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

Simon Davis ...

Anyone remember when England got pumped 4 years ago in Australia and came up with a long-term plan that they were going to develop an arsenal of 90mph bowlers, a top class spinner, and a doughty batting line up that could dig in for days at a time?

Fast forward to today: an attack of right arm medium pacers, no spinner, and a one man batting line up surrounded by wilting cabbages.

I mean, it wasn't like I was expecting anything different, but all the same: it takes a special effort to somehow become even worse.

We’ve spent 5 years prioritising limited overs cricket at the extent of the Test game. Which has left us with only two proven Test quality players who aren’t nearly of pensionable age. It’s a long road back.

Surely wif all these leftys oz batters England should
have selected an offspinner in both of these 2 tests
whatever the pitch/conditions. But we dont have one
we can risk playing it seems..

I expect oz will bat for another 2 sessions until happy hour
and then England will collapse in the dark against MS, sneezer and GI with the new pinky.

yes its looking a lot like 5-0

If Mo hadn’t retired he’d have been parachuted back in.

Swann with his wonky arm could still probably bowl better than any of our current options.

Can we just send a few Premier League footballers over there, and get the whole shitshow abandoned?

Chin up, beams. It's series like this that make 2005, 2009, 2010-11 and 2015 so great for you guys.

skully wrote:Chin up, beams. It's series like this that make 2005, 2009, 2010-11 and 2015 so great for you guys.

Well, yeah, you haven’t actually beaten us in England for 20 years!

Not that we’re even winning home series against anyone right now. That’s going to be a wake-up call, as is planning for a future without Anderson and Broad.

Remarkable how the day panned out for England.

Buses takes a blinder to remove Harris but bookends the day by dropping a sitter off Labuschagne.

As in Brisbane, England beat the bat countless times. On another day (and that day may yet come in this series) England would've run through Australia.

The swinging fortunes of Test Cricket. It's one of the things that make it so grouse.

The way England are going with over rates this series , it is highly possible they will be on less points on the Test World Championship rankings at the end of the Ashes than when they started the Ashes.

Current temp in Adelaide is 36C. Expected to be 37C at the start of play.

skully wrote:Current temp in Adelaide is 36C. Expected to be 37C at the start of play.

Would've been fun seeing a few of English Barmies Lobster Red.

Smith creams a cover drive off the kind of ball you always get when your mate up the other end is on 96...

Ton up for the 'Bus!!

I'd reckon that's the hardest he's had to work for the milestone.

OMG
Robinson has Labuschagne caught behind but has overstepped. No ball.

Marcus currently 102*

Shrapnel's luck runs out. A good ton in tough conditions.

Buttler will be relieved that his dropped sitter last night didn't cost too much.

Stokes trying to emulate Wagner.

Overconfidence from Blowie. Missed a full toss.

Ugh, now Snot plays all around one.

I feel a little for Snot.

GCS, Shrapnel and Smudge have played and missed at numerous seaming balls.

In both his innings in this series Snot has received the perfect seamer that nibbled the top of his off stump.

Possibly some technical issues with his stance, but compared to his team mates, he hasn't got the breaks they have.

and now the "internet drums" are beating for a Mitch Marsh recall.

A Jimmeh shooter & aWatson review removes Smudge for 93. Good knock.