*Official* Third Test at the WACA

[NasserFan207]

The vast majority of dismissals in some form come from a batsman's mistake.

Its the fundamental difference between batting and bowling. Bowlers can afford mistakes as long as they are capable of that one dangerous delivery, while batsmen have to be painstakingly consistent to succeed.

Its why someone like Phil Hughes or Smith in a logical universe will fail as test batsmen. Too many 'mistakes'.

 

[social]

If I have to watch too much more of Cook and Strauss, I'm going to get Burgey to lodge a class action on behalf of cricket lovers claiming damages for cruel and unusual punishment

Seriously, how hard is it to hit a full ball on off stump straight down the ground?

The fact that they try to hit it in an arc between mid-wicket - fine leg and get away with it is a serious indictment on how piss poor the Oz attack has been this year

 

[Prince EWS]

If I have to watch too much more of Cook and Strauss, I'm going to get Burgey to lodge a class action on behalf of cricket lovers claiming damages for cruel and unusual punishment

Seriously, how hard is it to hit a full ball on off stump straight down the ground?

The fact that they try to hit it in an arc between mid-wicket - fine leg and get away with it is a serious indictment on how piss poor the Oz attack has been this year

Did that make you feel better, social?

 

[NasserFan207]

Strauss isn't bad to watch imo.

 

[social]

Watched the first session. Didn't think England were particularly good really, lots of wasted deliveries with the new ball. Australia just lolbad. Opposite of day one at Adelaide.

How'd the rest of the day go?

I started watching on the ball Clarke was dismissed

The wicket had plenty in it but some of the spells bowled by England's bowlers were quite average and Finn was largely poor. As such, if a batsman applied himself, runs weren't that hard to come by

Unfortunately, "application" is not a word that the majority of Oz batsmen know the meaning of

 

[Redbacks]

I'd be wary before we start applying the same methods that we had to witness for years when we were taking the mickey. According to every man and his dog our whole line up was just a simple plan away from falling like a deck of cards, yet it just didn't happen.

 

[social]

Did that make you feel better, social?

Not really

We're making good test batsmen look like Don Bradman and gifting wickets to bowlers after a spell of average bowling

In short, we suck and England dont

 

[Spark]

Strauss isn't bad to watch imo.

I agree, when he has his drive going. When he's trying to work everything to leg or point though it's a bit... painful.

 

[social]

One piece of good news was that Johnson actually looked like a test cricketer today

He played a quality, composed innings and actually swung the ball at half reasonable pace

Anyway, still reckon England will struggle to make 250 IF our guys bowl the right length and we suddenly learn how to catch again

 

[Spark]

Johnson really is the key. I mean depending on how he goes they could be 4/300 or 120 all out. He looks good though. Fast and hostile and probably should already have a wicket.

 

[GotSpin]

Agree with the above two posts. Johnson so so important. He really looked good and it's the first time in a long time that he swung the ball away from the left hander

 

[NasserFan207]

One piece of good news was that Johnson actually looked like a test cricketer today

He played a quality, composed innings and actually swung the ball at half reasonable pace

Anyway, still reckon England will struggle to make 250 IF our guys bowl the right length and we suddenly learn how to catch again

I'll lay you 3/1 England will pass 350.

 

[social]

Johnson, Siddle, Harris and Watto "should" bowl well on this pitch but I'm just not that enthused by Hilf - he simply doesnt employ whatever variation he has regularly enough and looks really predictable

Anyway, I cant believe that they dont know how they should be bowling ("KISS" theory to virtually everyone - top of off stump) but the question is whether they are disciplined/skilled/in form enough to do what is obviously required

 

[MW1304]

Strauss isn't bad to watch imo.

Nor in anyone's opinion except bitter aussies.

Don't just come out and say he's boring because he was trying to survive a tricky period FFS.

 

[morgieb]

I'll lay you 3/1 England will pass 350.

What makes you say that the Poms will score < 350.

 

[Jarquis]

Been your second best player, IMO

Haddin that is, not Marcuss

Meh, he plays some of the best knocks of his career and I'm wrong for doubting him before he has played them. Jeez.

Prior is still the better bat imo.

 

[Uppercut]

Stand by my pre-series comment that overall they're pretty similar but Haddin's a lot better in Australia.

 

[Jarquis]

Is debatable but I'd still say Prior is comfortably the better batsman on the whole. Not by a particularly large margin but by enough.

 

[social]

Nor in anyone's opinion except bitter aussies.

Don't just come out and say he's boring because he was trying to survive a tricky period FFS.

I cannot, and never have been able to, stand watching him bat and it's not because he's boring (s/r is ok if I'm not mistaken)

It's because he is so limited in his range of shots

Mind you, he's Lara compared to Cook

 

[NasserFan207]

What makes you say that the Poms will score < 350.

The opposite, I'm saying they'll score more.

Australia's chance was tonight. They needed to take at least one before the break to boost their confidence.

I don't believe they have the belief or talent to bowl England out cheaply. And nothing suggests England will fold. Its just logic.