5th Ashes Test, Sydney

First topic message reminder :

January 3-7, Sydney Cricket Ground
Start time 1030 (2330 GMT)

Australia:
CJL Rogers, DA Warner, SR Watson, MJ Clarke*, SPD Smith, GJ Bailey, BJ Haddin†, MG Johnson, PM Siddle, RJ Harris, NM Lyon

England:
AN Cook*, MA Carberry, IR Bell, KP Pietersen, GS Ballance, BA Stokes, JM Bairstow†, SG Borthwick, SCJ Broad, JM Anderson, WB Rankin


The grassy SCG pitch should offer some assistance for the pace bowlers early on. Some grip there for the spinners too. It's not going to be too hot and there is the chance of a few showers over the 5 days - but nothing too substantial. Some cloud cover and high humidity though.

1000 runs in four days? Could come
In handy.
Let's see if he can do it in the next four days...

haha funny!!!!!!!! 


Also good to see Stokes take 6-fer!He is a real talent and is quickly becoming the go to man with the ball, he may go at 4 an over, but if he gets wickets, you would take that!

So another day of lost chances and vicious circles for England. Hopefully the batsmen will have a bit of energy left in them to offer a last fightback before the humiliation gets completed. The bowling was quite in the first session, lost way in the 2nd, and that was enough for Smith and Haddin to rest control. Good spell from Stokes, and Broad bowled well yet again. Anderson bowled well in patches.
Fabulous from Haddin, and happy to see Steven Smith, a fast evolving favorite of mine scoring a valuable hundred in pressure situation. And Bloody Mitchell Johnson is not yet done tormenting English batsmen, real payback from Mitch this!!.
As for England's debutants, I had my doubts about Borthwick, and I am not thrilled to be proved not too wrong. I don't think he's anywhere near good enough to be a regular bowling option of any substance. Mike mentioned the possibilities of him evolving into a Steven Smith like player. But I think Smith has place in this Australian configuration because they have Lyon, and more importantly because Smith is one of the best 6 batsmen available in Ausralia. His legspin has become just a bonus. With no creditable spin option in the lineup, with the role of the spinner being a specialist one, I doubt whether Borthwick can effectively play the 'Smith Role' for England, that won't work with the combination available. Hopefully he can offer more with the bat than he managed with the ball.
I haven't hidden my views about England poaching Boyd Rankin. I don't think Rankin, at 29, and with the kind of fitness that he maintains, was worth all the trouble really. He'd would have been best left alone with Ireland, could have made that fabulous associate nation more competitive. He can still play a role for England in ODIs as there is some quality in his bowling, but I don't at this stage of his career with the kind of fitness record that he has, think he's one for test cricket.
Hopefully Garry Ballance, like his childhood mentor, former Zimbabwe star David Houghton, can forge a successful test career.

CF wrote:haha funny!!!!!!!! 


Also good to see Stokes take 6-fer!He is a real talent and is quickly becoming the go to man with the ball, he may go at 4 an over, but if he gets wickets, you would take that!

Going at 4 and taking wickets? No!!. Not with England!. Thanks but no thanks, we'll look for some mythical 'Economy Raters'!.

KP_fan wrote:Ish sodhi's motehr was born in UK

How on earth did Mr Giles miss that? Have to look for someone else to do the job of the Chief Poach!.

I bet Finn is wondering who's cereal he's p*ssed in to deserve the treatment he's got. at 24 he's already shown he's a wicket taker, so just accept he can be a bit wayward. But in the ODI's in India, he showed he can bowl with great pace and control so hopefully we see that Finn sooner rather than later. Can't believe he hasn't had a go in this game, I'm not a massive fan of Rankin and wasn't impressed on day 1.

Enjoy your days at the ground LB and GE!

I hope you get to see Cook bat all day

I do worry about spin options in the coming months/years for England. Borthwick (like future spin options) could face being thrown aside if they don't reach standards of Graeme Swann. To me that is unfair as Swann was something of a one-off and his like may not be seen for a long time for England.

