He bowled a bit quicker than i remember him in the past but he didn't make the batsmen play anywhere near enough.
England Cricket Winter 2017/18 - Ashes & NZ
- Thread starter ArmchairCritic
- Start date
For all this talk of a slow pitch (it is) am I the only one that thinks that Australia's much vaunted pace quartet is, well, not that quick.
Cummins may be choosing to bowl within himself a touch given the nature of the pitch and his injury record, but it's a touch difficult to see how he's going to emulate Johnson's success bowling at 86 mph rather than touching 96.
Cummins may be choosing to bowl within himself a touch given the nature of the pitch and his injury record, but it's a touch difficult to see how he's going to emulate Johnson's success bowling at 86 mph rather than touching 96.
Excellent start by England one hour in. Pitch looks like it's quickened up a bit. Quite surprised the ball is spinning on day 2 though.
We miss Pattinson imo, he has the right combo of swing, pace and fast bowler cuntishness.
However i am saying this as a very biased Victorian
I see the score and England lose 2 wickets 
. I’m sorry
. I’m sorry Well we've fecked this up.
The Australians in Australia like their bouncers don't they?
Well, we made 300. That's not utterly atrocious. Pitch is slow, but there's plenty of turn and Starc got the ball swinging a little both ways - doesn't seem like it's an easy pitch to score runs on. Maybe we'll be alright.
Can't even convince myself.
Can't even convince myself.
Well that was some collapse. Really should have gotten to 350 if not 400. This is where they will miss Stokes.
One down!
Maxwell has blasted a quick 100 in the sheffield shield, when Darsh fails he better be in the team.
Isn’t maxwell more of a LOI batsman? Can you expect him to play a patient innings?
His first class form has improved a lot and he has just gone past 200.
Maxwell can be trusted imo.
He scored an excellent 100 in India recently. Better batsmen, bowler and fielder than Marsh.
England have hit a brick wall now, not looking likely to take a wicket before the close of play
Steve Smith, best in the world at it again.
Just a typical England’s day, big collapse, then get in Team in a bit of trouble before letting them right back into it
Marsh gone for 51 175/5
Swing + Anderson = wicket, Paine gone for 13 200/6
Starc gone C & B Broad for 6 209/7
I don't see Australia winning this test match from here unless some good bowling to restrict England batting in the second innings.
Anderson seems to have a problem with his left side, hope they can get him fit over the lunch break
God, Steven Smith must be so annoying to bowl too. Due to his footwork, every bowler must feel that he has a chance of LBW and yet he keep on playing.
Fantastic innings by Smith but boy his back and shoulders must be sore carrying half the team.
WTF Cook?
Yeah stupid. Didn’t need to play it.
Need you badly to do something now Root
Their first innings collapse is hurting them. Someone needs to stay put for a few sessions and get a 100. Cook has struggled with his footwork this Test. He stays well back in the crease but his right foot moves forward when he plays a shot.
Whats that in this test, 9 runs off 23 balls? His form in Ashes is terrible
Pat Cummins is an absolute superstar.
Not an ideal start but good to see Root and Stoneman see the day out.
His form this year been terrible, that was his 8th score between 0-11 in 15 innings
Couple of early wickets and Australia should win this comfortably.
He had that one incredible ashes series in 2010/2011 but other than that yeah he's consistently poor against Australia.
He's been poor in general for a while now. Tends to get one big score a year surrounded by numerous failures.
Still in the game after 3 days, if England want it they can take a huge step to avoiding a loss tomorrow. Must bat all day then take it from there really, best case can have 60-70 over tilt at knocking them over, worst case just get the draw. Knowing England they will dig out the unfathomable case of 120 all out and the game will be over by sunrise in England.
It's a shame Stokes did what he did because I'm very confident with the form he had been in since the IPL he would have had made a huge difference. With Moeen and Stokes in the middle order it was always the case if one didn't get you the other would, the balance with just Moeen doesn't feel right and will leave Bairstow batting with the tail far too often rather than with Stokes or Ali.
I don't think Cook has batted well for a long while, even his 243 vs WI was scratchy as heck, he started the county season off very well but since has been pretty rank. If you take out the 243, then since last winter including this test I make his record to be:
T------I------R-----Avg
15 -- 28 -- 796 -- 28.4
That one innings alone boosts his average to 37! This is Alastair Cook we're talking about however and in recent years he has made it a habit of following bad years with big one's. If this form continues throughout this series I'd be tempted to rest him for the NZ tour that follows.
It's a shame Stokes did what he did because I'm very confident with the form he had been in since the IPL he would have had made a huge difference. With Moeen and Stokes in the middle order it was always the case if one didn't get you the other would, the balance with just Moeen doesn't feel right and will leave Bairstow batting with the tail far too often rather than with Stokes or Ali.
I don't think Cook has batted well for a long while, even his 243 vs WI was scratchy as heck, he started the county season off very well but since has been pretty rank. If you take out the 243, then since last winter including this test I make his record to be:
T------I------R-----Avg
15 -- 28 -- 796 -- 28.4
That one innings alone boosts his average to 37! This is Alastair Cook we're talking about however and in recent years he has made it a habit of following bad years with big one's. If this form continues throughout this series I'd be tempted to rest him for the NZ tour that follows.
Gotta look at this with a bit of relativity. England are doing a lot better than many expected.
That's what keeping hopes alive. England may still lose here but if they fight till the end they would have shown Australia they have a contest on their hands. Everyone was expecting an England battering here. Having said that it wouldn't be surprising if England collapse tomorrow. All will depend on Root. Can he somehow battle away and score 80+. He keeps the runs ticking. Need at least 250+ to have any chance.
Thats woeful form.
Exactly it's a distinct possibility we are bowled out for 150 tomorrow. Need a Root masterclass.
I’m reminded of the India series last year where they almost won the first test and confidence was riding high and they ended up losing next 4 games, even 2 innings defeats after making 400 each time in first innings. England are like Liverpool or arsenal of cricket. You never know which team turns up on the day
Finally out for 278(318 balls) 36x4 4x6 87.42/100