***Official*** 3rd Test at the WACA

[Spark]

This isn't something that you can often say, but I actually thought they were generally too full as well.

I thought they were more two-length than consistently full, but the half-volleys were the ones that got spanked.

And, of course, it doesn't help that our slips catching was poo.

 

[Spark]

All in all England's day, although it could have been better. Though I think we have a good chance of running up an absolutely massive total here. England are going to have to bowl with exceptional discipline to have a hope of getting a lead.

Eh, scoreboard pressure does funny things. But they still would want to bat 50+ overs tomorrow IMO.

 

[Daemon]

This isn't something that you can often say, but I actually thought they were generally too full as well.

I think Starc bowling full is still fine because that's how he gets wickets, and he'd probably have one more if they could catch. Haze shouldn't be doing it though.

I really want to see all their pitch maps on Cricinfo, or at least the commentary filtered by bowlers, but they no longer allow you to do that.

 

[Prince EWS]

I thought they were more two-length than consistently full, but the half-volleys were the ones that got spanked.

Yeah I would agree with that. By "too full" I don't mean "not enough short stuff" but simply "the length they seemed to think was a good length was in fact a bunch of half volleys".

That's pretty rare in Perth, so I wonder if it may have been a bit of an overcompensation.

 

[S.Kennedy]

M. Marsh has only played twenty-one tests yet his cap looks like S. Waugh's!

 

[Spark]

Yeah I would agree with that. By "too full" I don't mean "not enough short stuff" but simply "the length they seemed to think was a good length was in fact a bunch of half volleys".

That's pretty rare in Perth, so I wonder if it may have been a bit of an overcompensation.

There were an unusually high number of full tosses today so they probably just bowled too full, well, full stop.

But yeah this is exactly what I meant yesterday by Starc's relative inability to bowl defensively counting against him in a HTH comparison. His figures might not suffer that much because he gets his own wickets, but the team suffers because it puts so much pressure on the other bowlers to pull it back.

 

[adub]

I thought they were more two-length than consistently full, but the half-volleys were the ones that got spanked.

And, of course, it doesn't help that our slips catching was poo.

Tough though because you really have to get it up to bring the stumps and LB into play. Not doing much to encourage the slips.

Seeing off that Haze spell after lunch really made a difference I reckon. Could so easily have got a mini collapse happening there.

 

[morgieb]

All in all England's day, although it could have been better. Though I think we have a good chance of running up an absolutely massive total here. England are going to have to bowl with exceptional discipline to have a hope of getting a lead.

Or they get to 500-550 and scoreboard pressure hits.

 

[Spark]

Tough though because you really have to get it up to bring the stumps and LB into play. Not doing much to encourage the slips.

Seeing off that Haze spell after lunch really made a difference I reckon. Could so easily have got a mini collapse happening there.

Yeah that MMarsh drop was huge. Okay, Stoneman himself didn't make any runs, but he saw off that spell. Malan coming in right in the middle of that spell and we might be looking at a very different day of cricket.

 

[Tom Flint]

Cracks in the pitch always open up in perth when they produce quick pitches like this? Ali normally bats well when we are ahead of the game too. Bat 2 sessions tomorrow and post 500 would be ideal

 

[Spark]

Cracks in the pitch always open up in perth when they produce quick pitches like this? Ali normally bats well when we are ahead of the game too. Bat 2 sessions tomorrow and post 500 would be ideal

Usually only when it's really, really hot, and even then not always.

Sometimes it just flattens out and 4th innings batting here is the easiest batting you will ever see. Like I thought the pitch played well today but the true test is Days 3 and 4, because sometimes it flattens out completely and you get, well, this.

 

[morgieb]

Cracks in the pitch always open up in perth when they produce quick pitches like this? Ali normally bats well when we are ahead of the game too. Bat 2 sessions tomorrow and post 500 would be ideal

Question of when, though.

 

[Starfighter]

Eh, scoreboard pressure does funny things. But they still would want to bat 50+ overs tomorrow IMO.

I expect Warner to go for it no matter the situation. If Smith gets in and Marsh plays as he has been we'll be fine I think. Definitely want to bat well into tomorrow, tea at least would be a good target.

Opinions on how this pitch will go? I'd expect it to be at its fastest tomorrow but maybe it will be best for batting on day 3 like against South Africa? (I'm assuming. I was playing grade when Duminy and Elgar scored all those runs). I think this pitch looks somewhat similar to that one, maybe a bit faster.

 

[LegionOfBrad]

Cracks in the pitch always open up in perth when they produce quick pitches like this? Ali normally bats well when we are ahead of the game too. Bat 2 sessions tomorrow and post 500 would be ideal

They would do if it the weather was hot. It's pretty mild for Perth atm so we may not see full canyon cracks.

 

[Spark]

I expect Warner to go for it no matter the situation. If Smith gets in and Marsh plays as he has been we'll be fine I think. Definitely want to bat well into tomorrow, tea at least would be a good target.

Opinions on how this pitch will go? I'd expect it to be at its fastest tomorrow but maybe it will be best for batting on day 3 like against South Africa? (I'm assuming. I was playing grade when Duminy and Elgar scored all those runs). I think this pitch looks somewhat similar to that one, maybe a bit faster.

I actually wonder if it'll get faster. If the pace in the pitch is because of the grass, you'd expect it to ease off as the pitch dries out.

 

[Starfighter]

They would do if it the weather was hot. It's pretty mild for Perth atm so we may not see full canyon cracks.

Yes, it won't dry dramatically.

Forecast tops are 30, 26, 21 and 22, and the latter two will be more humid with some rain predicted.

 

[Spark]

Usually only when it's really, really hot, and even then not always.

Sometimes it just flattens out and 4th innings batting here is the easiest batting you will ever see. Like I thought the pitch played well today but the true test is Days 3 and 4, because sometimes it flattens out completely and you get, well, this.

That scorecard is actually even worse than I remembered. What an awful, awful Test that was.

 

[Woodster]

All in all England's day, although it could have been better. Though I think we have a good chance of running up an absolutely massive total here. England are going to have to bowl with exceptional discipline to have a hope of getting a lead.

We’re not getting too picky about how today could have been better!!! We’ve not had a day like this in the series, it’s our day, we’re on top, these two have been magnificent!!! It could all come crashing down tomorrow!!

 

[adub]

Yeah that MMarsh drop was huge. Okay, Stoneman himself didn't make any runs, but he saw off that spell. Malan coming in right in the middle of that spell and we might be looking at a very different day of cricket.

Exactly. Imagine Malan copping the next ball first up. On another day Haze will bowl a far far worse spell and grab three wickets.

 

[Spark]

Yes, it won't dry dramatically.

Forecast tops are 30, 26, 21 and 22, and the latter two will be more humid with some rain predicted.

That could actually get interesting if England set any sort of decent chase, although it looks like both sides will get a crack at excellent batting conditions.