***Official*** Australia in England (The Ashes)

[Isolator]

but while Hayden has grafted his way to 35, he has never looked in the kind of form that makes you say "OK, the real Hayden is back".

He may not be playing like the "real Hayden", but he seemed to be playing solidly and with conviction after lunch.

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

Australia still marginally ahead as stumps are drawn on Day 2, for mine.

112-0 is a very strong start, and Langer is looking in good nick, but while Hayden has grafted his way to 35, he has never looked in the kind of form that makes you say "OK, the real Hayden is back". He just looks like he is still in the same form but isn't getting the deliveries he was getting earlier in the series.

Disagree there. Hayden was playing much, much better today. He got a number of tough balls from Hoggard early on and handled them nicely, he was playing very late and very watchfully, and defended the same sort of gentle inswingers which were getting him out earlier in the series.

Anyway, Ponting's decision will obviously depend on how much time is lost. Australia will look to bat all of tomorrow at least, if they can, and unless the run rate is very poor or a lot of time is lost I don't think Australia will declare with any lead under 200 or so. Ponting's naturally a fairly conservative captain, although obviously he needs to be aggressive here, so he will be backing his bowlers to bowl England out the second time around for a small total but won't be declaring on level terms or anything.

Obviously Australia aren't likely to get anywhere near a lead of 200, so I don't think we'll see a declaration at all. If Australia can bat all of tomorrow they'll be thrilled, or if not they'll want parity at least, hoping that McGrath and Warne can take England apart and leave Australia less than 200 to chase.

 

[Knopfler]

They could declare at 400 (which they'll probably make), and back themselves to make 250-300, knowing that 5 sessions is too long for England to try and bat out for a draw.

They could declare at 500 (which they might make), and try and leave themselves chasing 150-200 on the last day, with the possibility being there that England could shut up shop and not leave them enough time to chase it.

They could declare at 600 (which they probably won't make), and try to bowl England out in a day or so, for either an innings victory or a very fast chase of about 50-70 on the final evening.

I think Australia have to make as many as they can in this first innings. There is no point declaring at 400 (or 500) because they will have to bat again to make the runs anyway, and they might as well make them in the first instead of the second innings.

It is possible they could reach 600 by lunch on the fourth innings (that would be VERY VERY good), in which case they would not even declare at 600, but instead bat for another session

 

[Gloucefan]

I think Australia have to make as many as they can in this first innings. There is no point declaring at 400 (or 500) because they will have to bat again to make the runs anyway, and they might as well make them in the first instead of the second innings.

It is possible they could reach 600 by lunch on the fourth innings (that would be VERY VERY good), in which case they would not even declare at 600, but instead bat for another session

Weather not looking good tomorrow.

Simon Jones may be gone but I think 600 is just not goignt o happen for you, a tad over optomistic I'd say. All you have right now is a decent start.

 

[Knopfler]

Weather not looking good tomorrow.

Simon Jones may be gone but I think 600 is just not goignt o happen for you, a tad over optomistic I'd say. All you have right now is a decent start.

Hence the "VERY VERY good."

Im talking hypothetically, as Faaip said, a declaration is not realistic

 

[Barney Rubble]

Disagree there. Hayden was playing much, much better today. He got a number of tough balls from Hoggard early on and handled them nicely, he was playing very late and very watchfully, and defended the same sort of gentle inswingers which were getting him out earlier in the series.

That wasn't quite what I meant - I just meant that although he didn't look half as uncomfortable, grafting for runs isn't the real Hayden. If this innings is simply what it takes to get him back in form then fine, but if this is what it is going to take for Hayden to score runs against quality attacks from now on, then his place must be in jeopardy. 35* from the "real Hayden" would usually take 50-odd balls, not 90-odd with only a couple of boundaries.

 

[Gloucefan]

Hence the "VERY VERY good."

Im talking hypothetically, as Faaip said, a declaration is not realistic

Fair enough, just seemed to me you were getting a bit ahead of yourself.

 

[Kweek]

Fair enough, just seemed to me you were getting a bit ahead of yourself.

like the rest of england is at this moment

 

[marc71178]

The Mark Nicholas interview claimed that the rules have changed and the batsmen can request a resumption at any point.

I believe that was to do with it being the first time they've gone off for light in the match and because it was offered.

 

[marc71178]

Every thing seems to have gone wrong for the aussies in the tour!

Not everything by a great stretch of the imagination.

 

[marc71178]

It is possible they could reach 600 by lunch on the fourth innings

500 runs in 4 sessions plus half an hour - I wouldn't say that's possible even if there's no rain.

 

[Gloucefan]

like the rest of england is at this moment

Fair point

 

[chalky]

The only reasoning I can think for Australia going off for bad light is they just want a chance to bowl at England on the last day and hope a combination of Warne and nerves will do the rest (ala Trent Bridge.) The best way to get at England on the last day is to get a big first innings lead and to do this they want to keep wickets in hand and bat in the best conditions possible .

