Cricket thread

[Dayvo]

Don't know why we declared next test starts Thursday, should have made Their bowlers bowl all day . I wiil obvs take this back if we skittle them,

It's a positive move to give us, an albeit, small chance of winning or an opportunity to embarrass them.

I think a draw is almost a given, but if Archer can inflict some mental anguish on them, then it'll be worth it.

At long last we've got (via Barbados) a fast bowler capable of inflicting fear into opposing batsmen. You really need to have two/three out-and-out fast bowlers in your team, as opposed to your Caddicks and Hoggards, for example. Seam/swing bowling is fine, IF the conditions are right, but fast bowling is nearly always effective, except perhaps on the Indian subcontinent.

Could be interesting after they've had sandwich and cake break and the batsmen have changed their, err, whites.

 

[Dayvo]

I bet there are a few sphincters twitching in the Australian changing room at the mo.

Five down with 10 overs left.

 

[Dayvo]

Hmmm, four wickets required in seven overs. Doable, but....!

 

[Dayvo]

Oh, and for the sake of balance, Australia need 114 in 6.3 overs.

 

[nickyboy]

For all the hype about Archer (and it is justified IMO, I think he may be the next Michael Holding) Leach hasn't got the praise he deserved. He did exactly what was asked of him, barely bowled a bad ball and looked dangerous on a wearing pitch. Particularly as England are short of fast bowlers (no Anderson, Wood, Stone) it looks like Leach will be asked to bowl a lot of overs so the quicks can be rotated, particularly with the fast turnaround to the third test.

Whilst it was a draw, I'd call it a "winning draw". I suspect if the 70 minutes hadn't been lost at the start of Day 5, England would have won (they would have batted perhaps another 5 overs and bowled another 10 overs which would probably have been enough). It will be very interesting....it feels like a momentum shift, particularly if Smith is ruled out of the third test.

 

[downesy]

Leach bowled really well and applied good pressure, Archer is going to be a world superstar he looks terrifying .

 

[swee'pea99]

Leach bowled really well and applied good pressure, Archer is going to be a world superstar he looks terrifying .

He doesn't look terrifying, he is terrifying.

This series is there for the taking. Even Smith can't handle Archer, and he's head & shoulders above his teammates. Nor do they seem to have a clue how to handle Leach. Unless Warner recovers some form, it's hard to see them posting any scores from here on in. England, meanwhile, continue to show surprising resilience - apart from Roy and Leach (not out), not one failed to reach double figures in that first innings. They seem more of a team than the Aussies. And they seem to be enjoying it, which the Aussies don't. Certainly there's only one team heading for #3 with their tails up. Game on!

 

[LarryDuff]

England look incapable of getting a decent first innings total.

 

[Beebo]

Why did they play Anderson in the first test?
They could rue that decision at the end of the series.

 

[Beebo]

Well I wasn’t expecting that at 4oclock this afternoon.

 

[Dayvo]

Why did they play Anderson in the first test?
They could rue that decision at the end of the series.

Yeah, I think Anderson was selfish, putting himself before the team, esp. in a home Ashes series, when his fitness was at best doubtful.

Archer is what we've needed for years - wonder if he's got any brothers or cousins who want to play, too!

England just need to go along at about three an over, no big deal in Test cricket: again, technique and application is needed. Time for Root (amongst others) to erm, step up to the plate.

Big day tomorrow.

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

Archer is a real Get Out of Jail Card for England!

 

[nickyboy]

I must confess that at 136-2 we looked a poor side. Went out for a bike ride to come home and find them skittled out for 178

Really needed something like that as I suspect it will be a tricky 4th innings pitch with the warm weather forecast

Hopefully we can put a decent total on and apply pressure to their second innings

 

[AndyRM]

I wasn't expecting any play yesterday, let alone an innings! Archer looks fierce on the TV, and is terrifying in the flesh.

ETA - he strolled past us around 10am on his way to the dressing room. Vaughan mentioned that he just rocks up ready to play, which is very cool.

 

[Pale Rider]

Our best batters cannot score a run - again.

We will never beat Australia by being four or five down for not many in every innings.