*Official* Third Test at Old Trafford

[Maximas]

Are you basing that on Cooks captaincy in the field or our run rate in that last session??

Both, although I can understand the run rate, it's not as if England were in a position to win the game when they walked out to bat

 

[NUFAN]

Lyon has absolutely turned a corner, I don't ever remember him drifting the ball that well, nor do I remember him getting that kind of turn and bounce (except in Dehli at times), would love for him to pick up 5/100 or so, England will probably end up about 7-300 by the end of the day and the game will be all but drawn, really good from Australia these last 2 days.

Being 227 in front and having to take 13 wickets in 180 overs and still having 10 wickets in hand, isn't the worst spot to be in to force a win. Just say we take the last 3 wickets for 77 runs - in 30 overs, we would have a 150 lead with around 150 overs left - Make 200 in 50 overs (batting aggressively and we have the batsman for it) and then give England a chase of 350 in one day plus 5-10 overs on a turning pitch.

If KP and or Prior make runs, the run rate will end up being fine for England too.

 

[Maximas]

LOL, settled down Max!! He's bowled 10 overs.......lets asses him at the end of the innings before announcing his second coming.

I'm not saying he's amazing or anything, just saying his bowling looks sooooooo much better than it did

 

[GotSpin]

I reckon we'll roll England over by lunch and by stumps the second time around. 8-2

 

[Maximas]

Being 227 in front and having to take 13 wickets in 180 overs and still having 10 wickets in hand, isn't the worst spot to be in to force a win. Just say we take the last 3 wickets for 77 runs - in 30 overs, we would have a 150 lead with around 150 overs left - Make 200 in 50 overs (batting aggressively and we have the batsman for it) and then give England a chase of 350 in one day plus 5-10 overs on a turning pitch..

Yeah, but the weather

 

[Maximas]

Absolutely pissing down right now in Geelong, Australia. Can anyone tell me what the weather in Manchester might be like today?

 

[Adders]

Absolutely pissing down right now in Geelong, Australia. Can anyone tell me what the weather in Manchester might be like today?

According to This Passing showers for the afternoon.

But then again if it's pissing down in Geelong.....

 

[Hurricane]

But then again if it's pissing down in Geelong.....

haha

 

[Burgey]

According to This Passing showers for the afternoon.

But then again if it's pissing down in Geelong.....

It'll be good for my crops in Canada.*



*ID that reference for much respect from me, btw.

 

[vic_orthdox]

Lyon had a really exaggerated back foot landing, his knee coming out towards mid wicket (for the right hander) a bit of a sign that he's really trying to get more side on at the crease to help create a bigger pivot and energy on the ball. There were still those flat balls that didn't really shape, but certainly looked like he was getting some more work on the ball. As I said earlier though, think this pitch suits him with his overspin.

 

[Adders]

Both, although I can understand the run rate, it's not as if England were in a position to win the game when they walked out to bat

I think England will just be batting like it is any innings of a test match, at this time there will be no thoughts of either batting to win or draw. They need to put on big scores and will go at a pace determined by the wicket and quality of bowling, be watchful and treat each ball on it's merits. Of course they won't be thinking we need to score quick runs to put us in a position of being able to win this test match...........at 2-0 up why would they??

The slow run rate last night was to be expected with the new ball and then seeing out the day.

As for Cooks tactics at the end of the Aussie innings, again I don't think any of that was done with the thought of drawing a test match. I wasn't impressed with it either but as we've seen with England plenty of times before......they don't have an answer when they are getting carted.

 

[burr]

Wow, Lyon was good last night. Would love to see him pick up some wickets. Although he'll probably have to create + chances due to Haddin's mediocrity. Ugh. Anyway, Australia will have to play superbly to take this match. Can feel a KP innings coming on.

 

[Maximas]

I think England will just be batting like it is any innings of a test match, at this time there will be no thoughts of either batting to win or draw. They need to put on big scores and will go at a pace determined by the wicket and quality of bowling, be watchful and treat each ball on it's merits. Of course they won't be thinking we need to score quick runs to put us in a position of being able to win this test match...........at 2-0 up why would they??

The slow run rate last night was to be expected with the new ball and then seeing out the day.

As for Cooks tactics at the end of the Aussie innings, again I don't think any of that was done with the thought of drawing a test match. I wasn't impressed with it either but as we've seen with England plenty of times before......they don't have an answer when they are getting carted.

Solid post, won't argue with that.

btw, stopped raining in Geelong, should be right for the day then

 

[Tangles]

1st session all important if we are a chance at winning. Will need 3 I think. If we get Cook, Trott and KP then it's on. If wickets don't come I still want to see one. If i have to watch them bat I'd prefer some KP shot making to Cook or Trott.

 

[Arachnodouche]

1st session all important if we are a chance at winning. Will need 3 I think. If we get Cook, Trott and KP then it's on. If wickets don't come I still want to see one. If i have to watch them bat I'd prefer some KP shot making to Cook or Trott.

Too much pessimism. 475 in front, you have at least 300 odd to play with in order to feel comfortable in your second dig. The bowlers have to stay disciplined and the wickets will come...if anything, Aussie bowlers have looked more capable of doing that than the English through this series so far.

 

[the big bambino]

things im upset about; not getting to watch much
things im happy about; us scoring some ****ing runs, and the clarkeh at 4 h00d00 over

just really hope we have no chase/under 100 chase to win because i'm still ****scared of our batting consistency

I wonder if we'll see Clarke move btwn 4 and 5 as pitch conditions present? Coming in at 4 on a dry pitch here is understandable. I wonder if he'll do it again if the next test is on a seamer?

 

[TumTum]

Australia is in a loop right now, history just repeating itself. Players continually being dropped and recalled. Our batting firing in only 1 innings of the series. Fast bowlers getting injured. Clarke making the big runs. Watson never going on with starts. Lyon cannot get a wicket behind the stumps. At least 1 **** in the team (Warner, Watson). Siddle our best bowler despite being mediocre.

Even though we are going well in this match, it is still quite sad really.

 

[Uppercut]

Not sure if Monty would have been all that effective. Croft talking about bowling it with lots of overspin to get it to bite into the wicket, and that's what Lyon does and he looked dangerous in the few overs I watched before going to bed.

Swann bowls with more sidespin than Lyon, and think he's looked more "dangerous" in other games this series, and Monty often bowls with the most sidespin out of all of them.

The thinking is that he took a lot of wickets at OT before. But there hasn't been a test there in five years, the games weren't against top-tier batting lineups and most of his wickets came in the second innings. The pitch had tended to be good for fast bowlers too, so by that logic you would have expected more of a threat from the others as well. In hindsight there's a good case for it but it would have been really left-field at the time to drop one of the attack that did so well on a turn-and-bounce track at Lord's.

 

[Tangles]

Too much pessimism. 475 in front, you have at least 300 odd to play with in order to feel comfortable in your second dig. The bowlers have to stay disciplined and the wickets will come...if anything, Aussie bowlers have looked more capable of doing that than the English through this series so far.

Maybe but theres some rain about in the next few days and relying on lots of overs from Harris and Watson is asking for another injury.

 

[morgieb]

Yeah, I'm worried about the game still. I shouldn't be, but I just feel one of these guys are due, and I still have doubts about our batting producing scores twice.