The Ashes: 5th Test, Sydney

First topic message reminder :

5th Test Sydney, January 4-8, 2017 (23:30 GMT Jan 3)

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

England:
Cook, Stoneman, Vince, Root *, Malan, Bairstow †, Ali, Curran, Broad, Crane, Anderson

Hi Jimbo - think it's 11.30 pm (UK) start.

Steven Smith currently averaging 162 for the series, with 648 runs!

How many more will he add today? Only 119 more runs to surpass Cook's glorious effort in 2010/11.

Smith starting nicely too...working the ball off his legs immediately as if he's been batting for hours . Can't see how he will ever get out.

Not loving this round the wicket tactic to him either. It may be "different" but I can't see it being useful. Unlikely to induce impatience - Smith never seems to get impatient. And neither Jimmy nor this pitch is quick enough to suggest there's any chance of bowling him behind his legs.

This is already looming as a tough day in the field.

guildfordbat wrote:Hi Jimbo - think it's 11.30 pm (UK) start.

Cheers Guildford, was thinking there was still some time to be made up.

Moeen opening up with Jimmy... Interesting

New ball due in 8 overs now, so have to try and keep Broad and Anderson as fresh as possible for that guess.

jimbohammers wrote:

guildfordbat wrote:Hi Jimbo - think it's 11.30 pm (UK) start.

Cheers Guildford, was thinking there was still some time to be made up.

Moeen opening up with Jimmy... Interesting

Suppose he does bother Khawaja at times. Limited in their options anyway with this attack...think we'll see all five before the new ball. Root has got some juggling to do...

Hundred for Khawaja

Reward for determination ....he has had some struggles in this series but he's put his head down and batted himself and his team into an excellent spot here . Well played

A gutsy century for Khawaja. With Smith at the other end, already looking like a long day in the field.

New ball taken immediately. They'd better make this count or they'll be fielding until tea tomorrow ...

Not a lot happening. A nice little inside edge on to the stumps would be nice...

Intriguing stat from cricinfo.

Scores after 80 over for both sides -
England 233/3;
Australia 233/2.

Yet Australia seem and probably are sizeably on top.

You never know I guess! Get Smith out sharpish and you could get a couple of quick ones? Unfortunately that does not look particular probable right now...

guildfordbat wrote:Intriguing stat from cricinfo.

Scores after 80 over for both sides -
England 233/3;
Australia 233/2.

Yet Australia seem and probably are sizeably on top.

I guess if England had kicked on from there as they arguably should have done and made 470 we might be looking at it differently. Of course we now know they lost the remaining three top order bats for twenty more.

And we really can't see Australia having a similar collapse , can we ? The pitch is offering nothing but comfort for the batsmen right now and England really only have two bowlers - both of whom are probably running on empty by now after nearly sixty overs each in Melbourne...

Need a couple of Australian errors to get a foothold again and these two don't look like giving anything away.

At least young Crane will get a good workout

JDizzle wrote:You never know I guess! Get Smith out sharpish and you could get a couple of quick ones? Unfortunately that does not look particular probable right now...

I've been saying the same thing to myself for an hour now jdizzle

Im calling it a night. Hopefully that changes out fortunes. I hope to wake up to a Crane 'fifer'

Barring something astonishing, Australia will be batting all day. And eventually winning by an innings. England look utterly defeated.

Wouldn't be surprised if this is the only test Mason Crane ever plays, like Borthwick and Kerrigan before him.

Off his 19 overs, Crane has gone at an average of 3.4. That's not too bad for a young leg spinner starting out in Test cricket. One thing I have noticed from his analysis though is that he hasn't bowled a maiden yet. Whilst I don't expect him to ever be a miserly bowler, it would be handy and help create pressure if he could send down a few.

Duty281 wrote:Barring something astonishing, Australia will be batting all day. And eventually winning by an innings. England look utterly defeated.

Wouldn't be surprised if this is the only test Mason Crane ever plays, like Borthwick and Kerrigan before him.

I doubt that. He has been promoted early - perhaps too early - but he hasn't been destroyed (yet , anyway) so I'd be astonished if they don't give him more opportunities. Warne thinks he has something.

I wish I could be as confident your other prediction is wrong

But this really does have the look of a replay of Perth. I honestly can't see where a wicket is going to come from...

Duty281 wrote:Barring something astonishing, Australia will be batting all day. And eventually winning by an innings. England look utterly defeated.

Wouldn't be surprised if this is the only test Mason Crane ever plays, like Borthwick and Kerrigan before him.

