*Official Third Test at Edgbaston

[Pigeon]

Of all people Broad.

 

[Son Of Coco]

I just tuned in and Hussey looked good the first ball I saw. Then he edges behind to a good length ball from Stuart Broad of all people...the world's gone mad!

 

[vic_orthdox]

But Ponting wouldn't bowl Hauritz till England only needed three an over. Reckon 5 an over over 30-odd overs wouldn't be too hard, go hard early with a hard ball and the quicks are on.

 

[Pigeon]

England has to get Aussies ao in the next 30-35 overs to stand a chance.

 

[NUFAN]

Game on then.

How many do Australia need to be safe? If they continue at the current scoring rate or close to it, I'd say a lead of about 160-170 would be fine. That would mean England need to score at almost 5 an over which is a pretty tough ask in a test on the 5th day.

The real issue for England I guess is that if they get Australia on the ropes with the lower order in, there's a risk of conceding a decent amount of runs pushing for the last few wickets with attacking fields. Going to be tough on Strauss.

I just worked it out before..

Just say Australia made another 130 runs, losing 7 wickets in 40 overs so that would make England chase 163.

If they had 37 overs to chase 163,

I would not be confident that we'd hang on, I'm thinking 180 as a minimum.

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

Yeah, 30-35 overs is definitely the range. If Australia bat 40 overs from here scoring at 3.5, that's a chase of around 200 in ~28 overs which isn't happening.

 

[Ikki]

I'll probably get jumped on for this, but did Watson actually touch the ball? Not a great shot from Huss, but the half century will be better for his confidence. I wonder what the selectors are going to do for the next test.

 

[Burgey]

Game on then.

How many do Australia need to be safe? If they continue at the current scoring rate or close to it, I'd say a lead of about 160-170 would be fine. That would mean England need to score at almost 5 an over which is a pretty tough ask in a test on the 5th day.

The real issue for England I guess is that if they get Australia on the ropes with the lower order in, there's a risk of conceding a decent amount of runs pushing for the last few wickets with attacking fields. Going to be tough on Strauss.

One x 100 run partnership from safety imo.

 

[Nate]

I'll probably get jumped on for this, but did Watson actually touch the ball? Not a great shot from Huss, but the half century will be better for his confidence. I wonder what the selectors are going to do for the next test.

Reckon it hit the right side of the bat on its way through, which would account for the noise and lack of significant deviation.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Lunch then. Oz probably shaded the session with just the two wickets falling, but RR has been kept in check.

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

I'll probably get jumped on for this, but did Watson actually touch the ball? Not a great shot from Huss, but the half century will be better for his confidence. I wonder what the selectors are going to do for the next test.

I suggested it at the time, still not sure. Sure doesn't look like he hit it but the sound is so bat-like it's hard to argue.

 

[pasag]

Still pretty even. One of the most important sessions of the series coming up. Finding it pretty hard to concentrate on uni work itbt.

 

[Burgey]

Lunch then. Oz probably shaded the session with just the two wickets falling, but RR has been kept in check.

This. Not too bad losing 2 in the session that's given up most wickets in the match.

 

[Son Of Coco]

Game on then.

How many do Australia need to be safe? If they continue at the current scoring rate or close to it, I'd say a lead of about 160-170 would be fine. That would mean England need to score at almost 5 an over which is a pretty tough ask in a test on the 5th day.

The real issue for England I guess is that if they get Australia on the ropes with the lower order in, there's a risk of conceding a decent amount of runs pushing for the last few wickets with attacking fields. Going to be tough on Strauss.

I guess it doesn't matter too much though. If they push for the wickets and Australia puts on some runs it'll be a draw. And if they don't push for wickets and just sit back it'll be a draw.

 

[Ikki]

I'll give the whole stats thing a go.

Since New Zealand toured in May last year, accepted by everyone as the time when Anderson's bowling improved massively, he's taken 69 wickets in 18 tests @ 28.65.

Sounds reasonable, right?

Now, looking closer at the games he's played in that time, the aggregate bowling average is in fact 38.45. So on the pitches Jimmy's been playing on for the past year, the average player is taking his wickets at 38. These are some horrendous bowling conditions. Even in the 2000s, widely accepted as a period of unspeakably flat pitches, the aggregate average is 33. Suddenly, 28 looks bloody impressive.

Sorry for the mathematical burst, but hey, I'm a nerd. Contrary to a lot of people here, I think stats- unlike raw numbers- can tell you a lot if you use them properly.

Sorry, his averages are improved by having faced NZ and WIndies. He averages 35 against India, S.Africa and Australia in that selected period. That sample of 16 games you've taken also includes the horrendous averages of the WIndies and NZ bowlers. It's no wonder the average is 38. Yes, Anderson is better than them, but don't exaggerate it to the point where you are saying by being 10 better in that selective sample - where he plays NZ and WIndies in 3/6 series (9/16 tests) - that he deserves to rated ahead of Clark or deserved of those other erroneous praises you give him.

P.S. I agree, using stats in proper context and intelligently is a very helpful guide.

 

[Ikki]

I suggested it at the time, still not sure. Sure doesn't look like he hit it but the sound is so bat-like it's hard to argue.

Ironically, the sound gives me some doubt as it seemed a bit stronger than the slightest of all nicks - which is what it looked like. He walked off without much fuss, but I dunno, I wonder why they didn't show snicko.

 

[four_or_six]

Ironically, the sound gives me some doubt as it seemed a bit stronger than the slightest of all nicks - which is what it looked like. He walked off without much fuss, but I dunno, I wonder why they didn't show snicko.

Shane Watson walking off with no fuss = definitely nicked it.

 

[Shaggy Alfresco]

If Australia escape here, I think they'll be in a pretty good position to retain the Ashes. Hussey and Johnson back in form, Watson playing well at the top of the order, Lee and possibly Clark back for Headingly. England need to get a win.

 

[Ikki]

Escape? What are the odds on a draw? Should be the most likely thing TBH.

 

[Redbacks]

To me it looks more inevitable we will lose the series anyway and most likely this match. Our bowling is poor and our batting isn't good enough to make up for the weakness. In the coming matches there is a high likelyhood that 1 hour of favourable conditions will see us lose 5 quick wickets at some stage and thus put us on the back foot again.