lmanion Posted December 14, 2017 Share Posted December 14, 2017 So this has draw written all over it unfortunately the WACA just doesnt have the same character it used to. Can see England getting to 450+ pretty easily on that pitch and so long as the Aussies get through the new ball with say Warner and/or Smith there they should be able to bat the game into a place where the only result is a draw. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hereward Posted December 14, 2017 Share Posted December 14, 2017 A much better performance, but I'd still say Australia are favourites. I can see England collapsing if they lose an early wicket tomorrow and posting 350, with Australia getting to 450. But I can hope. A bit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paxter Posted December 14, 2017 Share Posted December 14, 2017 Yeah a flat pitch, but the Malan century is a big positive. I don’t think many people would have expected that England could post in excess of 300 in Australia with Cook and Root both failing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
williamjm Posted December 14, 2017 Share Posted December 14, 2017 17 hours ago, Paxter said: Anyone think this might be the end of the line for Cook? I know he has discounted speculation so far, but when you are looking like the junior opening partner to a guy who has only just begun his test career... His form is poor in this series, but it's been less than 4 months since he scored a Test double century (admittedly not against the most taxing opposition) so I wouldn't write him off yet. It was an impressive innings from Malan, and Stoneman also did well even if he won't get the headlines. It is encouraging to see the newer players doing well, even if I'm still not convinced by Vince, it might not be enough to save the series but at least it provides some hope for success beyond that. I agree with Hereward that England have to be careful they don't get bundled out cheaply tomorrow, they've still got a lot of work to do to be in a position to win this match, but at least it's been a good start. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paxter Posted December 15, 2017 Share Posted December 15, 2017 Gah England have crumbled this morning in familiar style. Let’s see what they can do with ball in hand - my head tells me that Australia will rack up 500 but my heart hopes otherwise! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Squab Posted December 15, 2017 Share Posted December 15, 2017 Glad they made 400 rather than just under, bit of a milestone. Even though I shouldn't judge the pitch until both sides have batted, I can still only see a draw. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stubby Posted December 15, 2017 Share Posted December 15, 2017 2 hours ago, Squab said: Glad they made 400 rather than just under, bit of a milestone. Even though I shouldn't judge the pitch until both sides have batted, I can still only see a draw. The forecast for Sunday is for football weather. So yeah, a draw is most likely. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paxter Posted December 15, 2017 Share Posted December 15, 2017 All too easy for Smith on this pitch. England did well to get Warner cheaply though, he usually kills it at the WACA. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ljkeane Posted December 15, 2017 Author Share Posted December 15, 2017 It's hard to judge when I'm not really watching too much of the cricket but a bit disappointing again from England. It's been a bit of a weird series really, England have been poor but not really in the ways you'd expect. Stoneman and Malan have done well, which augurs well for the future, and Vince, while he hasn't been great, has probably overall done better than might have been expected. On the other hand Cook and Root haven't contributed much and when England do get themselves to 368 for 5 with a well set batsman Ali, Woakes and Overton, which should be a pretty strong lower order, don't turn up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeor Posted December 15, 2017 Share Posted December 15, 2017 Probably a draw in this game, unless Australia can score 550-600 and bowl out England cheaply. But they have a long tail, so I doubt they'll be able to get such a massive score. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
williamjm Posted December 15, 2017 Share Posted December 15, 2017 5 hours ago, ljkeane said: It's been a bit of a weird series really, England have been poor but not really in the ways you'd expect. Stoneman and Malan have done well, which augurs well for the future, and Vince, while he hasn't been great, has probably overall done better than might have been expected. On the other hand Cook and Root haven't contributed much and when England do get themselves to 368 for 5 with a well set batsman Ali, Woakes and Overton, which should be a pretty strong lower order, don't turn up. It's definitely a contrast to the last Ashes tour which ended up with many players having their careers virtually destroyed by the end of it, whereas this time it wouldn't be too surprising if the England team for the first Test of the English summer would be fairly similar to this (although obviously they'll be hoping Stokes is available again by then). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paxter Posted December 16, 2017 Share Posted December 16, 2017 Yeah I’d probably agree with you @williamjm, with the exception of Vince, who I don’t expect to last the series. Smith again comfortably better than anything England can muster on a flat wicket. You’d think the draw is a pretty good bet at around $2.60. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
desire Posted December 16, 2017 Share Posted December 16, 2017 That was a wonderful head butt i wonder if the helmet in question will hold a press conference to clear the air Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeor Posted December 16, 2017 Share Posted December 16, 2017 Scores level, Australia still got six wickets in hand with Smith and Marsh well set. The nings victory might still be a possibility (the only way Australia will be able to wi this Test) if they push on to a big lead and bowl Englan out on the last day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
williamjm Posted December 16, 2017 Share Posted December 16, 2017 12 hours ago, Paxter said: Yeah I’d probably agree with you @williamjm, with the exception of Vince, who I don’t expect to last the series. I'd think Vince is definitely the most vulnerable although he's probably got a few more innings to turn things around - he could get replaced before then but I don't see Gary Ballance as being an improvement and there's not really any other alternatives in the squad. The third/fourth seamer role would also be difficult to predict, with Overton and Woakes potentially competing with Mark Wood and Toby Roland-Jones. I'd forgotten there was a series against New Zealand in between before the English summer starts, it could be a tricky assignment after a gruelling Ashes tour. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeor Posted December 17, 2017 Share Posted December 17, 2017 England already 2 down and the promised rain hasn't come yet. Hard to see them scraping a draw from this - it will be a shame for the series to effectively be over before Christmas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Winged Shadow Posted December 17, 2017 Share Posted December 17, 2017 Poor Vince. That delivery was unplayable. Total freak. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paxter Posted December 17, 2017 Share Posted December 17, 2017 Yeah I’ll be pretty disappointed if the Boxing Day test isn’t a live match (again). I think this test has me even more annoyed about Adelaide - that really was England’s golden opportunity in this series given the conditions. Bowling Australia out for around 100 must feel like eons ago for England now... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Squab Posted December 17, 2017 Share Posted December 17, 2017 18 hours ago, Paxter said: Yeah I’ll be pretty disappointed if the Boxing Day test isn’t a live match (again). I think this test has me even more annoyed about Adelaide - that really was England’s golden opportunity in this series given the conditions. Bowling Australia out for around 100 must feel like eons ago for England now... I hope they keep that innings in mind knowing that Australia can crumble quite easily too. Not that it looks like happening but if they do get a bit above 100 in front, they might be in with a chance... if only for the weather. Bairstow and Malan are in the right form to get them there. ETA: Apparently the groundstaff had money on a draw as well Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stubby Posted December 18, 2017 Share Posted December 18, 2017 Just had another squall go through here. My office is about 2km from the WACA and it would surprise me if we get any play today. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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