***Official*** 2nd Test at Adelaide

[oblongballs]

I'd say the opposite is true for Cummins. He's due to dramatically improve on his average in the next few matches. The guy had played 5 tests before this summer, 4 of them in the subcontinent on wickets designed to give him absolutely nothing. He was still ridiculously impressive.

Maybe, maybe not, we shall see. Either way, Rabada is a far better bowler and its not even close.

Cant just expect ali to stroll out and make 40 off 25. What if he gets out for f all trying to go for it. He'd look a complete fool. Just play yourselves in and hit punish the bad ones. If we can get in down to below 100 with 5 wickets left then the runs will start to come easier

I'm not saying he go out there and do an Afridi, I'm saying he go out there and play with intent rather than scrabbling around in the dirty. Every great win and great winning performance I have seen, in any sport, has been accompanied by daring, not by mediocrity or meekness.

 

[Woodster]

Well we’ve done exceptionally well just to have a number of the Aussies reassess their previous very very confident predictions on this Test! It is still advantage Australia but thanks to Smith we are still in this game and fighting hard.

In reality a couple of early blows in the opening session and that’s it, but, you just never know.

All the constant talk of England bowling too short subsided as we picked up wickets. For me, it was difficult for us to continually bowl full today because you can concede a lot of runs and we didn’t have the luxury of being able to do so. I think a back of a length area punctuated by full deliveries can both contain and threaten in this situation. Jimmy once again fantastic and Woakes beginning to grow into the series it seems, confidence gained from his batting exploits the day before.

Batting wise, Root was a joy to watch but still has a heck of a lot to do and he’s got to lead the chase tomorrow. Cook struggled, Vince sadly gave it away again and while Malan battled very hard, as he has to every innings, he doesn’t produce again. Stoneman was really good early on but another tame shot to get out.

Can we do it?? The odds and history still heavily against us. If we’re to get closer still we need a really good first hour.

 

[NUFAN]

With both morningwatchman surviving to stumps the oast two nights, Englands decision to bring out Woakes feels a better tactical decision.than.Australia with Lyon.

I conpletely disliked seeing Cummins at 10 than getting.a notout.

 

[veganbob]

Who is pullibg this 7 to 1 figure as england's chance?
They only need 180 to win with 6 wickets in hand.

The odds say $ 3.70 and that seems about right.

 

[NUFAN]

in other news i have fat fingers.

 

[NUFAN]

Who is pullibg this 7 to 1 figure as england's chance?
They only need 180 to win with 6 wickets in hand.

The odds say $ 3.70 and that seems about right.

Last 6 wickets for each completed innings this Test：

England 147
Australia 88

 

[Adders]

in other news i have fat fingers.

Haha, that was indeed a Burgey phone post Noofers.

 

[Woodster]

With both morningwatchman surviving to stumps the oast two nights, Englands decision to bring out Woakes feels a better tactical decision.than.Australia with Lyon.

I conpletely disliked seeing Cummins at 10 than getting.a notout.

Yes I liked the decision to bring Woakes out, he could conceivably bat above Moeen anyway in time, I just hope Bairstow stays at seven otherwise it could be a big waste of his ability coming in at eight.

 

[S.Kennedy]

Are there actually people still defending Smith's decision to bat again? Speechless!! It was an awful decision without hindsight and has been proven an awful decision in hindsight. If Smith loses this he will get hammered by the Aussie press (justifiably).

 

[veganbob]

Last 6 wickets for each completed innings this Test：

England 147
Australia 88

Australia favs but not by as much as 6 or 7 to 1. It would be 4 to 1 at most.

 

[Pup Clarke]

Haze is a class act but I'm worried about his form. I'd play him at the WACA but if he doesn't perform then Bird should come in.

 

[GIMH]

An England win is never good tbh. I sincerely hope they would lose five zip and Anderson get his usual 1 for 70 for the rest of the flatter wickets to a point where everyone forgets this performance

Yeah, made a career of getting 1-70 has Anderson. That’s why he averages 27

 

[S.Kennedy]

An England win is never good tbh. I sincerely hope they would lose five zip and Anderson get his usual 1 for 70 for the rest of the flatter wickets to a point where everyone forgets this performance

Do you even like test cricket? Whitewashes are tedious beyond belief. The best test series have been 'close run things', e.g., (first) Frank Worrell, 2005 Ashes, (most recent) Border-Gavaskar, etc.

 

[Son Of Coco]

Would love England to win just to laugh at Australia's decision not to enforce the follow-on, and their ****witted, arrogant declaration.

But it's long odds.

Scaly in declaration uproar shock. Despite the fact they were 200-odd in front after the 1st innings...

 

[veganbob]

Do you even like test cricket? Whitewashes are tedious beyond belief. The best test series have been 'close run things', e.g., (first) Frank Worrell, 2005 Ashes, (most recent) Border-Gavaskar, etc.

If I was oz supporter id want 5 zip too.
Its usually only neutrals who want it close.

 

[S.Kennedy]

If I was oz supporter id want 5 zip too.
Its usually only neutrals who want it close.

If you prefer mindless national chest-beating I suppose but I prefer competitive test cricket. In my opinion the laurels of winning a close test series far outweigh the laurels of simply thumping a team 5-0 in a grossly uneven (and boring to watch) contest. At a very minimum I usually like the opposition to be marginally competitive.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Can we win -Yes
Will we win - No

Would love it if we did though, pressure on Smith would be huge after not enforcing the follow on as if he had and we were 3 down overnight then the game and series was probably won after day 3 of the 2nd test, as it is England have an outside chance of being level as neither side can bat. A lollapse is always there with both these line ups and will happen again for both before the series is out.

 

[Woodster]

Yes I agree, we can win this Test due to the position we’ve somehow wrestled ourselves into, but it’s still highly unlikely we’ll do so.

Root obviously is pivotal, needs to find that intensity and utter steely resolve he showed especially during the evening session.

He was clearly upset by Paine and the slips with whatever was said, just made him doubly determined and focus even harder.

 

[Gnske]

The good news for England today is that Root just needs another classic 50 today to get past that ton.

 

[S.Kennedy]

What the heck was Paine sledging about anyhow? I would've thought to sledge somebody you'd have to be ****y enough of your own performances and permanency? Paine is not exactly in the position to sledge somebody of Root's stature, a guy who was recently third choice keeper for Tasmania and whose own role at international level is hardly secure! Handscomb also, ''Anderson's bunny'', probably the worst looking batsman in the whole of test cricket, was chirping!

Some of the worst Aussie sledgers are the ones whose own employment is completely on the precipice and could be axed at any future point for (probably) another 'Marsh'.