Saigon Raider Posted December 30, 2017 Share Posted December 30, 2017 I take it back - this game is as dead as the pitch. Rubbish for test cricket this, drop in pitches have to be better. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
btb Posted December 30, 2017 Share Posted December 30, 2017 (edited) Up early to see if England had a chance of pulling one back. Effectively 61/4 with 35 overs to play after tea. Still time for a collapse & slog if SS goes first over after tea but in the real world it's a draw for everyone but the dreamers. Better result for England (statin' the bleedin' obvious) but similar story in that they haven't been able to take their chance & force a win. Maybe a bit harsh on England but I feel if circumstances had been reversed the Aussies would've conjured something up. ***************** Inevitable century for Smith, can't be long now before they shake hands..................... Edited December 30, 2017 by btb 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jmothecat2 Posted December 30, 2017 Share Posted December 30, 2017 I know it was a dead pitch, and there was rain. But England effectively had a day and a half to bowl Australia out and managed to take 4 wickets. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peasy23 Posted December 30, 2017 Share Posted December 30, 2017 I know it was a dead pitch, and there was rain. But England effectively had a day and a half to bowl Australia out and managed to take 4 wickets. As was mentioned on here, they should have stuck the Aussies in to bat for 20 minutes or so at the end of the 3rd day. They might have got Warner early after he had been in the field all day. Would have been worth the gamble imo. Even though England bowled better in this match they still didn't look like taking 20 wickets. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peasy23 Posted December 30, 2017 Share Posted December 30, 2017 If Mason Crane doesn't play in the last match then his inclusion in the squad could be the most pointless in England's Ashes touring history. I've no idea how good or bad he is at this level, but how badly does Moeen need to bowl before Crane gets a chance? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benjamin_Nevis Posted December 31, 2017 Share Posted December 31, 2017 I'm not even sure the weather "saved" Australia to any real extent. At close of play they were 99 runs ahead with four wickets down, and Smith/Marsh at the crease. Obviously the mental situation is different if you're just fannying about for a draw, but on a slow pitch doing next to f**k all, I don't expect England would have got them all out for less than 400, and I certainly wouldn't bet again England's top and middle orders still managing to utterly shit the bed on a nothing pitch, after all without Cook's superb effort, their first innings would have been bang average. Hopefully the SCG wicket has a bit more life in it. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jmothecat2 Posted December 31, 2017 Share Posted December 31, 2017 I'm not even sure the weather "saved" Australia to any real extent. At close of play they were 99 runs ahead with four wickets down, and Smith/Marsh at the crease. Obviously the mental situation is different if you're just fannying about for a draw, but on a slow pitch doing next to f**k all, I don't expect England would have got them all out for less than 400, and I certainly wouldn't bet again England's top and middle orders still managing to utterly shit the bed on a nothing pitch, after all without Cook's superb effort, their first innings would have been bang average. Hopefully the SCG wicket has a bit more life in it. Boycott said at one point 'even if this was a timeless test they won't take 20 wickets between now and the start of the next test' and I think he wasn't far off. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peasy23 Posted December 31, 2017 Share Posted December 31, 2017 Boycott said at one point 'even if this was a timeless test they won't take 20 wickets between now and the start of the next test' and I think he wasn't far off. Steve Smith said they could play for another two days and the pitch wouldn't change, while Root went for four days. They have to do something with the drop in pitches or they will be the death of Test cricket, nobody wants to see a load of drawn matches.In other news, it looks like Stokes won't even play in the ODIs and T20s with Malan tipped to take his place. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peasy23 Posted January 1, 2018 Share Posted January 1, 2018 Malan added to the ODI squad with Stokes omitted. Stokes has been given permission to play in the IPL which starts in early April and runs until late May. Looks like he will play no part in the NZ leg of the England tour either and if he ends up playing in the latter stages of the IPL then he might even miss the start of the home Test series against Pakistan. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peasy23 Posted January 2, 2018 Share Posted January 2, 2018 The MCG has been given a formal warning from the ICC after the pitch was marked as "poor" by their chief referee.http://www.cricket.com.au/news/mcg-pitch-rating-icc-poor-melbourne-cricket-australia-ashes-test-stripped-boxing-day-fine-warning/2018-01-02?mode=amp&__twitter_impression=true 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peasy23 Posted January 3, 2018 Share Posted January 3, 2018 So Mason Crane will make his Test debut, but not at the expense of Moeen Ali, instead he will replace Chris Woakes who has a side strain. Starc replaces Bird for the Aussies. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Savage Henry Posted January 3, 2018 Share Posted January 3, 2018 So Mason Crane will make his Test debut, but not at the expense of Moeen Ali, instead he will replace Chris Woakes who has a side strain. Starc replaces Bird for the Aussies. Meh. Can Crane bat? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peasy23 Posted January 3, 2018 Share Posted January 3, 2018 Meh. Can Crane bat? Nope. First class average of 12. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Savage Henry Posted January 3, 2018 Share Posted January 3, 2018 Nope. First class average of 12. Double meh. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swarley Posted January 3, 2018 Share Posted January 3, 2018 Light drizzle in Sydney this morning, it's meant to clear though 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peasy23 Posted January 4, 2018 Share Posted January 4, 2018 Start delayed for a couple of hours, England survive the first few overs without loss. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peasy23 Posted January 4, 2018 Share Posted January 4, 2018 First wicket goes as Stoneman nicks one to the keeper for 24. 28-1. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dalrymple76 Posted January 4, 2018 Share Posted January 4, 2018 Root goes for 83 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peasy23 Posted January 4, 2018 Share Posted January 4, 2018 And Bairstow soon after. Disastrous at the end of what had been a decent day for England. 233-5 at the close. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
btb Posted January 4, 2018 Share Posted January 4, 2018 New ball did the trick as England's batsmen once again fail to make the big scores, with said new ball still less than 2 overs old you wouldn't fancy them reaching 300 now. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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