I'm more optimistic than Duty for Crane's Test future but am increasingly fearful for England's chances in this match.

The comparisons with Crane don't really fit imo. Kerrigan was destroyed in about 10 overs of Test cricket which certainly hasn't happened to Crane. After his solitary Test, Borthwick never got much opportunity to bowl more leg spin at Durham and was no better than ''work in progress'' (per Stewart) as a bowler when he signed for Surrey at the start of 2017.

Currently Australia are 263/2, trailing by 83. As I get ready to retire to bed, I can see them still batting and around 480 at the end of the day, leading by 130+.

PS Same minds, Alfie - just seen your last post! Night all.

Good on ya, Mo!

Stars fall from the heavens ! Empires crash in ruins !

Steve Smith c&b Moeen Ali

Moeen!

How?! Crane, Curran, Wood, Overton...

Typical! Sums up England’s drs this series

Interesting that came after Root set a really attaching field with three close catchers...

I do think they try too many "tactics" against Smith , who seems to have scrambled their minds . Best approach is often doing the basics , but doing them well.
This morning , first up , I'd rather Jimmy and Broad had bowled three overs each , attacking top of off , than all that round the wicket stuff. You can see why they want to try tricks - and in fairness Jimmy did beat Smith with a faster full ball which might on another day have gone pad to stumps - but I think a normal approach would have had as decent a chance of getting a break.

Capping off the morning Crane has missed his first Test wicket by bowling a no ball ...

Wood , Curran , Overton ...a new tradition ?

And how on earth does a leg spinner overstep ?

alfie wrote:And how on earth does a leg spinner overstep ?

Yeah very frustrating that. Back In the game if he hadn’t

I suppose it is tough to change something when you have been doing it all your career, especially for leggie who will find it tougher than a seamers - but I can't believe no-one has got hold of him at Hampshire and said you are getting close.

Especially when you think he is more of a limited overs specialist and no-balls are criminal in T20/ODI...

It’s all going off between the commentators

JDizzle wrote:I suppose it istough to change something when you have been doing it all your career, especially for leggie who will find it tougher than a seamers - but I can't believe no-one has got hold of him at Hampshire and said you are getting close.

Especially when you think he is more of a limited overs specialist and no-balls are criminal in T20/ODI...

Since he is only 20 I'd imagine he should be able to make the odd adjustment yet

He's bowling well in this spell so hopefully that wicket isn't far away ?

Incidentally : was that a definite no ball anyway ? Seemed there might be a tiny bit of heel behind the line as he landed - it doesn't have to be grounded ; and I've seen them allowed on similar minuscule evidence before.
Done now .

He's definitely worrying Khawaja now. Keep going , lad !

A good period for England since lunch - both spinners testing these two left handers ...no breakthrough yet but it suddenly looks a lot more likely than it did for most of two hours this morning.

Couples of chips so nearly going to hand off Crane. Can they keep the pressure up ? You feel one now just might bring two or three...

And Root coming into the attack now. Trial by spin

Guess he wants to prove his prematch comments this is a spinners pitch...

alfie wrote:

JDizzle wrote:I suppose it istough to change something when you have been doing it all your career, especially for leggie who will find it tougher than a seamers - but I can't believe no-one has got hold of him at Hampshire and said you are getting close.

Especially when you think he is more of a limited overs specialist and no-balls are criminal in T20/ODI...

Since he is only 20 I'd imagine he should be able to make the odd adjustment yet

He's bowling well in this spell so hopefully that wicket isn't far away ?

I’m sure he will survive!

I’ve not seen him bowl his googly much? Whether that is just me missing it or a plan, but it has always impressed in the shorter forms.

He was unlucky not to get a wicket or two in that spell. Obviously the no ball was the Big Moment ; but he induced several mis hits , nearly had a c&b ... If England were on top instead of trailing 3-0 these close things would probably be going the other way : it is the way cricket tends to go.

Would love to see him get a shot at a second innings bowl ; but I'm fearing Australia look almost nailed on for a 200 lead now and so are unlikely to need a second knock...

Curran toiling manfully now...can't fault the effort these young fellows are putting in . But watching England bowl this summer has shown just how much they depend on the two senior seamers...and what a pickle they are likely to be in when Broad and Anderson eventually hang up their bowling boots.
All this about wanting 90 mph bowlers ...if wishes were fishes , etc...

I'd settle for finding a couple of bowlers who were capable of performing consistently at Test level. Thought Woakes might be one ; but he , like Finn , seems to be regressing.

