Australia v England, 2nd Test (D/N), Adelaide, 16-20 December, 2021

lardbucket wrote:

beamer wrote:Australia batting again… really?

I think I’d like to see the follow-on become mandatory, piling on the runs batting third in such situations does little for the game. VVS Laxman has a lot to answer for…

What? We should have given England a chance to win?

More chance of the next Test being played on the Moon than England winning from here. We couldn’t score 300 against Namibia under-12s.

Alongside batting again they even employed a Jon Snow to protect the averages in a won game

Fred Nerk wrote:Name another sport where the team leading at half time has responsibility to keep the game interesting? The team with the 200+ run first innings lead earnt it, and with it the right to steer the conduct of the game in the way that best suits it.

It’s not a case of “keeping it interesting”, it’s prolonging the agony, like a boxer who has his opponent on the ropes and chooses to pummel him for a few more rounds rather than landing a knockout blow.

Still, slightly amusing that the Aussies are still spooked by something that happened 20 years ago. Hope it blows up in their faces with the rain…

The run out was unfortunate, but it was all Warner's doing. I'm glad he didn't run Harry out.

Harris looked calm and collected. Mike Hussey was saying on commentary that he is a pretty unflappable guy.

While I'm not completely sure he's Aus's longer term answer to one of the opening spots, I hope he does well tomorrow and ensures his selection for T3, if he hasn't already done so.

At 90 a session, Aus will be 460 in front by the 2nd break tomorrow. Declare and hope they pick a decent swinging pink ball out of the box.

Broad has to get Warner somehow I suppose…

Not sure of the cricketing significance, but recognise the tune and was trying to figure out the reason why. I think it might have featured in my infant school pantomime, I’m talking the best part of four decades ago! Interesting memory to trigger if I’m right… unfortunately I don’t think there’s a Betamax video tape of the occasion to check

beamer wrote:

Fred Nerk wrote:Name another sport where the team leading at half time has responsibility to keep the game interesting? The team with the 200+ run first innings lead earnt it, and with it the right to steer the conduct of the game in the way that best suits it.

It’s not a case of “keeping it interesting”, it’s prolonging the agony, like a boxer who has his opponent on the ropes and chooses to pummel him for a few more rounds rather than landing a knockout blow.

Still, slightly amusing that the Aussies are still spooked by something that happened 20 years ago. Hope it blows up in their faces with the rain…

Not killing the bowlers before Boxing Day when they have already lost Haze and Cummins is under a Covid cloud

But Embee, that (and all else) is a secondary consideration to playing the game in a way the loser of the game morally approves.

Just all a pretty pointless charade really, they could be sitting with their feet up by now having won by an innings. And innings victories always feel better, don’t they? And are more demoralising for the loser…

You seem to be on your own on this one, Beamer.

Plenty of time left in the game, and a hell of a lot easier to score 100 team runs early on day 4 than late on day 5. Absolutely no reason to enforce the follow on.

lardbucket wrote:You seem to be on your own on this one, Beamer.

Plenty of time left in the game, and a hell of a lot easier to score 100 team runs early on day 4 than late on day 5.  Absolutely no reason to enforce the follow on.

Well, unlike when it comes to opening batting tactics, I’m a traditionalist in that sense. Laxman FFS

Just no point in this game situation.

If we draw this I’ll be proved right… though will probably take a hurricane to hit Adelaide.

AC gone, one more and we’re Inter the tail, pretty much

Missed everything in the 1st 2 sessions, due to my partner's family xmas arvo dinner.

Looks like there was some good Test Cricket played.

Excellent contest atm between Lyon and Root/Burns.

Advantage is still obviously with Aus. Long hard road to save this one for England.

Good final session for Aus with Malan, Burns and finally Root removed.

Koo worked over Root (including an awful 142 kph blow to his already-bruised groin) before getting him with an away-nipper to be caught behind in the last over of the day.

One would have to think that removes any chance England had've batting out the day tomorrow for a Draw.

Stokes looks solid but nothing below him in the batting line up would inspire much hope amongst England supporters.

Forecast for Adelaide tomorrow is fine with a few clouds. No rain predicted.

Unless there's a Stokes/Pope/Buttler/Woakes miracle, Aus will go 2-0 up tomorrow.

Root should have swallowed his pride and retired hurt, and come back to fight again tomorrow. Needless. Not that it’s really likely to change the outcome…

159 needed in Melbourne for the record. Could do with a big one…

He may struggle to play in Melbourne, yet.

Did Burns do enough to keep his name on the teamsheet? The alternatives don’t exactly inspire much more confidence.

One could ask the same about Harris.

He looked good last night but fell to a Buttler screamer today. The vagaries of Test Cricket. The struggling Harris falls to two belting catches by Buttler (as did Smith today). On 3 other occasions Buses dropped sitters/fairly straight forward catches. Two in I1 Shrapnel was the beneficiary and went on to make 103. The third of them was the ball after he snaffled Harris today (Smith).

FWIW, I think both (Burns and Harris) will survive to fight another day. For England, who else is there? Similarly for Aus. Aus has a few young tyros (Street for one) knocking on the door, but are they really ready?

Well yeah, our options are basically Crawley (who averages about 12 since making that 250 the summer before last) and Bairstow (who’s never opened in a Test), or put Malan, Root or Stokes up to open.

Sounds like the “Lions” backups have gone home anyway, but no sense in throwing a raw youngster into this in any case.

England's 'spinners' outnumbered the solitary Lyon on D.4. Leach was reportedly not amused. The most devastating spell was delivered by Jeetan Patel to Root.

Delighted we decided to bat again. Putting extra effort into the English attack, especially Anderson and Stokes ahead of Boxing Day was a bonus. Beyond a couple of overs, Broad showed he should be back in England with the unfortunate Foakes who should be playing in Adelaide.

For Oz, Green batted and bowled very well (without reward) and Richo bowled better.

Beyond a miracle draw, I wonder what a reasonable D.5 target would be for England.

I think taking it to the last session, with a couple of the middle order getting some runs on the board, would be a reasonably positive outcome at this stage.

beamer wrote:I think taking it to the last session, with a couple of the middle order getting some runs on the board, would be a reasonably positive outcome at this stage.

Yep. I agree with that. Crease occupation from Stokes and Ollie would be a start. This should ideally include rotating the strike.

More likely is some more can’t-be-arsed flashy shots and a presentation before the scheduled lunch (or whatever it’s called in pink ball land).