4th Test at Old Trafford, Manchester

[zaremba]

He was supposed to be in good form at the start of the WC. I wouldn’t pick him until he shows he’s got his bowling action back.

Fair enough, and I can't speak to that. But I can assure you he is pretty decent touch with the bat.

 

[hazsa19]

Fair enough, and I can't speak to that. But I can assure you he is pretty decent touch with the bat.

Sounds like quite a knock. There’s something about watching him strike a ball, fantastic to watch.

 

[Starfighter]

Hmm... Burns predictably causing trouble, Root predictably not converting a fifty. Unless we get them out first session tomorrow (follow-on or not) I think this will head to a draw.

Also Paine letting a catch go and making an awful review (like, just stop pretending you have a clue), and bad light interrupting. It wouldn't have made any difference today, but it's silly trying to make up the lost overs to 7 pm or later rather than starting at 10:30 (which, I might remind you, is the standard start time in Aus and we start at 10:00 when there's time lost). Yes, it may have a little bit of merit in the middle of the year but we're now into September and getting close to the equinox. Going that late practically guarantees bad light.

 

[mr_mister]

I see Starc went wicketless

 

[GotSpin]

It’s so good to have hazlewood back bowling well

 

[Burgey]

Indeed - made Steve Smith look like this year's Adam Voges

Right now ’d settle for Voges in our side in a heartbeat

 

[Burgey]

Sounds like quite a knock. There’s something about watching him strike a ball, fantastic to watch.

He has a style which makes me think he’d hit a golf ball.a mile for some reason.

 

[hazsa19]

Hmm... Burns predictably causing trouble, Root predictably not converting a fifty. Unless we get them out first session tomorrow (follow-on or not) I think this will head to a draw.

Also Paine letting a catch go and making an awful review (like, just stop pretending you have a clue), and bad light interrupting. It wouldn't have made any difference today, but it's silly trying to make up the lost overs to 7 pm or later rather than starting at 10:30 (which, I might remind you, is the standard start time in Aus and we start at 10:00 when there's time lost). Yes, it may have a little bit of merit in the middle of the year but we're now into September and getting close to the equinox. Going that late practically guarantees bad light.

Even if we bat till say halfway through the afternoon session, I can’t see us getting the deficit much below 200, which gives you more than enough time to get 350 ahead before close. I guess the pitch will be a little easier than the Edgbaston day 5 one, but still a huge challenge.

 

[Starfighter]

Also I see that Starc still seems to be the Starc that we know and don't love from the past couple of years.

 

[Burgey]

I see Starc went wicketless

Needs to do that thing to the tail he sometimes does after being innocious up front but I don’t think he’s going to for some reason. He looks like a bloke who thinks his spot is on the line and is uncertain about what to do

 

[Burgey]

Even if we bat till say halfway through the afternoon session, I can’t see us getting the deficit much below 200, which gives you more than enough time to get 350 ahead before close. I guess the pitch will be a little easier than the Edgbaston day 5 one, but still a huge challenge.

Stokes is so good though. Can see him playing another blinder once the follow on is saved and securing the draw pretty easily

 

[Daemon]

Without that triple strike from Haze my money was on a draw, assuming another session would be lost due to rain/light.

 

[aussie tragic]

Warner and Roy both have exactly the same series record of 79 runs at 11.28.

Can Butler get 24 runs to join them?

 

[morgieb]

Really crucial spell from Hazlewood. Draw still very much possible but they'll need some good batting from these two to stop a fourth innings squeeze.

 

[TheJediBrah]

Stokes is so good though. Can see him playing another blinder once the follow on is saved and securing the draw pretty easily

Lyon should have his number, if he bowls something approaching his best. Even in the freak innings last Test he looked like getting him out every few balls and Stokes only survived with a fair slice of luck.

 

[Burgey]

True. But I’m a big Lyon fan as you know and I thought he bowled pish last night. Like they were preoccupied with him bowling tight rather than trying to take wickets. Was consistently short to the lefties and too straight to Root. Don’t get me wrong, Burns and Root played him very well though.

 

[Victor Ian]

Warner and Roy both have exactly the same series record of 79 runs at 11.28.

Can Butler get 24 runs to join them?

Well, Roy was called in to hopefully play the Warner role of their team. Seems like the selection was a successful one.

 

[Spark]

Needs to do that thing to the tail he sometimes does after being innocious up front but I don’t think he’s going to for some reason. He looks like a bloke who thinks his spot is on the line and is uncertain about what to do

Tell him that it's fine if he goes for runs, so long as he's bowling at the pegs.

 

[Second Spitter]

Hypothetical: Enforce the follow-on on or not?

 

[Lillian Thomson]

If they trust the dry (though still unpleasant and possibility of bad light earlier even with the floodlights) forecast, they won’t enforce the follow on. They seem to prefer to give the bowlers a rest and not bat last.