Ashes 2021/22 and other cricket through the winter of 2021 thread

[Mind the windows Tino.]

First topic message reminder :

James Bracey? Admittedly looked painfully bad vs NZ in the summer, but if we are wanting to give guys a chance then he shouldn’t be forgotten about so quickly. Especially as he was batting out of position. Better FC record than Hameed and made a half century for the Lions in Aus in 2020 and a ton this time. But he was flown home because English scoring runs just isn’t on!

Fair. Had forgotten about him actually and he was thrown a suicide pass in the summer against the best test team in the world. He probably does deserve another shot in the near future.

[Duty281]

Not a bad little effort from England this morning. An Anderson reverse sweep is the best shot in cricket.

Let's hope England shoot Australia out pretty swiftly and leave a decent chase on. Otherwise it'll be a dull procession to the finish.

[guildfordbat]

All cricket should be Jimmy Anderson reverse sweeps and Stuart Broad slogging imo. None of this other rubbish

You're back to work Monday, aren't you?

[alfie]

All done at 294. Had hoped for a few more but 122 is a lot smaller deficit than looked likely 24 hours ago.

Weather looks OK at the moment so Australia will be looking to push on while the sun shines. You wouldn't think they'd need a monster lead to declare and get at England , given the way the tourists have collapsed this series ; but captains tend to be a bit careful setting targets these days...

[JuliusHMarx]

Still can't get past 300, even with 2 players + extras contributing 199.

[JDizzle]

Axar Patel and Scott Boland currently possess two of the five lowest Test bowling averages of all time (min 10 wickets). Debuting against England will do that to your record!

[alfie]

Still can't get past 300, even with 2 players + extras contributing 199.

Must be saving it up to chase down 380 tomorrow ...

[JuliusHMarx]

All done at 294.  Had hoped for a few more but 122 is a lot smaller deficit than looked likely 24 hours ago.

Weather looks OK at the moment so Australia will be looking to push on while the sun shines. You wouldn't think they'd need a monster lead to declare and get at England , given the way the tourists have collapsed this series ; but captains tend to be a bit careful setting targets these days...

Declaring at around 80 should be enough.

[alfie]

How many sub fielders out there for England ? Pope with the gloves ...but Stokes is out there - though he won't be bowling.

Harris lucky not to be out first ball as that just dodges the gap in the slips...

[kingraf]

You'd think ideally, Cummins would want a crack today, last half hour kind of deal. Do that leaves probably in the region of 70 overs to bat. Even batting normally at 3 an over that's a 330 run chase, but Australia would, I think, like a little more, with India's improbable chase at the Gabba presumably still fresh in their mind.

[guildfordbat]

How many sub fielders out there for England ?  Pope with the gloves ...but Stokes is out there - though he won't be bowling.

Harris lucky not to be out first ball as that just dodges the gap in the slips...

An old Sunday skipper I knew used to give the confusing contradictory advice of ''go for the runs but don't get out!''.

Here we're trying to dry up the runs and go for the wickets!

Meanwhile, Dan Norcross explaining Jonny Barran's Pickle theory without giving credit or otherwise to him.

[alfie]

Good start from Wood ! Easy catch for Pope at WK and Warner on his way early...

[alfie]

After a few dicey moments early on , the bats are looking a bit comfortable now. Runs ticking over - and with Leach on at one end it always seems wickets are only going to come from a run out ...

[Duty281]

It's a typically busy Australian start. They'll have the lead up to 300 by tea, then it's a waiting game as to the declaration. English survival depends on rain.

[guildfordbat]

You'd think ideally, Cummins would want a crack today, last half hour kind of deal. Do that leaves probably in the region of 70 overs to bat. Even batting normally at 3 an over that's a 330 run chase, but Australia would, I think, like a little more, with India's improbable chase at the Gabba presumably still fresh in their mind.

Hi raf - yep, I agree that Cummins would want a few overs at us tonight. If Australia keep a few wickets in hand, they could afford to have a blitz later on and maybe set us 360+ which should totally remove memories of India's chase at the Gabba.

That's assuming the weather holds today. Also, that Cummins reckons the rain will hold off enough tomorrow and not gamble on an earlier declaration.

[alfie]

Leach gets a wicket ! And nicely taken by Ollie Pope - who has looked rather more lively than Buttler behind the stumps this morning...

Harris not going on again. Khawaja for Hobart ?

52/2

[alfie]

Now will that success for Leach encourage him to bowl with a bit more attacking intent ?  I'd imagine both these bats will be looking to get after him so taking a wicket or two seems arguably more likely than strangling the runs anyway.

Lunch not far away.

