England v Australia, 1st Test, Cardiff, 8-12 July, 2015

If we actually go on to win this test, I think the M o M award should go to Brendan McCullum.

412 is more than enough.Unless it rains for two days straight, we're stuffed.

Big Dog wrote:412 is more than enough.Unless it rains for two days straight, we're stuffed.

Rain tomorrow night and first thing on Sunday is the latest forecast.

Wow, didn't expect this. Thought England might be 6-260 or something. Probably good for Blighty if Dello's weather predictions are correct.

No way know will our bunch of profligates make 412. Congrats to England on hitting the road running much better than Aus. The bowling was patient and skilful.

I expect it to be 1-0 to England before Stumps on Day 4. And with their tail up, Blighty will be hard to beat from here.

skully wrote:Wow, didn't expect this. Thought England might be 6-260 or something. Probably good for Blighty if Dello's weather predictions are correct.

No way know will our bunch of profligates make 412. Congrats to England on hitting the road running much better than Aus. The bowling was patient and skilful.

I expect it to be 1-0 to England before Stumps on Day 4. And with their tail up, Blighty will be hard to beat from here.

1997 too long ago for you to remember?

Big fan of Mark Wood from what I've seen so far. Just seems to be one of those cricketers that can make something happen.

I'm counting down the days until England have ruined him.

Coincidentally, I'm counting down the days til YOU ruin him

So is the jury still out on Stuart Broad?

Looks like he's returned to his early day gash form.

Brass Monkey wrote:Coincidentally, I'm counting down the days til YOU ruin him

I think I noted him once. Hasn't seemed to have done any harm.

If we lose from here, it's 5-0 barring the weather.

These near-record chases are always just about gettable these days, just needs one player to get in and the heads to drop in the field... but hopefully the pitch will do enough and the bowlers will hold their nerve. And there's always rain as a backup...

DJ_Smerk wrote:So is the jury still out on Stuart Broad?

Looks like he's returned to his early day gash form.

The jury returned its verdict on Stuey-pie ages ago: he's not nearly as good as he thinks he is, but lobs in a decent spell here and there.

Not sure that pattern's ever going to change.

Dello wrote:

DJ_Smerk wrote:So is the jury still out on Stuart Broad?

Looks like he's returned to his early day gash form.

The jury returned its verdict on Stuey-pie ages ago: he's not nearly as good as he thinks he is, but lobs in a decent spell here and there.

Not sure that pattern's ever going to change.

He'll deliver in the later tests of this series I reckon. He can go through bad patches without worrying about his place in the squad. So he's due a good innings soon.

Anything is better than his last 5fer in a Test 109/5. Although I think England would be happy with that tomorrow.

He's not the bowler he was,I think his surgery did for him,but he can still get by by nibbling away at off stump at about 81/82 mph. I seem to recall that Pidge made a fairly decent career for himself doing that.

Just seen the highlights. Bell looked the class that I've always believed he is. Wood's knock at the end could be the difference.

Amazing non-appeal against Stokes for lbw. If Aus had've taken all their chances, the target may have been sub 350. Won't matter but. All out 270 tonight.

Starc's ankle looks farked.

I have no faith in our batsmen to be able to knuckle down and chase down a target. Probably be all over day 4.

be finished well before stumps

when can we start saying we told you so?

Disappointing day.

No point Oz appealing for lbw though unless it's hitting back pad in front of middle stump.

Where IS Wally?

I only just noticed that former England spinner Nick Cook is the reserve umpire here.

Dello wrote:Big fan of Mark Wood from what I've seen so far. Just seems to be one of those cricketers that can make something happen.

I'm counting down the days until England have ruined him.

He's not got a good fitness record behind him. I'll be surprised if he gets through the entire series unscathed.

lardbucket wrote:Disappointing day.

No point Oz appealing for lbw though unless it's hitting back pad in front of middle stump.

Where IS Wally?

Rita the Rooter is distracting him?

lardbucket wrote:I only just noticed that former England spinner Nick Cook is the reserve umpire here.

Too many Cooks?

The good judges would expect England to be one up by the end of day four. In theory, the target is gettable with bigger totals being chased down more often these days and plenty of time available. Nonetheless our batsmen would not appear to have the wherewithal to manage this.

Well, a modicum of application should see a fairly untroubled progress on a slow deck, but Jimmeh's and Wood's swing might undo a few. Uneven bounce might account for one or two as well.

England 1-0 by 150 runs by Stumps Day 4.

skully wrote:Well, a modicum of application....

so all we have to do is find a way for chris rogers to face every single ball and we have a slim chance

A few Aussie journos are suggesting Haddin and Watson are batting for their careers in the second innings.