The Ashes 2017-18

[redsquirrel]

Going in hard with the new ball now

But yeah this has been a good partnership and at least got England in the game, still think you probably want 350+ here mind.

 

[kabbes]

That 300 all out is looking closer with every delivery of this new ball.

 

[kabbes]

Century for Malan! Good job, that man.

 

[kabbes]

Meanwhile, seen what Stokes has been up to?

Ben Stokes scores 93 off 47 balls for Canterbury Kings

 

[Spymaster]

Nice shot to notch up your maiden test ton with.

Well done Dawid.

 

[kabbes]

... and suddenly the runs come thick and fast again. 300 up with no further loss.

 

[Mumbles274]

Excellent! Come on Johnny, one for you here too and a good long bat tomorrow please.

Did someone say this just needed a counter attacking ton?

 

[kabbes]

I don't like this attitude that as a batsman doing well you should shut up shop in the last few overs of the day and play for time. I'm a believer in making hay whilst the sun shines. Time and again, we see batsman come in after a night off and get out quickly. Why not make the most of it whilst your eye is in and the bowlers are tired?

 

[Reiabuzz]

Meanwhile, seen what Stokes has been up to?

Ben Stokes scores 93 off 47 balls for Canterbury Kings

If he was coming in at the fall of the next wicket England would be in a perfect position. What's taking the CPS so long.

 

[Mumbles274]

England's day there. Made the bowlers toil for the first time.

Now, if Stokes was playing, and Malan at 3...?

Night night, see you at 2.30!

 

[Mumbles274]

If he was coming in at the fall of the next wicket England would be in a perfect position. What's taking the CPS so long.

A sense of drama and a nose for a fairytale ending?

 

[mwgdrwg]

Great recovery!

 

[redsquirrel]

I don't like this attitude that as a batsman doing well you should shut up shop in the last few overs of the day and play for time. I'm a believer in making hay whilst the sun shines. Time and again, we see batsman come in after a night off and get out quickly. Why not make the most of it whilst your eye is in and the bowlers are tired?

TBF the ball is still only 9 overs old.

Excellent from Bairstow and Malan, though I still think there's some way to go to make a really good score. There have been a number of high scores (400+) at the WACA this year and Englands bowlers don't have the pace that makes the Australians so dangerous.

 

[Reiabuzz]

A sense of drama and a nose for a fairytale ending?

5th test. Drop Moeen, bring Stokes in to score a quickfire century to win the ashes. New Balance might rethink their decision.

 

[Idaho]

We need the runs today as we always start the day badly. We would need to post a monster total to be in with a chance. It doesn't sound like a wicket that our bowling is going to be all-powerful on. Need scoreboard pressure on them, and plenty of breathing room for us.

 

[Casual Observer]

Only caught the last few overs. Sounds like Malan deserved the kiss from his Mum at the end.

 

[SpookyFrank]

Looks like England became good roughly five minutes after I gave up and went to sleep

Stoneman was good to watch though, and Vince a picture of composure until his needless mistake. Someone had to play a proper innings here though, and I'm happy to see that it was Malan.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

Brilliant stuff. Love the Waca test and a huge toss to win imo. Ross Taylor scored 290 here last year, warner 250. It's a great start but could still do with 500 really.

 

[Spymaster]

Brilliant stuff. Love the Waca test and a huge toss to win imo. Ross Taylor scored 290 here last year, warner 250. It's a great start but could still do with 500 really.

470+ and 3 or 4 wickets tomorrow and I'll be happy.

Smith's still right. Two shit sessions and we're fucked.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

Dunno if he's still got it in him, but I reckon this pitch could be suited to a Stuart Broad special. The Waca can produce very high and very low scores, can't it.

Is the new stadium going to have a similar pitch, I wonder. I presume it will be a drop-in. If so, it's likely to be deadened, which is a real shame.

 

[Casual Observer]

Is the WACA not a drop-in pitch? I was wondering this the other day and assumed they all were what with Aussie rules being played in the off-season.

I see one of the January ODIs is at the new ground.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

Is the WACA not a drop-in pitch? I was wondering this the other day and assumed they all were what with Aussie rules being played in the off-season.

I see one of the January ODIs is at the new ground.

Don't think so, no. Melbourne is, and Adelaide now is. The new stadium will be, and they're trying to recreate WACA conditions. Let's hope they're successful.

Perth Stadium targets fast-bowling paradise

 

[planetgeli]

Well thankfully you've all resisted the "first hour is crucial tomorrow".

Apparently, since the invention of the speed gun, a pack of fast bowlers have only bowled faster as a unit once before. So hats off to the bravery, if no little skill, of Malan et al. Reckon England bowlers can get anywhere near that? No, me neither. So, providing the batsmen go on and knock up something in the vicinity of 450-500 we might just be getting out of this with a draw. For sure, there should only be two possible results from this stage. Defeat would be the most damning indictment from this position.

Well played Malan, well done for stepping up. Vince...told you so. Also, to think we went all those tests relying on Cook and/or Root. Root needs to sort himself out, Cook, you have to fear, is showing signs of a series too far.

And I hope Moeen scores a decent 80 or so tomorrow and you who are doubting him come back to apologize.

 

[kabbes]

And I hope Moeen scores a decent 80 or so tomorrow and you who are doubting him come back to apologize.

Actually, with the pressure off him — runs on the board and down the order — I’m quite optimistic about Moeen.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

I really don't get the Moeen bashing for his batting. His bowling's been poor so far, no arguments there. But he's not been a disaster with the bat by any means. As good as Root and better than Cook (not hard). I like Bairstow at 6, Moeen at 7, as it happens, think 7 is perfect for Moeen, but the batting order of the middle order is not the reason for England's struggles.

Boycott called Moeen Ali the weak link. I think that's a misreading. Moeen Ali is so important to this team that any fall-off of either his bowling or batting is felt very strongly. That's closer to the mark, imo.

I'm even not so hard on Vince. Given their inexperience, I think the trio of the untested - Stoneman, Vince and Malan - have done ok as a unit. They've all managed to beat their previous top scores.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

Well thankfully you've all resisted the "first hour is crucial tomorrow".
.

There's a reason for the cliche, though. One day's batting on a good track is not enough on its own to put yourself in a strong position in the match. That takes at least four sessions. Next session's key!

 

[planetgeli]

Almost every session, every hour, is key. That’s what quality Test cricket is about. There is no room for relaxation.

If England get to, say, 375-5 at lunch, is it permissible to then chuck away 5 wickets for 25 runs? Does 375-5 make the post-lunch session less important?

No.

 

[squirrelp]

The next hour is always crucial!

 

[squirrelp]

"Reverse or Irish swing?" what the hell does that mean?
Quoting Gilchrist

Irish = 'wrong', I guess. So Irish swing is reverse swing. Would be mildly racist. See 'Dutch'

 

[Mumbles274]

If you asked Glen McGrath he'd say the hour before play is pretty important too