Cricket fred

[Galfon]

You're probably right re. Morgan - knew he took a few years away from 4-day'ers but thought he had turned out on occasion since.
Struggled a bit at Tests many years back but can't be any worse than recent new-hopes.

[Galfon]

Oz back in already - 130 lead, no wickets lost.
Boland is a very good bowler, and at 32 (older than our bemoaned skip..), some story.

[Banquo]

Can’t see us batting out the day tomorrow but fingers crossed!

[Galfon]

Looks like young Crawley is on a mission - Lyon will want a good go at Eng today.Can't remember a time when a draw would seem so much like a victory..

[Galfon]

9, 10, Jack with 10 overs left (though Jack is at 8..).
should be a formality ( for Eng. obvs.)

[Galfon]

Eng. coast home to a draw, saved by the gloom maybe.
Thorpe-esque doggedness by a few there.
Still more questions than answers though.

[fivepointer]

In the context of the series that was a good result.

What should please England is that Crawley and Bairstow got runs, Stokes made two 50's, Broad got a 5 for and Leach picked up some wickets.

[Banquo]

Standards are so low that this a result to celebrate!

[Banquo]

Dropping Anderson on a green top is a masterstroke

[Galfon]

More-so when Wood has a day like this; Eng. not good at holding on to initiative that have been able to snatch

[Banquo]

More-so when Wood has a day like this; Eng. not good at holding on to initiative that have been able to snatch

Robinson also carrying an injury. Leaving Anderson out in what may well have been his final test on a greentop is baffling- even when not taking wickets, he's held down an end with the best economy rate this series.

edit- just read Anderson had 'a variety of niggles'...

[Banquo]

ffs

[Galfon]

Mis-match special continues.
Eng have failed to top 300 all series. Aus have had 3 × 400+, 300 in this one.
At least the follow-on has been avoided, so proceedings can be extended a bit..Billings/Woakes 7th wkt. partnership is 30-plus now, and the 2nd. highest

[Banquo]

Stating the obvious, but our batting is just awful, finding worse and worse ways to get out. We let Oz off the hook at least three times with poor captaincy and fielding when they batted first as well; its just embarrassing.

[Galfon]

End of D2, and game looks over again.
Root & a few of the other players have a final chance to demonstrate ability and worthiness.

[Banquo]

Pleased for Wood who had a bit of a mare in his first spell of the match. Again, they've got 30-40 more than they should though.

[Galfon]

Just checked in to catch up on impressive response, and Burns goes..in for a tricky evening but there is a glimmer.
It's a pity the tour didn't provide the prep. / practice time.

[Banquo]

Just checked in to catch up on impressive response, and Burns goes..in for a tricky evening but there is a glimmer.
It's a pity the tour didn't provide the prep. / practice time.

I don't think we can blame prep or practice tbh.

[Galfon]

I don't think we can blame prep or practice tbh.

No blame, but going into T1 with some idea of the best line up, and more game time with the conditions may have helped.
Water under the harbour bridge now of course.

[Galfon]

ffs

[Banquo]

I don't think we can blame prep or practice tbh.

No blame, but going into T1 with some idea of the best line up, and more game time with the conditions may have helped.
Water under the harbour bridge now of course.

We’ve spent 2 years thinking about this series, and get the very first thing wrong- rinse and repeat. However no amount of prep would help with such shit international batsmen. Root is very good, but has been alone for too long now, and Stokes whilst v talented is inconsistent and crocked. The rest of the batsmen tried are pretty much known not to be good enough tbh.

[Banquo]

9 wickets in one session, what a disgrace. They aren't good batsman, but nearly all got themselves out- I'll give Root a pass on that ball, but he has to step down as big change is needed. Not sure the top order would even get a job in Downing Street.

Worst 10 wicket collapse v oz in 74 years.

[Banquo]

I hear they were rushing to get onto Novaxx flight!

[fivepointer]

What a shambles.
Heads need to roll. Starting with Harrison at the ECB, Giles and Silverwood. Root needs to be replaced to send a signal that failure on this level cannot be tolerated. The players may not be world beaters but some sort of application and determination should be a minimum expectation. Some will surely have played their last test match.
Thereafter, England have to make some hard choices now about the structure of the season, the way we prepare players for test cricket, selection, schedules and how this team is run.

[Banquo]

What a shambles.
Heads need to roll. Starting with Harrison at the ECB, Giles and Silverwood. Root needs to be replaced to send a signal that failure on this level cannot be tolerated. The players may not be world beaters but some sort of application and determination should be a minimum expectation. Some will surely have played their last test match.
Thereafter, England have to make some hard choices now about the structure of the season, the way we prepare players for test cricket, selection, schedules and how this team is run.

Its going to be a long road back, as the immediate problem is a lack of quality beyond Root. Even Stokes looks shot. Broad may have a season left, Jimmy topped the averages but is on his last legs.