2 hours ago, Bonkers said:

He actually played quite a good knock. Second top scorer and if it wasn't for him and Cummins supporting Smith we'd be in strife. 

Yep it was good, but lets see what happens for the rest of the series. Great players back it up. Unfortunately Marsh isnt a great player.

Hope he makes me eat humble pie.

21 minutes ago, Diamond_Jim said:

Almost posted a two hours back that this session could well determine the Ashes but thought it a little trite.

Had England scored a 100 for the loss of none or one wicket it might have been hard for Australia.

Now for one of those pesky small run chases. Unfortunately for us older people we will still remember the difficulties some Australian teams have had in knocking off such totals.

Some interesting views on the Ali stumping:

http://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/21560783/twitter-reacts-moeen-close-stumping

It is being suggested that the crease line was not straight !

You'd think with all the money involved in sport they'd be able to get a camera or sensor system installed. For what it's worth I think he was out. 

Honestly, there is no need for umpires whatsoever anymore

Invest in the technology and get rid of the glorified cost racks

28 minutes ago, Bonkers said:

Yeh I don't see much point in dropping Renshaw either. He's been quite reliable so far. Seems to have a good head on his shoulders for a young bloke. It will be interesting if the selectors are willing to drop anyone else if they have some scratchy form. Probably more benefit with your idea of Bancroft at 6 I'd agree.

It's the way we often used to do it (blood a new young batsman in the lower middle order)  Instead of always looking for the next big thing at no.3 or no.4 we used to play young blokes down the order and see if they could work their way up the order. 

Ponting batted at no.6 for his first 20+ tests but who remembers that?  There are numerous other examples from the past where that method worked.

And a prospective Test batsman often needed to bat in the first 3 or 4 for his State to get a look in.

There are always exceptions though but even Bradman batted at 6 or 7 initially.  Greg Chappell the same. 

 

 

 

 

Edited November 26, 20177 yr by Macca

And now the match looks decidedly one-sided.  England really should have made a lot more in their 2nd innings.

Bancroft looks alright too - red ink hopefully

What on earth is going on with these England cricketers?

Ashes 2017: England crisis after revelations Jonny Bairstow headbutted Australia’s Cameron Bancroft in a Perth nightclub

Rather important two sessions coming up.

Strange decision by Smith not to enforce the follow on. The ball swinging in the evening session is nothing new and while England bowlers may not be quick they can certainly swing that ball.

354 not an easy target so hopefully we can have them 7 down for 100 at stumps tonight

3 for 150 or thereabouts could make for an interesting last day

3 for 117 and Australia use their only two reviews ... no refreshes these days ... please don't let England win !!!

8 minutes ago, Diamond_Jim said:

3 for 117 and Australia use their only two reviews ... no refreshes these days ... please don't let England win !!!

1 wicket changes everything DJ ... especially in these 4th innings run chases. 

Smith drops one!  That's a rare occurrence. 

Lyon just keeps getting better & better every time I see him bowl. 

Shaun Marsh named man of the match, not a bad effort considering most people didn't want him in the team outside of the selectors. 2nil to the Aussies with the remaining venues likely to suit Australia. Adelaide was probably Englands best chance to beat us in terms of the conditions being more conducive to Anderson and Broad exploiting swing. 4 or 5 nil looks highly likely from here you'd think.

One negative is Peter Handscomb. He's looking very ordinary and a shadow of the player he was when he broke into the team. Maxwell will be looked at as a replacement you'd imagine after scoring 270 odd and 96 in consecutive Sheffield Shield games. If selected in the next test that will give us more options with the ball as he can bowl part time spin. In saying that the WACA is not the best place for spin usually.

First Shaun, now Mitch

Everything is coming up Marshes

18 minutes ago, DemonAndrew said:

First Shaun, now Mitch

Everything is coming up Marshes

The cricketing public is running out of whipping boys DA ...  mind you,  that Perth track is an absolute road. 

half an hour before 1st test in seth efrica and the crowd has swelled to about 120 (according to cricinfo)

SEN’s Radio coverage is apalling

So many ads and satelite drop outs

Download the ABC Listen App

cricket is on

 

 

Edited March 1, 20187 yr by Sir Why You Little

Two men and a dog at Durban to watch SA capitulate at the end of the first dig losing about 5 for 12. Fascinating to watch.

I visited the Kingsmead ground in December and there were more people in our tour group than spectators yesterday and today. 

