*Official* First Test (Edgbaston, Birmingham) 16–20 June

[Niall]

Two wickets in the first half hour tomorrow and the game is ours.

What if one of the wickets is Boland?

 

[The_CricketUmpire]

Interesting looking at Steve Smith's stats in 4th Innings for Test matches:

Matches: 30
Innings: 24
Not Outs: 3
Runs: 596
Highest Score: 97
Average: 28.38
50s: 4
100s: 0

He hasn't scored a 50+ score since 2016 (55 vs Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka), since then he has batted 12 times with a highest score of 40 vs South Africa in Australia (2016).

 

[flibbertyjibber]

What if one of the wickets is Boland?

It bloody should be. He is a ferret, goes in below the bunnies.

 

[Adders]

Impressed that England have been good for some really high quality Test cricket.

Still, the Pommy bastards will choke it all away when it really matters on the 5th day, mark my words.

What's this bollocks? We will and do lose test matches that could/should be won but they in no way can be put down as chokes......this side has become 5th day specialists ffs and have won plenty of test matches that previous logic said was unwinable.

Terrible take.

 

[Prince EWS]

What's this bollocks? We will and do lose test matches that could/should be won but they in no way can be put down as chokes......this side has become 5th day specialists ffs and have won plenty of test matches that previous logic said was unwinable.

Terrible take.

I think he was just making a hopeful prediction rather than saying they've actually been chokers in the recent past.

 

[Burgey]

I think both Head and Carey will go for the target. Others may bat more sedately but ultimately each of them will be batting their usual way.

Yeah if there is a significant delay and they lose, say the whole morning session, I would think Aus will just bat normally up til tea then assess it from there depending on wickets in hand.

 

[The_CricketUmpire]

With a full set of overs available (all things being equal in terms of weather/light etc), Australia can win this. Just need to go at what...roughly 2 runs per over as a rough guess. Just need to bat smart.

England, they need to take early wickets. Game is even in my opinion and should be a good days viewing of Test cricket.

 

[GotSpin]

Interesting looking at Steve Smith's stats in 4th Innings for Test matches:

Matches: 30
Innings: 24
Not Outs: 3
Runs: 596
Highest Score: 97
Average: 28.38
50s: 4
100s: 0

He hasn't scored a 50+ score since 2016 (55 vs Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka), since then he has batted 12 times with a highest score of 40 vs South Africa in Australia (2016).

Quite incredible actually

 

[G. S. Kohli]

I told you 3 wkts on Day 4 was Eng's Goal.

I never seen both Labu & Smithy failed in back to back innings

Ozzie 61/0
107/3*

 

[Daemon]

Interesting looking at Steve Smith's stats in 4th Innings for Test matches:

Matches: 30
Innings: 24
Not Outs: 3
Runs: 596
Highest Score: 97
Average: 28.38
50s: 4
100s: 0

He hasn't scored a 50+ score since 2016 (55 vs Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka), since then he has batted 12 times with a highest score of 40 vs South Africa in Australia (2016).

Cries in Kohli

 

[Alex0paul]

Can’t really remember the last time Australia chased down a total over 200/250?

 

[Prince EWS]

Why is there speculation over where Australia will go for it or not? If they bat the whole day they'll definitely score the runs, even if they only do it accidentally. Speculation of rain or something?

 

[Burgey]

With a full set of overs available (all things being equal in terms of weather/light etc), Australia can win this. Just need to go at what...roughly 2 runs per over as a rough guess. Just need to bat smart.

England, they need to take early wickets. Game is even in my opinion and should be a days viewing of Test cricket.

Unless it's very overcast and there's a lot of swing about, Aus ought to romp it from here.

 

[Burgey]

Why is there speculation over where Australia will go for it or not? If they bat the whole day they'll definitely score the runs, even if they only do it accidentally. Speculation of rain or something?

Yeah it's meant to rain first session I believe.

 

[social]

Marnus luck was due for a change

If you keep offering catches then eventually someone will catch them

 

[The_CricketUmpire]

Quite incredible actually

Why?

 

[Prince EWS]

Can’t really remember the last time Australia chased down a total over 200

2016 in NZ:

NZ vs AUS Cricket Scorecard, 2nd Test at Christchurch, February 20 - 24, 2016

Get cricket scorecard of 2nd Test, NZ vs AUS, Australia tour of New Zealand 2015/16 at Hagley Oval, Christchurch dated February 20 - 24, 2016.

stats.espncricinfo.com

250

2006 in Bangladesh:

BAN vs AUS Cricket Scorecard, 1st Test at Fatullah, April 09 - 13, 2006

Get cricket scorecard of 1st Test, BAN vs AUS, Australia tour of Bangladesh 2005/06 at Narayanganj Osmani Stadium, Fatullah dated April 09 - 13, 2006.

stats.espncricinfo.com

Definitely a few times they chased over 200 for not many down and would've chased over 250 though.

 

[Prince EWS]

Yeah it's meant to rain first session I believe.

I can't believe the defensive non-declaration of Stokes in the second innings then. Coward!

 

[G. S. Kohli]

With a full set of overs available (all things being equal in terms of weather/light etc), Australia can win this. Just need to go at what...roughly 2 runs per over as a rough guess. Just need to bat smart.

England, they need to take early wickets. Game is even in my opinion and should be a days viewing of Test cricket.

If no rain today this test will be most interesting but without Smith who will guide aus on difficult track?

{11 wkts on day 4 for 353 runs}

 

[G. S. Kohli]

2016 in NZ:

NZ vs AUS Cricket Scorecard, 2nd Test at Christchurch, February 20 - 24, 2016

Get cricket scorecard of 2nd Test, NZ vs AUS, Australia tour of New Zealand 2015/16 at Hagley Oval, Christchurch dated February 20 - 24, 2016.

stats.espncricinfo.com

2006 in Bangladesh:

BAN vs AUS Cricket Scorecard, 1st Test at Fatullah, April 09 - 13, 2006

Get cricket scorecard of 1st Test, BAN vs AUS, Australia tour of Bangladesh 2005/06 at Narayanganj Osmani Stadium, Fatullah dated April 09 - 13, 2006.

stats.espncricinfo.com

Definitely a few times they chased over 200 for not many down and would've chased over 250 though.

Depends on How track be-have on day 5? Pakistan's Shan M & Younis khan hits (5 on 4th innings of test) hundred chasing 382 Successfully on Day 5.

History witnessed under 200 scores for many test matches here in 4th innings

50/50 chance by both team