roots Nasser Hussain moment....first time in 25 years in Adelaide that team winning toss bowls.... I can see England being 3 down at close... To use one of cols sayings "we really are ****"
If we can by some miracle see out this session for only one wicket we have a chance so realistically no chance. Our attack just isn’t up to taking 20 wickets.
Aussies declare on 442-8. It was a huge mistake to bowl first and Root is looking rather like a rabbit caught in the headlights. I hope he recovers from this as he's such a fantastic batsman. As Tramore says, it's the first time in 25 years anyone has bowled first there. I know it was because of the day/night format, but our bowlers simply don't make the Aussie ball swing and we have no pace or real spin. Indeed Tramore..........we're ****ed mate!
Oh well, 3 consecutive days of pretty useless test cricket from England spanning two matches. Aussies pretty confident declaring on less than 500 in the first innings, and who can blame them. Avoiding total humiliation new series objective. What they have done to the Adelaide Oval is a real shame. It was a real old fashioned ground back in 1986 when I saw us play there, about half of the Oval grass banking and a long low Victorian stand. Lovely walk through a park in the city centre to get there. I’m sure it’s very modern and comfortable there now, but zero character and distinctiveness.
I know it's always the same, but these Aussies seem particularly cocky. It's going to feel like such a long wait before we can have a go at them in English conditions.
Just heard on the wireless that the average length bowled by England's quicks was 7.63 metres from the stumps, whereas for Australia in was 5.87 metres. Too short.
Just switched on so can’t comment on the earlier wickets but the shot Ali got out with is utterly pathetic. Just awful when you’re 130-5. Moron.
