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

in the five completed innings for England this series, it has taken less than 40 overs for Aus to take the last 6 wickets, and I think less than 20 overs in three of those cases. 65-70 potential overs today, with at the least, widening cracks making life difficult. Hopefully, The Ashes are won by tonight - -although, it WILL make for a very interesting Boxing Day.

Should Aus win today, England will be forced to salvage what they can from the series.

Cue the bloodletting. Ali's short-term international career may very well rest on his innings today - or will Crane get a game in the last two tests regardless?

I heard talk of Bairstow being a batsman only, and Folkes(?) coming in with the gloves. Which batsman would go for this though? The only two who really are not certain (you'd think), besides Ali, are the openers, and do either of them deserve to be dropped?

Malan has certainly been a plus for them, especially this test, and Vince shows a lot of potential. Hopefully Overton's injury is not long term. He looks worth persevering with.

I expect at least one change in England's pace attack.

England are fighting, making Australia work for this.

Woakes is no mug with the bat, and Malan has been a bit of a revelation for England. Did someone mention rain.........

What a stupid stupid, way to give up your wicket. Fighting to save the match and he plays a shot like that, unforgivable.

So depressingly predictable.

Yeah, that was just plain stupid. No need for that shot. Hes batted so well, but obviously still so much to learn at this level.

Adi wrote:I expect at least one change in England's pace attack.

I think Overton will probably miss Boxing day, anyway. This may be making Broad breathe a little easier.


I would like to think that both Cook and Broad deserve another chance to prove they're worth selection still. It would be callous to cut either or both of them, atm, imo.

bigfluffylemon wrote:

bigfluffylemon wrote:

Arthur Crabtree wrote:Good post. No batting line up could have coped with Johnson?

Haynes/Greenidge/Richards/Richardson/Lloyd/Gomes/Dujon?

Maybe hyperbole from me. We'll never know. I never had the pleasure of seeing them bat. I guess if that line-up batted in the nets against the likes of Holding, Garner, Marshall et al they may have been able to, but having the world's best fast bowlers on your team, did they ever face really high quality pace from other teams? After all, when that line-up toured Australia, they faced the likes of Alderman, Hogg and Lawson - all ok, but hardly regarded in the pantheon of Australia's great fast bowlers:
http://www.espncricinfo.com/series/1689 ... a-1984-85/

Also, Dennis Lillee destroyed the West Indies once...
http://www.espncricinfo.com/series/1702 ... a-1981-82/

My team played together 83-85...

These two batted well in Adelaide. England will need at least that again today.

Hazelwood has been great today. F

You'd think Moeen is due a break - unless the selectors want 2 spinners.

I struggle to see how Broad and Ali can be picked for the next test.

Was there a reason why Rashid was not selected for this tour?

GarlicJam wrote:You'd think Moeen is due a break - unless the selectors want 2 spinners.

His Lyons bunny at present.

40 overs to go, no rain in sight. Sigh. We're not even going to make it through one session, are we?

England should have been able to do this. Hazlewood's been good, to be fair. But not unplayable.

bigfluffylemon wrote:40 overs to go, no rain in sight. Sigh. We're not even going to make it through one session, are we?

England should have been able to do this. Hazlewood's been good, to be fair. But not unplayable.

I dont think many bowlers could be unplayable on this pitch. he has put the ball where its required though, and mixed it up as well. Helped by poor batting, but that the case msot of the time in international cricket.