The Ashes: 2nd Test, Adelaide

2nd Test Adelaide, December 2-6, 2017

Australia:
Bancroft, Warner, Khawaja, Smith *, Handscomb, S Marsh, Paine †, Starc, Cummins, Lyon, Hazelwood

England:
Cook, Stoneman, Vince, Root *, Malan, Ali, Bairstow †, Woakes, Overton, Broad, Anderson

England are yet to confirm their side... hopefully Moeen's thumb is holding together well and he will almost certainly be there.

Sick of all this pre-match carry on.
It's like a bad soap opera with average Australian actors ruining a half decent plot. The game deserves better.

Bring on the pink ball. I'm ready for this now. Less than 24 hours to go.

Moeen isn’t fit enough to bowl - that was evidently clear in that first test and if they haven’t decided he is by now, I highly doubt that will change. And if he isn’t fit to bowl, England have a real problem - because I’m not sure England can play him if he can’t bowl (unless they’re just going to trust Root/Malan to cobble together enough overs)

Some speculation though that Moeen will play only as a batsman. I'm worried the selectors don't realise the impact of that ... I mean me losing a bowler in LD's Ultimate Points Chaser Challenge!

guildfordbat wrote:Some speculation though that Moeen will play only as a batsman. I'm worried the selectors don't realise the impact of that ... I mean me losing a bowler in LD's Ultimate Points Chaser Challenge!

If that were to happen... of course you get to choose a replacement bowler.
Just let me know prior to the first pink ball delivery, guildford... say no later than 20 minutes before the start of play?

Same goes for everyone else in the tipping comp.

Theres a differenc ebetween fit enough to bowl and limited when bowling or a risk of the injury flaring up.

Its a big tell of just how important Moeen is, and how pointless Crane is in the squad, that he played as the sole spinner and was expected to shoulder a large number of overs ...even coming on ahead of the two "quicks" when unable to properly spin the ball ( ignoring my usual jibes about any England " spinners").

The reports are that it didnt stop him bowling, just getting any rip on the ball. So it did limit his effectiveness, and arguably cost England the game...or at least played a big part in Australia getting back on top and establishing the momentum to dominate the secodn innings. Also jesus ...just how bad is kwhaksdhgadiugja at playing slow bowlers?

So now hes apparently able to bowl properly, he was rested in boiwling practise to give the cut additional time to heal over. The risk is that if he bowls a lot of overs he opens the wound up again. So dont expect to see much of him early in the game, which on a seamers wicket we shouldnt be anyway. England have 4 front line seamers, on a fast pitch and day/night with the pink ball you really shouldnt be seeing a lot of off spin in the first innings; if we do need Moeen to bowl 25 overs then the games already gone regardless of whether his fingers borked. 

Assuming the reports form camp are true this is nothing like the Swann situation, and he seems to be getting managed much better. Hopefuly they have learnt their lessons form last time about forcing injured players onto the field against their own wishes.

Id be amazed if he doesnt play.

My biggest worry with this second test is that Root and the England team will get carried sway with the idea of the pink ball offering extravagant movement. I can see Root winning the toss and putting Australia in to bat, trying to exploit said movement, and then watching Australia finish the day on 320-3. Effectively ending our chances of winning the test and thus the series.

For once I am in total agreement with gooseberry

It seems to be a cut on the finger ; which they obviously don't want to open again. The more rest he can get the better ; but he will bowl if needed at some point.
In any case he's better than the alternatives for the batting spot.

I take Living in Italy's point : but if England let Australia get 300/3 in any conditions , batting first or second , they're done. Hopefully they look at the pitch before deciding whether to bat or bowl but I'd imagine conditions will be similar over the first two or three days anyway.
I do think this will suit England better than Brisbane ; but it will be down to smart and sound cricket , not conditions , who comes out on top. Despite the eventual margin last week there wasn't a lot between the teams so if the tourists aren't psychologically done over already they are at least a decent chance...

England have named a 12 man squad for the test - same XI as the first test with Overton added, so basically they're choosing between Overton and Ball I'd imagine.

Ideally Moeen isn't needed too much in the 1st innings and is ok by the 2nd. Either way, it's now two seperate injuries he's picked up this tour, not good. The strength of our side was meant to be the Stokes/Bairstow/Ali/Woakes lower order and bowling options - and that's pretty much been decimated by the Stokes incident and now Moeen's injury (and then Bairstow/Woakes's poor performance in the 1st test).

Moeen must be ok to bowl then as no Crane in the 12 man squad.
If he's not going to be playing... a) why call him up. b) why isn't he playing for the lions

I get the feeling Moeen will injure his bowing finger again and Root will end up bowling like 20 overs

Good Golly I'm Olly wrote:England have named a 12 man squad for the test - same XI as the first test with Overton added, so basically they're choosing between Overton and Ball I'd imagine.