Borthwick may have got his place in this side due to a couple of reasons - recommended by Swann and his batting ability. As we know England's batting has been shambolic so if Borthwick proves handy with the bat then it is a step up on what Monty would have brought.

As for Rankin I do not think he is one for the future (at 29) and would sooner have seen Finn given a go. Hopefully, the reports that he merely has cramp caused by anxiety proves correct as England cannot afford to be a bowler down in this match.

 

Cook out plumb lbw second ball of the day. At this rate it is not inconceivable that England could be forced to follow on.

Will we even get to Jane McGrath day?

Following ball Bell dropped at first slip.

Bell dropped first ball, play and miss second ball... Oh my.

Lolz

Bizarre.

Cook brain fade   

Making it easy for them . Do wish England would stop killing off my hopes so early in the games...

Nearly Bell too...what is going on ?

Leading edge just drops safe... I might just go to bed. This is going to be carnage.

This is the problem when you start selecting players. England should consider not selecting anyone next time.

A dreadful leave by Cook. A poor drop by Watson. Sensational opening over from Harris.

Anderson all at sea against a fired up Johnson and gets his left thumb rapped.

Currently 9/2 but I don't see too many more runs being added before the third wicket falls.

guildfordbat wrote:A dreadful leave by Cook. A poor drop by Watson. Sensational opening over from Harris.

Anderson all at sea against a fired up Johnson and gets his left thumb rapped.

Currently 9/2 but I don't see too many more runs being added before the third wicket falls.

Five , actually.

Ah well , just the night watchman. Who had done his job , so all fine : or would have been , if Cook hadn't had his meltdown...

Not a good twenty minutes   

Anderson finally succumbs and out for seven and is joint top scorer for England at the moment.   

I hope KP comes out swinging

Johnson going full and straight to KP early, good strategy, always the chance of an LBW or even a bowled.

This is the partnership if England are to have any chance in this game.

LBW on Bell. Given not out. Initial instinct was this will be Ump's Call.

Poor review from Clarke. Always looked to be going down.

Can't blame him for trying it...the way things are going he doesn't expect to need referrals much   

Oh boy - was considering staying up to watch the cricket but just seen England are 14-3 on the BBC website.

I'll wager we are all out for under 250. Anyway, nighty-night for now. I look forward to seeing whether I was close tomorrow morning.

Oh bloody hell. I know Johnson and Harris are bowling well (very, very well) but 17-4...

Oh dear. Pietersen caught in slips and England 17 for 4. Fabulous bowling from Australia though. On the money and spot on for line and length - just what England have all too often lacked.

Ballance now in and you feel like he has been thrown to the lions.

Fairly assured start from Ballance, nice to see. If he digs in and makes even a 40 or 50 he secures his place for the summer. Just has to see it as an opportunity, rather than an examination!

He does get right across his stumps though, potential LBW candidate, but he played the ball nice and late in that first over.

Oh dear. Follow on still 110 away.

Harris and Johnson are really bowling well , but this is getting beyond awful.

Poor Ballance could hardly come in to a tougher situation. At least if he can do something from here we will know he has a future...

Anyway you can't blame the selectors for this as the most experienced players are the ones failing this morning   

Carnage this morning. As bad as it get's. Thing is, all Harris and Johnson have done is bowl it on a length which is what this pitch requires. Bowlers bowled too short first innings and allowed Australia to add an extra 170 odd runs they never should have got.

Cook's mentally gone and it showed evidently in his dismissal this morning. Talk about setting the tone for the day. Anderson was a walking wicket and the fact he was thrown out there last night was a joke. Just pray that Bell and Ballance can take us through to lunch and then hopefully get some runs in the afternoon session. Deep down can only see England all out for 120.

Ryan Harris showing the difference between a world class bowler and James Anderson, who's a brainless one dimensional, medium paced dobber.

can you believe it. Bell gone, lovely delivery from siddle it really is. Can we get to 50 that is the question? a serious one at that.