Still keeping the lid on the scoring .(
Australia are in no hurry ; as indeed has been the case all summer. They know that England's batsmen are basically incapable of occupying the crease for more than four sessions at a time so they will,always have time to force a win as long as they can have one big innings.)

But apart from the period around lunch when Crane and Moeen were threatening , wickets have looked about as likely as snow interrupting play...

Australia lead by 2 . Ten minutes plus another session today so they will be closing with a healthy advantage tonight...and looking forward to cooking England for another half day tomorrow before declaring. Only one way this is going now , I'm afraid.

Another fifty for Shaun Marsh

A very marginal - and arguably lucky - selection for this series : but he's seized his opportunity with that hundred in Adelaide and several other handy contributions. Australian selectors can take a bow for that pick .

Tend to agree with Ian Chappell that Root erred in removing Crane from the attack too soon after lunch. Sure the situation seemed a bit of a stalemate : but he had definitely had the batsmen playing a few false shots and I think it was a time to press a little more rather than change tactics.
Root does seem to have "missed the boat" a few times this series : notably taking Anderson off in Brisbane when he was testing Smith ...but I guess when the opposition are all over you these moments tend to show out : if you're winning the changes all work and no one notices...

Those of you who are sleeping aren't really missing too much. This match is moving inexorably towards England being set nine hours to bat from maybe 250-300 behind. Only intrigue left being whether they can summon the will to grind it out. With a rested Lyon ready to charge I am not hopeful.

It is not making great viewing. But you have to admire the determined concentration shown by Australia's batsmen...Smith has somehow imbued them all with his own brand of bloody minded bat forever cussedness

Hmm. Batsmen getting stuck into Crane straight after tea.  This will be a different test for the young man.
He needs a bit of luck : like a long hop getting whacked straight to square leg or something.  Luck not really going in England's direction at present....
Anderson tight as ever at the other end... No runs ; but no wickets. Would be forgiven for dreaming of an overcast day at Trent Bridge

At least Crane has a hundred against his name ...

And now he's got a wicket

Neat stumping by YJB sees Khawaja's marathon over ...anxious checking of front foot but OK this time...

Thank heavens for that !

Beats M Marsh first ball...and second ! Turning the ball ...looks confident.
Can he make it out and get two or three quickly ? That's what England just haven't done all summer ...while Australia have.

Looking again ...that was indeed good bowling to get past Khawaja : saw him coming down and went wide to beat him. Definitely something about this lad , despite un exciting figures so far.

Crane all over M Marsh ...though they've wasted a review there as that just spun past the bat as Marsh hit the ground. Spun a long way , mind. But Root hasn't had a great summer with reviews.

I'd get another fielder in close while Marsh is struggling - just to prey on his mind. Important Crane makes this pressure pay off ; while Jimmy just keeps bowling maidens the other end.

Another good over to Marsh. Even produced the googly - though it didn't turn far.
Just hasn't quite touched the edge. Fun to watch.

Marsh off the mark after 19 balls edging Crane past slip...

Crane pulled out of his delivery stride twice that over : seems to be an issue with him . Does he do that at Hampshire , jimbo ?

Drinks : good hour for England , 1/24 and neither batsman too fluent. But , in context , they are still a light year behind.

At least the contest between bat and ball made it more watchable. And it's true that watching a wrist spinner in action is rarely boring.

Lead is now 43 . What will the last hour bring ?

Ah...I fear the Spell might be broken. Immediately after Crane came within microns of the Marsh edge and his off stump his next two balls have been thumped to the boundary...

Marsh might be off and away now.

Close again ...knocking down all three but pitched a whisker outside leg. Good choice not to review.
Crane keeps coming so close. And now a leading edge falls safely ...I've rarely seen a bowler defeat the batsmen more often in a spell for no result ! On another day he'd have six by now...

On comes Moeen...and over mid off goes the ball for six.  M Marsh after struggling to survive the ordeal by leg spin is going after the offie ...

Two launched now and the brothers Marsh have added fifty. This bowling change has been a bad call ...but I guess the pace men are getting a bit weary.  This last half hour might be full of action.

Marsh is slaughtering Moeen now...and yet no one deep behind the bowler ? Shaking my head at this field...

Hats off to Australia : twice today their batsmen have had to endure really tight periods of good bowling but you wouldn't know it looking at the scoreboard ; they've soaked up the pressure (with perhaps a little bit of good fortune) and then gone on their merry way. Really showing England how to play five day cricket