*Official* Fifth Test at the SCG

[wpdavid]

I'd consider chasing 400+ and making less than 3 figures falling well short.

Indeed. I was only suggesting that your predictions were two of the safer bets I've ever seen.

 

[Spark]

Ballance seems to conform slightly to the Inzamam stereotype of the slightly rotund batsman who can time the **** out of the ball. Some of those shots pinged off the bat far, far quicker than you'd expect.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Ballance seems to conform slightly to the Inzamam stereotype of the slightly rotund batsman who can time the **** out of the ball. Some of those shots pinged off the bat far, far quicker than you'd expect.

Setting a high bar for the boy there, but yeah. If you'll forgive the interminable pun, he does look like he has natural balance at the crease.

Only slight concern is he looks, like a lot of our African contingent, a predominantly front foot player, so I am concerned he might nick a few early doors.

 

[grecian]

Even Petko is onside with Mitchell Johnson.

TBF, that's the only comment I've got a ran out of anger, and am puffing on more fumes than Hugh Hefner with his latest Play-Mate.

 

[Son Of Coco]

Pitches not bouncing as much as they used to?

I don't think this is the reason.

 

[Son Of Coco]

So cook is setting the field to George's reputation with no regard to match situation or George playing for his career.

There's more to captaincy than funky fields mate...oh wait.

 

[Shri]

Stayed up and watched the first session - grimmest display yet - has to be the most dramatic fall from grace ever by an international sports team - we should tear up all the central contracts and start again

India last 10 away tests:

P 10 W 0 D 1 L 9

We have got you covered.

 

[mintykip]

Really disappointed with Rankin in this test, truly has looked toothless. It seems like he's dropping pace in order to try and gain some control and get the ball to land on the pitch, but that hardly seems to be working with plenty of balls floating down the leg side.

 

[Jono]

Went to today's play, much more entertaining than day 1 Boxing Day when I went to the G. The first session was just lol.

One thing - what England did in the last 30-40 minutes of the day was criminal. Whilst its unlikely they would come close to chasing 350 with their form and Australia's attack, they were still nevertheless theoretically in the game. They had to get Bailey before close of play, and their tactics were a joke. Bowling Rankin ahead of Jimmy at that crucial moment, the short ball plan, and then giving him easy singles with Borthwick. WTF?

Horrible stuff.

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

Yeah, while there's a lot of competition I think the grimmest past of the whole England performance this series has been their willingness to completely fold and give up at times. While it happens to every team sometimes - it certainly did to Australia in 10/11, it's really quite weird watching a team that really isn't that far behind just not try. If Australia were 2/500 it would be understandable to just set defensive fields and hope for a mistake, but at 4/80 on a lively pitch? Come on.

 

[Mark68]

Cricket is a funny game, but this is one heck of a predictable series.

Little doubt Australia will set England 400+ and they'll fall well short yet again.

Can only see us replying with 175 tops. Perhaps a half century from a Ballance or a Borthwick and that will be that.

Have to say Aussies have been superb in every single department. Thoroughly deserved 5-0 shellacking.

 

[Tangles]

Yeah, while there's a lot of competition I think the grimmest past of the whole England performance this series has been their willingness to completely fold and give up at times. While it happens to every team sometimes - it certainly did to Australia in 10/11, it's really quite weird watching a team that really isn't that far behind just not try. If Australia were 2/500 it would be understandable to just set defensive fields and hope for a mistake, but at 4/80 on a lively pitch? Come on.

Listening to Cook after Melbourne just showed how limited the thinking is. It's literally new ball = wickets then wait for reverse or the next new ball. All that was needed for George was slips, a ring field and bowling on 4/5th stump with 2 seamers. It looks like Cook literally gives up when his opening bowlers are off. If he was going to bowl Borthwick he had to force George to take risks.

 

[Jono]

Have to say Aussies have been superb in every single department. Thoroughly deserved 5-0 shellacking.

Other than top order batting tbf. Its almost as if they troll England by collapsing and then recovering, lol.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Article in today's Guardian said that in the first innings of the first four tests Australia had scored 612 for the first five wickets and England 596.

For the last five Oz have added a further 842, whereas England just 218.

Also said the 18 players we've used equals the record for any team in an away series.

Yuk.

 

[Riggins]

Watto. If it's not lb it's always nicking off. I'd like a bit of variety tbh

That's the thing though. A top order bat gets out other than nicking off or lbw/bowled and it's soft, weak etc. Tough gig.

 

[GIMH]

Article in today's Guardian said that in the first innings of the first four tests Australia had scored 612 for the first five wickets and England 596.

For the last five Oz have added a further 842, whereas England just 218.

Also said the 18 players we've used equals the record for any team in an away series.

Yuk.

Yeah when I woke up and saw we'd scored 150, I actually thought eh not bad, which shows what we've come to expect from the last 5 wickets (went to bed at lunch)

 

[fredfertang]

Just seen Bairstow getting out for the first time on Sky News - truly horrible dismissal - reminded me of the "Rumble in the Jungle" and Ali's "Rope a Dope" tactic - in fact come to think of it the whole bloody series rather smacks of that

 

[Mark68]

Other than top order batting tbf. Its almost as if they troll England by collapsing and then recovering, lol.

I don't know.....Rogers, Warner, Clarke have been in the runs. While we hit back with Cooky's contributions...

 

[Burgey]

India last 10 away tests:

P 10 W 0 D 1 L 9

We have got you covered.

Yeah, but India has always been crap away from home. This England team won here three years ago, won in India and unlike your team has/ had an attack which which could hit the side of a barn with a 12 gauge.

It really is a pretty dramatic slide.

 

[Burgey]

That's the thing though. A top order bat gets out other than nicking off or lbw/bowled and it's soft, weak etc. Tough gig.

I wouldn't see the harm in him occasionally holing out to long on for 160 odd tbh.