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

[Jimthegreat]

All the bowlers have to do is put the ball in the right spot. Pitch does the rest.

 

[Scorpus]

This game could be won or lost based on whether we bowl short to the tail or not

 

[SC_Power]

Now... can England actually play this?

I do not think so.

Game over today either way

Agreed

174 needed to win
9-100 Stokes and Tongue at the crease
Get to 9-137 at stumps
Free entry tomorrow
Get to 9-171
Tongue edges to Lab at second slip
Fumbles it over his shoulder
Smith runs around the back and takes the catch
Australia by 3

 

[chriso11]

Weird from Smith. So so weird.

Did a good job helping the Poms get the last wicket

 

[Sonny Hayes]

Smith has history giving too much autonomy to the tail. It's what cost us that game against WI two summers ago

It’s tough, if you are going to basically score all I boundaries with defensive fields giving you a single. Taking runs on offer is somewhat understandable

 

[Costanza_]

30 wickets in less than 4 and a half sessions.

The pitch is tough to bat on, but it's not an all-timer...

 

[sherb]

Smith has history giving too much autonomy to the tail. It's what cost us that game against WI two summers ago

That's how Steve Waugh batted with the tail if I remember correctly.

 

[dogs105]

Who do you suppose replaces Weatherald, Marnus, Green and Khawaja then?

I'd give Weatherald and Marnus one more, replace Green with Webster, and Khawaja with Renshaw. Head back to 5.

 

[DaRick]

Good bowling + braindead batting = another two-day speed trip.

Impossible to know if 175 is enough in conditions like this.

That said, if BazBall is gonna work anywhere, it'll be here - the low target and the lottery-like conditions incentivise a high-risk, high-reward approach.

 

[Westy2487]

Money made. Ashes over. Sneak down the great ocean road on a pub crawl. Did it Noosa.

I would do it. But I'm not part of the English hierarchy.

 

[swingdog]

Well that’s been if not the worst 3 innings of cricket produced. If the Poms can’t get 175 it will cement them as the worst ever

Bit of history, Australia was chasing 175 in 1998 Boxing Day test.

Lost by 12.

 

[getthefooty]

If the pitch continues to play like it has, 174 is more than enough.

 

[RookiePick]

Surely England can scrabble together 180?

 

[Coasters7]

No it’s because every other batsmen has made at least some decent runs at some stage this summer, he’s the only one yet to even manage that.

They all deserve flack for this test, they just have other recent tests to fall back on.

Aside from Head and Carey who has made consistent runs? From both sides.

 

[Snarls Barkley]

I see this the exact same as the Perth game. Pitch is harder but with a low target like this, you just need one guy to get away and it’s over. The bowlers will start getting desperate. Definitely a chance we get them 4/15 again but Crawley, Duckett and Bethell will probably chance it and if they get lucky they could get the target below 100 very quickly

 

[Sonny Hayes]

Who do you suppose replaces Weatherald, Marnus, Green and Khawaja then?

Weatherald has played 4 games and has a 70, give him Sydney and if he fails look to Renshaw going forward if he maintains form.

Webster for green

Ussie plays Sydney

Marnus does need to go soon as well if he doesn’t make runs but he made a truck load in the e shield and has scored 2 50’s so had at least some runs

 

[GreekLunatic]

They should open with brook

 

[Pakenhamsaint]

Duckett and Bethell need to stand up in this chase. I won't be putting my house on it.

Drunkett will get out his usual way

 

[SSwans2011]

Who do you suppose replaces Weatherald, Marnus, Green and Khawaja then?

It doesn't really matter for the others. In Green's case, we have an all-rounder to replace him that's looked much better than him this year.

But Renshaw replaces Weatherald and McSweeney replaces Khawaja as a starting point.

 

[Hawksboy72]

Absolutely pathetic cricket.

 

[Firewalker]

Cam Green seriously can’t play in Sydney if they’re serious but I also don’t know what the point of dropping him will be either

Weatherald, Khawaja and Green all dispensed from the top 7 post-Sydney you’d imagine with Marnus in shaky ground (and rightly so) but long break between Tests might make them forget about his and Green’s garbage batting especially if Green performs in white ball cricket. Seriously they might be so far deep with him they keep dropping him down and he bats 8 and plays as the 4th bowler depending on Lyon’s future.

Renshaw, Kellaway, McSweeney, Webster & Jack Edwards seriously all chances for next Test series.

 

[Sonny Hayes]

Aside from Head and Carey who has made consistent runs? From both sides.

No one said consistent, but they have had some success. Smith, Weatherald, head, Marnus, Carey all have at least fifties

 

[Daka]

The computer says England will win.

 

[cats_09]

James whatever his name is on the big screen at the game - "what position will England be in at stumps"

Dude, there's no way this match goes beyond today - there'll be a result one way or another

 

[SC_Power]

Now Smith can say, 'wasnt my fault'

Like the WI loss last season