Cricket thread

[mightytiges]

The focus on Warner being Broad's bunny (fair enough too) is covering for Labuschagne who has had a poor Ashes so far. Six innings and not once reached 50 as a No.3: 0, 13, 47, 30, 21, 33. He needs to be turning at least some of these 20/30-something starts into big scores. Do that in the last two tests and we will win the series. 

[Andyy]

The focus on Warner being Broad's bunny (fair enough too) is covering for Labuschagne who has had a poor Ashes so far. Six innings and not once reached 50 as a No.3: 0, 13, 47, 30, 21, 33. He needs to be turning at least some of these 20/30-something starts into big scores. Do that in the last two tests and we will win the series. 

Yep been very disappointing.

Most of them have been largely up and down. Lots of weak scores for the top 7.

[Damo]

The focus on Warner being Broad's bunny (fair enough too) is covering for Labuschagne who has had a poor Ashes so far. Six innings and not once reached 50 as a No.3: 0, 13, 47, 30, 21, 33. He needs to be turning at least some of these 20/30-something starts into big scores. Do that in the last two tests and we will win the series. 

Yep been very disappointing.

Most of them have been largely up and down. Lots of weak scores for the top 7.

Agree

And I reckon he’s had 3-4 lives as well

[Diocletian]

Labuschagne's playing like a millionaire - it's like he's been possessed by Nic Maddinson...

[Tiger Khosh]

Smithy’s not doing too much better either. 1 century in the first innings of the second test, don’t think he’s gotten above 40 in his other 5 innings.

I don’t think you can say too many of of our batters are in any reasonable form. Head and usman are the only ones with multiple 50+ scores.

[Tiger Khosh]

Missed the start. Why did they send moen ali in after the duckett wicket?

[Tiger Khosh]

Well whatever the reason. It didn’t work.

[WilliamPowell]

Missed the start. Why did they send moen ali in after the duckett wicket?

They suggested it was to protect Brook

Poor first hour

Yes we got 2 wickets but we just gifted easy singles, very little pressure on the batsmen

I'd rather give up the odd boundary rather than have blokes back trying to protect and save boundaries

TBH have no idea what actually plan is. So if anyone can explain it, please do

[one-eyed]

Eng 4/153 at Lunch.

Starc two wickets, Cummins and Marsh with one.

The Poms need a further 98 runs. We of course need 6 more wickets.

We would need a major collapse/choke from the Poms to win from here.

[Tiger Khosh]

Stokes gone. Cmon!!!

[mightytiges]

Had a chance when Starc knocked over Stokes and Bairstow quickly after Lunch and England still had 80 runs to get with just 4 wickets in hand. But we've been too reliant this test on Starc and Cummins to bowl out the Poms. No Lyon while Boland just can't pick up a wicket in England. Once the change bowlers came on, Brook and Woakes were able to whittle down the runs. Starc brought back now [Edit: and removed Brook] but with just 20 runs to get, it's too late and England will get home. We needed another 30-50 runs in hindsight.

I'm guessing Warner and Boland will make way for Green (if fit) and either Neser/Hazlewood. Head or Green will have to open with Khawaja. 

[one-eyed]

A dropped chance with 2 runs to go but it wouldn't have made a difference.

England made 7/254 and won by 3 wickets.

Aussies lead the series 2-1. 

Off to Old Trafford for the Fourth Test.

[Diocletian]

Cummins -the greatest fast bowler captain since Bob Willis.

[WilliamPowell]

I'm guessing Warner and Boland will make way for Green (if fit) and either Neser/Hazlewood. Head or Green will have to open with Khawaja.

I doubt our selectors have the courage to drop Warner. They should but doubt they will especially after Cummims said he and everyone is going well.

Cummins -the greatest fast bowler captain since Bob Willis.

As Captain he had a terrible match.

Bought Murphy on far too late. Mark Taylor was right, he needed to be bowled when the Poms needed over 120 not when they needed 90 something. Felt for the kid. Just stupid captaincy

Pathetic field placings to start the day. Absolutely no pressure on the batsmen to make it hard to score runs. We just gifted them so many easy singles it was embarrassing. I'd rather give away boundaries trying to getvwickets and win rather than trying to do whatever it was we trying to do... a bob each way it seemed

And if we are being honest game was lost on day 2 when we persisted with the stupid short pitch crap to the English tail. What should have been a 80-90 run lead ended up 26 runs because we gifted boundaries

Series is alive because of Australia's stupidity that starts with the captain

[Diocletian]

Also kept Boland on for too long after Bairstow got out and kept Starc out of the attack until it was too late...