4th Test at Old Trafford, Manchester

[Cabinet96]

What time can they play to this evening?

In theory 7:30 but sunset isn't much later than that and given how grim a day it is I imagine it will be very dark for pretty much the rest of the day.

 

[Spark]

Lol why? He’s come in just before tea in the ****ing dark and the ball is doing plenty. And he’s going a run a ball. **** I wish Warner played like this instead of prodding everything and getting caught behind leaving the ****ing ball. The bloke is uncomplicated with minimal footwork. It’ll always look bad if he nicks off but he’s precisely the bloke to get in and take Australia out of sight after tea. Perfect foil for Smith.

And that’s a really good session for Australia btw. Shame Labuschagne got out but I’d readily take only losing one in such dodgy conditions with batsmen having to stop and start.

Oh yeah he's still there, so no problem. But he too was prodding at everything and almost got caught behind leaving the ball.

A little surprised Broad didn't have a go at him tbh. I'd say he'd be on straight after tea, but I suspect that'll have to wait until tomorrow.

 

[Burgey]

Yeah could well be. Shame, was wanting to see more of this. Smith not yet at the point where his average has improved this innings, which is extraordinary in itself.

Work is going to be problematic later today, one feels.

 

[Spark]

Yeah and that's that for today. Aus in a pretty solid position IMO.

 

[80W53R]

Not to take anything away from the genius that is Steve Smith, but any test batsman should be able to put away and leave the pile of poop that England bowled. No pace, too short, half volleys.....flippin eck. Labuschagne played beautifully once again. Any other South Africans want a job? Your most bloody welcome.

 

[andruid]

Can Travis head finally deliver a decent innings?

 

[80W53R]

Who had a better Old Tafford Ashes Debut, Craig Overton or UK Kiwi Andy Caddick. One of them went on to have a decent test career, the other.....time alone will tell.

 

[SteveNZ]

For those who don't know, ie me, what's Labuschagne's story, past what cricinfo might tell me? Might be a kneejerk but I'd say as we stand today, he looks one of the top 5 best organised players technically in the world. Not saying that equates to runs just yet, but gee he's impressive.

 

[Starfighter]

Might be a kneejerk but I'd say as we stand today, he looks one of the top 5 best organised players technically in the world.

Considering the state of world batting at the moment that's setting the bar really low.


I'm okay with that scorecard, but Head has to go on and not get out for an 'in-between' score as he is wont to do.

 

[hazsa19]

Not for the first time this series, it feels like the Ashes are remaining with Australia. Some really poor bowling today, just not the England at home that we’ve come to expect over the last few years. Can’t remember us going at nearly 4s on the first day of a test match in a while, and it’s happened twice in 2 games.

Need a big effort in the morning, or we’re in praying for rain territory.

 

[Flem274*]

good knock from lasagne. without wanting to predict a ten million run test career, he's got the same look about him that kane, root and mathews did when i first saw them. tight af and mentally in control.

 

[stephen]

Yeah I'm slowly converting to the school of Labuschagne. Looks the real deal. Still would have preferred more first class runs out of him before giving him a test career but he's been impressive.

TPC looking as good as ever. How do you get him out? It seems the only way is to make him angry so he goes into his aggressive mode and gets himself out after smacking you for 30 more runs.

 

[TheJediBrah]

good knock from lasagne. without wanting to predict a ten million run test career, he's got the same look about him that kane, root and mathews did when i first saw them. tight af and mentally in control.

He definitely went to the Joe Root school of making hundreds

 

[aussie tragic]

Really not liking the conversion rates of the 'new locks' in the Aussie batting order.

Labuschagne has 5 fifties and 0 hundreds from 12 innings.

Head has 6 fifties and 1 hundred from 20 innings ( not counting this 18*).

Head's innings list is interesting in that he only has 3 out of 21 innings in single figures, with one of those being his debut innings duck. He really needs to convert some of those 20's and 30's into 50's and then 100's.

 

[TheJediBrah]

tbh if Head keeps averaging 46 (he won't) then we shouldn't really be complaining about anything he does. Beggars can't be choosers.

 

[Burgey]

Really not liking the conversion rates of the 'new locks' in the Aussie batting order.

Labuschagne has 5 fifties and 0 hundreds from 12 innings.

Head has 6 fifties and 1 hundred from 20 innings ( not counting this 18*).

Head's innings list is interesting in that he only has 3 out of 21 innings in single figures, with one of those being his debut innings duck. He really needs to convert some of those 20's and 30's into 50's and then 100's.

Labuschagne been pretty unlucky a couple of times - copped a seed of doom last night and was sawn off by Root cheating at Lord’s too.

Agree with some of the comments about England’s bowling this series. They’ve combined some exceptionally disciplined stuff with some extended periods of complete ****. Would say we’ve bowled a lot tighter than they have overall.

 

[Spikey]

burgey doesnt like it when someone raises doubts over how long this Head will last

 

[Burgey]

burgey doesnt like it when someone raises doubts over how long this Head will last

If he bats for 90 minutes tonight we win the Test and the Ashes.

 

[aussie tragic]

If he bats for 90 minutes tonight we win the Test and the Ashes.

????? That's about 18 overs where he might face 50 balls for 25 runs, so another 40 score?

I think Aus need 400 to lock in the Ashes (will then not lose) so really need Wade and Paine to step up.

 

[TheJediBrah]

If he bats for 90 minutes tonight we win the Test and the Ashes.

Gonna be hard to win the Test if we need to take 20 wickets and it's raining half the time