3rd Ashes Test, Perth

First topic message reminder :

Western Australia next, which means staying up even later to watch the start of the third test.

You would think Perth is one place the Aussies should win, so what do we do?

Panic, and drop Swann, but leave Monty in? Or perhaps play four or five seamers? Has Stokes done enough? He showed plenty of attitude, so yes, he probably has.

Has Prior done enough to see him promoted to six, as Stokes isn't one..............yet? Maybe not but we have to try and win, and playing him at six, would enable us to play five bowlers again, with Monty dropping out.

Who comes in? Finn, the 90mph quickie, with a strike rate around 50? Reliable Tim? Just coming back from injury but will give 100%, won't get smacked around, and can bat a bit. Or rankin? This would be the biggest gamble imo, as he has no test experience.

My team:

Cook
Carberry
Root
Pietersen
Bell
Prior
Stokes
Broad
Swann
Finn
Anderson

 I'm a fan of both Cook & Flower but if they get any more conservative I swear they will both turn tory blue from head to toe. They play 4 quicks but still don't pick Finn or Rankin on a usual bouncy WACA pitch. Cook being a little defensive in his field placings, the Aussie commentators are dumbfounded that bat pad isn't being employed with this pitch and the hard ball.

Anderson has looked tidy, Broad hasn't settled at all. England going at 5 an over after 10 overs even without really attacking.

As I type that Broad returns from the other end and gets Watson at slip. Same as Brisbane, heard Watson on the stump mic saying 'oh no' before it was even caught!

Broad strikes to get Watson caught in the slips. Australia 52 for 2. They needed that wicket.

Michael Clarke comes out inside the first hour, England need to send him back pretty soon.

Would be great to get Warner or Clarke now. Aussie's 2 best batsmen, Warner looking ominous, would be such a huge lift.

Clarke has a great knack of surviving early scares and going on to post big scores. England can't afford that here.

If England can reduce Australia to around 100 for 3 at lunch they will be happy especially after losing the toss but if Warner and Clarke are still there it will have been their morning.

Agreed. Last few overs England have looked tidy but not particularly threatening.

By all accounts though it is a pitch that runs can be scored very quick on. Anything hit stays hitvand invariably will go for four. Broad looking more comfortable bowling at the opposite end.

Stokes comes into the attack.

Both batsmen looking comfortable. Stokes has looked okay again, decent pace and line. Easier said than done but England need to cut out the boundary ball per over and then they can perhaps build some pressure.

Bresnan almost takes an unbelievable caught and bowled off Warner.

Warner looking ominous pulls Bresnan for six and Australia 105 for 2.

Swann into the attack just before lunch. Big moment in the match you feel.

CaledonianCraig wrote:Bresnan almost takes an unbelievable caught and bowled off Warner.

The pompous idiot that is Mark Nicholas originally said he should have taken it. Tubbs Taylor corrected him and he soon changed his tune. Can't believe Channel 9 employ him.

Aussie commentators saying he's on at the wrong end like Broad was first thing this morning.

Gee whizz Swann refinds his mojo. Gets Clarke caught in his first over. Australia 106 for 3.

Yes Swann. Huge wicket just before lunch. What does Shane Warne know about spin bowling eh?

Yes!!!. Graeme Swann has done it, yet another first over wicket, the big one of Michael Clarke. Australia 106-3.

B91212 wrote:

CaledonianCraig wrote:Bresnan almost takes an unbelievable caught and bowled off Warner.

The pompous idiot that is Mark Nicholas originally said he should have taken it. Tubbs Taylor corrected him and he soon changed his tune. Can't believe Channel 9 employ him.

Sky reject??   

That is why England had to have a spin option in their side. Stokes doing well keeping it tight.

At lunch Australia 107 for 3. For me that is England's morning. They must keep up the pressure and picking up wickets. If they can bowl Australia out for 250 - 300 they will be pretty happy.

CaledonianCraig wrote:

B91212 wrote:

CaledonianCraig wrote:Bresnan almost takes an unbelievable caught and bowled off Warner.

The pompous idiot that is Mark Nicholas originally said he should have taken it. Tubbs Taylor corrected him and he soon changed his tune. Can't believe Channel 9 employ him.

Sky reject??   

And rightly so. Doesn't just do the England games either, seems to have his feet well and truly under the table. Must have some dirt on Rupert Murdoch or something

CaledonianCraig wrote:At lunch Australia 107 for 3. For me that is England's morning. They must keep up the pressure and picking up wickets. If they can bowl Australia out for 250 - 300 they will be pretty happy.

Think it is about 50/50. England would have taken it before play after they lost the toss but Warner is looking set for a big score unfortunately. Hopefully England can get him straight after lunch before he settles in again.

Key man back in the hutch (Clarke) and three wickets in the session which you lose a toss and would say England's session. They will feel they have forced the door open with Smith and Bailey not established they will see this as a chance to get down into the Aussies tail by close of play.