But Smith isn't waiting for a cup of tea ! Nice lofted drive

[guildfordbat]

Leach gets a wicket !  And nicely taken by Ollie Pope - who has looked rather more lively than Buttler behind the stumps this morning...

Harris not going on again. Khawaja for Hobart ?

52/2

Yep, that was a very good catch by Pope.

I actually quite like Harris and would be inclined to stick with him for now. Not got the fluency of others but he's a scrapper and can be a useful foil. Valuable top score of 70 odd last time as well.

[guildfordbat]

Lunch for them and bed for me.

The hosts leading by 188 with 8 wickets left and in a very strong place provided the weather holds.

Look forward to further comments from you Alfie and any home night owls in the morning.

[alfie]

Australia are investing in Harris , I think. But as his average languishes in the twenties (almost a qualification for a job with England at the moment !) it is a tricky call for them given Khawaja's effort , and Head's good form.

He will surely tour anyway ; but I think he needs to show an ability to get past thirty on a regular basis or patience will run out. They don't want to get caught (like England !) with an opening vacuum once Warner calls it a day...

[alfie]

Seems Mark has " The Wood" on Labuschagne ...gets him nibbling behind straight after lunch.
Good resumption for England. 68/3

[kingraf]

You'd think ideally, Cummins would want a crack today, last half hour kind of deal. Do that leaves probably in the region of 70 overs to bat. Even batting normally at 3 an over that's a 330 run chase, but Australia would, I think, like a little more, with India's improbable chase at the Gabba presumably still fresh in their mind.

Hi raf - yep, I agree that Cummins would want a few overs at us tonight. If Australia keep a few wickets in hand, they could afford to have a blitz later on and maybe set us 360+ which should totally remove memories of India's chase at the Gabba.

That's assuming the weather holds today. Also, that Cummins reckons the rain will hold off enough tomorrow and not gamble on an earlier declaration.

Hey Guildford - Weather always makes it tricky, no doubt, but as we saw in the first Test of the SA-Ind series, unless you can physically see the hurricane approaching - it's best to play with the idea that the overs left in the match represents the amount of play left, and if you don't get those overs in, well, that's above your control.

England are making a real run at it here though. The question of a declaration may not be answered, as Wood dismissed Labuschagne. It does seem like Marnus has issues against genuine extreme pace, as his decision making isn't as sharp as he'd like, because that was really a nothing ball.

[alfie]

Keeping it in perspective though the lead is already at 190 so Australia won't be sweating too much.

Pope having a jolly time as sub keeper having caught all three victims. The one standing up was a very neat piece of work.

Have heard about possible thunderstorms etc but all looks fine and dry at present. Wood bowling well to Khawaja : they won't want to let him get away again.

[alfie]

Looks like the end of another impressive spell from Mark Wood. Couldn't shift Khawaja or Smith though ( the latter looking ominously set) so as Leach returns this might be a trying time for England.

85/3 off 28. Good to see Leach has a silly point for Khawaja

[kingraf]

Smith getting on with it, the lead crosses 200. Of course, as the game is set, Australia will be feeling pretty confident 206/3 essentially. But Test cricket is a bit like the stock market, isn't it? You sort of explain what's happening now by its future implications. A wicket here would bring an out of form all-rounder and a wicket keeper averaging 19 for the series. 86/3 could quickly turn into 110/6 with one wicket.

[alfie]

Bloody hell ! Leach skids one straight through Smith and knocks his stumps everywhere !

That came out of the blue... 86/4

[Pal Joey]

Smith totally cleaned up by Leach. Perfect arm ball and Smith caught like the proverbial deer in the headlights.

Nice jinx up above, alfie.

[kingraf]

Smith bowled by Jack Leach, South Africa has a series vs England in 6 months, so I'm quite glad to see Leach take some sticks. Might convince England to stick with him even longer.

[alfie]

Honestly thought Smith was set for a party today. Hadn't looked at all troubled. Guess he tried to play with a cross bat at one that was too close to him but got undone by the way it hustled on... Not a mistake he normally makes.

Need to watch that again a few times . Don't think the ball really did anything too extraordinary ? But Lyon might fancy his chances more in the second innings...

[alfie]

Smith bowled by Jack Leach, South Africa has a series vs England in 6 months, so I'm quite glad to see Leach take some sticks. Might convince England to stick with him even longer.

Your blokes can't play any sort of spin though , can they , raf ? If Jack don't get you , Root probably will...

[Pal Joey]

Don't think the ball really did anything too extraordinary ?  But Lyon might fancy his chances more in the second innings...

The wicket ball did nothing, it just went straight on. It was the earlier deliveries which had a bit of drift and turn which set it up beautifully.
Smith, as you say, completely misjudged it... wrong shot selection.

So Sam Billings has jumped in the caravan and is heading south. It's a great drive down the coast. Wouldn't mind a holiday there right now.

