Cricket-Match-Special ... A forum for discussion

GarlicJam wrote:whereabouts in St Kilda did you live, Alf? I was in Alma Road.

Hi Garlic

Well not quite St Kilda , I suppose - technically Elwood : have moved around Byron Street/ Tennyson Street area - and settled for several years now just off Brighton Road. Know Alma Road well.

budgetmeansbudget wrote:Still wouldn't put our chances much above 5%.

Been here so many times before to know we very rarely prosper.

Not much on putting percentages on these chases...I'm with Boycott on this with his "add two wickets" and look at it ; so it is very much on a knife edge.
But if (big if !) Root and Woakes could bat through the first session (which would entail seeing off the new ball) the game would swing massively towards England . And you'd not have thought that even a remote possibility 24 hours ago.

As of now , Australia are still in the pound seats : due to historical records and the late wicket of Malan. But whatever happens this has been a welcome fight back by England . Pity they have taken do long to click into gear as this has the makings of an excellent competitive series - as long as it isn't killed off too early.

Glad to see Anderson isn't ready for the scrap heap , by the way. He'll be needed for a year or two yet.

alfie wrote:

budgetmeansbudget wrote:Still wouldn't put our chances much above 5%.

Been here so many times before to know we very rarely prosper.

Not much on putting percentages on these chases...I'm with Boycott on this with his "add two wickets" and look at it ; so it is very much on a knife edge.
But if (big if !) Root and Woakes could bat through the first session (which would entail seeing off the new ball) the game would swing massively towards England . And you'd not have thought that even a remote possibility 24 hours ago.

As of now , Australia are still in the pound seats : due to historical records and the late wicket of Malan. But whatever happens this has been a welcome fight back by England . Pity they have taken do long to click into gear as this has the makings of an excellent competitive series - as long as it isn't killed off too early.

Glad to see Anderson isn't ready for the scrap heap , by the way. He'll be needed for a year or two yet.

Scoreboard pressure and new day. I expect wickets to tumble in first session itself.

Great fight by england, and still some batting to come.

I reckon this is nicely poised at present. Every session England seem to be getting closer.....

Must admit, wasn't expecting to see this scorecard...good fightback, Root has to be there near the end, for us to have a chance, and if Woakes can stay in, we will be on the way...we need to get to lunch, hopefully only losing 1 wicket, max 2, and get about 60-70 runs in the session..

alfie wrote:

budgetmeansbudget wrote:Still wouldn't put our chances much above 5%.

Been here so many times before to know we very rarely prosper.

Not much on putting percentages on these chases...I'm with Boycott on this with his "add two wickets" and look at it ; so it is very much on a knife edge.
But if (big if !) Root and Woakes could bat through the first session (which would entail seeing off the new ball) the game would swing massively towards England . And you'd not have thought that even a remote possibility 24 hours ago.

As of now , Australia are still in the pound seats : due to historical records and the late wicket of Malan. But whatever happens this has been a welcome fight back by England . Pity they have taken do long to click into gear as this has the makings of an excellent competitive series - as long as it isn't killed off too early.

Glad to see Anderson isn't ready for the scrap heap , by the way. He'll be needed for a year or two yet.

So... what percent is that?

I know Yuppie s thinking '70, maybe 80...'.

60 -40 to australia at present for me.

If Woakes can bat how he did in the first innings, and Root stays there, all pressure on Australia.

Does not look tough batting conditions during the day.

England won't need to bat much under lights of course.

The bowling side practically always wins from here and the overnight optimism proves an illusion.

But, still.

60-40 sounds like it reflects how long you've been away from Aus, Yuppie. I'd expect an Aussie to say, 'it's nailed on mate'.

Arthur Crabtree wrote:England won't need to bat much under lights of course.

The bowling side practically always wins from here and the overnight optimism proves an illusion.

But, still.

60-40 sounds like it reflects how long you've been away from Aus, Yuppie. I'd expect an Aussie to say, 'it's nailed on mate'.

I have the Scandinavia optimism now.

Yes, 60-40 is a Bergmanesque assessment of Australian hopes...

James Anderson - superlative performance in the 2nd innings. He bowled a 11-over spell and was hitting 87-88mph at the age of 35. That is incredible as he is 35!

Even in the second essay, he could have bowled a tad fuller but he has picked up 514 scalps mainly based on hitting a good length. Yes, slightly harsh but if you're specifically looking for lbws, need to hit a fuller length especially in Australia as you get a bit more bounce and there is every chance it would miss the stumps. But a top class effort. Mind you, all other pacers in this match have extracted seam movement at some point or the other. Anderson is the only one who generated that kind of banana swing on Day 3 and a hint of swing on Day 4. And in addition to it, extracted seam movement today.

England will know what a great servant Anderson has been only when he decides to walk into retirement life.

Joe Root was very determined today. Malan played a gritty hand before the excellent Cummins upped his game to castle him.

England need to get through the first 45-60 minutes tomorrow, especially with Root still around.

FWIW, cricviz has England at 20% chance (draw 1%).

I'm with AC. History says that teams often end up in a position in a chase like this where they have a sniff going in to day 5 and there is optimism overnight, only for it to be snuffed out within a session or so. After all, Australia only need 6 good balls, while England need 60 good overs. But given my record of predictions over the last couple of games, I am only going to make one definitive prediction about today: I won't be getting much work done this afternoon!

1% the draw. Doesn't sound as if rain is likely.

Barely perceptible nods to Woakes of England and Jimmy the Saint by the way, for dragging England back into the game.