Well the Aussie pundits mentioned the ruts but didn't say anything about them. I'm sure I've seen them before on an english strip.
Ashes I - 2013 - In England
- Thread starter ghaliboy
- Start date
I like Smith a lot, I basically like any test cricketer who can battle it out and with his technique every innings is a battle, but him and Watson are the two players you'd look at as an English batsman and think 'if they got runs on this pitch there is no way I am missing out.
mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmSEEYA.
Road? Batting paradise? unthreatening attack? 2 an over it is then.
Have England always batted this slowly?
It's easy to see why 2020 was invented there.
It's easy to see why 2020 was invented there.
Will England reach 200 before the second new ball.....?
Faulkner has been a bit shit to be honest. Without an attacking spinner the chance of bowling teams out in unfavorable conditions is pretty much nil. Just call it a draw and put on some re-runs and everyone can go home.
At the rate England are scoring, the Aussies still stand a really good chance of enforcing the follow on
I find it hard to see England being all out for <292, they're looking pretty comfortable as it is. Since Cook was out there hasn't really been a genuine chance of a wicket for Australia. Run rate has picked up to over 3 now anyway and will probably continue to rise.
Throws it away, Root is a bit special.
Root's gone now. Surprised Lyon hasn't been used much till now.
England have a long tail consider Woakes is at 6 and Prior is out of nick, can see them easily collapsing for under 292.
England have a long tail consider Woakes is at 6 and Prior is out of nick, can see them easily collapsing for under 292.
Poor shot from Root but confidence boosting knock from him.
fecking he'll Trott. 
cnut takes an age every ball to face up as well.
cnut takes an age every ball to face up as well.Very slow progress by England here, they need to start looking at more 1's and 2's to keep the scoreboard ticking.
Thats the problem when England bat like this.
I'm not really seeing a problem with this innings. The aim, when they started batting, should've been to move the game towards a draw. They are now just 46 runs away from saving the follow on, only 4 wickets down, and have taken 116 overs out of the game.
It was a very good day for England.
It was a very good day for England.
Exactly what was required: probably can't win after a 500 start so don't lose.
Yeah. Absolutely nothing wrong with it. It's one aspect of test cricket that is just another part of the game. But well done to Cook after saying they'd go out and try and win the series 4-0....
.When did he say that? If it's after Australia had finished their innings then that would be a strange thing to say, I'd agree. If England bat well tomorrow then it'll be Australia's turn to decide how much they want to win. They may well have to risk 4-0 to give themselves a decent shot at 3-1.Yeah. Absolutely nothing wrong with it. It's one aspect of test cricket that is just another part of the game. But well done to Cook after saying they'd go out and try and win the series 4-0....
Few days ago I think it was.
England are very dislikeable.
When losing, they try to waste time if they're bowling or plod along if they're batting.
When losing, they try to waste time if they're bowling or plod along if they're batting.
The problem I have with it is if they had batted quicker (a risk free 3 runs an over is hardly rapid) they would have 348 now, have saved the follow on and secured the game.
The way they batted when England got to the 81st over and the new ball was due they were in tremendous danger, and when Trott was blown over after the second ball with it the possibility of a collapse was there. Still, all it takes is some loose shots and bad decisions and all that hard work of yesterday is for nothing.
That's my problem with the run rate, I don't think England made it easier for themselves and, by scoring at that speed, I think they actually left themselves open to more risk.
Also I appreciate the importance of not losing, but test cricket is doomed to die if it can't entertain. Englands batting and time wasting in this test are what turns people away from the sport.
More likely been bowled out for 200-odd and been at serious risk of losing despite the day out for rain.
Why, are these not professional cricketers? They could easily have got to 3 an over by hitting the overpitched half volleys (rather than patting them back) and hitting Steve Smith's bad balls last night no risk there and the scoreboard ticks along far more healthily.
Most test cricketers play one-day style these days and get a few runs or get out quickly, England showed admirable application.
There's clearly a middle ground, though.
There wont be any play today.
Under-whelming final test for England, feck it - 3-0
Under-whelming final test for England, feck it - 3-0
It's been raining all night in the London area, its forecasted to rain all of today, (50% chance of precipitation all day) and likely to rain tomorrow as well (but less likely than today). I wonder what the drainage system is like at the oval. Outfield would be waterlogged by tomorrow you imagine.
Watching hilights of the first test, how on earth did we lose that no play today for sure.
no play today for sure.Also the highlights make it evident just how bad some of the umpiring had been. Darma giving runs on Barstoe so clearly thumping the pad. Shocking. .
.Watson in that first test 15 overs 11 maidens 0-11. Outrageous figures .
.feck yeah, we're gonna have some cricket today!
(And my game later won't be rained off like yesterday, win win)
(And my game later won't be rained off like yesterday, win win)
Woakes has been really streaky so far today, only looks a matter of time before he'll nick off. Hope I'm wrong.
Waokes gone. Looks a bit rubbish imo. Worked over from Harris.
Told ya, looked a walking wicket in fairness.
Starc is just so unthreataning. So far Pattinson and Bird both injured it's a case of Starc being fit and getting picked because he's staying fit. Which is a shame because the other two are clearly better bowlers with more in their locker.
That last over from Harris completely spelled out some of the short term problems in the Aussie bowling attack. Some really good straight balls testing the batsman then a ripping bumper then this wide rank piece of trash that gets slayed away. Gotta be frustrating for a captain.
That last over from Harris completely spelled out some of the short term problems in the Aussie bowling attack. Some really good straight balls testing the batsman then a ripping bumper then this wide rank piece of trash that gets slayed away. Gotta be frustrating for a captain.
Australia will need to go away and come up with some specialised plan for Bell in the next three months. They can't allow him to score this many runs again, it's been pretty ridiculous.
In fairness the West Indies pace attack of the 80s would look unthreatening on this pitch, it's a rubbish pitch.
England going along nicely this morning, with little threat, proving my point from yesterday I think.
England going along nicely this morning, with little threat, proving my point from yesterday I think.
A spinner would be nice.
True