England's Summer of Cricket 2023, Featuring The Ashes

First topic message reminder :

Well done to Scott Boland, a very tidy job and added precious runs.

Another fantastic day in a fantastic test in a fantastic rivalry in a fantastic sport. Fantastic.

And just as the pattern has been throughout, when one team looked to be taking control, it just got yanked back. And it was Broad yanking it back with a brilliant spell. Labuschagne is the new Warner, as far as Broad's concerned.

174 to get. Seven wickets left. Still favouring Australia, but it'll be interesting to see how the bowling conditions are after the expected rain tomorrow. If they're anything close to what England's top order had to face yesterday, it could be curtains for Australia, but I'm not anticipating it to be that bad.

Will almost certainly be a delayed start. Hopefully the BBC's more pessimistic forecast doesn't come to fruition.

It'll probably go to the wire, that's the way the whole test has been shaping up. Might even be a tied test...

I think the tactic of "block everything and let England no-ball us to victory" is working well for Australia so far...

Duty281 wrote:Aussies clearly batting for a draw.

Someone tell Travis Head

I'd guess their plan is slowly tick along, consolidating, then if they have wickets in hand really attack in the evening.

Something I dislike even more than a night watchman is a no ball.

Australia conceded 4 runs in no balls across England's two innings. England have so far conceded 23 ....

Crucial period of play , this. Not saying it's the game right here ; but with Khawaja becalmed and Head struggling to get started there is pressure all round. Get him and the odds would move a fair way to the home side. Bowlers need to stay on it ...Broad well into his work but can't bowl forever.

Can Stokes bowl an effective spell ?

guildfordbat wrote:Something I dislike even more than a night watchman is a no ball.

Australia conceded 4 runs in no balls across England's two innings. England have so far conceded 23 ....

It's even more annoying when you consider that the England white ball outfit have basically eliminated no balls.

king_carlos wrote:

Duty281 wrote:Aussies clearly batting for a draw.

Someone tell Travis Head

I'd guess their plan is slowly tick along, consolidating, then if they have wickets in hand really attack in the evening.

Yes, I was just joking.  

They just want to get through this spell from Broad and score against the change bowlers. Setting up a good platform. This field for Head is a bit defensive. Restricting the runs, yes, but relying on a rush of blood to get the wicket.

And just as I say that, here's Moeen.

And Head puts the first drag-down to the fence.

Moeen ? Not sure about this . Could release all the pressure I'm afraid...

MO

SCENES

Damn

Wow, where did that come from? Head shaping to pull it, then changing his mind and fencing at it for an edge to slip.

Turns the game back, just as England were losing control. Such is the shape of the test.

Moeen gets Head for the second time this match

(And he got a wicket...)

Well wasn't that a brilliant bowling change

Give a few runs...get a wicket. Think I'd take five more of those...

Mo in a nutshell. A rank few balls and a vital break through.

Might force Khawaja to come out of his shell a bit now

Mo troubled Green on Saturday. Doubt he can bowl a long spell today given his finger problem; but he might be a big threat to the new batsman in this next little period.

Jimmy getting some movement now ?

Crowd has woken up

Jimmy finding his line and length much better to the right-handed Green in that over. Great news for England. Khawaja and Carey are lefties still of course but the tail after that are right-handed.

Green is just planting his foot down the wicket here. When he attacks his footwork tends to be better. He's lunging now, trying to be defensive.

I think England need to get Root on for Mo.

Real trade off with Moeen , isn't it ? Dangerous when he's getting turn - and bounce - as he is now...but he will leak runs.

Feel England need to get another one now as they probably aren't going to be able to keep the scoring down all afternoon. Forty minutes to tea , is it ? Two wickets to get at the tail...

Just one more wicket and this will really turn back in England's favour...

Soul Requiem wrote:I think England need to get Root on for Mo.

Not against using Root. He can go for runs too ; but I reckon he's an underrated bowler. And with some serious turn on offer , he could be effective here.

Think Moeen will go on a bit yet. He's got Green very watchful. Dots can bring wickets...

I've seen few Tests that have felt this tight throughout. The momentum has felt like it swings every session. Often hinging on a single wicket. It's been a magnificent Test match.

Jimmy Anderson take a wicket challenge

Good Golly I'm Olly wrote:Jimmy Anderson take a wicket challenge

We're not seeing the end are we?

king_carlos wrote:I've seen few Tests that have felt this tight throughout. The momentum has felt like it swings every session. Often hinging on a single wicket. It's been a magnificent Test match.

Yep, one of the best. Nip and tuck all the way through, neither side has been far in front, and a real clash of styles.

eirebilly_01 wrote:Just one more wicket and this will really turn back in England's favour...

Yes this next one is key. With five in hand , the batting side has a bit of depth to chase with ; once it's six gone - with a dodgy tail - the target starts to look a bit imposing.

In PJ's analogy , this is not so much Hare and Tortoise as two Tortoises staring each other down.

But Green is starting to look a bit more comfortable . He could be very dangerous if he's able to get into gear. Think Mo is feeling a bit of pain from that finger but he's soldiering on stoutly.

