The Ashes (3 Viewers)

[Otis]

Game will be all but finished tomorrow.

Warners a big wicket he will come out swinging if he cracks a run a ball 70 it move the momentum to Aus need ringer them 2/3 down by lunch, just keep chipping away!

I think this is England's to lose.

We would surely have to mess this all up badly to lose this test now.

As you say, just keep chipping away. The pitch is unpredictable and players are having some difficulty timing the ball properly.

320, then yeah, Australia would have a decent chance, but over 400? Nope! Just can't see it at all.

 

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[Grendel]

There are plenty of twists coming tomorrow, it's a good lead to defend but it's England!

Only two times in the history of test cricket has a higher winning score been achieved in a fourth innings.

On a soft wicket where accurate bowling will make scoring difficult this should be pretty easy.

Of course miracles happen but make no mistake this would be a miracle if it did.

 

[Otis]

Only two times in the history of test cricket has a higher winning score been achieved in a fourth innings.

On a soft wicket where accurate bowling will make scoring difficult this should be pretty easy.

Of course miracles happen but make no mistake this would be a miracle if it did.

It would indeed.

You would expect England to have this wrapped up by tea tomorrow you'd think.

We can afford the luxury of a high number of close catchers and if we produce tight, pressure bowling, the Aussies won't be able to resist having a nibble. Too many flair players in their side.

Would expect an England victory tomorrow. Breaking that 400 barrier was psychologically massive.

 

[Macca]

It's the fact they have 2 days that worrys me

 

[Terry Gibson's perm]

I would imagine that most scores of over 400 were being chased after tea on day 4 where the pitch is much more worn, my worry is this is still a fourth day pitch so they could get off to a good start but hopefully 400 is too much, really want to see Jimmy work over Smith today and then pin him lbw in front.

 

[stupot07]

It's the fact they have 2 days that worrys me

Yeah, there's no rush they can't go at 2 an over and take their time. Also it's only the 4th day so the pitch isn't too bad.


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[Macca]

43 already and 2 potentially devastating batsmen at the crease, 6 as we speak,

Egg on faces, mark my words

17 off that over

 

[stupot07]

17 of an over in test cricket is appalling. Looks like they have learned from the first innings to play Ali off the back foot.


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[Macca]

I appreciate that it is unlikely but we do have a habit of mouthing off too quickly. Watching the ashes verdict was like the game was over and everyone being smug. If we hadn't been trying to push on we could have had 400 so not out the question. Pitch ok, lots of time and buffet bowling could be trouble

 

[Grendel]

I appreciate that it is unlikely but we do have a habit of mouthing off too quickly. Watching the ashes verdict was like the game was over and everyone being smug. If we hadn't been trying to push on we could have had 400 so not out the question. Pitch ok, lots of time and buffet bowling could be trouble

Statistically there is not much chance. A few ashes ago they were chasing 450 and were 230 for 2 but then a run out and that was it.

Bowl straight and England will win.

Ali is a batsman who bowls a bit like Joe Root. It's silly to pick him as a front line spinner.

He should be considered as an opener for the next test.

 

[Macca]

Agreed but I think there are different circumstances here. A quarter there for the loss of 1 and its edgy

 

[lifeskyblue]

Nail biting time. Hopefully the wicket before lunch will start an Aussie collapse. This s is going to be close I think


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[Jack Griffin]

Australia 101for3

Australia need another 311 runs to win

 

[Macca]

Ok Otis and Grendel I retract every one of my posts on this thread

 

[I_Saw_Shaw_Score]

In the blink of an eye this tests all but done!

Knock them over for less than another 100 & run there noses in it with a big big win!

 

[Covstu]

Come one England, kill it off

 

[stupot07]

198/7 and the pitch looks lifeless.


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[Macca]

Doesn't look like being wrapped up tonight? New ball might do it

 

[stupot07]

Still a couple of hours to go, and the extra half out if needed.


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[Macca]

The way Johnson is knocking around could be interesting again, less than 200 now

 

[stupot07]

Wicket!!


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[stupot07]

Johnson gone, 242-9


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[stupot07]

All over England win by 169 runs!!


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[lifeskyblue]

Fantastic England. Beat the Aussies in 4 days and by a big margin. Root Hausa great future


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[Covstu]

Superb result, they were amazing. Bring on the second test

 

[Ian1779]

Didn't expect that to happen at all.

Well done England!!

 

[Otis]

Didn't expect that to happen at all.

Well done England!!

Don't think any of us did, but we pretty much controlled the whole test from start to finish.

