*Official* First Test at the Gabba

[Spark]

nice drift

 

[chalky]

TBH given Johnson's test batting ATM you're not losing a whole lot. Maybe 50 runs every 5 matches.

Will be interesting to see who the selectors go for at Adelaide assuming Bollinger is fully fit:

Spinner is guranteed
Hilf was the best bowler in India
Siddle has put in a MOM performance this test
Johnson is the strike bowler and at his best is the best bowler although inconsistant
Bollinger is probably the most consistent and best bowler overall

 

[Jacknife]

Well done Cooky, now make it count.

 

[Neil Pickup]

Playing spin. Major issues. The sweep is not a cure-all. USE YOUR FEET.

 

[Spark]

North is bowling pretty well here. Nice curve.

Not a great session for us. Until that last little bit post-drop we were all over the place, chopping and changing bowling and fielders and generally having no idea what we were doing.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Well batted Cookie.

Can Chappell slag off Trott before the next test as he spent weeks claiming Cook was a weak link,done him no harm this game.

 

[Jacknife]

Exactly what was required and getting them at a decent lick at 3.74 rpo. After the break, start again, just like your starting from the morning again.

 

[GotSpin]

This is ****.

 

[Burgey]

This is ****.

Don't worry, one will get us three. They've batted well tbf.

 

[Jono]

There are still 5 sessions to go. Aussie fans should chill. Give it one more session before being pissed off.

 

[Spark]

Wasn't a good session though. England are half a session away from being ahead in the game

 

[Jono]

Furlong not has good from the shoulders up IMO

From the shoulders down though, oh my loooooooooord.

 

[tooextracool]

Cook has batted with more application this game than all of his teammates bar maybe Bell. Strauss' concentration tailed away over the last 30-45 mins or so after which he played some poor strokes. Hopefully he can get it back together after lunch. Still a long way to go for England to get back in this one, but its a flat pitch and a pretty ordinary bowling attack.

 

[morgieb]

Wasn't a good session though. England are half a session away from being ahead in the game

Still ahead. Worse case it'll be a draw, can't see England winning unless we implode.

 

[Spark]

Which is possible. We're still ahead obviously and two wickets will definitely put us in a good position, but England can see daylight now. A few more hours of good batting and they'll have the initiative.

Remember that even the Aus team in all its glory of 5, 10 years ago didn't enjoy the small sub-200 chases very much.

 

[LegionOfBrad]

has anyone got any links to any aussie live blogs ala bbc/guardian. Would love to get an aussie perspective on the game but couldn't find much.

 

[vcs]

Not surprised at all. That's why I felt taking wickets in the mini-session yesterday was so crucial even though Australia were seemingly well on top with loads of time to bowl them out. Batting always gets easier if batsmen have been at the crease for a while. England have scored quickly, so all the results still possible here for me.

 

[LongHopCassidy]

Furlong not has good from the shoulders up IMO

From the shoulders down though, oh my loooooooooord.

Jono to kick Lee Furlong out of bed for 'not having good from the shoulders up'.

I can see it now.

 

[morgieb]

Which is possible. We're still ahead obviously and two wickets will definitely put us in a good position, but England can see daylight now. A few more hours of good batting and they'll have the initiative.

Remember that even the Aus team in all its glory of 5, 10 years ago didn't enjoy the small sub-200 chases very much.

Depends how aggressive England want to be. They might get an early deceleration, they might want to bat until around 300-ish. Pitch still seems rather flat, but things can change quite easily.

 

[tooextracool]

Will be interesting to see who the selectors go for at Adelaide assuming Bollinger is fully fit:

Spinner is guranteed
Hilf was the best bowler in India
Siddle has put in a MOM performance this test
Johnson is the strike bowler and at his best is the best bowler although inconsistant
Bollinger is probably the most consistent and best bowler overall

Johnson will be picked based on the 'experience' factor.