*Official* Second Test at the Adelaide Oval

[hazsa19]

So every time a batsman plays and misses near the ball (i.e. almost every play and miss by those other than Chris Martin) the fielding side should appeal?

You're incredibly naive if you think any of the English players thought it was out. The point is I don't have a god given talent, I'm an unbiased observer who can work out that 1 + 1=2, and the English fans rushing in to share their delusion that "it kinda looked close to out" is pretty telling.

well that's just silly because it's very different if it cannons off body parts after going past an inside edge, as opposed to going past an outside edge.

 

[Spark]

AWTA.

Scoring a high-pressure century in a situation like this could also be the making of him, though I concede that's pretty unlikely.

True, but...

Let's pretend he's not a rocks-or-diamonds player who is a useless starter.
Let's pretend he doesn't go at the ball like a hammer, and hence nicks off easily
Let's pretend his footwork isn't so dire that he'll get in a tangle when it moves off the straight
Let's pretend he's not Marcus North.

Would he still get through Swann? I seriously doubt it.

 

[GIMH]

Some extraordinary logic coming out in this thread. So I'm wrong because the umpire made a dreadful decision which actually underlines the very point I'm making?

What a class act you are. Haven't you got made up tales about all the women that can't resist you to post?

 

[vcs]

True, but...

Let's pretend he's not a rocks-or-diamonds player who is a useless starter.
Let's pretend he doesn't go at the ball like a hammer, and hence nicks off easily
Let's pretend his footwork isn't so dire that he'll get in a tangle when it moves off the straight
Let's pretend he's not Marcus North.

Would he still get through Swann? I seriously doubt it.

Yeah, it does seem extremely unlikely. Australia's fight today has been very impressive but their first innings capitulation might just end up costing them this one. Credit to England for really making their innings count, because they've needed the cushion. A lead of even 200, which would still have been a sizable lead, could have made things entirely different going into tomorrow.

 

[Spark]

It almost certainly will.

Our chance of a draw hinged on Clarke. He was even protecting Hussey from Swann at one stage. Him getting out, England are red-hot to clean up tomorrow morning.

 

[Prince EWS]

True, but...

Let's pretend he's not a rocks-or-diamonds player who is a useless starter.
Let's pretend he doesn't go at the ball like a hammer, and hence nicks off easily
Let's pretend his footwork isn't so dire that he'll get in a tangle when it moves off the straight
Let's pretend he's not Marcus North.

Would he still get through Swann? I seriously doubt it.

He is all those things though, so playing an amazingly awesome innings when his spot's completely in the firing line that ultimately leaves the team just short, but himself with another lifeline, is just the sort of frustrating thing he's capable of.

 

[Jacknife]

So every time a batsman plays and misses near the ball (i.e. almost every play and miss by those other than Chris Martin) the fielding side should appeal?

You're incredibly naive if you think any of the English players thought it was out. The point is I don't have a god given talent, I'm an unbiased observer who can work out that 1 + 1=2, and the English fans rushing in to share their delusion that "it kinda looked close to out" is pretty telling.

Mate ,listening to you, you'd think that this has never happened before , what more,I take it your a NZ supporter because your team does it, if your not, the same applies to every team. Even though, after watching today, at all the play and misses Hussey did and other batsmen, England didn't go up for them and some of those missed the bat by millimeters.I don't give a monkeys, if you believe me when I say at the time I thought it was out, but obviously when you see the slow-mo from a different angle it was obvious,But I don't know why you've made such a issue of it,when in split seconds all teams appeal for anything close, i don't consider it cheating, because it has always been that way and this is pro sport.

 

[vcs]

He is all those things though, so playing an amazingly awesome innings when his spot's completely in the firing line that ultimately leaves the team just short, but himself with another lifeline, is just the sort of frustrating thing he's capable of.

By an amazingly awesome innings, if you mean him getting a hundred, he will almost certainly save the game. Cannot see England chasing anything in excess of three figures here.