 

[Grendel]

Don't think any of us did, but we pretty much controlled the whole test from start to finish.

Cricket is a very statistical game. Once England had a 400 lead it was never ever going to be close. There's always the very occasional exception to the rule but I thought 150 run win was the norm and so it proved. Teams batting fourth have big disadvantages for many reasons.

Looking forward the Aussies look far from invincible. Warner is really a one day player and is unlikely to play a sustained innings under pressure. Rogers is a dogged opener but no Cooke. Smith is the one flaw in the statistics tag. World number one batsman he is not. Flimsy as a number 3. Voges looked lost in England. Watson and Haddin look busted flushes. Watson surely now has to go. His technical flaws are exposed time and time again. Johnson is a fragile character and no great bowler in the McGrath league. Heavy rollers and dead pitches will mean a long hot summer for this overated bowler. Starc is injured which is good as he is a class bowler.

England should not have Ali at 8. He is a quality batsman and should push up to 6 at least. He may as the series unfolds have to open. Still he has silenced his detractors with a match winning performance. He could become a cricketing great for England if he can improve his bowling accuracy.

All in all its looking good. Lords is crucial - get the heavy roller out and laugh at Johnson and it's all over as long as we bat first.

 

[Macca]

Cricket is a very statistical game. Once England had a 400 lead it was never ever going to be close. There's always the very occasional exception to the rule but I thought 150 run win was the norm and so it proved. Teams batting fourth have big disadvantages for many reasons.

Looking forward the Aussies look far from invincible. Warner is really a one day player and is unlikely to play a sustained innings under pressure. Rogers is a dogged opener but no Cooke. Smith is the one flaw in the statistics tag. World number one batsman he is not. Flimsy as a number 3. Voges looked lost in England. Watson and Haddin look busted flushes. Watson surely now has to go. His technical flaws are exposed time and time again. Johnson is a fragile character and no great bowler in the McGrath league. Heavy rollers and dead pitches will mean a long hot summer for this overated bowler. Starc is injured which is good as he is a class bowler.

England should not have Ali at 8. He is a quality batsman and should push up to 6 at least. He may as the series unfolds have to open. Still he has silenced his detractors with a match winning performance. He could become a cricketing great for England if he can improve his bowling accuracy.

All in all its looking good. Lords is crucial - get the heavy roller out and laugh at Johnson and it's all over as long as we bat first.

Damn good analysis that. Confidence is a massive thing too. At 40 odd for 3 on the first morning it looked like a long summer. Now you suddenly feel it's on. Then again it could all look different in a couple of days.
I love the game

 

[oakey]

Is this Aussie team unravelling or will they pull themselves together?

Time will tell but it will be interesting to see
If Clarke's back holds up.
If Starc's ankle firms up.
If Smith can score runs in England and look as if he belongs to a team.
If Johnson can get his line and length right at Lords for the first time ever AND his temper, fragile ego in check.
If all their other bowlers can handle a first crack at the Lords slope.
If Voges can contribute at all.
If their rookie middle order newbies can hack it.
If England, Anderson, Broad, Stokes, Root and Buttler can psyche them out.

 

[Terry Gibson's perm]

It is important that the fans keep on at Johnson as he will get rattled, I have backed an Aussie win as the touring sides love Lords and they will leave out the walking lbw in Watson.

 

[Otis]

I think the Aussies will come at us really hard, so we need to be very wary of that and not be cocky or complacent. That was just one victory in a 5 game battle.

Long way to go yet. Wouldn't surprise me at all if Austrailia leveled the series come Monday.

 

[lifeskyblue]

The Aussies won't be as bad as the first game. Must keep this one tight. Wouldn't surprise me, like others on here, if they win this one. However I think we did rattle them in Wales and I just hope we can do the same here. This morning will set the tempo for the five days so whether we have ball or bat we must start the day positive


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[CCFC88]

I really like Moeen at 8, I think its huge mentally, as a bowler when youve worked you balls off all day to get into the tail and then Moeen strolls in.
A former opener who, as in the first test if he has a big total to work with can loosen his arms and take the game away against a tired bowling attack or if you are in trouble has the mental capacity to dig in as an opener would. If we are in the brown stuff at tea on the 5th day would be the only number 8 in the world that you would want to see at the wicket to help guide you though a final session to clinch a draw!

 

[olderskyblue]

You just have to look at the Stats for the Aussies Home and Away. The difference in their results is huge.

Fantastic in Aussie land, mostly rubbish on their travels