The Cricket Thread

[Northern Raider]

Great bowling by Aussies but some really poor batting by the poms.

[Northern Raider]

Haven't seen England capitulate like that since.....well, Ireland a few weeks ago.

[RedRaider]

While I am a glass half full type of person, not even I thought we would have more than a 100 run lead on the first innings. Hazelwood 5 wickets, Cummins 3, Pattinson 2. The 'shot' Ben Stokes played to get out would have been a shocker in the back yard, let alone a Test match.
Australia are doing this without their best batsman and imo the best left arm quick in the world.

[gerg]

What's the batting plan here? Treat it like an old style WACA wicket - plenty of back foot play and just having a go instead of trying to defend.

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[Northern Raider]

Warner gone and Watto'd away a review

[greeneyed]

Well that's no good.

[-TW-]

Scrap to 300 lead and that will be plenty

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[-TW-]

Denlys 12 is the worst highest score by and Englishman since 1902

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[-TW-]

That's the end of Khawaja

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[Northern Raider]

Marnus trying to do a Steve Smith impression with the extravagant movement at the crease.

[RedRaider]

Australia 2nd innings 6/171 an overall lead of 283. What a strange Test match. England all out 67. Australia in much the better position with Labu earning another half ton so far not out. But there is still so much time to play, anything could happen. Both pitch and weather conditions improving. The ball which bowled Harris moved a long way out of the footmarks. It was a Warne like outcome. Thankfully we have the GOAT to bowl in their second innings.

[Azza]

Yeah bit of a worry if England pull their heads in and suddenly bat well in the second innings, may end up being a close run thing as they have heaps of time. However we are still in the box seat. Marnus is looking the goods, reckon Usi is on thin ice.

[Matt]

I'm not convinced Uzi or Wade put their hand up. So, a good chance that Wades 100 is the difference.

Labu looking the goods. Who'd have thought that?!? Out of all the debutant in the past yr, I had him way down the list as possible options.

Anything over 300 will be tough.

[raiderskater]

Oh, drat, I should have stayed up after lunch...that would have been glorious to see.

What a thing to wake up to! I hope we can get Labu to his 100 tonight...it would seem like anything over 300 to chase could be just a bridge too far for the Poms...let's hope so anyway. I'd prefer 400, but that would require Labu and our tail to make 120, and that might be a bit much to ask.

[Northern Raider]

Yeah bit of a worry if England pull their heads in and suddenly bat well in the second innings, may end up being a close run thing as they have heaps of time. However we are still in the box seat. Marnus is looking the goods, reckon Usi is on thin ice.

I don’t think England bats are good enough. Game is already out of their reach IMO.

[RedRaider]

When I watched Labuschange bat at the SCG last summer, he played very straight. We were looking straight down the pitch and his technique looked good. For some reason he went away from that to play more angled bat shots and getting out cheaply. I loved the way he kept watching the ball when the Poms tried the short stuff on him. In one over from Archer he swayed inside the line 4 times, but kept his eyes on the ball all the way. He didn't get hit. He's learning fast. The scoring is slow but he is playing his 'rock' role to perfection. There is a place in Test cricket for those who can 'bat time', particularly in a match which has seen 26 wickets fall in 2 days. On form he should retain a spot in the top 6 when Smith returns.

[Azza]

Of course he will retain a spot it's just a question of who will get dropped

[RedRaider]

Azza, the wayward selections (No Starc) give me no confidence that form means much to Hohns and Co. It all seems to be secret selectors business.

[-TW-]

He's currently Australia's 2nd leading run scorer and 4th in the series

I think he's safe

In terms of who should go, I'd drop Khawaja and bat Smith at 3

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[Azza]

Marnus the magnificent? Or Marnus the Marvellous? I lean towards the latter, purely as a tribute to R Benaud

[-PJ-]

I'm not worried Azza..

[Northern Raider]

He's currently Australia's 2nd leading run scorer and 4th in the series

I think he's safe

In terms of who should go, I'd drop Khawaja and bat Smith at 3

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Bat Smith at 3 in his first game back from concussion? Not likely. Marnus can bat 3.

[Azza]

I'm not worried Azza..

Don't be a muppet. Or as the French would say, le mupay

[-TW-]

He's currently Australia's 2nd leading run scorer and 4th in the series

I think he's safe

In terms of who should go, I'd drop Khawaja and bat Smith at 3

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Bat Smith at 3 in his first game back from concussion? Not likely. Marnus can bat 3.

If he can't bat 3 cause he's "coming back from concussion" he shouldn't be playing

Also it could be 2/0 after 2 balls and he'd be in anyway

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[yeh raiders]

He's currently Australia's 2nd leading run scorer and 4th in the series

I think he's safe

In terms of who should go, I'd drop Khawaja and bat Smith at 3

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Bat Smith at 3 in his first game back from concussion? Not likely. Marnus can bat 3.

If he can't bat 3 cause he's "coming back from concussion" he shouldn't be playing

Also it could be 2/0 after 2 balls and he'd be in anyway

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Yeah exactly.

Can’t say I’m too concerned either way whether Smith is at 3 or 4, but I don’t think the concussion will be factoring in the decision.

Just very happy Laboosh has fought hard, is scoring runs and we have a replacement for Uzi.

[Northern Raider]

So if Smith can't bat 3 he shouldn't be playing. Wow.

[-TW-]

Never said that, don't try and strawman this

You've said "as he is coming back from concussion". If he's not fit to bat 3 he's not fit to bat at all. Jofra Archer will follow him regardless if he bats 1 or 11

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[Northern Raider]

Ok I'll say it differently. I think it's a ridiculous idea to move Smith to no3. He's our best bat and been incredibly successful at no4. No reason whatsoever to mess around with that.

[-TW-]

He averages 67 at number 3 in 29 innings

I think it's more using the AB philosophy that you bat your best at 3.

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[gangrenous]

England average 67 across their last innings

[Northern Raider]

He averages 67 at number 3 in 29 innings

I think it's more using the AB philosophy that you bat your best at 3.

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He averages 78 at no4. It's easily the best spot for him and the team. There's virtually no benefit in moving him to no3.

[-TW-]

England clanging catches for fun

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[Northern Raider]

Finally held one

[Matt]

When I watched Labuschange bat at the SCG last summer, he played very straight. We were looking straight down the pitch and his technique looked good. For some reason he went away from that to play more angled bat shots and getting out cheaply. I loved the way he kept watching the ball when the Poms tried the short stuff on him. In one over from Archer he swayed inside the line 4 times, but kept his eyes on the ball all the way. He didn't get hit. He's learning fast. The scoring is slow but he is playing his 'rock' role to perfection. There is a place in Test cricket for those who can 'bat time', particularly in a match which has seen 26 wickets fall in 2 days. On form he should retain a spot in the top 6 when Smith returns.

Agreed

[Matt]

Marnus the magnificent? Or Marnus the Marvellous? I lean towards the latter, purely as a tribute to R Benaud