*Official* Second Test at the Adelaide Oval

[Redbacks]

At some stage we will be getting a lot of prolonged rain, once it starts, can't see play resuming again based on the radar images. England will need to get the job done quickly. Given the deck, that's still quite likely to occur. Captain Hindsight will probably say they batted 25-50 runs to long if we end up with a draw.

 

[Howe_zat]

At some stage we will be getting a lot of prolonged rain, once it starts, can't see play resuming again based on the radar images. England will need to get the job done quickly. Given the deck, that's still quite likely to occur. Captain Hindsight will probably say they batted 25-50 runs to long if we end up with a draw.

Remember when this was a pitch Geoff Boycott's mum could get a century on?

As annoyed as I'll be, it looks like Australia have made a good fight of it, and the rain seems likely to save them. England will need at least two wickets in the first hour to get anywhere.

 

[Spark]

Good that the UDRS is finally being used properly though.

 

[Ruckus]

At some stage we will be getting a lot of prolonged rain, once it starts, can't see play resuming again based on the radar images. England will need to get the job done quickly. Given the deck, that's still quite likely to occur. Captain Hindsight will probably say they batted 25-50 runs to long if we end up with a draw.

The hourly forecast suggest that the prolonged rain will only come at about 4 - and that's the earliest. The heaviest rain is predicted to be in the evening, past 6, and into the night.

 

[Redbacks]

Remember when this was a pitch Geoff Boycott's mum could get a century on?

As annoyed as I'll be, it looks like Australia have made a good fight of it, and the rain seems likely to save them. England will need at least two wickets in the first hour to get anywhere.

I guess Boycott's mum would play for England, so he's not to far off the mark based on our recent 1100/6.

Chuck a lot of men around the bat and perhaps consider spin at both ends for a while and you should be able to create a few chances in the first hour.

 

[pup11]

Its not the first time Clarke has behaved weirdly like this, there have been a lot of times when he has shouldered arms to straight wicket-to-wicket balls, so guess such blackouts are a normal thing with him.
Anyways, eventhough Clarke batted well I think his innings today is another example of why he would remain a good player but it looks unlikely that he would ever reach a level as a player where he then could be rated as the undisputed leader of the team.
Australian captains or contenders are known to play inspirational knocks to either save or win games for their side, whereas Clarke mentally just doesn't seem to be able to replicate those sort of performances.

 

[Redbacks]

The hourly forecast suggest that the prolonged rain will only come at about 4 - and that's the earliest. The heaviest rain is predicted to be in the evening, past 6, and into the night.

Probably a good thing, our batsmen going out there expecting to have to bat for the majority of the day is probably the best mentality to have.

 

[social]

Spinners will do better with a harder ball so they should take the new one

Swann's performance today is being massively overhyped on here

He finished with 2-72 in perfect conditions for spin bowling and that's a pretty fair reflection of the way he bowled

After all, as KP showed, all you had to do was land the ball in the rough to create massive problems and it wasnt as though Swann was unduly unlucky or anything

 

[Spark]

And he did create massive problems, and Hussey was very very lucky to survive him. Clarke played him well though

 

[NUFAN]

I have a feeling that Australia will send Brad Haddin in at 6. The fact that he's batted so well this series particularly with Hussey could make it a decent decision.

 

[Spark]

Nah get the dire one out of the way first IMO.

 

[social]

And he did create massive problems, and Hussey was very very lucky to survive him. Clarke played him well though

How was Hussey lucky to survive?

He didnt place and miss, wasnt dropped etc

The closest Swann came was when he bowled a pretty poor ball down leg that caught Hussey on the pad as he tried to sweep and rebounded from glove past the stumps

That would've been a very unlucky dismissal

Today was no different to the other 2 innings that Hussey has played in this series against Swann - he obviously picks him and used his feet to nullify any problems

 

[andyc]

Your reverse psychology doesn't fool me.

Post reported.

Your hollow threats don't fool me either, gism.

 

[NUFAN]

Nah get the dire one out of the way first IMO.

Why? The quicker we make runs the better as we'll set England a target. Also having a right hand - left hand combination with a free flowing batsman like Haddin should benefit Hussey.

If we lose a wicket reasonably early perhaps it will help North to knuckle down a bit.

 

[Spark]

How was Hussey lucky to survive?

He didnt place and miss

Nah he did. Edged one or two as well.

He wasn't incredibly lucky - but he had some definite, multiple slices of luck, and I think it really is pertinent that they decided to have Clarke face the majority of the balls from Swann, despite how Hussey has played Swann in the two innings previous.

 

[andyc]

Why? The quicker we make runs the better as we'll set England a target. Also having a right hand - left hand combination with a free flowing batsman like Haddin should benefit Hussey.

If we lose a wicket reasonably early perhaps it will help North to knuckle down a bit.

Or it will mean instead of losing one wicket, we'll lose two really quickly because North's terrible batsman and is going to fail anyway (please!).

 

[andyc]

Nah he did. Edged one or two as well.

He wasn't incredibly lucky - but he had some definite, multiple slices of luck, and I think it really is pertinent that they decided to have Clarke face the majority of the balls from Swann, despite how Hussey has played Swann in the two innings previous.

Wasn't watching so could be wrong, but maybe it was more that they didn't want Clarke facing the quick up the other end?

 

[social]

Nah he did. Edged one or two as well.

He wasn't incredibly lucky - but he had some definite, multiple slices of luck, and I think it really is pertinent that they decided to have Clarke face the majority of the balls from Swann, despite how Hussey has played Swann in the two innings previous.

Mate, all you had to do was land the ball in a certain spot and the ball would turn and jump at pace

The fact that Hussey was able to cover that and play the ball along the ground is testimony to his skill not luck

The fact that KP, a bowler with a test average of well over 100, and Colly (who actually had Hussey in more trouble) were able to produce similar deliveries does not exactly speak volumes for Swann's performance against Hussey and Clarke

 

[pup11]

Or it will mean instead of losing one wicket, we'll lose two really quickly because North's terrible batsman and is going to fail anyway (please!).

Won't be surprised if he makes runs tomorrow, he for some reason has insane amount support from the guys in the team, especially Hussey; and if both Huss and North stay out there together then they could put up a good partnership.
Also hugely unlikely that we would send Haddin at #6 and that's how it should be, North shouldn't have been in the team but since now that he's there it his job to go out their and save this test.

 

[Ruckus]

Or it will mean instead of losing one wicket, we'll lose two really quickly because North's terrible batsman and is going to fail anyway (please!).

If North fails again, you can just picture what will happen:

Hilditch: "It was a day 5 pitch which was deteriorating rapidly so North's form in those difficult conditions is not much of a concern to us. We know North is a very experienced cricketer, and we're sure he will bounce back and contribute in the rest of the series."