Well if were gonna go down, go down swinging Stokesy

Bell out now. Is it just me or has his form followed a similar pattern to Carberry in this series? Starting off pretty positively scoring runs at a good rate but lately has been suffocated and unable to score and gotten out cheaply.

Yeah, great ball that. Can't really fault Bell at all - just as he looked to have weathered the storm as well.

Got sidetracked by some late-night chores and just came back to find we're now 23-5.

This isn't cricket...its just complete and utter humiliation...

Wonder if things will get any better with the 2 new guys now in the middle?

Now I am definitely going to sleep (and try not to have any cricket-related nightmares).

exactly olly, why don't we throw the bat a bit sod it. Both good one day players, let them play their natural game. Absolute joke a fluent batsmen like Bell scores 2/32 balls. Pure fear in the batsmen.

Hmm, just seen the Cook and KP dismissals - fairly ordinary stuff.

I think Bell in fairness was playing the innings he needed to play. 20/4 isn't the time for rash stroke play. He would have gradually accumulated had he stayed in. Problem is that he got out to a very good delivery!

CaledonianCraig wrote:Bell out now. Is it just me or has his form followed a similar pattern to Carberry in this series? Starting off pretty positively scoring runs at a good rate but lately has been suffocated and unable to score and gotten out cheaply.

For some reason it feels even worse as our guys are, for once, not throwing their wickets away. The Aussie bowlers are absolutely on fire at the moment.

Suppose the only thing you could accuse us of is being too defensive and allowing the Aussie bowlers to dominate. Again, its a psychological thing and going into your shell too much can be just as bad as being reckless and playing rash attacking shots.

JDizzle wrote:Fairly assured start from Ballance, nice to see. If he digs in and makes even a 40 or 50 he secures his place for the summer. Just has to see it as an opportunity, rather than an examination!

He does get right across his stumps though, potential LBW candidate, but he played the ball nice and late in that first over.

I saw Ballance at the Oval playing for Yorks in the penultimate match of the 2013 CC season. Although the match had something of a dead rubber feel to it (Surrey had just lost their battle against relegation and Yorks knew they were going to finish as CC runners up), Ballance still caught the eye and was highly impressive. The word I would use to describe him is the same as your's - assured. He always appeared confident and in control but rarely reckless, standing out in a strong Tykes batting line up. He made a flowing 140 odd in the first innings of the match to apparently set Yorks up nicely. However, this was the match in which Sibley got a double ton and so Yorks very surprisingly were behind when they batted second time round. After one or two quick wickets, Surrey even had an outside chance of an innings win but Ballance put a stop to that. He made another hundred, unbeaten this time and a more battling one before the draw was safely secured when he then let rip. I felt he was too low in the Yorks order, going in at number 6 immediately after Bairstow at 5.

No worries.
New boys to the rescue  

guildfordbat wrote:

JDizzle wrote:Fairly assured start from Ballance, nice to see. If he digs in and makes even a 40 or 50 he secures his place for the summer. Just has to see it as an opportunity, rather than an examination!

He does get right across his stumps though, potential LBW candidate, but he played the ball nice and late in that first over.

I saw Ballance at the Oval playing for Yorks in the penultimate match of the 2013 CC season. Although the match had something of a dead rubber feel to it (Surrey had just lost their battle against relegation and Yorks knew they were going to finish as CC runners up), Ballance still caught the eye and was highly impressive. The word I would use to describe him is the same as your's - assured. He always appeared confident and in control but rarely reckless, standing out in a strong Tykes batting line up. He made a flowing 140 odd in the first innings of the match to apparently set Yorks up nicely. However, this was the match in which Sibley got a double ton and so Yorks very surprisingly were behind when they batted second time round. After one or two quick wickets, Surrey even had an outside chance of an innings win but Ballance put a stop to that. He made another hundred, unbeaten this time and a more battling one before the draw was safely secured when he then let rip. I felt he was too low in the Yorks order, going in at number 6 immediately after Bairstow at 5.