[kingraf]

Smith bowled by Jack Leach, South Africa has a series vs England in 6 months, so I'm quite glad to see Leach take some sticks. Might convince England to stick with him even longer.

 

Your blokes can't play any sort of spin though , can they , raf ? If Jack don't get you , Root probably will...

We've played Ashwin just fine. The problem is batsmen who moonlight as spinners, like Ali and Root

[alfie]

99/4 at drinks. Anderson bowling economically as usual , Leach with his tail up a bit so with Green fresh in Khawaja being fairly careful at present.
Plenty of time to push along later.  And of course they still have Starc up the sleeve

[Pal Joey]

Hot outside, just been for a swim. Looking towards the ground there are some ominous looking storm clouds building up. I reckon there will be a thunderstorm later on (around 5pm... possibly even earlier?) but it it could be hit or miss. Doesn't look too bad on screen right now though. They need a camera shot out to the south-west (back of the Brewongle and Ladies Stands) to show where it's coming from.

[kingraf]

Listening to Warne and Vaughan complain about the man on the point boundary is such a dilemma for me, because on the one hand, I hate the man on the cover point boundary, but on the other, agreeing with Vaughan AND Warne feels icky.

[Pal Joey]

They should have more of those overs without the comms and give our ears more of a rest.

[alfie]

Khawaja playing really well again. Ready to pull anything short and hittable. If they're wedded to keeping Harris for Hobart he's going to be a very unlucky chap to be dropped after being easily their best best bat in both innings !

Forty overs gone so that ball is getting a bit soft I reckon. 121/4 .

[alfie]

Handy partnership , this. 46 now : has settled things after Smith's dismissal.

Green hasn't really looked exactly in command ; but Khawaja has one end ticking over nicely. Run rate still around three without needing to do anything silly. Depends on the weather , I guess ; but if it stays fair they have plenty of time to set a target.

Fifty stand now...nice shot from Green

[alfie]

149/4 at tea ; as Joe Root produces a surprise bouncer on the last ball of the session ! That really took off - and brought a great take by Ollie Pope and a big grin from Khawaja.

This stand has made it a good session for Australia after a slightly dodgy start. England doing well to hang in there but you'd think they are going to be batting late today with a bit of a mountain in front of them...

[Pal Joey]

A vicious bouncer from Joe to end proceedings!

So Australia are 149/4 at tea with a lead of 271.

Would be good if they could get that to up and over Raf's predicted 330 (360 would be better) and then have a crack at Hammed, Crawley and Co. as the storm clouds gather late in the afternoon.

[alfie]

Think they might want 350. But I imagine they will have that in good enough time. Expect to see England's openers first night watchmen in some time this afternoon...

[alfie]

(Another) fifty for Khawaja

Can they seriously leave him out in Hobart ? I'll bet they wouldn't if the series were 2-2...

[alfie]

300 lead and the charge is on... Khawaja launching Leach into the crowd to get to 67. Going for a second century in the match?

Going to get nasty for the tiring England players now...

[alfie]

Khawaja really going for it now...dropped by Pope off Root - tough chance. Deserves some luck the way he has played. On to 82...

207/4 and England are into "going through the motions" now.

[alfie]

Comms talking about going for a lead of 400 ? I reckon that is overkill : once Khawaja has his hundred they will surely have enough...

[alfie]

Fifty for Green now... He battled early ; but is cashing in now under what has to be termed less than severe pressure. Will be a relief to him as his batting really hasn't been up to scratch in this series - though he's done a good job with the ball.

226/4

[kingraf]

I wonder if this is one of those times where Broad and Anderson refuse to bowl.

[alfie]

Khawaja with another big six off Root...up to 95 . All my best attempts to jinx him have failed completely so I will not begrudge him his second hundred

He really has played beautifully

[alfie]

I wonder if this is one of those times where Broad and Anderson refuse to bowl.

Reckon Joe just doesn't want to kill either of them just yet. Still got to find eleven players fit for Hobart...

Doesn't much matter who bowls now.

Which makes it a perfect time for "wrecker" Malan

[kingraf]

I wonder if this is one of those times where Broad and Anderson refuse to bowl.

Reckon Joe just doesn't want to kill either of them just yet. Still got to find eleven players fit for Hobart...

Doesn't much matter who bowls now.

Which makes it a perfect time for "wrecker" Malan

I wouldn't blame them for refusing to bowl, but I can't believe Root doesn't even want to create a ceremonial veneer of pressure by having one of his ace bowlers bowling while Khawaja is in the 90s

[alfie]

Hats off to Khawaja ! Two hundreds on his return to the side

Terrific performance. Admit I had underestimated him ; but I've never seen him play as well as this before.

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