The Ashes: Australia in England 16th Jun - 31 July

[sussexpob]

You'd think they really have to bag a bunch of wickets over the next hour or two if they're to keep in the game at all.

I have no clue what England are capable of chasing. The pitch has played differently every single day, but today its certainly looked like there is movement in the air, and more importantly, its got a little quicker and bouncier.

I think a target of 300 should do it, which looks well within Australia's grasp. But then Australia are a bowler down, so how much does that factor into it? If England get a partnership early and tire out the pacers, 300 could look very small a bowler light.

At the moment its academic. Australia only need 130/9 for 300, so its more likely going to be 350-450 as a target unless England can rattle off a few this evening.

[alfie]

Looking more like 400 now...big mountain to climb.

They'll chase anything I guess - can't see any chance of playing out a draw anyway. Pitch : who knows ? Quicker today ; might die a bit - and it might be sunnier. But still a tall order. Might be fun to watch though .

Broad had Marnus then ...don't know why it wasn't given ...don't know why Stokes wouldn't take the review ? Maybe because Broad cries "wolf" too often ?

Another one in the "nearly " column. Apart from losing Lyon , of course , Australia have enjoyed a lot of luck with the close ones...

[alfie]

Ha. Didn't cost. Marnus hits an innocuous delivery straight to point ! Needed that...

But just lets Smith in

Labuschagne does give that lucky rabbits foot of his a workout, doesn't he ? Ran out of it at last. Maybe he's used up his teammate's share of good fortune ? We will see...

[alfie]

Nearly trapped Smith then...but the leg slip wasn't fine enough. Good plan. Has worked before . Not today...

[sussexpob]

Broad giving Smith a difficult time

[sussexpob]

Broad giving Smith a difficult time

And he puts Robbo on next over? Not the move I'd make

[alfie]

Broad giving Smith a difficult time

And he puts Robbo on next over? Not the move I'd make

Yeah. Think I'd have gone for Tongue...but perhaps he's after the other end ?

Broad off the field. Hopefully not damaged.

Ah yes , here is Tongue.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Rain. Should be brief.

[alfie]

Rain. Should be brief.

Really ? I better stay up then. But I had the impression light and forecast weren't too good...

Bet the batsmen don't want to get back out there !

[Arthur Crabtree]

I was looking at the forecast, which is just for cloud, and then drizzle later this evening.

[Arthur Crabtree]

BBC live updates are a bit more pessimistic.

Covers on the run ups.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Broad went past the bat a crazy amount.

[alfie]

Three days down and Australia after suffering for much of day two now firmly back in command. They played really well today , I thought. Bowled superbly to hustle England out well adrift of their own first innings total (probably wouldn't have been able to had England not gifted them three wickets late on day two - but that's another story)
Then Warner played an uncharacteristically restrained innings in the face of some very good England bowling to set them up again with a fifty opening stand. OK , he and Khawaja had a fair old ration of luck : how many times can you play and miss ? And Marnus - as usual - had even more fortune on his side until he tossed his wicket away. But at 130/2 this is surely now theirs to lose.

I have to say for once I agree with Michael Vaughan about the way England have brought about their own downfall here. It seems almost as if they've got too caught up in their own passion to attack that they've lost the vital element of game awareness that actually contributed to their fine run of victories under Stokes. It gets lost in the drama of great chases etc ; but several times in those games (Crawley and Bairstow v SA late on day one ; Root and Foakes v NZ second innings at Lord's and again in the first innings at Trent Bridge ; and then Bairstow and Jamie Overton - at first -in reaction to being 55/6 the following week . I could find others) They knew when it was time to absorb a bit of pressure before going hard again as the bowlers tired and they were more secure at the wicket. So why have they seemingly collectively forgotten that it is all about controlled aggression rather than just "have a swing and hope" ?
The silly part is they were 180/1 at a great rate with hardly a risk taken. No need to hurry ; no real pressure - on that slow pitch the bouncers weren't exactly Garner or Marshall type menace. Just duck a few , pick off the real rubbish and really cash in when tired bowlers turned back to bowling normal stuff. I see the Patel interview in which he kind of shrugs and says "well it doesn't always work" : but I do hope that in the privacy of the dressing room they are having serious discussions about when to use the handbrake or the accelerator...

Would take a huge effort to chase - 400 or whatever Cummins sets. But against an Australian attack minus Lyon , on a benign pitch , with these strokeplayers : it is not impossible. Unlikely , sure. But if they have learned from the excesses of the last innings they may at least give it a decent try.

[bigfluffylemon]

Couldn't agree more. The thing is, this is a very good Australian side. There would be no shame losing to them if you'd given it your level best - getting out to great bowling, batsmen absorbing everything you can throw at them. But that hasn't been the case. So many play and misses, dropped catches, no balls, wickets gifted away - England have got into good positions then let them slide by not doing the basics right. The tactics have been off at times, but you don't beat the number 1 team in the world without basic good quality cricket, and there's been too much slapdash aggression for the sake of it.

I am not happy, to say the least.

[mikesiva]

Bazball reminds me of the calypso collapso cricket played by the West Indies in the pre Clive Lloyd era.