Test The Ashes Fourth Test December 26-30 1000hrs @ The MCG

[Aussie_boy]

You would think he keeps the opening gig for Sydney. Another fail there and he may be banished for Renshaw....

I'm expecting them to move Khawaja back up and bring in either Webster or Connolly in the middle order.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Who’s in for Sydney?

Renshaw please or if they go Kelleway won’t be unhappy

 

[chriso11]

I wouldn't be against him getting a go against Bangladesh in August.

They really should just play the youth against Bangladesh.. Test careers should not begin in their 30s

 

[LukeParkerno1]

I'm expecting them to move Khawaja back up and bring in either Webster or Connolly in the middle order.

I’m not. Khawaja is not opening again. Can that thought.

 

[grumbleguts]

Now we wait for Marnus to snick one to 2nd slip.

How good is he that he can pick thew exact slip he wants to edge it to.

Placement Marn!

 

[norway blue]

Jeepers. Double ouch.

 

[western royboy]

Weatherald can't judge line or length and is trouble by fast full and short balls.

Bread and butter for an opener

 

[neko]

Test cricket can be a brutal game

 

[chickenonachain]

Two in a row on the fingers ouch

 

[Plugger35]

This pitch doesn't look to be getting any easier to bat on.

 

[Stax on the mill]

Ouch!! I felt that as well.

 

[SSwans2011]

They really should just play the youth against Bangladesh.. Test careers should not begin in their 30s

Why not? It worked for Chris Rogers and Adam Voges.

Edit: Boland and Neser too.

The Test XI should be made up of the best cricketers in the country regardless of age.

 

[hawkman]

Stop playing forward to them Marnus and you won't get hit

 

[swingdog]

That seems to happen a bit to Marnus.

 

[western royboy]

Stuart Broad is an excellent commentator with some fantastic insights

 

[Scholz Supremacy]

This is some hostile bowling by Stokes to Labuschagne.

 

[grumbleguts]

"I should defend this, no wait it's hitting the stumps. Better leave it then." - J Weatherald, 27/12/2025

 

[Gethelred]

There's a real opportunity here.

The pitch according to comms is a bit faster today, but what we're not seeing is the extreme sideways movement. This looks the way a day 1 wicket usually looks.

We have a lead by 84 runs already, and they're now a bowler down. Bat all of today, and all of tomorrow. Don't worry about runs, give yourself two days to bowl them out at the other end. Grind them into the MCG surface. Show a bit of ruthlessness.

The flip side is, it's looking like it's easier to bat and if they go through us they're a much better chasing side. We need to take a bit of time and really make it impossible for them to chase it down, challenge their 'always go for the win' against something absurd.

I'd kill to see someone get a double ton and force then to try and chase 600 in two days.

 

[Howard Littlejohn]

Disappointing for Weatherald… he seemed more assured at the crease than other opener trials but hasn’t been able to deliver the results. It’s a cruel game but if you don’t take your chance with both hands then it’s just too bad

i think he has the ability, but a couple of failures and he's in his own head now. More Test cricket likely won't fix that.
Needs to go back, re-earn his spot and get confidence in his decision making back. Then, if the opportunity comes up again, maybe.

 

[Southerntakeover]

Stokes shouting at his fielders. What a competitor, what a leader. And so brave, because he must be in so much pain after having chosen not to bowl for an entire day in Adelaide when the bats were on top.

 

[ams4crows]

Lol Labs "Go through! Yes!"

 

[myblueroan]

Stop hurting Marnus.

 

[chriso11]

Atkinson out… Stokes on 1 leg… Wood and Archer already in cotton wool. Have the Poms ever had a worse managed tour? They’ll be opening the bowling with Root by the time we get to Sydney

 

[scottywiper]

Marnus bats like every ball is a hand grenade

 

[Howard Littlejohn]

There's a real opportunity here.

The pitch according to comms is a bit faster today, but what we're not seeing is the extreme sideways movement. This looks the way a day 1 wicket usually looks.

We have a lead by 84 runs already, and they're now a bowler down. Bat all of today, and all of tomorrow. Don't worry about runs, give yourself two days to bowl them out at the other end. Grind them into the MCG surface. Show a bit of ruthlessness.

The flip side is, it's looking like it's easier to bat and if they go through us they're a much better chasing side. We need to take a bit of time and really make it impossible for them to chase it down, challenge their 'always go for the win' against something absurd.

I'd kill to see someone get a double ton and force then to try and chase 600 in two days.

I think the movement has been greater today. Maybe not on average, but on a number of balls moving a long way.