Anyone for cricket?

[DeeVoted 582]

Aust is really in the box seat to take a firm grip of retrieving the Ashes.

Good to see the review system working as it should, the umpiring has been a decent std,no howlers. Luck is finally going our way.

I am not sure if this is some sort of a trivial record, but Aust has reached scores of 50;s by boundaries or over the fence throughout this innings.

The longer we keep them in the field and wearing down their bowlers the more chance of grabbing this series by the throat.

The poms 2 or 3 down before stumps.

[daisycutter 28,727]

Dropped catches and a wicket off a no-ball. Small things can change a series; those kinds of things going against England may just help us.

Also, Clarke - what a captain.

and winning the toss

[dee-luded 2,958]

johnson, you beauty.

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

Fantastic outcome for Australia.

Grind them...grind them.

Great mature work from Clarke and Haddin ( Ashes Keeping record holder and average nearly 90 in this series). Why do they select a very competent keeper and batsman. hmmmm

And a special mention to the Rhino for his unbeaten 50.

[MadAsHell 4,089]

Hard to see England turning this into a win, and even a draw suits us well with Perth coming up where it's fair to say the conditions will suit us much more then England and could see us heading to Melbourne 2-0 or even better yet with the series wrapped up 3-0!

England's best bet is making 500 themselves. Hope to knock us over for about 150 and then chase down 220-250 on the last day, but that's a long shot, especially given they haven't made it to 400 as a batting unit for some time now, well before the last Ashes series.

Aussies need a good disciplined day of bowling tomorrow. If we can have them say 7/350 at stumps tomorrow you'd take that on this wicket, And I reckon it will get tougher to bat days 4 & 5, thought there was just a little bit of inconsistent bounce late in the day today which I reckon will suit Harris & Siddle especially.

[Macca 16,174]

Well said, 'TD'

So many runs to play with and Lyon could be a bit of a handful tomorrow (hope so anyway) KP could be the key dismissal but Bell's wicket is also very important. England would have to bat well into the 4th day to save the game you'd think. If the Aussies can pick up 2 or maybe even 3 wickets per session, we would be at their tail in the last session.

2 more centuries is very pleasing and is Haddin the 'other' renaissance man? (he kept very well in England but his batting right now, is superlative) Brad seems to be getting better with age.

Another great knock to Clarke ... doing it at the no.4 spot as well (which is another positive result) It would be great if he could come to the crease more often when we're well placed (2 for plenty)

Test Match Special with Jonathan Agnew and Geoffrey Boycott (includes an interview with Brad Haddin)

Edited December 6, 2013 by Macca

[dee-luded 2,958]

Well said, 'TD'

So many runs to play with and Lyon could be a bit of a handful tomorrow (hope so anyway) KP could be the key dismissal but Bell's wicket is also very important. England would have to bat well into the 4th day to save the game you'd think. If the Aussies can pick up 2 or maybe even 3 wickets per session, we would be at their tail in the last session.

2 more centuries is very pleasing and is Haddin the 'other' renaissance man? (he kept very well in England but his batting right now, is superlative) Brad seems to be getting better with age.

Another great knock to Clarke ... doing it at the no.4 spot as well (which is another positive result) It would be great if he could come to the crease more often when we're well placed (2 for plenty)

Test Match Special with Jonathan Agnew and Geoffrey Boycott (includes an interview with Brad Haddin)

I think so to Macca. the side is starting to settle back into an Aussie unit. & they are all contributing in bits & pieces, with the mainstays keeping up the quality. Clark, Siddle, now Harris, Haddin, & now seemingly Johnson. with Lyon, Warner, helping.

its growing on me.

I hope our 2 spinners cut loose tomorrow afternoon.

[Macca 16,174]

I think so to Macca. the side is starting to settle back into an Aussie unit. & they are all contributing in bits & pieces, with the mainstays keeping up the quality. Clark, Siddle, now Harris, Haddin, & now seemingly Johnson. with Lyon, Warner, helping.

its growing on me.

I hope our 2 spinners cut loose tomorrow afternoon.

It's just nice to be right back in the contest, 'dl.' Our rediscovered aggressiveness could be on show again tomorrow. Looking forward to watching it - the couch awaits!

If we can turn the big advantage we have in this Test, into a victory, we would go to Perth with a 2-0 lead. As it stands now, it will be at least a 1-0 lead (barring a miracle England win)

[jazza 1,323]

rhino

they probably pick the backstop because he makes runs that the top order has been incapable of getting for the last 4 years hhhmm

but keep throwing the ball into my court,

[dee-luded 2,958]

It's just nice to be right back in the contest, 'dl.' Our rediscovered aggressiveness could be on show again tomorrow. Looking forward to watching it - the couch awaits!

If we can turn the big advantage we have in this Test, into a victory, we would go to Perth with a 2-0 lead. As it stands now, it will be at least a 1-0 lead (barring a miracle England win)

absolutely!

doesn't it feel great. I'm enjoying the game again.

[Macca 16,174]

absolutely!

doesn't it feel great. I'm enjoying the game again.

Pietersen gave his wicket up - can't believe he fell for it. Clarke placed a couple of blokes in the spot where he likes to hit it - he duly obliged. Root's shot to get out was equally as poor.

Bell looks the goods but it's just a matter of eking out a wicket here and there at the other end. We're playing well.

