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

[Nate]

Not really any pace or bounce for Monty yet, might well struggle.

Encouraging for me was Symonds` back-foot cut-bash-whallop thing. Kept it down, after getting out playing it in Perth.

 

[Nate]

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

I needed a Lee five-for, Symonds ton and something from Harmison. Only got the Harmison bit right. :S

I`m changing the laws of life, but if Symonds makes 100, I`ll see that as 2/3 of my debt wiped off.

 

[Jono]

I think Taylor and Slats are spot on. Freddy's field to Monty is far too defensive for mine.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Yeah, Monty being absolutely milked in that last over. 8 off it I think.

Might even be the kind of pitch where Colly's little wobblers could be effective. There's still a bit of something for the seamers.

 

[Nate]

Hoggard to go for 10 this over.

EDIT: So I was very wrong. But my point is that I think he`ll struggle in this next spell, as Symonds looks to up the pace.

 

[Nate]

11 off that Hoggard over. Point made.

 

[cameeel]

Symonds starting to look a lot more solid than earlier, Hayden still struggling though - particularly against Hoggard.

Shot! by Symonds there.

 

[Great Birtannia]

Might even be the kind of pitch where Colly's little wobblers could be effective.

Brumby working nicely (AFL reference).

Surely no one would begrudge Symonds an MCG ton...

 

[Nate]

I`ll worn you out...

 

[cameeel]

Why isn't Panesar bowling?

Hoggard has been largely ineffectual for a while, and Warne showed that there is something in it for the spinners.

 

[Nate]

Shot of the day by Symonds there.

 

[Jono]

Bowl Monty!

Damn you Fred!

 

[cameeel]

50 for Symonds.

Good innings, looking better and better as it goes on.

 

[Nate]

Symonds FIFTY!

Superb innings under huge pressure. Can`t ask any more of him, batted well when Australia were in trouble. YESSSSSSSSSSS

 

[Slow Love™]

50 for Symonds. Really good work, and under considerable pressure, coming in when the English bowlers' tails were up and in difficult conditions for batting. Struggled a great deal early, too. I know a lot of people are sure he won't make it in test cricket, and it's hard to argue otherwise given his stats, but IMO he's got a lot of character and I like seeing him do well. Keep going, Symmo.

Hopefully a Hayden century coming up soon. A bit scratchy at times, but has worked hard, and his level of concentration has been excellent.

 

[cameeel]

Monty's warming up. About time

 

[Slow Love™]

Symonds living on the edge with some of those leaves.

 

[Slow Love™]

Panesar vs Symonds should be interesting. I don't really buy the story that Symonds was clueless against him in the first innings at Perth and went for the tonk out of uncertainty - I think he was seeing it pretty well and just got over-excited trying to hit the cover off it.

Will definitely be good to see a resumption of the battle though - if Monty ever gets thrown the ball.

 

[Nate]

Symonds living on the edge with some of those leaves.

He knows exactly what he`s doing.

That wasn`t out IMO. How does Hawk-Eye know how much it would`ve spun??

EDIT: In all seriousness, if that was Warne or anyone to an English batsman, I`d not give that out.

Shot by Haydos.

 

[cameeel]

Huge! from Hayden. That's a long, long boundary down that way.