Ideally Moeen isn't needed too much in the 1st innings and is ok by the 2nd. Either way, it's now two seperate injuries he's picked up this tour, not good. The strength of our side was meant to be the Stokes/Bairstow/Ali/Woakes lower order and bowling options - and that's pretty much been decimated by the Stokes incident and now Moeen's injury (and then Bairstow/Woakes's poor performance in the 1st test).

Seems like someone has hacked into Olly's laptop and is submitting rogue posts in his name.

With Moeen's slowly healing injury rumour is he will play even.if it is just as a specialist batsman. This may pre-empt a decision if England win the toss. By batting first it naturally extends the healing time for Moeen by perhaps around 24 hours.

Day/night tests still carry an unknown factor, but with England’s form+fitness concerns, it is difficult to envisage any other outcome than an Australian win.

That said, this is England’s best chance of gaining a win in the series. A loss here and the Ashes are surely gone.

Will be interesting to see how long the Test lasts. If half the reports of extravagant movement are true, this could be a three-dayer.

so these tests are starting at 4am? anybody know rough session times. not much of a early riser with my work shifts, so will probably miss more of this one than the first test.

CaledonianCraig wrote:With Moeen's slowly healing injury rumour is he will play even.if it is just as a specialist batsman. This may pre-empt a decision if England win the toss. By batting first it naturally extends the healing time for Moeen by perhaps around 24 hours.

hopefully!!

compelling and rich wrote:so these tests are starting at 4am? anybody know rough session times. not much of a early riser with my work shifts, so will probably miss more of this one than the first test.

03:30 GMT start (as Adelaide is ten and a half hours ahead of the UK).

Then, according to Cricinfo:

03:30-05:30 = First Session
Tea is 20 minutes
05:50-07:50 = Second Session
Dinner is 40 minutes
08:30-10:30 = Third Session

Duty281 wrote:

compelling and rich wrote:so these tests are starting at 4am? anybody know rough session times. not much of a early riser with my work shifts, so will probably miss more of this one than the first test.

03:30 GMT start (as Adelaide is ten and a half hours ahead of the UK).

Then, according to Cricinfo:

03:30-05:30 = First Session
Tea is 20 minutes
05:50-07:50 = Second Session
Dinner is 40 minutes
08:30-10:30 = Third Session

cheers, will probably try to catch highlights without knowing the result/action

Overton to replace Ball, by all accounts.

Updated the OP.

Cool and cloudy at the ground. The toss must be soon.

England fielding first. Brave decision by Root.

Smith says he would have batted if he had won the toss. Root's decision may be under the microscope if this does not go well this morning.

Yes, a brave decision indeed.
They'll have to throw everything at the Aussies now. We'll soon see if it pays off.

Not surprised Root chose to bowl. If it works it could be a master stroke . If it doesn't...remember bowl first choices by Hussain among others which have never been forgotten.

Really does make this first session vital.

Glad they've picked Overton who surely should have played in Brisbane...not hindsight : I said at the time it was daft to pick a man who had hardly played in the warmups in favour of in an form bowler. Of course Overton may not succeed ; but he should have been tried first. Hopefully he is still in tune...

Four overs gone. Early, but few signs of movement and the strong wind is affecting the both bowlers control.

Root's butterflies will be intensifying.

Australia off to a comfortable start on 21 for 0. Anderson, Broad and Woakes struggling to find the right length to bowlvat the Aussie openers. Root's decision to bowl though so he needs wickets and fast.

Nine overs gone ...couple of play and miss from Warner but nothing to get too excited about.
Bowlers have been a fraction shorter than required on this. Not that the ball is swinging round corners anyway.

Australia will be happy with the way this has gone so far. Pressure on England to make something happen soon or they'll be thinking the decision to bowl was a Serious Mistake...

Rain.

England need to regroup.

Probably a good time for a break for the fielding team. Chance to reassess ; batsmen have to start again.

First mini-session very much to Australia but it is still early. And I imagine the overcast conditions will persist so the bowlers can still feel they are in this...

Back now.

Good start back up by Warner

More rain and those of you who had to rise in the middle of the night to view this have my sympathy...no fireworks yet and on-off action. Hope we get them back on soon but not holding my breath.

With my own game washed out (Melbourne currently in the second of three widely predicted days of constant rain...ah well , good for the gardens ) I'd been hoping to have some interesting cricket to watch : so far I've seen nothing to make up for having to listen to Warne , Vaughan and Nicholas...

