1st Test at Brisbane, 8th-12th of December 2021

[Shady Slim]

England don't really do 500+ scores. I guess they have to start somewhere but 220/2 doesn't feel like it opens up the possibility of just batting indefinitely the way it does when other teams reach a score like that.

EDIT: though tbf they did have the first test in India and the Crawley knock against Pakistan, so maybe it's more common than it feels. They seem to go from 200/1 to 350ao a lot.

oh i don't disagree, but it is certainly a much better second dig effort than i and anyone expected and it's at least given them a chance of forcing a draw (or even a win, heck, if they can bat all day tomorrow and force an aussie collapse)

whether or not they even come close to such flowering is an entirely different matter but the result's nowhere near the foregone conclusion it seemed yesterday

 

[Nintendo]

Why TF are we taking about swepson over Lyon again? FFS swepson had one good shield season where Lyon bowled as well as he did then got cunted by india-A.

 

[ashley bach]

Here’s reality

Australia will probably win this test

Harris should never have been picked

Both Starc and Lyon should have be on their final chances

All will be picked for the next test

All can be true

Australia are 1.42 at stumps so that"s quite likely, the next 2 are obvious.
Unless you have some inside info that players within the Aussie camp are guaranteed spots for at least 2 matches,
then it's hard to see it being TRUE that all the players will be picked again.
Without knowing what players are available, wouldn't it be a good time for the selectors to unleash JHYE RICHARDSON
for the pink ball test in Adelaide, where the conditions would very likely serve him well.
At 25 years old, it's hard to see why the selectors are holding back.
If Marcus fails again, should he really get another go?
Even AARON FINCH, who would have to be one of the UNLUCKIEST players in Australian cricket history,
to be only given 5 tests(27.8)would probably do a better job, never mind having another leader in the team.
Isn't USMAN KHAWAJA not only a better player but in a completely different class to MARCUS HARRIS?
If the Aussie way is to guarantee consecutive test match selection for everyone, then that feels like a very soft and feeble approach.

 

[cnerd123]

Great day. I'm so glad England are still in this game.

Hope this goes into Day 5.

 

[silentstriker]

This is great! I do root for Australia but I hope it's just not a major collapse in the morning with the new ball (which is the most likely scenario in these situations). But it would be very interesting if they bat for most of the day tomorrow. A target of 150-200 would be a fun fifth day.

 

[Gremlin]

I think Aus are still going to win this test unless something quite extraordinary happens but in the context of the Series today has been very important for England.

They have shown they CAN play and they have put some miles into the Aussie bowler's legs (aside for the under-used Haze... that seems all a bit odd) and put a bit of momentum back their way. Confidence can play a major part in sport and had England got rolled over once again then the series would be that much harder to make a come back in.

Tomorrow, if the Aussies get wickets before the new ball it's game over but if this pair can last (say) another 25 - 30 overs together then there is a slim chance it could go England's way. I wonder if Marsh and Lillie had a bet on an England win once the Aussies were all out?

 

[The Battlers Prince]

Even if we fold like a deck of cards tomorrow, probably an important day in the wider context of the series because we can be competitive if a few things go our way.

Innings defeat still to be avoided though. Get to that and if Root or Stokes are still batting/to bat, you never know. Setting a competitive target is so far away though.

Said about Eden Park match to my missus yesterday and VVS and Dravid’s partnership.
I blame myself if they kick on here.

 

[Stapel]

aside for the under-used Haze... that seems all a bit odd

Yeah, why was that?
Conceded just the odd run....

 

[Kirkut]

This Australian attack looks grand on paper and feels like that too when everything goes well, but boy do they struggle way more than they really should be just going by stats. Lack of a decent 5th bowler to blame?

I mean even Collingwood got a double hundred against McGrath Warnie and Stuart Clark.

We are expecting too much. Cannot expect Cummins/Starc/Hazlewood to blow up batting line ups for <200 scores all the time.

 

[Gob]

I wonder how bigger part the drop in pace from starc contributes to his ineffectiveness. He is still bowling mostly in early to mid 140s, which is excellent for many bowlers, but he used to be constantly around high 140s to early and some times mid 150s when he was taking a lot of wickets. some bowlers need that extra yard of pace to be effective (Brett Lee springs to my mind).

Blokes like Cummins and Haze do stuff with their fingers (lol) so they still get some deviation with old balls. I don't recall Starc doing much of that

 

[Arachnodouche]

Aus carrying two frontline bowlers means teams can always stage a rearguard if they somehow survive Cummins and Haze.

 

[Gob]

England need a sort of day Aus had on day 2. Assume they bat the whole day tomorrow and get 300, they'll be 240 ahead at stumps. Would be interesting if Aust get to chase 250 in the final dig

 

[Gob]

Aus carrying two frontline bowlers means teams can always stage a rearguard if they somehow survive Cummins and Haze.

You can't expect an awful lot from Lyon on a good batting pitch in Aust though even with his great record in Australia (compared to other finger spinners). I'd blame him when he fails in the subcontinent/UAE whre you want him to be the lead threat to exploit spinning conditions but what he is doing here by keeping the runs down is perfectly OK.

Starc is a massive problem though. And when I look back to most of the times Aust struggle with the ball in recent times, one common factor was him being ineffective. **** I'm starting to sound like Shane Warne but something needs to be done

 

[honestbharani]

Said about Eden Park match to my missus yesterday and VVS and Dravid’s partnership.
I blame myself if they kick on here.

Eden Park wishes....

 

[honestbharani]

something needs to be done

 

[Anil]

england showing some spine here...?

yes definitely...solid fight back!

 

[Anil]

This is great! I do root for Australia but I hope it's just not a major collapse in the morning with the new ball (which is the most likely scenario in these situations). But it would be very interesting if they bat for most of the day tomorrow. A target of 150-200 would be a fun fifth day.

this more or less sums up my sentiments as a neutral...

 

[Kirkut]

I wonder how bigger part the drop in pace from starc contributes to his ineffectiveness. He is still bowling mostly in early to mid 140s, which is excellent for many bowlers, but he used to be constantly around high 140s to early and some times mid 150s when he was taking a lot of wickets. some bowlers need that extra yard of pace to be effective (Brett Lee springs to my mind).

Blokes like Cummins and Haze do stuff with their fingers (lol) so they still get some deviation with old balls. I don't recall Starc doing much of that

Starc was bowling fast against India this year, reminds me of the spell he bowled to a really scared Natarajan by clocking in low 150s.

Hard to say why isn't he blowing away batting line ups but he was in red hot form when Pakistan and New Zealand toured for tests.

 

[Gob]

Starc was bowling fast against India this year, reminds me of the spell he bowled to a really scared Natarajan by clocking in low 150s.

Hard to say why isn't he blowing away batting line ups but he was in red hot form when Pakistan and New Zealand toured for tests.

He is occasionally quick now

 

[GIMH]

Oh **** I just realised it’s Friday and I’m gonna get boozy, if we don’t lose early wickets I’m gonna have a long night