We should win this one.

They have just finished a test series at home against India which was a very exciting series.

If you think about it a Test series played at this time in Australia would not rate that well either.

Not sure how you solve the problem that other than England most of the Test teams are in the Southern hemisphere and in India they like to play in their winter when it is a little cooler.

Was in Kolkata last week ... 33 degrees every day at the end of winter !!

350 in front with 6 wickets in hand.

Touch wood but I think we have this one

.......

about two mins after I post this we lose a wicket so I will shut up !!

Edited March 3, 20187 yr by Diamond_Jim

The recent test series in SA v India was highlighted by low scoring innings. Our lead should be enough. 

21 hours ago, Diamond_Jim said:

They have just finished a test series at home against India which was a very exciting series.

If you think about it a Test series played at this time in Australia would not rate that well either.

Not sure how you solve the problem that other than England most of the Test teams are in the Southern hemisphere and in India they like to play in their winter when it is a little cooler.

Was in Kolkata last week ... 33 degrees every day at the end of winter !!

The problem is South Africa will not come to Australia over the Christmas period, they want to have their own Boxing Day fixture, which is fair enough considering they are in the Southern Hemisphere, the only problem is that the public don’t turn up!

Now is the only time we can play them...

Mitchell Stark was magnificent on friday night!!

4 minutes ago, Sir Why You Little said:

The problem is South Africa will not come to Australia over the Christmas period, they want to have their own Boxing Day fixture, which is fair enough considering they are in the Southern Hemisphere, the only problem is that the public don’t turn up!

Now is the only time we can play them...

Mitchell Stark was magnificent on friday night!!

The cricketing public of South Africa haven't come back to Test cricket (re crowds at the games) since their team returned to Test cricket in the early 90's.  Perhaps the TV numbers are big much like the TV numbers are big in the sub continent. 

Of all the sports that have become TV sports,  Test cricket is the one.  Day-night tests might help and we might eventually see 'coloured uniforms' as a way of attracting more to the sport. 

For me the sport is just fine as it is but I'm in that 'dinosaur' bracket so I'm not really the future.  For the overall good, Test cricket needs to be spruced up Wyl. 

Just now, Macca said:

The cricketing public of South Africa haven't come back to Test cricket (re crowds at the games) since their team returned to Test cricket in the early 90's.  Perhaps the TV numbers are big much like the TV numbers are big in the sub continent. 

Of all the sports that have become TV sports,  Test cricket is the one.  Day-night tests might help and we might eventually see 'coloured uniforms' as a way of attracting more to the sport. 

For me the sport is just fine as it is but I'm in that 'dinosaur' bracket so I'm not really the future.  For the overall good, Test cricket needs to be spruced up Wyl. 

The cost of living is too high. The games are fine. The ticket prices and food prices you are forced to pay inside a Stadium keep the numbers down...

it’s big money to take kids to a day at the cricket or footy now. 

It was a cheap afternoon when i was at school

16 minutes ago, Sir Why You Little said:

The cost of living is too high. The games are fine. The ticket prices and food prices you are forced to pay inside a Stadium keep the numbers down...

it’s big money to take kids to a day at the cricket or footy now. 

It was a cheap afternoon when i was at school

Good points Wyl.

Young people have so many choices with regards to 'live' sport these days that you'd have to wonder where Test cricket fits in.

As an aside,  there's the wane in popularity in the NBL based on (IMO) all the NBA games being beemed in.  Yet,  basketball has a high participation rate as a junior sport.

Edited March 4, 20187 yr by Macca

4 minutes ago, Macca said:

Good points Wyl.

Young people have so many choices with regards to 'live' sport these days that you'd have to wonder where Test cricket fits in.

As an aside,  there's the wane in popularity in the NBL based on (IMO) all the NBA games being beemed in.  Yet,  basketball has a high participation rate as a junior sport.

Only so many $$$’s to spend

When did anyone last get a pay rise apart from those in the Corporate Sector..??

That's a tremendous 100 by de Villiers ... he's given his team a healthy lead.  We'll have to work very hard to get a positive result,  especially on this wicket. 

Anyone surprised Rabada got off? The instant i saw that a Kiwi bloke was hearing the appeal i would have bet my life savings that he would be able to play.

I fully expect Australia to be utterly humiliated on the field in the next test. Rabada to have another 10-for match.

Both Marshes to fail twice. Smith to fall to Rabada both times.

Saffas by an innings.