I have heard from someone who is ususally pretty reliable on these matters of badgering games that no-one else watches that Ballance's 50 at Alice Springs was a very scratchy and unimpressive knock, which meant that he perhaps didn't get his chance till now. It's good to hear reports of him, I haven't seen much of him at all, that suggest he has the ability to get on top and dominate the bowling given the chance. He has some rough edges on him, but he has looked decent so far. Would like to see take the attack to Aus some more (7 off 28 as I am typing) but given the situation and the quality of bowling he has acquitted himself well so far.

Harris back into the attack now, a proper examination approaching. Cue a lovely straight drive from Stokes, the bad balls still have to be put away.

Hoggy_Bear wrote:No worries.
New boys to the rescue  

And Laurie Evans as well come the summer if the King of Spain gets Flower's job.   

guildfordbat wrote:

Hoggy_Bear wrote:No worries.
New boys to the rescue  

And Laurie Evans as well come the summer if the King of Spain gets Flower's job.   

Varun Chopra, Chris Woakes and Keith Barker will be in the team first.   

Tremendous stop by Rogers at mid off. Sums up the Australian performance this summer.

Great shot by G-Ballz though. Two batsmen in double figures now! I'm getting dizzy...

JDizzle wrote:

guildfordbat wrote:

JDizzle wrote:Fairly assured start from Ballance, nice to see. If he digs in and makes even a 40 or 50 he secures his place for the summer. Just has to see it as an opportunity, rather than an examination!

He does get right across his stumps though, potential LBW candidate, but he played the ball nice and late in that first over.

I saw Ballance at the Oval playing for Yorks in the penultimate match of the 2013 CC season. Although the match had something of a dead rubber feel to it (Surrey had just lost their battle against relegation and Yorks knew they were going to finish as CC runners up), Ballance still caught the eye and was highly impressive. The word I would use to describe him is the same as your's - assured. He always appeared confident and in control but rarely reckless, standing out in a strong Tykes batting line up. He made a flowing 140 odd in the first innings of the match to apparently set Yorks up nicely. However, this was the match in which Sibley got a double ton and so Yorks very surprisingly were behind when they batted second time round. After one or two quick wickets, Surrey even had an outside chance of an innings win but Ballance put a stop to that. He made another hundred, unbeaten this time and a more battling one before the draw was safely secured when he then let rip. I felt he was too low in the Yorks order, going in at number 6 immediately after Bairstow at 5.

I have heard from someone who is ususally pretty reliable on these matters of badgering games that no-one else watches that Ballance's 50 at Alice Springs was a very scratchy and unimpressive knock, which meant that he perhaps didn't get his chance till now. It's good to hear reports of him, I haven't seen much of him at all, that suggest he has the ability to get on top and dominate the bowling given the chance. He has some rough edges on him, but he has looked decent so far. Would like to see take the attack to Aus some more (7 off 28 as I am typing) but given the situation and the quality of bowling he has acquitted himself well so far.

Harris back into the attack now, a proper examination approaching. Cue a lovely straight drive from Stokes, the bad balls still have to be put away.

That's the only time I've seen him but I certainly liked what I saw. I'm pretty sure the thinking at the start of this tour was for Root to open and Ballance to bat at 6. A shame for him that Carberry got off to a flyer in the warm ups whilst he struggled.

Anyway, into double figures now. It'll be a first small feather in his cap if he can still be there at lunch.

Of the 3 debutants here, I believe Ballance is the more likely to kick on at Test level.

I won't say anything that will jinx them.

I think what may be quite telling is the fact that Aus will probs go to SA and lose comfortably.

Well played Gary Balance and Ben Stokes.

If you want to spin it - an equal session. First hour to Australia, second hour to England.

Unfortunately, the four wickets in that opening hour show the nonsense of the above.

Stokes and Ballance have since played well but, yet again, there is so much to do.