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

Good point made on cricinfo. The team winning the toss has lost every game in this series...

Looks a road

20 wickets for this England attack very unlikely even this early

Draw then!

Good response from broad after the last over.

Looks a good pitch to bat on and Warner has started rather smoothly...ominous . Hasn't done much so far this series but perhaps today's his day...

No seam movement : bowlers have tightened things up after the early flurry of runs but you'd reckon this could be a tough day of work for them.

Some good pressure from the bowlers over the last half hour - I'd like to have seen that short leg in for Bancroft a bit earlier !

Now it is important that Woakes strikes the right length straight away . He has tended to release pressure when he's come on too often in the series so far...
I do think he's better than he's been showing. Today would be a good day to turn that around.

First over not so impressive. Hopefully he will do better in the next.

Was a hard fought first hour ; Bancroft was perhaps fortunate to survive although you have to credit him for battling it out as he did.
But the introduction of Woakes and Moeen seems to have been the signal for the batsmen to take over. Good fifty for Warner

The fear is not getting an early break means a lot of leather chasing for the rest of the day.

Curran on...

Can tell England had a good session or so ...no one posted anything

OK most people were asleep I guess. But it has been quite the Test Match battle the last two or three hours. Some very good bowling , plenty of drama , few close calls...England clawing their way back into the contest.

But : Smith is looking set . Cue panic...

And Moeen Ali is having to bowl . A lot of good work could easily go for nothing unless young Curran (who has actually been quite impressive) can find some magic soon.

Malan doing a much better job than Ali.

yuppie wrote:Malan doing a much better job than Ali.

He has.

Think he is looking like a very handy player for England over the next couple of years...a decent part time wrist spinner is always good to have in the suitcase.

Can't stop Smith moving to his inevitable fifty ...wonder what he'll finish with ?

Australia playing the long game here : very patient , no attempt to force the pace. Looking to do similar to Perth : grind England down and cash in later. Not out of the Waugh/Warne/Gilchrist play book : and perhaps less fun for the crowd . But it's essentially the way they've played this summer and the locals are happy with the 3-0 and counting...

Going to be hot tomorrow ( I'll be packing my hat and sunscreen) and I fear for England's bowlers if they can't take quick wickets tonight and/or tomorrow morning.

Looks like the Aussies' day, but not so much that England can't turn it around. The home side having to work for their runs.

Another tough day for Mo.

For the little i have seen i like Malans bowling. though you fear with Alis form that England might try and bowl him to much. Not sure that will work.

Australia in no hurry, but i think credit to the English bowlers here. Have been very disciplined. Bowled well form the small amount i have watched. Plenty of water as well Alfie. Hat, sunscreen and water if its roasting at the MCG.

This is some great test cricket at present.

I won't forget the water , yuppie ! Have to check where I'm sitting ...been ages since I bought the tickets. Hopefully some shade...

Has been an interesting day. Warner looked like totally destroying England before lunch ; then they came back really well and S Marsh was an umpire's whim away from being gone first ball : where might we be now if that had been given on field ?

Smith still looks like the Immoveable Object. Damned if I know how you can get him out on these flat tracks...

I do think they should have gone after Marsh a bit longer before they introduced Moeen. Other than that Root has handled his attack pretty well in trying conditions. Not sure that will count for much if these two survive the first half hour in the morning.

New ball for the last couple of overs...