Even considering this arguement I still think the decision is terrible. To come off when you have England on the rack and take time out of the game when it's a strong possibility that most of Saturday will be lost. allow England to rest their 3 main seam bowlers and regroup as a team makes the decision for me astounding.

 

[greg]

The only reasoning I can think for Australia going off for bad light is they just want a chance to bowl at England on the last day and hope a combination of Warne and nerves will do the rest (ala Trent Bridge.) The best way to get at England on the last day is to get a big first innings lead and to do this they want to keep wickets in hand and bat in the best conditions possible .

Even considering this arguement I still think the decision is terrible. To come off when you have England on the rack and take time out of the game when it's a strong possibility that most of Saturday will be lost. allow England to rest their 3 main seam bowlers and regroup as a team makes the decision for me astounding.

Despite what seems to be the received wisdom, I really think saying England are "on the rack" is pushing it a bit. Australia have had a decent start and enjoyed a bit of luck - two dropped catches and a close LBW. Had this been another day in the series they might have been looking at maybe 2 wickets down. Their position now (0 wickets down) is obviously positive but one really didn't get the impression they were dominating the England attack quite yet. They've got a platform upon which to build but nothing more.

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

Despite what seems to be the received wisdom, I really think saying England are "on the rack" is pushing it a bit. Australia have had a decent start and enjoyed a bit of luck - two dropped catches and a close LBW. Had this been another day in the series they might have been looking at maybe 2 wickets down. Their position now (0 wickets down) is obviously positive but one really didn't get the impression they were dominating the England attack quite yet. They've got a platform upon which to build but nothing more.

When was the other dropped catch? I only saw the Trescothick one.

Anyway, England are certainly not "on the rack", but I'd be worried about what might happen tomorrow if Australia get going again. While Australia haven't been flaying the bowling by any means (in fact the bowling has been very good and given minimal scoring opportunities), the fact that the closest calls came from Collingwood and Giles and not from the three seamers suggests that Australia weren't having too many problems with the main bowlers. Flintoff needs to do some damage with the reversing ball tomorrow morning, as if Australia have a good first session England's chance of getting a first innings lead will be fairly slim. Harmison also needs to make something count. Since Lords he's been totally toothless and he only has 16 wickets for the series, which isn't really good enough for the guy who's meant to spearhead the attack. It's fine when Jones is giving Flintoff and Hoggard support of course, but not now.

If the weather stays good and Australia bat all day tomorrow, they should win the test. One good session from England though and the game swings again, so it's certainly not a significant margin yet.

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

500 runs in 4 sessions plus half an hour - I wouldn't say that's possible even if there's no rain.

England scored 400 in a day at Edgbaston. 500 in 4 and a bit sessions is definately possible if the run rate is good. I wouldn't say it's likely though.

 

[greg]

When was the other dropped catch? I only saw the Trescothick one.

Anyway, England are certainly not "on the rack", but I'd be worried about what might happen tomorrow if Australia get going again. While Australia haven't been flaying the bowling by any means (in fact the bowling has been very good and given minimal scoring opportunities), the fact that the closest calls came from Collingwood and Giles and not from the three seamers suggests that Australia weren't having too many problems with the main bowlers. Flintoff needs to do some damage with the reversing ball tomorrow morning, as if Australia have a good first session England's chance of getting a first innings lead will be fairly slim. Harmison also needs to make something count. Since Lords he's been totally toothless and he only has 16 wickets for the series, which isn't really good enough for the guy who's meant to spearhead the attack. It's fine when Jones is giving Flintoff and Hoggard support of course, but not now.

If the weather stays good and Australia bat all day tomorrow, they should win the test. One good session from England though and the game swings again, so it's certainly not a significant margin yet.

It wasn't technically a 'drop' but Langer hit one straight through the gully early on. "Straight through" being an accurate description - Strauss losing it off the bat and diving out of the way. Our specialist gully, Giles, was of course off the field on a sub break

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

It wasn't technically a 'drop' but Langer hit one straight through the gully early on. "Straight through" being an accurate description - Strauss losing it off the bat and diving out of the way. Our specialist gully, Giles, was of course off the field on a sub break

That's what you get for picking 11 guys with weak bladders I guess. I notice Gary Pratt's got a good one though... the vigor of youth!

 

[Neil Pickup]

MetCheck says it's going to be very, very wet tomorrow.

MetCheck's the most reliable site I've used.

 

[superkingdave]

met office says

Saturday Maximum temperature of 22 °C, mostly cloudy with showers. Some of the showers could be heavy and thundery.
Sunday The temperature will reach a high of 20 °C. Rather cloudy with the risk of showers, brighter spells developing later.
Monday Dry and fine with top temperature of 22 °C.