England v Australia - Test 1, Cardiff 8th - 12th July

First topic message reminder :

England

Lyth
Cook
Ballance
Bell
Root
Stokes
Buttler
Ali
Broad
Wood
Anderson


Australia

Warner
Rogers
Smith
Clarke
Voges
Watson
Haddin
Johnson
Starc
Lyon
Hazlewood



Officials

Umpires - HDPK Dharmasena and M Erasmus
TV umpire - CB Gaffaney
Match referee - RS Madugalle
Reserve umpire - NGB Cook



Toss

Won by England who choose to bat.

The lead nudging past 250. Good aggression by these two - at no point in this test match have the runs stopped flowing for England; it's why they are about to disappear over the horizon in plenty of time.

I think the reason a lot of people say Bell for 3 is that series in 2011 where he moved up after Trott got injured and batted beautifully there. Also I suppose 2013 where he was always in so early he might as well have been batting at 3.

Hales and Taylor would have a chance at the top order if their batting this summer wasn't so horrendous. It really does only leave Bairstow as someone who could come who has international class and is in incredible form, but he could probably only bat at 4 at the highest

Alfie - Yes I'm aware they haven't played much... But three centuries between them in 36 Tests says enough. Especially when you factor in that none of them average north of 40 in FC.

Proving irrelevant, though, because England are bossing this with the men in the middle.

I don't think there is much need to change things. Ballance will come good - still played very little cricket. Bairstow looking long term as replacement for Bell.

Current lead of 250 for 3 wickets, and we are only 15 minutes before tea on day 3. Scoring at 4 an over (although in odd fits and starts - just taken 19 off the last 2 overs after scoring 6 in the preceding 5). The wicket is a bit of a strange one in that the new ball is dangerous for about 15 overs but then it gets quite flat. Some spin and some uneven bounce

So what is the plan? I guess at the moment it's just bat and accumulate to the end of the day, which should see our lead up around the 400 mark. Worth declaring overnight at that point? I think in part it depends what the weather forecast for Sunday says - my understanding is it was fairly ropey but it now looks like there will be a chance of about half a day's play after a full day tomorrow.

Perhaps the best scenario is actually for England to keep pushing on but to keep losing wickets - all out for 280-300 just before the close would be a good position and would take the decision out of our hands.

Having said that, I think we may have enough already (i.e. that Australia won't get 250 in the 4th innings). Not suggesting we are even close to a declaration, as we need the insurance of enough runs that we'll get two new balls in the 4th innings, so a lead of at least another 100.

Well, you'll almost certainly bat the whole of today. Which would put the lead at about 380. Captains being captains, generally like round figures to declare on or near. So probably a hit about tomorrow morning, and declaration on 450ish. If Australia get that... Fair play.

But they won't.

kingraf wrote:Alfie - Yes I'm aware they haven't played much... But three centuries between them in 36 Tests says enough. Especially when you factor in that none of them average north of 40 in FC.

Proving irrelevant, though, because England are bossing this with the men in the middle.

Is it 36 , raf ? I was just estimating ... But Stokes as an allrounder , two hundreds and one near miss seems decent...Moeen batting down the order now ; and Buttlerr who looks well capable of 100s ; I'd say he has underachieved so far ...

I reckon they are a bit better than the raw stats.

Bat until luncheon tomorrow - if nothing more than to let the pitch deteriorate more

50 for the Sherminator

Well I have slated the man relentlessly, so I have to say well done Ian Bell on a very valuable 50, both for the volume of runs and the counter-attacking nature of it

Good - and timely - fifty for Ian Bell.

Say what you like about him ; watching him caress a ball through covers is always a delight.

Fancied him for runs today after he got off the mark with his trademark run down to third man.

Good session England.

Lead of 271 at Tea. Good start by the Aussies getting Ballance early, but Lyth, Root and Bell have counter-attacked well to give England the session. Another 100 runs without losing more than three wickets will be extremely satisfactory for the hosts at stumps.

kingraf

Unless Stokes or Buttler come in and go mad for an hour after tea I certainly don't see a declaration today as being on the cards. As I said, I think the forecast suggest we'll lose about half of Sunday (maybe a bit less) so I think we have to take that into account a little.

