Third Ashes Test, Perth

[NM]

Ooops ........

 

[QF WP]

At least Ponting is starting positively:

3.3 Tremlett to Ponting, FOUR, oh boy! England have a packed slip cordon but this flies between third slip and gully as it climbs and takes the shoulder of the bat...England can't believe it
3.5 Tremlett to Ponting, FOUR, dragged down short, Ponting latches on with a pull shot and despite not quite timing it there's enough power for it to dribble into the midwicket rope...that will make him feel better
4.3 Anderson to Ponting, FOUR, poor from Anderson this time, on leg stump and that's comfortably flicked away through square leg

Then this

4.5 Anderson to Ponting, OUT

RT Ponting c Collingwood b Anderson 12

2/17. Time to get some lunch

 

[JohnK]

Unfortunately I was right about Hughes.

Here is one comment from Cricinfo "Today we finally recall a 22yo opener who has 2 centuries and 2 fifties in 7 tests and averages over 50. A great snapshot of our clueless selection policy."

He simply does not belong in test cricket unless playing Zimbabwe and Bangladesh. No need to say anymore about Hughes.

Hopefully the selectors will think twice next time. Or perhaps it is time to change the selectors....

 

[NM]

Ooops .... again :shock:

 

[samh004]

As no one else has noted it, Clarke c Prior b Tremlett 4. 3/28.

Now comes the man who has rescued Australia in the past 2 tests.

 

[TonyHancock]

As no one else has noted it, Clarke c Prior b Tremlett 4. 3/28.

Now comes the man who has rescued Australia in the past 2 tests.

Yep, time for Hussey to carry on. At least Watson and Hussey can get on with the job of scoring a few runs as per the previous tests.

 

[JohnK]

Good to see Australia with an extremely positive attitude for this test. A bleak future indeed.

I love some of the comments on Cricinfo

"At least Australia had Border in the 80s... what do we have now? Big fat nothing!"

"People complain about Hughes' technique against the short ball, but it was his tendency to try to force every ball to the leg side that worried me..."

"Dear Santa, I have been a good boy, for Christmas I would like my cricket team back. Thank you."

"Can we bend the rules and replace our No.3 and No.4 batsmen for the second innings?,"

One can only laugh....

 

[samh004]

And now, Watson lbw Finn 13. 4/36

 

[DrJ]

I hoped this was a joke until i checked the iphone app
The last time Australia lost a test to England in Perth was back in 1978, when all the best players had defected to WSC - this time its a supposedly full strength Oz side!

 

[QF WP]

Come back from lunch to see 4/48 .

7.6 Tremlett to Clarke, OUT, 132.1 kph, gone! And another. Australia in real trouble. That was a bit weak from Clarke as he pokes outside off stump at a ball that bounces a little, giving a simple edge through to Matt Prior for his 100th catch in Test cricket
MJ Clarke c †Prior b Tremlett 4

16.1 Finn to Watson, OUT, 133.8 kph, Finn gets Watson! What a terrific yorker! Straight and fast, Watson is late with the bat and it's ball on toe before ball on bat, Billy Doctrove gives it out. Rather forlornly, Watson wants a review, but that remains out! Umpire's call on whether it hit in line, it's crashing into off stump, so Finn gets his man.

SR Watson lbw b Finn 13

Can't see us winning this Test...and there goes the Series.

Absolutely bucketing down with a beauty of a thunderstorm, there has been hail but thankfully none in The Valley.

 

[TonyHancock]

Haddin and Hussey now. No more wickets today!

 

[JohnK]

This is getting beyond a joke now.

Another funny quote from Cricinfo "Can we save some time and Australia follow-on in their second innings before England bats in their first innings?"

 

[QF WP]

Bloody hell , come back from a phone call with a client to find anothe wicket down:

27.3 135.4 kph, gone! Tremlett strikes again, pitched fuller outside off stump which brought Smith onto the front foot and a comfortable edge flies to Strauss at first slip. Brilliant bowling from Tremlett, short followed by full, and he's having a day to remember 69/5

My lunch is starting to come back up. Can't any of these guys bat?

 

[QF WP]

Anderson is almost taken out by seagull right at the moment of delivery so doesn't let go

Damn, even the suicidal gulls can't be trusted to take out the Poms - what chance do we have

 

[QF WP]

Mr Cricket is looking solid yet again (42 from 92 balls) and Haddin playing shots (17 off 19). 5/99 is still woeful

Beginning to feel like the 2nd Test again....

 

[QF WP]

Aaaaggghhhh

40.4 Swann to Hussey, OUT, Swann strikes! What a breakthrough as Hussey gets a thin edge behind and Prior takes the catch. Initially the umpire gives it not out, but Prior races down the pitch to Swann and signals for the review himself - Strauss then officially asks for the review, Hot Spot shows a clear edge there, and Hussey is gone!

MEK Hussey c †Prior b Swann 61

Just when Hussey & Haddin were looking good (68 run partnership)

6/137. The day is definitely England's (if not the Test). Time for Haddin to score some runs, that will be the only shining hope from our first innings. Same with you Johnson, you have nothing to lose

Sorry, TonyHancock - they didn't listen to you

 

[TonyHancock]

Unless Mitchell Johnson can do something we'll be watching him bowl tonight. :shock:

 

[JohnK]

Relax Lindsay.

The Australian selectors are going to get the sack and then we will have a cricket team again.

There is still hope that England will have the same troubles. But then again....

 

[QF WP]

Unless Mitchell Johnson can do something we'll be watching him bowl tonight. :shock:

He is at the moment:
Current partnership 31 runs, 7.2 overs, RR: 4.22 (Haddin 11, Johnson 20)
16 of those have come from 4's, so I don't think he's waiting around in the first innings, he wants a crack at the Poms and to resurrect our faith in his bowling.

 

[NM]

Perhaps Ponting should have declared at lunch time rather than playing out the worst of the pitch and giving England a tame surface to build a strong lead.