 

[Spark]

The point was though, that Swann is producing overs where he lands six balls on the same 5x5cm patch of pitch and does six completely different things? How do you play that? I'm amazed Clarke got through (with ease, in the end), and Hussey, although he didn't face nearly as much of it - and had a healthy does of luck as well.

What these two have done is giving us a possibility though. Of course I think it's highly unlikely but we're only 130 behind...

 

[andyc]

TH, your post was clearly not appropriate and I've duly edited it, and edited/deleted a couple of later posts which quoted it.

 

[Prince EWS]

By an amazingly awesome innings, if you mean him getting a hundred, he will almost certainly save the game. Cannot see England chasing anything in excess of three figures here.

He will hit 112* (90) batting with the tail who will implode around him.

 

[vcs]

Hmm... TBF, 150ish totals have been chased recently on this ground and Sehwag made a 5th day 150. So maybe chasing 150 in 35 overs wouldn't be out of the question either, considering Australia's spin option is Doherty.

Basically, Australia have to pray hard for rain, IMO.

Fascinating Test match, either way. Could have been even better had Australia not conceded such a big lead and all results were possible going into day 5.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

It almost certainly will.

Our chance of a draw hinged on Clarke. He was even protecting Hussey from Swann at one stage. Him getting out, England are red-hot to clean up tomorrow morning.

Not over yet, still got to get Haddin or Hussey as well as North to get through to the tail. A couple of wickets in the first hour tomorrow should see us ok as long as we get more than half a days play in but it is going to be a nailbiter tomorrow no matter what.

Have to give credit to Clarke though, a gritty fighting knock under huge pressure. Good news is he showed he is fit now and is hopefully over the back problem for a while. Always prefer seeing the best players on the park rather than in the treatment room.

 

[hazsa19]

The point was though, that Swann is producing overs where he lands six balls on the same 5x5cm patch of pitch and does six completely different things? How do you play that? I'm amazed Clarke got through (with ease, in the end), and Hussey, although he didn't face nearly as much of it - and had a healthy does of luck as well.

What these two have done is giving us a possibility though. Of course I think it's highly unlikely but we're only 130 behind...

yes when it's going on i'm pulling my hair out and banging on about how lucky Hussey is and how unlucky Swann is.

When a day comes to an end I can reflect on what was a great days cricket. In a way it would be nice to be neutral and watch and enjoy Swann vs two great players of spin whoever comes out on top.

 

[Ruckus]

You have to wonder why it is a knee-jerk response? Because Ponting is averaging around 35 if you take out his 209 against Pakistan this year. It's not like the typical response to blame everything on his captaincy (which is unjustified)- his batting for the last year or two has actually been quite poor. And more to the point he is really struggling to score when it matters. He needs to lift his game urgently for Australia's sake.

 

[Jacknife]

Not over yet, still got to get Haddin or Hussey as well as North to get through to the tail. A couple of wickets in the first hour tomorrow should see us ok as long as we get more than half a days play in but it is going to be a nailbiter tomorrow no matter what.

Have to give credit to Clarke though, a gritty fighting knock under huge pressure. Good news is he showed he is fit now and is hopefully over the back problem for a while. Always prefer seeing the best players on the park rather than in the treatment room.

Yes, new ball in the morning is very important and then Swann takes it on from there, I hope.

 

[vcs]

He did well in India and his first innings failure at the Gabba was rendered irrelevant, so it's basically one match. He got a couple of pretty good balls as well, TBF. I'd be much angrier if he had got out pulling, or snicking down the legside, or run-out or something.

 

[Ikki]

I would agree, if Haddin and North make sizable scores and we fall short it will be on Ponting's shoulders.

 

[Bun]

Draw looms.

 

[hazsa19]

You have to wonder why it is a knee-jerk response? Because Ponting is averaging around 35 if you take out his 209 against Pakistan this year. It's not like the typical response to blame everything on his captaincy (which is unjustified)- his batting for the last year or two has actually been quite poor. And more to the point he is really struggling to score when it matters. He needs to lift his game urgently for Australia's sake.

Not much he could have done in this match. Very tough against a spinner or a turning spinner when you first get in. Bit of a lottery as to whether you get through, if you do it gets easier, not much though!