Partnership worth 29 from 9 now. Gradually moving the dial back in favour of Australia...

Looks like Root is loosening up for a couple before tea.

Surprised at no Stokes. England need a flash of inspiration

It has got to that point again where England really need a wicket. They have tended to take one every time its got there so far!

Yes Root time. Has he got some magic up his sleeve ?

Need it I think as it's just 100 to go now...

Decent first over , at least. Tense , much ?

Target below 100 now. Only a single, but taking the target from 100 to 99 makes it look so much smaller.

GSC wrote:Surprised at no Stokes. England need a flash of inspiration

If he's not going to be able to bowl at this point of a game, then we're really up the creek this series

GSC wrote:Surprised at no Stokes. England need a flash of inspiration

Me too. Saving it for the Big Finale ?

Robinson sparingly used so far but back on now.

WINVIZ fancies Australia now - fair enough. Wicket would change that though. But where's it coming from ? The odd ball beats the bat , but you wouldn't say they look under seige at present.

Nearly tea. Weather still OK so should be good for a finish, eh ?

TMS just referred to two recent Englad v Pakistan matches where Pakistan got to about 70-80 to win with 5 wickets left, and then collapsed quite quickly. Winning matches under pressure is difficult.

Oh, and a new ball in 21 overs could still be significant if we're into the tail.

Maybe revved up for a burst after tea? Need a wicket from somewhere, Australia are inching home

Well, 98 to get, 5 wickets remaining, 37 overs to go. Weather has a few spots of rain, potentially at 18:00, and heavier stuff just after 19:30, so might need to keep an eye on that.

Khawaja is super-glue. England can't prise him out and he's having the test of his life. Green has provided vital solidity after the fall of Head, and England weren't able to turn that last wicket into a collapse.

Broad was good, but again he hasn't had the support from his other two seamers. Anderson and Robinson both looking, for the most part, ineffectual and gentle, although Robinson did beat Green's bat just before tea.

I would favour Australia from here, but these two do have to get back in again after tea, and they should be facing another difficult Broad burst. Also got the new ball to come in 21 overs which, with Australia's current pace, might actually be a factor in the final reckoning. And there's the pressure factor of course.

Bet365 putting Australia at 1/2, with England at 11/5.

Australia back in the drivers seat but it's still all to play for.

England will presumably use Broad early in the session. He's been England's best bowler by a distance so unless any of the others can find some inspiration, or the skipper's knee isn't cooked, I'd imagine that spell could decided the game.

I can't look away but I almost don't want to watch. It's agonising and enthralling at once. Test cricket at it's very peak.

I don't like it anymore. Someone hold me.

Green looking to get on with it after tea. With no help from the pitch - or the dark clouds that haven't really turned up - England seem to be reduced to worrying away in hopes of a batting brain fade - or a ball suddenly misbehaving.

Too early to call this (as we saw in Pakistan) ; but you'd think if the Aussies stay calm and keep playing at this pace they have it pretty well under control.

Broad wants the ball changed. Worth a try

Oh so close from Root as he beats Khawaja's outside edge.

Beginning to look as though Stokes is just a 'only in an emergency' option. Would like to see Broad again soon.

king_carlos wrote:I don't like it anymore. Someone hold me.

I know how you feel !

When yours is the chasing team in this situation , it is all "nervous". But defending , it's more frustration as you hope against hope for a breakthrough.

Not sure which is worse...

Indecision from Green, a bit of nip off the pitch, and the test swings again.

Wonder if Carey will have the balls to play in his usual, positive fashion? Just think Australia poking their way to the target isn't the best approach.

And there it is ! Out of the blue...Green plays on and the game comes alive...

This is why we go through the torture , eh ?

Really good knock from Green. Not dominant , but he played with determination and a bit of intent as he got settled.

Carey now. Has had a great match so far. This is the partnership now , surely ...

alfie wrote:

king_carlos wrote:I don't like it anymore. Someone hold me.

I know how you feel !

When yours is the chasing team in this situation , it is all "nervous". But defending , it's more frustration as you hope against hope for a breakthrough.

Not sure which is worse...

Chasing it's lots of little bits of hope punctured by utter devastation.

Defending it's the gradual creeping of devastation alleviated by utter relief.

LET'S GO! Robinson gets such a vital wicket.

I still want someone to hold me.

Two lefties. It's got to be Broad at one end. Roll the dice. It might be the last little burst he can get from his legs in the match but the other seamers have been poor generally and struggled with control to the southpaws.

I hope the don't persevere with offies at one end. Either Root or Mo. It's generally a good matchup to lefties but Carey has a good record to it and Khawaja has played spin well all game.

Khawaja's sticking in, but his strike rotation has been poor, especially with the field set. Australia tip-toeing their way to victory, but never forcing England on to the back foot with a flurry of runs.

Double spin attack . Moeen to put up with some more pain. Two lefties I suppose. Risky though...few free boundaries shifts the calculus...

No Harry Brook yet