Cricket

[kaosmark2]

I heard that rumoured all day, just not any confirmation yet.

[kaosmark2]

We really needed that wicket. Not just in getting one down, but Warner was starting to take the game away. The lack of bounce will help with getting Watson LBW as well.

[kaosmark2]

WTF ?

LMAO we haven't been playing an hour Granted it looks like a strong batting pitch and the aussies where doing well... but taking the game away ? You do talk some nonsense

That was a very rapid 29, he's their second best batsman after Clarke and can score very quickly. If he'd been in for the whole session you can extrapolate to him reaching 50+. We were containing and restricting Rogers but Warner was being aggressive. We wouldn't have wanted our spinners coming in and getting beaten out of the attack.

[Osama Jim Laden]

Bloody rain!

[TheGayTent]

Looks to me like a 450 wicket. Convicts will be very disappointed so many got good starts, were well set, and yet didn't score hundreds. Though of course Clarke is more than capable of still doing so.

England will be happyish, but they still need to bowl well in the morning to restrict Australia to less than 400. Then the real test begins - how well England bat. Anything less than 400 and they can kiss the series goodbye IMO.

[lharris92]

well this is the most attacking field set up i've seen in a while, no slips at all.

it's as if we're not even trying.

this game is probably 95% over as it stands.

edit:

for seam bowlers anyway

Edited December 6, 2013 by lharris92

[kaosmark2]

It's hard to see where a wicket is going to come from, there's been a few high balls lately that could end up caught but they've been placed well between fielders for the most part.

[kaosmark2]

450? 500? A wicket would change things a lot, particularly as while they've got batting down the order these are the 2 dangermen remaining. Still, it seems like it'll take something special to get one.

[lharris92]

450? 500? A wicket would change things a lot, particularly as while they've got batting down the order these are the 2 dangermen remaining. Still, it seems like it'll take something special to get one.

at this moment in time i'd be more likely to say 500 minimum, their tail end can still hit it around a bit..

so unless there's a miracle ball that gets someone out, this could be a very long night(day) indeed

[kaosmark2]

What a disappointment about that Stokes no-ball. Was a fantastic delivery. I've been impressed with him so far.

[lharris92]

haddin to get a century then

[lharris92]

for some reason i'm inclined to stay up watching it.

the way its been going it really is the aussies series to lose at the moment.

could all change though (not betting on it though)

[Osama Jim Laden]

Love watching Clarke, such a classy batsmen, yeh yeh the phrase is overused but he's fucking brilliant..

England been unlucky in the first session to a point but Aussies have attacked and we're in a pickle here..

[lharris92]

sky showing the highlights from the last ashes tour game at adelaide, shows the wonders of what a boost a result can do for a team (after how the first test went). confidence must be at the highest its been in a while for the aussies, depending on how the openers do for us, we could seriously be blown away and the series lost before we know it.

Edited December 6, 2013 by lharris92

[lharris92]

Love watching Clarke, such a classy batsmen, yeh yeh the phrase is overused but he's fucking brilliant..

England been unlucky in the first session to a point but Aussies have attacked and we're in a pickle here..

The luck has changed tides, as commentary on sky has said, the series in summer we were getting most of those 50/50 chances whereas now we aren't. Now they have to grind out every single wicket.

[TheGayTent]

The game is so easy from your armchair eh...

[TheGayTent]

Oh sorry are only you allowed to comment...

Oh sorry, is no one allowed to disagree with your analysis?

[lharris92]

watched until about 2 overs in to our innings, and you could see straight away cook didn't look comfortable against the pace of Johnson. luckily Carberry and Root stayed in so hopefully they can build a base from there to grind out a decent total.

as for the bowling, the fielding placement was oh so defensive for far too long, it gave some of the batsmen chances to get comfortable instead of building the pressure. compared to the summer series, the bowlers seemed laboured (yes the heat will probably make it a lot harder) and just seemed to run out of ideas - I mean how many times did Swann bowl round the wicket in a row, they had him sussed but he didn't change it for a hell of a long time. none of the bowlers really set themselves apart from the rest, although stokes did have a good showing (apart from the no ball which would otherwise have been a wicket).

Saying that though, the pressure really is on the batting because all last series not a score of 400 or more, and they really can't collapse like last test otherwise this whole series will be a mauling and i'd be tempted to put money on an aussie whitewash (as much as i hate to say it).

[TheGayTent]

You didn't really do that though. Just made a useless throw away comment.

Yes it was, and intended to be.

When making useless comments I prefer to make them as short as possible

[Osama Jim Laden]

Well thanks for popping by and offering sweet FA... On ya bike now...

Very precious there Barry..

Aussies aren't a bad side, the 3-0 scoreline over here was a bit flattering..

Swann hasn't bowled well yet, I agree, he looks tired.. Panesar might well be out of his depth now.. Cook's tactical ineptness might just be showing through..

England got to world no.1 status in a time where the standard of test cricket is the worst I've ever seen it.. Now a side is fighting and taking the game to us, AC has to think a bit more and he's no backup plan.. Warning signs were there even this summer..

Saving grace, this is a renowned good batting track, I agree with reservations about Carberry & Root but KP, IB & AC all good batsmen who can be supported by MP, SB, GS (to en extent).. See what happens on day three

[TheGayTent]

Well thanks for popping by and offering sweet FA... On ya bike now...

Better than offering a lot of hot air? Edited December 6, 2013 by TheGayTent

[TheGayTent]

Hot air ?

.

Yes, hot air. You wrote a fair amount. Most of it was commentary or stating the bleeding obvious. A small bit was bullshit masquerading as opinion.

its ok to be critical when its deserved.

Quite, I fully agree.

[TheGayTent]

And yet your contribution has been so amazing ? Oh wait... Thats right... Now fuck off ? Cheers

I forgive you - it's probably because you're tired after staying up late watching the cricket

[Osama Jim Laden]

Now I don't think that is fair at all.

For what reason(s)?

[TheGayTent]

South Africa are strong for a start. It also suggests we might of struggled to be number 1 if others where stronger... Which of course is catch 22...

We where number 1 and we earned it. I don't think its fair to do that down in any way.

We also lost the No.1 ranking as soon as we played the actual best test team - who beat us to nil on our own soil.