2nd Test at Adelaide - 16 to 20 Dec

[tony p]

Marnus played three excellent innings.

 

[Pothas]

Great day for our blokes there in tough conditions to bat. Exactly what Smith needed too - prolonged period of hard concentration to get him on his way.

Poms too short for the most part. That awful period where Root bowled just before the new ball was hideous cricket too.

Warner was really good today.

 

[TimAngas]

Marnus and Smith absolutely trolled England that session in full denial mode. Going to be hard for Anderson and Broad to back up what was a pretty tidy effort by them tomorrow in 40 degree heat.

 

[Gob]

I love Labuschagne's leaves, where he plays at the ball and it just misses the edge. Been doing it well all day.

Yeah amazing offstump awareness

 

[thierry henry]

On the plus side I got drunk on the couch for no reason and have to get up and go to work in 6 hours

 

[Pup Clarke]

Jesus that's a horrible drop. No footwork whatsoever.

Bloody get Foakes in

 

[Pup Clarke]

Is Foakes in Australia?

Yep. Made 73 in the 2nd dig versus Australia A last week

 

[TimAngas]

I'm glad Smith got a long stay at the crease too. He's had almost no time in the middle since the India series. Guy should seriously retire from T20s.

 

[Shri]

buttler should work more on keeping and less on talking, which would make him better in both departments

 

[Bijed]

Buttler was Ed Smith's genius pick as a batsman (that took ages to come off IIRC) and became the 'logical' choice to replace Bairstow when the latter's place finally became untenable. Another story of English selectorial silliness.

Tbf I think he actually did quite well overall from his recall in 2018 up to the end of the Sri Lanka tour that year. Since then he's generally struggled and has been lucky not to lose his place, although there have been good bits in there too

 

[Gob]

I'm glad Smith got a long stay at the crease too. He's had almost no time in the middle since the India series. Guy should seriously retire from T20s.

Yeah Philippe time now.

 

[thierry henry]

Is there any valid reason why he calls himself ‘Jos’ anyway? We all go along with it but it isn’t anything.

 

[Gob]

buttler should work more on keeping and less on talking, which would make him better in both departments

VRat has to be the world's easiest guy to get in to a fight with

 

[Gob]

Is there any valid reason why he calls himself ‘Jos’ anyway? We all go along with it but it isn’t anything.

It is short for Josh

 

[thierry henry]

It is short for Josh

His name is Joseph. But Jos isn’t short for anything except ‘my parents and I want to be dickheads’

 

[Bijed]

Seriously ‘Jos’???? WTF is ‘Jos’? This England team desperately deserves to fail.

?

It's an less-common but hardly unheard of short-form of Joseph. People are perfectly entitled to be referred to however they want (inb4 Pujara at Yorkshire comments)

 

[Starfighter]

Well, I'd have preferred 40 more runs but will take that day. Harris failed as expected, Warner looked terrible but batted well before his brain detonated. Marcus batted well at times though is very lucky to be there, but there he is, and Smith still is too, somehow. Anderson bowled well enough without getting the batsmen to commit on the front foot enough, Broad varied between good and bad, Woakes was completely unmemorable as usual. Robinson bowled far too short and very much wasted his opportunities. The short ball strategy form Stokes was interesting but expensive. England really missed a specialist spinner on a pitch that had some turn and bounce, Root was not accurate enough and too expensive despite adopting a leg side strategy that frustrated but rarely threatened the edges of the bat.

Buttler's second drop of Labuschagne is the worst I can recall from a wicketkeeper in eleven years watching test matches, of ones I have seen live. Should mention that I do not clearly recall any of Akmal's from 09/10, though I was aware of his reputation even then and may have seen a few.

 

[thierry henry]

?

It's an less-common but hardly unheard of short-form of Joseph. People are perfectly entitled to be referred to however they want (inb4 Pujara at Yorkshire comments)

I will not allow it

 

[Gob]

Well, I'd have preferred 40 more runs but will take that day. Harris failed as expected, Warner looked terrible but batted well before his brain detonated. Marnusbatted well at times though is very lucky to be there, but there he is, and Smith still is too, somehow. Anderson bowled well enough without getting the batsmen to commit on the front foot enough, Broad varied between good and bad, Woakes was completely unmemorable as usual. Robinson bowled far too short and very much wasted his opportunities. The short ball strategy form Stokes was interesting but expensive. England really missed a specialist spinner on a pitch that had some turn and bounce, Root was not accurate enough and too expensive despite adopting a leg side strategy that frustrated but rarely threatened the edges of the bat.

Buttler's second drop of Labuschagne is the worst I can recall from eleven years watching test matches, of ones I have seen live. Should mention that I do not clearly recall any of Akmal's from 09/10, though I was aware of his reputation even then and may have seen a few.

Warner batted really well. Marnus had a bit of a luck but we all know what a great leaver he is so he deserves that

 

[Spark]

i thought warner looked fine tbh. circumspect, but not as troubled by the movement or the short ball as marnus did at times.