Test The Ashes Second Test December 4-8 1430hrs @ The Gabba

[PhatBoy]

Root's lack of runs in Australia was one of the main narratives going into the series, and it was def led by Lehmann who made world headlines with those comments. Would be feeling rather sheepish now

And Hogg. ‘He will not succeed his technique won’t work.’

 

[Nicho50]

60 runs in the context of the game is huge and worth way more than just a chance at a couple wickets last night

I would argue getting to bowl with the new ball at Head and Weatherald last night is worth more than 60 runs. They could have gotten perhaps 20 more then had a crack.

Now they have to bowl at the openers in the daytime who would much prefer that.

England will have to bowl extremely well to make a dent into the Aussie top order early days otherwise its fill your boots for Smudge and go with a soft pink ball.

The best thing Australia can do is get as close to 300 as they can and make England bat tonight.

 

[PhatBoy]

I would argue getting to bowl with the new ball at Head and Weatherald last night is worth more than 60 runs. They could have gotten perhaps 20 more then had a crack.

Now they have to bowl at the openers in the daytime who would much prefer that.

England will have to bowl extremely well to make a dent into the Aussie top order early days otherwise its fill your boots for Smudge and go with a soft pink ball.

The best thing Australia can do is get as close to 300 as they can and make England bat tonight.

The pink ball still swings in the daytime you realise when it’s new. Ask Ben Duckett

 

[Nicho50]

The pink ball still swings in the daytime you realise when it’s new. Ask Ben Duckett

Statistics show the easiest time to bat is in the daylight time. There is no doubt England have a good chance of bowling well early but the hardest time to bat in these matches is night time with a brand new ball.

They could have made 280 and had Australia 2-3 down last night and be well ahead of the game.

Don't get me wrong its a good score they have but I feel like they should have had a crack with the new ball when they had the chance.

 

[PhatBoy]

Statistics show the easiest time to bat is in the daylight time. There is no doubt England have a good chance of bowling well early but the hardest time to bat in these matches is night time with a brand new ball.

They could have made 280 and had Australia 2-3 down last night and be well ahead of the game.

Don't get me wrong its a good score they have but I feel like they should have had a crack with the new ball when they had the chance.

Of course it is.

They also show that boosting your score by an extra 20 per cent is a huge advantage in low-to-moderate scoring games which pink ball matches often are.

Declare early and take no wickets, you start the next day with an even older ball, not under lights.

People talk about it as though it’s a given that if you ‘have 20-30 minutes at them you’ll pick up 2 wickets.’ It isn’t. What’s just as likely to happen is you’ll pick up none, and concede 20 runs off the target.

It’s two day night home tests since Cummins declared behind the West Indies with a wicket in hand to try the same and it may have cost Australia the game in the end.

 

[Nicho50]

Of course it is.

They also show that boosting your score by an extra 20 per cent is a huge advantage in low-to-moderate scoring games which pink ball matches often are.

Declare early and take no wickets, you start the next day with an even older ball, not under lights.

People talk about it as though it’s a given that if you ‘have 20-30 minutes at them you’ll pick up 2 wickets.’ It isn’t. What’s just as likely to happen is you’ll pick up none, and concede 20 runs off the target.

It’s two day night home tests since Cummins declared behind the West Indies with a wicket in hand to try the same and it may have cost Australia the game in the end.

Given Weatherald is in his second test and Head opening if I was them I would have had a crack with Archer but anyway each to their own. See what happens today its going to be prime batting conditions so hopefully the Aussie go large.

 

[kickazz]

Yeah look if they pissed about chewing up overs not scoring then that would have made the Aussies pretty happy about not batting at night, and a speculative declaration would have been worth considering.

But they had a crack and put on some decent runs. When in doubt that is always the best strategy near the end of an innings.

 

[Gavin Excell]

Not convinced Smith is a great captain

 

[jannissary]

Not convinced Smith is a great captain

i'm not convinced that he knows what he's doing in the field. so many questionable decisions being made by him.

 

[Jim Prideaux]

Gabba has been the hgihest scoring shield track this summer - it's why you've had Marnus and Renshaw posting the big runs. It's also why leaving out Lyon was such an odd decision.

I thought they’d played few at AB field, which was a bit of a road?

 

[sr36]

I thought they’d played few at AB field, which was a bit of a road?

Youre probably right. I might be dumbly assuming they were all Gabba.

 

[Adelaide Hawk]

Gabba has been the highest scoring shield track this summer - it's why you've had Marnus and Renshaw posting the big runs. It's also why leaving out Lyon was such an odd decision.

I rarely comment on selection, but I've always held the belief that you must always go into a Test match with a spinner. I think people get sucked in by this "mystery" of the pink ball. Green needs to make runs in this Test because he's really not cutting it as a 5th bowling option.

 

[WeightOfTheWorld]

Im a mad Australian fan.

But we are cooked.

Outside of Starc, none of our bowling attacked looked threatening at all. I can't see how we take 20 wickets for a reasonable score to be honest - barring England throwing away their wickets.