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

rhino

they probably pick the backstop because he makes runs that the top order has been incapable of getting for the last 4 years hhhmm

but keep throwing the ball into my court,

Thanks for biting.

I'll just throw the Ashes record your way.

BTW sterling LEADERSHIP from Clarke and Haddin.

You must be hating this.

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

Pietersen gave his wicket up - can't believe he fell for it. Clarke placed a couple of blokes in the spot where he likes to hit it - he duly obliged. Root's shot to get out was equally as poor.

Bell looks the goods but it's just a matter of eking out a wicket here and there at the other end. We're playing well.

Selfish shot from Pietersen.

Has he lost the mojo for Test cricket?

[Whispering_Jack 28,118]

Fair over there from Mitchell Johnson. Lasted about 15 minutes and grabbed three wickets for naught including Broad for a golden duck & he's on a hat trick when he comes back to bowl.

[dee-luded 2,958]

Pietersen gave his wicket up - can't believe he fell for it. Clarke placed a couple of blokes in the spot where he likes to hit it - he duly obliged. Root's shot to get out was equally as poor.

Bell looks the goods but it's just a matter of eking out a wicket here and there at the other end. We're playing well.

MOJO a balance of scales...

We've got ours back from IMO a less tense dressing room which allows players to focus on enjoying their cricket with one another... the hunger is back & We are the Hunters.

Edited December 7, 2013 by dee-luded

[Macca 16,174]

Selfish shot from Pietersen.

Has he lost the mojo for Test cricket?

He had a chance to knuckle down and get his Country out of the mire. For someone with his experience and talent, he had to make a better fist of it. As soon as he was dismissed, their chance of saving the Test was all but gone. Now they've got the issues.

Fair over there from Mitchell Johnson. Lasted about 15 minutes and grabbed three wickets for naught including Broad & he's on a hat trick when he comes back to bowl.

Looks like they've been feeding Johnno raw meat - unbelievable turnaround. Good on him. He may have to keep the 'Mo' too. Cricketers are a superstitious lot.

[dee-luded 2,958]

johnson, you beauty.

Johnson!!!

[Whispering_Jack 28,118]

What a catch!

[Whispering_Jack 28,118]

Johnson's on a hat trick for the second time in 20 minutes and he's got Monty coming in!

But Ryan Harris is bowling first.

[Nasher 33,246]

That was a bloody amazing spell of bowling.

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

If the English wheel nuts were loosened in Brisbane, then at least two wheels are off and Australia has their foot tightly on their throats.

Johnson was stunning. Savage really.

Well supported in the field as well.

Special mention to Ian Bell playing a rear guard action. Should be at 3.

The big issue is do we force the follow on.

It's up to Clarke to speak with the bowlers but given Perth is so close I would prefer we bat for four hours and give the bowlers a break.

[DeeVoted 582]

MJ is winding back the clock. Not since Thomo have I seen batsman with a look of being frightened. I'll give credit to Bell he is the only one that has looked to being up for a fight. The big Q do to we bat or enforce the follow-on?

I would bat again. make a quick fire 200 Their bowlers will look tame compared to what MJ has done, the batsmen will still be shell shocked and it will be playing on their minds while in the field. Perhaps Lyon can get amonst it with the wicket breaking up. Plenty of time left. If we destroy their top order on a 4th day wicket. mentally they will be shot to bits, if not already.

Bell must bat at 3. At least they might be a chance to make a decent total. It weakens their middle order,but they need to do something.

Edited December 7, 2013 by DeeVoted

[Macca 16,174]

If the English wheel nuts were loosened in Brisbane, then at least two wheels are off and Australia has their foot tightly on their throats.

Johnson was stunning. Savage really.

Well supported in the field as well.

Special mention to Ian Bell playing a rear guard action. Should be at 3.

The big issue is do we force the follow on.

It's up to Clarke to speak with the bowlers but given Perth is so close I would prefer we bat for four hours and give the bowlers a break.

With the Perth Test beginning next Friday, the more prudent move might be to bat again and set them about 550-600 to get in around about 2 days.

Clarke will almost certainly bat again you'd reckon (that also gives us another chance to knock their bowlers around) A quick-fire Warner century?

And I agree, Bell has to move up to no.3 if they're any chance of getting back into this series.

[Macca 16,174]

Michael Vaughan forecasts a 5-0 annihilation Geoffrey Boycott and other English greats blast tourists

Test Match Special Podcast ... England fall again to Johnson (Geoffrey says the Ashes are gone)

[MadAsHell 4,089]

What a day of cricket yesterday, was absolutely unbelievable!

Can't believe the turn around in Mitch Johnson's fortunes, 12 months ago I never wanted to see this guy in the whites again, now look at him!

Aussies to bat for 45-50 minutes this morning and declare setting England somewhere close to 600 to win as Macca suggested. And with Perth coming up their batsmen must be frighteneted about what to expect from Mitch there!

As for what changes England can make from here on to try anda salvage anything???

I'd expect Bresnan will be rushed back for Perth at the expense of Monty, Prior is in all sorts of bother and hasn't made decent runs in his last 9 tests, they may look to bring Bairstow in for him and Gary Ballance may also come in for Stokes to strengthen their batting. And as many have said, Bell should bat at three and Root should go back down the order to 5 or 6.

This makes the 5th test match in a row we've had the better of England, despite the fact we lost at Durham. When we think about it, apart from the Lords test match it's amazing the turn around this team has had since Lehman came in.