Tend to agree with the aforementioned commentators that this looks a pretty benign pitch though . So whatever happens when they come back out England need to find a way of keeping this first Australian innings down to a below par score ...it certainly isn't going to be a day for bowling them out for 60 - or even 98.
There does seem to be an idea of playing on Warner's aggressive instincts , with deep point set ; but it hasn't been effective - he has been restrained but sound. And Bancroft is doing a good job in playing a lot of push and run dabs on the off side. And crucially they haven't lost a wicket.
I know the semi-defensive plan in Brisbane worked up to a point ; but I'm not sure it is what is best for this morning after taking the chance of sending Australia in. How much of this is Root's preference and how much the coaching staff ?
Probably best to judge it after we've seen a full days cricket...

Bowling first at Adelaide? Have we lost our minds as well as our bottle?

Back again and a lucky break for England ...good work from Woakes throwing down the stumps from side on and Bancroft pays for a running mix up...

I did say I was worried that they would be too influenced by all the talk of the amount of movement of the pink baĺl and the overhead conditions.

Good wicket for England to take. Glad it wasn't Warner

Some quite lively bowling since that run out but Warner and Khawaja have stood firm : pretty sound bar a few beating the outside edge.
England will be desperate to get another one now and get Smith in as early as possible.
Overton's first over quite promising , but Broad looks the main threat.

Nothing in the pitch for bowlers, not swinging - almost as if batting first is the obvious thing to do...(England the first team since 1992 to choose to bowl first at Adelaide)

Good Golly I'm Olly wrote:Nothing in the pitch for bowlers, not swinging - almost as if batting first is the obvious thing to do...(England the first team since 1992 to choose to bowl first at Adelaide)

Suspect the fact that the pink ball matches here have both been won by the team that batted second might have influenced them...this pitch strikes me as a bit less grassy though.

Welcome break now as Woakes gets one to lift a bit more than Warner expected and takes the edge...86/2

Warner gone. Come on Smith son. Time to step it up

Warner given himself away there.

Not sure there’s enough in the pitch to unnerve Smith early

Dolphin Ziggler wrote:Warner given himself away there.

Not sure there’s enough in the pitch to unnerve Smith early

No. They really wanted him in a lot earlier while the ball was still likely to swing . Didn't get enough balls in the right spot early on though - and to be fair and give credit where due the batsmen played well.

Root bringing Broad back immediately for Smith and that is a good move I think : you have to attack him with your main bowlers as once he gets set he will destroy you...

Morning guys,

Need to get Smith early, players all over him at the moment. A lot of talk! Proper competitive stuff.

Get Smith out will hopefully bring 2 more and the decision to bowl will look like the right one!

Oh dear....missed opportunity .

Stoneman drops Khawaja at deep square...the Woakes short ball attack should have worked. As it was its 13 off the over...

Bowling well here but need to take wickets

Nothing past Broad and Anderson. Others slide in too much filth

Good Golly I'm Olly wrote:Nothing in the pitch for bowlers, not swinging - almost as if batting first is the obvious thing to do...(England the first team since 1992 to choose to bowl first at Adelaide)

Yep, it didn't look a good decision from the off.

Australia all set for a 400+ score here.

Duty281 wrote:

Good Golly I'm Olly wrote:Nothing in the pitch for bowlers, not swinging - almost as if batting first is the obvious thing to do...(England the first team since 1992 to choose to bowl first at Adelaide)

Yep, it didn't look a good decision from the off.

Australia all set for a 400+ score here.

Let's hope Aussie boys get a 400 score

However...time for you to switch over to the rugby league. Or you not bothering?

Steffan wrote:

Duty281 wrote:

Good Golly I'm Olly wrote:Nothing in the pitch for bowlers, not swinging - almost as if batting first is the obvious thing to do...(England the first team since 1992 to choose to bowl first at Adelaide)

Yep, it didn't look a good decision from the off.

Australia all set for a 400+ score here.

Let's hope Aussie boys get a 400 score

However...time for you to switch over to the rugby league. Or you not bothering?

Aye, might as well.

LivinginItaly wrote:I did say I was worried that they would be too influenced by all the talk of the amount of movement of the pink baĺl and the overhead conditions.

Good call.

Tea. 129/2

Not a knockout blow yet. Fifty one overs down , so the bowlers have basically kept some control ; but the wickets haven't tumbled. A lot of similarity to Brisbane really ... The plans to make it difficult for the batsmen , even on placid pitches , are more or less working. But the Australian batsmen are staying patient , picking off the loose ball ...and are apparently once again well placed to make a solid score.
The other side of this is the lingering doubt as to whether England's batsmen can reply in kind , when their chance comes...

Well I reckon England need a BIG session now. They need a minimum.of four wickets in this last session for me. England need to end this day strongly.