***Official*** 2nd Test at Adelaide

[CarlsbergXpress]

If England got 400+ the declaration looks horrific.

If they did get 400+ I don't see England scoring quickly enough to be able to put Australia under any pressure really. So in that regards it's an absolutely fine declaration for me.

 

[Spark]

400 is miles and miles over par on this deck IMO. It was clear what the rationale was: an opportunity to essentially win the game by stumps.

 

[oblongballs]

400 is miles and miles over par on this deck IMO. It was clear what the rationale was: an opportunity to essentially win the game by stumps.

I agree. England let Australia off the hook yet again, with more defensive bowling and nonsense, 79mph bouncers.

 

[SeamUp]

Looks like if Mark Wood passes the fitness tests he will join the England senior squad in Perth and play the 2-day game.

 

[Woodster]

Well, Australia have assumed control in this Test, coming earlier than it did at Brisbane, just after our hopes were raised by the predictable dismissal of Handscomb with the new ball.

A most frustrating day to watch as an England fan, the gap in quality between Anderson/Broad and the rest of the attack is absolutely vast and makes it virtually impossible to build any pressure other than when those two are bowling in tandem (barring Jimmy’s terrible first couple of overs). Both, I felt, were unlucky today, Anderson in particular, who’s figures don’t do him any justice.

Woakes has not stepped up this series so far and I thought/hoped he would do so much better, it’s difficult for Overton on debut but his gentle away swingers were comfortably negotiated on the whole when he’s bowling in the late 70’s! Difference is the Aussies are got as much out of the pitch/conditions but it’s all happening 10mph quicker!!

Credit to the Aussies for how they batted today, Marsh was unflappable throughout and accumulated impressively, barring a couple of LBW shouts we didn’t look like we had any idea how to get him out. Paine counter attacked very well and Cummins did a good job again.

Our batsmen have a much tougher ask to get anywhere near parity, unlike the Aussies we don’t have the luxury of seeing off the two main bowlers than tucking into the rest, we still have Cummins and Lyon to contend with. Really hoping our batsmen turn up tomorrow to keep/get us competitive in this game.

 

[JRC67]

I agree. England let Australia off the hook yet again, with more defensive bowling and nonsense, 79mph bouncers.

England probably could have pitched it up a little more but beyond that they haven't really got the personnel to do a lot more. The big hope really is that Australia collapse in a couple of tests or give wickets away trying to score quickly. There isn't really a bowler who they could bring in you really feel is suited to Australia who is likely to be good enough.

 

[JRC67]

Based on what I've seen so far, the most similar touring England side to Oz this reminds me of is 2002/03. In the leadup they've been hampered by regular injuries and key absences, fairly uninspiring warm-up matches form but above all else their side just doesn't look good enough. Their side (like 02/03) looks so far as an awkward mix of veteran players past their best and younger players who are too raw to handle the challenges of an Australian trip and overall, the side lacking the qualities necessary to win in Oz.

The big difference between this tour and 02/03 is this Australian side is considerably weaker (especially in the batting) but England just don't seem capable of exposing those flaws for any significant amount of time. Unless a couple of Australia's pacemen get injured, I can't see England coming back into this series.

This must be the weakest batting line up to play in Australia. Outside of Root and Cook the team only have 9 test centuries and Broads was very much an outlyer. Bairstow is the third best batsman and he has only averaged 31 this year. I'd agree the only big hope is an Australian quick, maybe 2, breakdown in a match. I think that's probably the game plan.

 

[marc71178]

Yeah was probably the worst moment for cricket administrators in a world cup ever and was shameful really. Duckworth Lewis might not be great but it has been a million times better than the stupid rain rules that they had in 92.

I still maintain that South Africa got their just desserts that day after playing the rules in their favour when they bowled.

 

[Lillian Thomson]

I still maintain that South Africa got their just desserts that day after playing the rules in their favour when they bowled.

Definitely. The rules for the team batting first were just as stupid. South Africa were on the end of a hammering but slowed it all down so they only bowled 45 overs and England were denied a natural acceleration. If there’s such a thing as instant karma, the way that match ended was it.

On the subject of the declaration I thought it was a good one in the circumstances. 440 on the board against a team under pressure after five sessions in the field and never having batted under lights late in the evening in a Test in Australia.

 

[GIMH]

400 is miles and miles over par on this deck IMO. It was clear what the rationale was: an opportunity to essentially win the game by stumps.

But what’s the reward for the risk? For me it’s a bit pointless. I don’t think it’s the worst declaration ever but I don’t think it was a particularly good one either

 

[Gob]

Intimidating short pitch bowling will never be the same since 2014 but Broad has to ****ing cop it when he comes on tomorrow.

 

[Compton]

The declaration was fine.

Could he have batted longer? Sure.
Was it nice to nip one out before rain? Sure.

Of all Test declarations in the past 10 years, this is one of the least remarkable.

 

[GIMH]

Intimidating short pitch bowling will never be the same since 2014 but Broad has to ****ing cop it when he comes on tomorrow.

The bowlers will be pretty tired by the time Broad strides out at 550-8

 

[harsh.ag]

The bowlers will be pretty tired by the time Broad strides out at 550-8

Cooked and Rooted

 

[Compton]

The bowlers will be pretty tired by the time Broad strides out at 550-8

You think Australia will take 18 wickets tomorrow?

 

[Gob]

The bowlers will be pretty tired by the time Broad strides out at 550-8

Sounds good does not work gif

 

[adub]

The scary thing is Cummins is only gonna get better with the stick. Got a proper batsman's technique (waaaaay better than Handscomb for a start) and a proper batsmans temperament. Smith and Marsh have made two lovely tons, but Cummins made them possible. I'm actually ok with him staying below Starc for the time being. Let Mitch come in with a licence to see ball hit ball. If it comes off superb, if it doesn't, then Pat comes in and bats. Whoever is up the other end will be completely relaxed and can just keep batting as they have been as Cummins works himself into an innings.

 

[Tangles]

3 innings, 943 runs and only 18 wickets. That's why we were questioning England's ability to take 20 wickets before the series started.

Now their bats face scoreboard pressure when the should have been trying to create it by batting 1st. Only rain will save them from 5-0.

 

[Woodster]

We may well have been bowled out cheaply had we batted first, all hypothetical and no one knows what would have happened. What we do know is that we didn’t bowl particularly well in that first session.

 

[social]

The declaration was fine.

Could he have batted longer? Sure.
Was it nice to nip one out before rain? Sure.

Of all Test declarations in the past 10 years, this is one of the least remarkable.

It was also entirely predictable and quite justified

After all, there's not an opener in the world that would look forward to facing a rested Starc with a new pink rock under lights after nearly 2 days in the field