CaledonianCraig wrote:Key man back in the hutch (Clarke) and three wickets in the session which you lose a toss and would say England's session. They will feel they have forced the door open with Smith and Bailey not established they will see this as a chance to get down into the Aussies tail by close of play.

Fair enough, Clarke was certainly the big one. I would start with Swann again after lunch. Hopefully take advantage of the Aussie's trying to get on top of him and offering a chance. Think that is what did Clarke, trying to unsettle Swann early doors.

I see what you are saying but I'd be surprised if England don't restart with Anderson and Broad. I'd have continued with Stokes who has been very economical and Swann.

So they will continue with Swann after lunch.

Warner would be a massive wicket for England to get. Anderson back into the attack.

Agree about Stokes, he went well in his spell. Thought he bowled a good line, just got his length wrong once or twice but that's to be expected on a bouncy track. Warner is the man, not looking as assured at the moment whilst he gets his eye in again. Think Cook has started the afternoon session with correct bowling combo.

England just exerting some control now. Australia had been scoring at over 5 runs an over now down to just over 4 an over.

Yes, Warner gone. Was just about to go to bed as well, thought I would give it a couple of overs!

Massive wicket for England. Warner loses patience and his caught off Swann's bowling Australia 129 for 4.

Broad not bowling with any real control today - very expensive.

As much as I would like to watch the next half an hour that's me out as I need to be up early for work. Hopefully when I get up in the morning Aus will 8 or 9 down!

Sleep well.

A mis-timed hook from a Broad bouncer and Bailey top edges it to Pietersen out deep and Australia are tottering on 143 for 5. In comes another key player - Brad Haddin.

Australia 145-5. Warner managed to hold out of Swann for 60, and then George Bailey fell taking Broad's bouncer on as he was well taken by Kevin Pietersen.

The mistake that wasn't committed, of not playing a spinner showing the effect.......

Haddin chancing his arm with a mis-timed hook off Bresnan but he survives. Australia 153 for 5.

Haddin quickly using up his nine lives. Gloves a ball up in the air but short of slips and then almost plays on to his stumps.

Key part of the match now you feel. England on top and must ram home their advantage. They have to bowl them out for less than 300 you feel. If not they have let the Aussies off the hook. Brutal conditions out there though.

Swann back into the attack. 164 for 5.

Smith is taking the England bowling on, and Haddin is giving him good support. Hope England won't undo all the advantage they've managed so far.
Australia 185-5.

Morning all,

Woke up at stupid o'clock so watched the afternoon session. Game pretty evenly poised. England should be fairly pleased with their work so far, but Australia still look set to post a decent score (or better if Haddin and the tail wags further).

Smith has played well; he's left the ball well outside off and has been selective, making the bowlers bowl to him. England would have fancied him nicking off from about 5th stump, but apart from one back-foot drive (which he pretty much middled, but could easily have gone wrong) he's had nothing to do with it out there; good batting so far.

Haddin really rode his luck early on, but is still there.

Australia will be disappointed at the collective nature of their dismissals: each individually is explainable, but all of them together? Probably a couple of wickets too many to "positive play" to justify the tactic.

Good analysis from Nasser about the pull/hook shot. Part of the key is getting your arms free out in front of you; once you get cramped or beaten for pace it's hard to control the shot.

Australia's session that as at tea they reach 220 for 5. Back on parity and this final session could shape the rest of the test.

always get a smile on my face when Australia's tactic of picking eleven bits and pieces batsman comes off... it's a bit like watching your classmate write the 500 word essay everyone had a week to do 30 minutes before you hand it in and get 80%.

England is letting this slip now, I see the average first innings score at the WACA is around 300.

Advantage they had just after lunch is all but gone now.

Hmm. Mixed blessing this Perth time zone ...I am home from work in time to actually see some cricket

But what I am seeing tells me the Australians are well away. Haddin again...with good support from Smith this time...has taken it from a nicely poised 150/5 to the current 236/5. England I understand worried Haddin early , but he survived and is now putting them to the sword.
I can't see England getting back into the match from here   

Call me a pessimist , but even 320 for Australia should be enough given the way England are batting. Batting looks easy right now - but it did in Adelaide when Australia were batting...

England look to be toiling a bit now. Smith and Haddin look well set and nearing the 100 partnership. This could slip away from England quickly if they aren't careful.

CaledonianCraig wrote:England look to be toiling a bit now. Smith and Haddin look well set and nearing the 100 partnership. This could slip away from England quickly if they aren't careful.

Slipping away quickly , Craig.

Doesn't look to be much they can do about it at the moment. Ball is old , pitch is offering good carry but is playing true , and the lads are getting cooked in the field ...I fear any hopes of getting back on terms are resting on the Aussies making some silly mistakes.
And because they have scored so fast the new ball is a long way off.

Will need a bit of a batting miracle to keep this series alive for Melbourne.