2017/8 Cricket, Ashes, etc.

[QF WP]

Well surely any English backbone has now softened:

28.1
Lyon to Cook, OUT, well, there we go, composure can go hang! Cook props onto the front foot, with two close catchers on the off side. Lyon tweaks one off his edge, and slip gobbles the offering with glee! A tame end to a doughty knock, and now the wheels are truly coming off England's innings!
AN Cook c Smith b Lyon 37 (90b 3x4 0x6) SR: 41.11

4/80

 

[QF WP]

Sure enough, the capitulation gathers momentum:

37.1

coughmins to Malan, OUT, another bouncing bomb outside off stump, it jags back viciously from just back of a length, flicks the inside edge and sails through to Paine behind the stumps! Malan has to go this time, and England's Ashes are in a smouldering heap!
DJ Malan c †Paine b coughmins 19 (58b 1x4 0x6) SR: 32.75

5/102

I note Michael Clarke has tweeted asking what score the English will get.

 

[QF WP]

Well, the top order in the English batting lineup had better get in the nets and start practising, as they look like having the follow-on enforced against them...

48.2

Lyon to Ali, OUT, chipped back, waaaaaaaaayyyy to the left of the bowler... only for Lyon to pluck a one-handed screamer!
MM Ali c & b Lyon 25 (57b 2x4 0x6) SR: 43.85

6/132

Then again, would it really make a difference

 

[QF WP]

Nope, it won't make a difference, as the English are just looking to make it to stumps without making complete fools of themselves:

53.1

Starc to Bairstow, OUT, pitched up and driven in the air, Starc sticks out a hand... and juggles the rebound to complete the catch!Everything they touch turns to green-and-gold today! Bairstow departs now, staring at the heavens as England slide into Ashes hell. He struck the ball well but Starc reacted brilliantly, parried it with his right hand and then turning to grasp it behind him
JM Bairstow c & b Starc 21 (50b 2x4 0x6) SR: 42.00

7/142.

The rout is almost complete. Craig Overton, on debut, to the wicket. England need 101 more to avoid the follow on

 

[JohnK]

England have just gone 10 overs without losing a wicket. Things looking up for the rest of the series.

For now see if we can improve our batting and bowling averages until we play a cricket team.

 

[somebol]

yeah, poms were gone when they won the toss and choose to bowl

 

[RB]

Would be good to see the bowlers try to get a wicket rather than the tactics of the last half hour-too carried away with the short stuff

 

[QF WP]

The fat lady is doing her scales...

69.4

Starc to Woakes, OUT, oh, that is a terrible way to end a battling innings. A fraction short, Woakes is in no position for the pull, and a filthy top-edge plops straight up and straight back down into Starc's grateful hands!
CR Woakes c & b Starc 36 (62b 4x4 0x6) SR: 58.06

8/208

Stump mics primed, it's time for Stuart Broad!

 

[Pushka]

yeah, poms were gone when they won the toss and choose to bowl

Coming from a cricketing family we would have done the same. It’s only with hindsight that the old grunblie commentators are venting. The problem was not the decision but that the Brit bowlers bowled poorly.

 

[RB]

I think many Aussies regard themselves as coming from a cricketing family

 

[Cossie]

Sorry, please explain? Why weren't England forced to follow on. I'm probably missing something, 4 for 50 with a lead of only 265 odd. Australia will probably win, but how much better psychologically for the whole series would it have been to have England 4 for not much at stumps in their second innings?


Someone with a better understanding of the game may be able to provide more information, rather than a mere mortal like me...

 

[QF WP]

To my way of thinking, Steve Smith and the senior leadership would have considered:

1. The number of overs the Aussies had already bowled in the first innings
2. Having no rest, having to bowl at least as many overs again
3. The whole team having to be in the field for another 2-3 sessions minimum
4. Australia batting would give the bowlers who have physically exerted themselves longer to recover
5. Current conditions for batting and bowling

I think they mistook the conditions were going to be so conducive to swing bowling. Watching it tonight, it has been moving both ways appreciably.

Has really brought the game back away from a certainty for the Aussies

 

[JohnK]

yeah, poms were gone when they won the toss and choose to bowl

Very poor decision. I think the reason was to give his bowlers a chance in the conditions under lights. Makes no sense to me.

 

[JohnK]

Still think a poor decision not to enforce follow on. We'll still win this test easily but have given England confidence in bowling us out for 138.

 

[QF WP]

The joys of having some deadlines for work has meant I haven't been able to watch the Aussies this afternoon...until now.

Well the English have found their backbone finally in the Series - now have Australia all out for 138. This afternoon, Lyon fell for 14, Handscomb for 12, Marsh for 19, Paine for 11, Starc for 20 & Hazlewood for 3. Top score is 20 by Khawaja and Mitchell Starc who came out blazing and got the runs off 25 balls.

Now the Poms need to survive the night session...plus somehow score 353 runs.

 

[QF WP]

Captains call on not enforcing the follow on, which is his prerogative.

Batting again 'Smith's call' - Starc

 

[VPS]

Sitting at Adelaide oval with fingers crossed

 

[QF WP]

Poms are out to chase down a record - 332 is their previous best. Let's hope the Aussies show them just how hard it is to bat under lights - and the Poms have only had 9 overs of that so far this Test.

1921 or perhaps 1922 England side made 360 here in a unsuccessful run chase," notes Gareth Bell. Worth bearing such efforts in mind. Pretty rare that the side batting fourth at Adelaide gets set something even vaguely achievable (low chases aside)...

 

[QF WP]

Bugger - they should have referred....

3.1 Hazlewood to Cook, no run, smashing the pads, Hazlewood bellows an appeal! Was it missing leg? Was it high...? Australia mull the review for a long time, but in the end decide not to... Looked very close, and the change of margins on ball-tracking would have made that worth another look, for me

Hawk-Eye says it was detonating leg full on, not even umpire's call. If they had reviewed, Gaffaney's decision would have been overturned and Cook would be out!

 

[drron]

Recent Australian captains have been reluctant to enforce the follow on.Smith only once in 5,Clarke only did in his final test and Ponting 4 of 13 times.
I thought it should have been enforced this time.I doubt England would have fared well under the conditions of last night and the test may well have been over by now with England's morale shattered.