If England had batted with a iota of common sense since the Ashes started, they would be short odds to be a few days from going 2-0 up. If Neser and Doggett are our next best bowlers then we are in for some hard times in the years ahead.

I have loaded up on England to win the Ashes @ $3.00 before the series; and again @ $6 after the first test.

I'm very confident on this bet, have pretty much decided what I will do with my winnings.

 

[GreekLunatic]

next test cummins replaces doggett and lyon nesser

 

[jb04]

I'm choosing optimism today, I think this 10th wicket partnership will still be handy but end soon, and there's an even chance that Trav's innings in Perth wasn't a flash in the pan and he can help settle Jake and Lab into their innings later today.

 

[greatwhiteshark]

next test cummins replaces doggett and lyon nesser

Both cummins and Hazelwood will play in Adelaide.

 

[Jim Prideaux]

Im a mad Australian fan.

But we are cooked.

Outside of Starc, none of our bowling attacked looked threatening at all. I can't see how we take 20 wickets for a reasonable score to be honest - barring England throwing away their wickets.

If England had batted with a iota of common sense since the Ashes started, they would be short odds to be a few days from going 2-0 up. If Neser and Doggett are our next best bowlers then we are in for some hard times in the years ahead.

I have loaded up on England to win the Ashes @ $3.00 before the series; and again @ $6 after the first test.

I'm very confident on this bet, have pretty much decided what I will do with my winnings.

I would like an analysis post series on this from you, with plenty of detail.

 

[HoldMyBeer]

Good on Root for getting his ton.

I love my sport, I'm not a cricket tragic but if anyone can show me a better sporting contest than the Ashes then I'm all ears! It's got everything, and unfortunately our early settlers were pommies

I've been to Bay 13 many times and not even a Grand Final comes close to the atmosphere there.

 

[Adelaide Hawk]

If Neser and Doggett are our next best bowlers then we are in for some hard times in the years ahead.

The problem is losing Cummins AND Hazlewood at the same time. Had we only needed to replace one of these bowlers, the attack would have been more settled. The Neser selection came about because of the Brisbane scenario, and everyone getting excited about the pink ball.

I've been intrigued this season with the use of fast bowlers in Sheffield Shield. Rarely do you see any of them playing match after match. They seem to come in for a couple, then out. I don't know the reason for this, are they getting injured? If so, aren't we supposed to be advanced in managing these things these days?

 

[Scott Tracy]

next test cummins replaces doggett and lyon nesser

I'd give Boland a rest, considering we will need him in Melbourne. Hopefully, Hazlewood can come in; if not, maybe give Neser one more run, or do a wildcard and try out J Richardson if he is fit. Lyon and Cummins are straight walk-ins for Adelaide.

 

[RookiePick]

I just don't trust out top order at all unfortunately.

I suspect England's pace battery will look a bit more formidable and extract a bit more from the surface.

No Lyon, Head reprising the openers role and England carrying the momentum from a Root ton and an outstanding 10th wicket partnership. All the pressure back on Australia IMO. If Head falls cheaply, look out!

Aussies will want to have a much better day today or we will be staring at 1-1 heading to Adelaide!

 

[Westy2487]

**** him. And the Poms

Classy

 

[dumb]

you don't have to just gift them runs to avoid batting again if you're pooping your daks at the thought of batting under lights.

i have chappelli (or could have been richie benaud) in my ears relating that story about bradman complimenting them as captain at the time for attacking play and playing for a win. i think of steve waugh though, he wouldn't have had any shame avoiding batting (world cup go slow batting tactics come to mind).
we're generally not used to our captains being pathetic cowards or handing the opposition runs.

on the bright side, assuming we last long enough we'll be batting with a soft ball under lights today too, at least until they start leaning on the umpires to check it. and they will.

boland probably the bigger disappointment of the bowlers. today didn't have to deal with the out-and-out attack like his last ashes in england but still ineffective. so far. doggett and neser are the ring-ins, and doggett has gone about as well as i expected this test. neser... expected more but he has another string to his bow.
most of the others on the fringes who have had good shield figures for a couple of years already probably wouldn't have gone any better. abbott, mcandrew, o'neill et al, though they would have strengthened the batting more than doggett if that was a concern.

was already skeptical of doggett's spot, captain hindsight here but if we absolutely had to bring in neser it should have been for him. would i have picked lyon? we've placed a lot of trust in starc, a bit more impotent lately boland, and two fringe guys. lyon can take wickets in all conditions.

 

[Westy2487]

I just don't trust out top order at all unfortunately.

I suspect England's pace battery will look a bit more formidable and extract a bit more from the surface.

No Lyon, Head reprising the openers role and England carrying the momentum from a Root ton and an outstanding 10th wicket partnership. All the pressure back on Australia IMO. If Head falls cheaply, look out!

Aussies will want to have a much better day today or we will be staring at 1-1 heading to Adelaide!

Straight from the commentators playbook. Looking to get a start.

 

[74561347]

The icc need to grow a pair and start banning players for not bowling their required overs. No fines, not docking points, just straight bans.

74 overs in a day is absolutely deplorable.