***Official*** 4th Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground

[BoyBrumby]

Ah, great. Hoggy rubbing his side now. We need him to go down like we need a hole in the head.

 

[cameeel]

I don't think Symonds is going to last long if he keeps blocking/leaving everything.

 

[Prince EWS]

I don't think Symonds is going to last long if he keeps blocking/leaving everything.

I don't think Symonds is going to last long regardless of what he does, because he is rubbish.

 

[Slow Love™]

Hayden looking very streaky.

A bit like Bell, looks like he could get out on almost every ball yet has still made it to a good score.

He was a bit early, but since being tied down (as the wickets fell), I think his concentration level has been excellent. I always find it impossible to judge how many he's gonna get though, 'cause he has such a tendency in recent years to throw his wicket away when he's looking fantastic. But IMO he looks very solid right now in conditions that don't generally suit him.

You wouldn't expect much from Symonds here at all. Could be a really good challenge for him, I'd really like to see him do well in this situation (though it does look like he'll go any minute at this stage, and he's struggling to score off Saj). This will be a very interesting test for these three (Hayden, Symonds and Gilchrist) with Ponting, Hussey and Clarke atypically all back in the shed cheaply.

 

[Nate]

If Symonds makes a ton here, I`ll consider changing my avatar back. Sound fair, or should I stick to my commitment?

 

[cameeel]

Symonds is making Hoggard look like a slogger

 

[BoyBrumby]

If Symonds makes a ton here, I`ll consider changing my avatar back. Sound fair, or should I stick to my commitment?

Tell you what, if Symonds scores a ton I'll have him as my avatar til the new year.

Right on cue he hits a three.

 

[Slow Love™]

If Symonds makes a ton here, I`ll consider changing my avatar back. Sound fair, or should I stick to my commitment?

Sounds outrageous enough to me, why not?

I'd be happy enough with a 50 myself, under the circumstances, nobody's looked that comfortable out there so far. A ton from Hayden would really tip things our way, and he's probably looking as likely as anybody (touchwood).

 

[Slow Love™]

50 for Haydos. Not looking too bad at all. Just gotta hold on till lunch now and not do anything stupid.

 

[BoyBrumby]

I'd say we just shaded that session, but Oz still in the box seat for me. We really need to get Hayden & then hopefully Gilly out sharpish after lunch.

Thought Saj bowled ok. Good pace & a bit of swing too. He could've relieved the pressure totally, so credit to the boy.

 

[Nate]

50 for Hayden. Not without the odd plumb LBW.

Anyone know who Have A Nice Day is by? Not the Bon Jovi one!

 

[Slow Love™]

5/111 at lunch. Good session for England, but IMO Australia can still score 250 or so here. Hopefully Hayden can keep his concentration up and Symonds can start picking some gaps - he's getting very little mileage for the few attacking strokes he's played so far.

Richie was just commenting on the over-rate around twenty minutes ago, I think they only bowled 22 or so in the session. Weird how the ICC seems to have lost interest in policing this recently.

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

It's been a top innings from Hayden I think. He's stuck in there really well, and it's definitely not an easy wicket to score runs on. There's not much movement once the ball gets older, but it's still slow enough to make scoring difficult, and the new ball seams around plenty. Will be interesting to see if the bounce becomes uneven as well. From what I've heard, the MCG wickets have usually done that this season on the later days.

Anyway, it was a good session for England. Flintoff, Hoggard and Harmison all bowled well, and they got the three guys who were averaging over 100 for the series out for single figure scores. If England get Hayden relatively soon they could avoid a significant deficit, and then it's really anyone's game. If Australia get 100 ahead it'll be pretty tough, though.

 

[BoyBrumby]

It's been a top innings from Hayden I think. He's stuck in there really well, and it's definitely not an easy wicket to score runs on. There's not much movement once the ball gets older, but it's still slow enough to make scoring difficult, and the new ball seams around plenty. Will be interesting to see if the bounce becomes uneven as well. From what I've heard, the MCG wickets have usually done that this season on the later days.

Anyway, it was a good session for England. Flintoff, Hoggard and Harmison all bowled well, and they got the three guys who were averaging over 100 for the series out for single figure scores. If England get Hayden relatively soon they could avoid a significant deficit, and then it's really anyone's game. If Australia get 100 ahead it'll be pretty tough, though.

Nasser Hussain said more-or-less exactly the same thing before the start of play today. More than 250 & it's Goodnight Vienna for us.

Hayden has worked hard, but I wouldn't call it a great innings yet. He's had several slices of luck yesterday & today and needs to go on to capitalise now.

 

[Nate]

Anyone know who Have A Nice Day is by? Not the Bon Jovi one!

Stereophonics. I knew that.

 

[Nate]

Symonds runs four and doesn`t look like he`s even breathing. Insane athlete.

 

[Great Birtannia]

Never ever think Hussey will get bowled when he gets out.

Actually that's about the only way Hussey gets out, he's been bowled 6 times out of his 19 dismissals, which is high for a specialist batsman. (or have I just missed the tone...)

 

[BoyBrumby]

Interesting to see Monty bowling with the cloud cover still there. I'm imagining Hoggy's out of the reckoning for the time being so it could be interpreted as another less than ringing endorsement of Saj.

 

[Nate]

LOL @ England selecting Mahmood. Specialist bat.

 

[Great Birtannia]

If Symonds makes a ton here, I`ll consider changing my avatar back. Sound fair, or should I stick to my commitment?

What was the original bet? You know he's a weird looking bloke is Dunc, I've been trying to think who he looks like, Dawn Fraser maybe