The Ashes: Perth.

[yuppie]

So the only time England has won at the WACA was during the packer years?

Well the thing about records is, that they are meant to be broken. I remember India winning at the WACA, and that was meant to be impossible. All the hype before the game, and then a few days later, they had won.

So anything is possible. England should just remember that this Australian batting line up is arguably the worse for many years.

[Arthur Crabtree]

It's not convincing Yuppie. I'm afraid you're stuck with your overwhelming favourites burden...

[yuppie]

It's not convincing Yuppie. I'm afraid you're stuck with your overwhelming favourites burden...

Dam Scandinavian optimism.....

[bigfluffylemon]

A nice reminder of what England are up against at the WACA:
http://www.bbc.com/sport/cricket/42295141

Comes with a trigger warning for England fans...

I think this article triggered me. I had a nightmare last night that Australia brought back Mitch J for a one-off appearance at the Perth test match, and he knocked over England in the first innings for 10 runs all out. What made it worse was that we were batting second and had bowled Australia out for 144...

[Durhamfootman]

one of the more likely scenario's, BFL

[sussexpob]

The successes at the SCG are surprising, seeing as though its been a spinner friendly ground, or seen that way, for all that I can remember. And England never play spin well.

[bigfluffylemon]

One thing that's almost been overlooked in all the furore around this test is that this will be the 150th time that Alastair Cook has donned whites for his country. He will join a very exclusive club - only seven other players have played more, and they're all legends of the game: Tendulkar obviously leads the way, then Ponting, Waugh, Kallis, Chanderpaul, Dravid and Border.

148 of those 150 matches have been consecutive, second only to Allan Border's 153.

In doing so, he's become the most prolific opener of all time.

Whether or not this ends up being Cook's last series (a possibility unless he starts scoring some big runs again), it's time to acknowledge an excellent test career. Opening the batting in England is perhaps harder than anywhere else in the world, and there are some true legends of the game who have done so: Hobbs, Sutcliffe, Hutton, Boycott, and in more recent years Gooch, Vaughan, Strauss and Tresco were no slouches either. Cook deserves his place among them, and in my opinion, is England's best opening batsman since the mighty Hutton.

Thanks for the memories, Alastair. I sincerely hope that this is just a temporary blip in form rather than the end.

[sussexpob]

I dont think Cook would quit, he doesnt seem like that kind of guy.

[bigfluffylemon]

I dont think Cook would quit, he doesnt seem like that kind of guy.

No, but at some point he might be dropped.

[Durhamfootman]

and he's only 33... could have 4 or 5 years in him yet and break pretty much every batting record going

[Durhamfootman]

when does this test kick off?

[sussexpob]

His batting averaging in the last 2 years must be in the above 40 region, which at the moment is far better than the last god knows how many openers have managed. His average this year is only 37 or 38 ish, so even then he's probably comfortably the best candidate England have to open.

Even in the case that England had 1 or 2 good prospects smashing on the door, I doubt Cook would get dropped so quickly. ID say hes a year of poor cricket away from the drop, or possible another series after this if he literally cant score a run.

[sussexpob]

when does this test kick off?

Not sure of the time difference between Adelaide and Perth, I think it might be 2.5 hours? Or maybe 3? Seem to remember its a weird and unique half hour situation.....

Most likely around 0200-0300 hours on Thursday UK

[bigfluffylemon]

when does this test kick off?

Not sure of the time difference between Adelaide and Perth, I think it might be 2.5 hours? Or maybe 3? Seem to remember its a weird and unique half hour situation.....

Most likely around 0200-0300 hours on Thursday UK

Perth is 8 hours ahead of UK at present, so yes, 2.5 hours behind Adelaide. Aussie timezones are a bit odd.

The match kicks off 0230 UK time on Thursday morning.

[bigfluffylemon]

His batting averaging in the last 2 years must be in the above 40 region, which at the moment is far better than the last god knows how many openers have managed. His average this year is only 37 or 38 ish, so even then he's probably comfortably the best candidate England have to open.

Even in the case that England had 1 or 2 good prospects smashing on the door, I doubt Cook would get dropped so quickly. ID say hes a year of poor cricket away from the drop, or possible another series after this if he literally cant score a run.

You're probably right. Even if he can't buy a run for the remainder of this series, he'll probably be given at least the English summer, unless somehow Jennings, Hameed, Duckett and Robson all start scoring excessively. He's earned that, at least.