Ashes I - 2013 - In England

A batting order of:

Rogers
Warner
Khawaja
Clarke
Smith
Watson

looks pretty good indeed. Smith on paper looks like weak link but his ability to play Swann is better than a number of batsman. Then you have Haddin, Siddle and Starc to follow, it may have to cause England to rethink their current lot of bowlers as they're arguably not threatening enough on these pitches

DiseaseOfTheAge said:
I do. The difference between 6 or 7 is little. The difference between 2-0 and 2-1, with 2 to play, is huge.
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Isn't 7 defeats in a row a record number of consecutive defeats for Australia? I don't think its in Clarke's mind, it's just both Warner and Khawaja want to cement their place in the team and have some time in the crease. If they bow out with a quick 10/20 it doesn't do them any favours.
 
DiseaseOfTheAge said:
I do. The difference between 6 or 7 is little. The difference between 2-0 and 2-1, with 2 to play, is huge.
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I don't disagree with that but the Aussies have taken some real beatings over the last year. Their confidence is very fragile and the last thing they want to do is blow up and lose again. I am not saying it's deliberate but subconsciously that's what they are going through I reckon
 
DiseaseOfTheAge said:
Unless Australia suddenly up the rate, I don't see them winning this. They seem more concerned with the thought of losing 5-0 than they are with getting back in to the series.
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They are scoring at 4.5 runs per over. Pretty good for test matches.
 
Aye nothing wrong with the run rate for now IMO. Also isn't cute to see Watson and Clarke put on a display of solidarity together
 
FlawlessThaw said:
Isn't 7 defeats in a row a record number of consecutive defeats for Australia? I don't think its in Clarke's mind, it's just both Warner and Khawaja want to cement their place in the team and have some time in the crease. If they bow out with a quick 10/20 it doesn't do them any favours.
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It may well be, I don't know. As for Warner and Khawaja, I don't think batting away their side's chances in the series should do them any favours, either.
akash02 said:
I don't disagree with that but the Aussies have taken some real beatings over the last year. Their confidence is very fragile and the last thing they want to do is blow up and lose again. I am not saying it's deliberate but subconsciously that's what they are going through I reckon
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All true, I'd say. They have a chance to change the momentum, here. There are another 7 tests, between the two teams, after this. If they can't bring themselves to commit to trying to win this test then they are in a lot of trouble.
KM said:
They are scoring at 4.5 runs per over. Pretty good for test matches.
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Normally. Not in these circumstances. They are over 200 ahead with a day and half left and a lot of rain predicted. If England were doing this, I'd be livid.
 
I think Aus will declare at Tea, regardless of what score they get.

In reality there is no difference between a draw and a loss for Australia here, 4 sessions to bowl England out but they'll probably have to gamble and set England a total that is gettable.
 
Surprised more bowlers haven't dug it in more on this pitch, good pitch for short stuff.
 
What a shot that was.

I've never understood why Steve Smith gets so much shit, he might look like a retard but he's a good cricketer.
 
NinjaFletch said:
What a shot that was.

I've never understood why Steve Smith gets so much shit, he might look like a retard but he's a good cricketer.
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Probably because he was picked in the last Ashes series because he tells good jokes. I agree that he's good enough now though.
 
You see this is the thing that really annoys me with Umpires, why has that been reviewed. He shouldn't be umpiring if he can't tell that that is out.

It takes time out of the game because Umpires are too busy trying to cover their backs.
 
Umpire probably knew that was out but with a small % of doubt. The problem is because he has the ability to refer it (and rightly) he was going to automatically review it anyway.

That's why you can't let umpires review leg befores and potential nicks as we will never get anything done.
 
AldoRaine18 said:
How long before they should declare? I reckon anything around 350 should be enough to defend on a last day pitch.
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Two ways you can do this, declare with a safe target or declare with 300 odd off 100 odd overs and ask England if they fancy it. 350 off 90 and England will just block away.
 
ArmchairCritic said:
Two ways you can do this, declare with a safe target or declare with 300 odd off 100 odd overs and ask England if they fancy it. 350 off 90 and England will just block away.
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Yeah I think he really needs to put them out to bat for at least one hour at the end of the day and make tired legs and minds try to concentrate on playing it out and hope to get a wicket or two. If they can get Cook today, it would be a huge boost for them when they come out tomorrow.
 
If possible I think Aus will go hard for 10 overs after tea then declare.
 
Eric Harrison apparently asked Neville what the hell he was doing with the cricket nonsense after he made that ton with Matt Hayden
 
England are taking the piss with their over rate.
 
21 balls in about 20 mins, ridiculous. They came back on at ten-to-four.
 
You get the feeling now that Clarke will just carry on until they are all out and thus avoid defeat. He's probably just desperate not to lose yet another match.
 
See what they do when they get to 350. England definitely won't be able to chase that on the last day, not with the way they bat.
 
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