Certainly I think if Cook declares at 425 or 450 ahead tomorrow morning and the Aussies knock it off we'd just have to say well done to them. The gutting one would be if we bat on too long and they can hold out for a draw with say 7 down.

Tidy from Bell, tidy from England. 128/2 in that session, chalk up another one for England.

The lead will, hopefully, touch 400 by stumps. Excellent platform for Stokes and Buttler to indulge in their attacking tendencies, whenever it is they do get to the crease.

Imagine just how good an Ian bell and Moeen Ali hundred partnership would be too watch. Cricket porn

How many overs are left to bowl after tea? I'm guessing it's more than the 30 scheduled.

Again, I'd make that session 90/10 in England's favour - looked like we could have a tricky time when Balance got out, but Lyth's cameo and now Bell and Root's class has taken the game almost completely away from the Aussies (barring a typically English collapse). Push on to about 400 ahead by the close, and then it's just a case of how much of a slog do / can we have tomorrow morning.

Olly

I'd much rather watch Boycott and Tavare

Dummy - cricinfo showed 37 overs to be played after tea.

Didn't realise there's 37 overs left. Thought it was 30ish. In which case, a lead of 400 is possible, and with it an overnight declaration? Don't think so, but the morning seems to be the best time to bowl on this wicket so maybe worth a thought.

kingraf wrote:Didn't realise there's 37 overs left. Thought it was 30ish. In which case, a lead of 400 is possible, and with it an overnight declaration? Don't think so, but the morning seems to be the best time to bowl on this wicket so maybe worth a thought.

That thought occurred to me ; but perhaps it is more a case of the new ball than the time of day ?

Mitchell Johnson finally comes to the party. Cleans up Bell for 60.

Out of the blue , a wicket !

Odd . Bell seemed totally on top ; but he was nowhere with that ball ...didn't do anything special so I'm blessed if I know what he was doing ? Not at all the way he normally plays...

MJ will be happy to get on the board at last !

50 for Root. England lead by 300. Stokes had a life previous over. Starc had him lbw but didn't appeal.

Batting suddenly looking tricky again...Australia energized by the breakthrough.

But not enough to appeal for lbw against Stokes

It didn't look a definite out to me , live . But if I'd bowled it , I'd have certainly asked the question ! Still might have been called not out , I guess ; and they might not have risked wasting their referral...

Starc bowling close to ninety still , injury and all. And working Stokes over early on. As he has to.
With Root over fifty again , you'd think if Stokes gets set this game could run away from Australia quite rapidly.

Lyon back now. This might be interesting.

Stokes living rather dangerously. Got away with that LBW because the Australians didn't appeal, then got hit on the pads and edged a few and got beaten, but most importantly, he's still there and an hour of him can take the game completely away from the Australians.
And Joe Root continues to bat in the form of his life effortlessly.

Starc has his fitness issues and he bowled a few already in that spell, but the way Stokes was struggling against him, perhaps Clarke could have given him another over.

Root is in some form , isn't he ? Even got the slice of luck in the first innings that seems to come when you're playing well ...all he needed.

When you're out of sorts , you always get out to the miracle catch , or the rough decision...

Stokes is indeed living dangerously. It's him or Lyon here , I think .

Think Clarke really is missing a trick here, getting Stokes before he settles is so very key for Australia, but he has opted for a combination of Watson and Lyon for that task.

Unless he can aline that pad out of harms way and play a match-saving innings next up, think this has to be Shane Watson's last test. Not looking threatening with theball, and in the struggle for the attention of the ball, his pad is winning over the bat. Marsh can at least bat a bit better. I've said it before and I'll say it again, it is such a pity they didn't give Faulkner a run in the test side. Rather than drink driving and all, the lad should have been playing test cricket. Think as an all-rounder, he's better than both Watson and Marsh.

msp83 wrote:Think Clarke really is missing a trick here, getting Stokes before he settles is so very key for Australia, but he has opted for a combination of Watson and Lyon for that task.

Well Lyon is definitely a fair call ; but not sure about Watson. Suppose he feels (a) Watson might keep it tight , and encourage Stokes to go too hard at Lyon ; and (b) he doesn't want to bowl his strike men into the ground.

