4th Ashes Test England v Australia July 19-23 1930hrs @ Old Trafford

[010203]

An excellent first session for the Aussies. It'll be seen as a perfect first session if the forecast rain for days 4&5 reigns supreme.

 

[Moonwatcher]

Are we happy with Dave's contribution?

It's a good failure. I'd want 70 to 100 from the openers combined. Wasn't to be but Davey's runs mean we go in level at lunch.

 

[Iceman!]

Key after lunch to put the foot down. All series neither team has been able to bury a team. This is our chance to take the game away from them

Yep, one thing holding this team back from being alongside some of the other great Aussie teams. Feel like it lacks a killer instinct to bury a team when given the chance.

 

[Santana]

How are we effectively 1/107?

Because Warner is invisible or something

 

[TigerCraig]

Mission failed

I meant lunch day 5

 

[Embley]

How are we effectively 1/107?

If it's because we have a good batter at 8, we also have fewer front-line bowlers, so sort of need to account for that in the same way.

I assume its because we effectively start at 1/0 with Warner opening

 

[smasha]

Loved Smith's 6 in that sesh against Ali,needed to take him on and we have.

 

[Headless]

Because Warner is invisible or something

I assume its because we effectively start at 1/0 with Warner opening

How very droll!

 

[jackn]

How are we effectively 1/107?

If it's because we have a good batter at 8, we also have fewer front-line bowlers, so sort of need to account for that in the same way.

Because I don't count warner overseas as a real wicket.

Just in my head obviously. Have zero expectations of him and hope the rest of the team can cover for him. His 30 odd is a bonus.

 

[rocker_oz33]

I wonder why poms bowl first and Chase the game...
Home tests ...you wanna get on top ...

Unders for them so far ...high RR while bowling...

 

[The Passenger]

Looks like a good batting wicket, and given we just need the draw, I would have thought England would have wanted to Bazball the s**t out of Day 1 and set the tone for the test.

England's aim will be to get us for a sub 300 score then bazball the shit out of it tomorrow and get a 100-150 run lead and hope to bowl us out without having to bat in the fourth innings, or with a minimal chase. We've had a good start but this is still very much a path the match can take.

With England batting first, and looking very likely to lose a lot of cricket late in the match, it would have put them in a very tricky position as to what to do with their third innings declaration.

The best batting conditions do look to be tomorrow as well so that probably helped with Englands decision... But in saying that, there are no major demons out there today - a bit of movement through the air at times but nothing that should cause any international standard batsmen to shit their daks. A sub-300 score would have been very disappointing for Australia and even more so now that we've made it to lunch 2/110.

 

[KennyHuntersBlues]

Isn’t there an age restriction to playing tests?

Clarrie Grimmett debuted for Australia at age 44

 

[010203]

If you want some cheap laughs at the great man Nasser Hussain during the lunch break, here goes.

 

[Snarls Barkley]

Can someone explain to me the logic of England sending us in to bat first?

Looks like a good batting wicket, and given we just need the draw, I would have thought England would have wanted to Bazball the s**t out of Day 1 and set the tone for the test.

Now, especially is Smith & Marnus continue to settle, we can do what they like and England will be chasing the win for the full 5 days.

Think they generally like chasing. Also if the weather is going to be bad throughout the Test and a lot of overs are lost, it’s probably better to be batting last than bowling last if you really need to chase a win. Most importantly they probably thought it’d do a lot early and they’d get a few quick ones.

Is a risk though and if Labuschagne and Smith put a partnership on it’ll put them in a tough position.

 

[Headless]

Because I don't count warner overseas as a real wicket.

Oh, okay. So effectively 1/75.

 

[to1994]

It's a good failure. I'd want 70 to 100 from the openers combined. Wasn't to be but Davey's runs mean we go in level at lunch.

Yeah, in the context of his form and no other great option you'd take it.

I think he needs a hundred in the next 3 innings to make it to Sydney though, Michael Clarke didn't get a home farewell so Warner doesn't deserve special treatment (I know Clarke's back was gone).

 

[kickazz]

Can someone explain to me the logic of England sending us in to bat first?

Looks like a good batting wicket, and given we just need the draw, I would have thought England would have wanted to Bazball the s**t out of Day 1 and set the tone for the test.

Now, especially is Smith & Marnus continue to settle, we can do what they like and England will be chasing the win for the full 5 days.

Probably figure it will be a shortened game and took the punt they could rull us by tea and then bat once for a win?

 

[Billyc]

This looks a good batting strip. Smith in good touch and settled. Needs to go large here and put the Ashes beyond England.

Good start and we bat deep. Want to be batting midway into tomorrow

 

[The Sultan]

meanwhile Tubby's guts struggling to be retained by the hardest working shirt buttons in England

Uses the same titanium buttons as David King

 

[Colonial]

Clarrie Grimmett debuted for Australia at age 44

Child labour though is against the spirit of cricket.

 

[Santana]

This looks a good batting strip. Smith in good touch and settled. Needs to go large here and put the Ashes beyond England.

Good start and we bat deep. Want to be batting midway into tomorrow

If we aren't still batting by the end of the day is a huge fail from us. Even at this run rate

 

[cows]

I wonder why poms bowl first and Chase the game...
Home tests ...you wanna get on top ...

Unders for them so far ...high RR while bowling...

They have Ben Stokes, to be fair...

At the risk of jinxing, I think this is a clear bat first pitch however with iffy weather the last few days England see their best chance to win the game by chasing. I think that makes sense. Pat said he wouldn't mind bowling but I call bluff, we'd be happy with a draw as the Oval looks like it might be weather affected too.

 

[Cataholic]

England's aim will be to get us for a sub 300 score then bazball the s**t out of it tomorrow and get a 100-150 run lead and hope to bowl us out without having to bat in the fourth innings, or with a minimal chase. We've had a good start but this is still very much a path the match can take.

With England batting first, and looking very likely to lose a lot of cricket late in the match, it would have put them in a very tricky position as to what to do with their third innings declaration.

The best batting conditions do look to be tomorrow as well so that probably helped with Englands decision... But in saying that, there are no major demons out there today - a bit of movement through the air at times but nothing that should cause any international standard batsmen to s**t their daks. A sub-300 score would have been very disappointing for Australia and even more so now that we've made it to lunch 2/110.

This was no doubt the plan, but Wood hasn't been as fierce as he was, Broad has been average, Anderson and Woakes are just plodding, and Ali.......well, Ali has been Ali so far.

 

[pjcrows]

I wonder why poms bowl first and Chase the game...
Home tests ...you wanna get on top ...

Unders for them so far ...high RR while bowling...

They need to bowl us out twice in 3 to 4 days. We theoretically don't have to bowl them out twice.. A no brainer to bowl first.

 

[Billyc]

If we aren't still batting by the end of the day is a huge fail from us. Even at this run rate

Yep. Lifeless pitch. Two best batters are settled and there is ability batting down to 10. No excuse not to punish them for sending us in batting 1.5 days in a weather affected match. Make the Poms panic when they get a chance to bat