Between a rock and a hard place really , in this situation.

msp83 wrote:Unless he can aline that pad out of harms way and play a match-saving innings next up, think this has to be Shane Watson's last test. Not looking threatening with theball, and in the struggle for the attention of the ball, his pad is winning over the bat. Marsh can at least bat a bit better. I've said it before and I'll say it again, it is such a pity they didn't give Faulkner a run in the test side. Rather than drink driving and all, the lad should have been playing test cricket. Think as an all-rounder, he's better than both Watson and Marsh.

I like Faulkner. But I'm not sure he is top six material in Tests. Obviously a much better bowler. But there are a few useful left armers already...

Root goes. 60 again. Hazelwood's delivery bounced lower than expected, Root had looked pretty untroubled up until then.

Hazlewood is so much like McGrath in his bowling isn't he. Didn't think root played that particularly well tho

Stokes has got going and has moved on to 21, think Clarke and Australia have lost their moment.
But Hazelwood has come back and cut short Root's progress towards that ton that seemed inevitable

Root goes to one that keeps a bit low...

Hazelwood with the big breakthrough as Clarke rings the changes. Reckon he's been Australia's best here.

They have actually choked off the runs a bit recently ; and with that wicket they are hanging in the game . Just.
Though a few balls are starting to do a bit so chasing anything much over this is not going to be any picnic.

England would really like a Buttler special transplanted from the ODI format now !

msp83 wrote:Stokes has got going and has moved on to 21, think Clarke and Australia have lost their moment.
But Hazelwood has come back and cut short Root's progress towards that ton that seemed inevitable

Yes the Root wicket is big these days ! While he was in , a lead of 500 seemed inevitable if they wanted it...now things are a little more fluid.

Couple of wickets have come rather out of the blue in this session : it has looked pretty easy mostly - but two balls have got through...

the problem with these rain affected games on flat pitches is they end up being over insinde 4 days

This already is a probable winning lead, another 100 is a conservative ask give theres 3 good bats and 3 bowlers still left in. that would surely make the game englands, i just dot see aus making much over 30 eve if you offered them a biscuit for their efforts

It's pretty impressive that Starc is clearly struggling with an injury yet coming in and bowling 85-90 mph still

Olly wrote:It's pretty impressive that Starc is clearly struggling with an injury yet coming in and bowling 85-90 mph still

It surely can't be that bad or they wouldn't let him continue. Obviously painful ; but perhaps medical opinion is that he won't do himself any further harm
???
They'll look pretty silly if he crocks himself for the summer...

Lead over 350 now , as Stokes looks to accelerate against Lyon.

Scoring had slacked off a little ; but it is still nearly four per over for this session.

Buttler goes, playing an ill judged sweep to Lyon, caught by Haddin. Lead 356.

Don't think he needed to play that. Normal batting would do. Waste.

Hope Moeen plays properly.

What is England's target for tonight , I wonder ? Craig is presumably off trying to inspire Murray back into his clash with Roger , so we are missing an updated road map

Just wonder if they aren't overdoing the funky stuff ? Surely they intend to bat the rest of the day...

And Stokes drags Starc on. The Aussies are back in with a sniff here.

So how many here can see Australia chasing down 360?

England's target is for them to be still batting with a lead of 400 on the board.

Seven gone now !

Stokes plays on. Four hundred lead looks a fair way off now ...and suddenly Australia will be starting to hope again.

That's the trouble with throwing away wickets , even in a strong position.

Yes Buttler ; I'm looking at you

How dare they continue playing the attacking shots that have got them in this position

CaledonianCraig wrote:England's target is for them to be still batting with a lead of 400 on the board.

Well that's what I thought. But they have rather lost their way recently.

I'd have expected them to really crush the tired bowlers this evening. But a couple of concentration lapses have cost them.

Still rather have England's position. But you should never give your opponent a way back when you have him down...

Olly wrote:How dare they continue playing the attacking shots that have got them in this position

Attack by all means but don't go all T20 it's idiotic.

Broad throws his wicket away. Great catch by Hazlewood. Really sloppy batting from England.