Re: England v Australia, 3rd Test, Headingley, 6-10 July, 2023

by horace Fri 07 Jul 2023, 17:13

Bargearse gives Smith a gob full. What a useless grub. MCC have sent him an hon membership.

by PeterCS Fri 07 Jul 2023, 17:13

horace wrote:So I have a question or two for anyone one around who is inclined to answer it.

1. We are halfway through the series. Where do you think this series will rank, irrespective of final result?

2. Who of the current combatants will be remembered as all time champions of Test Cricket?

My own answers are as follows.

I do not think either team can be described as a great side and the close results reflect two sub par teams that are evenly matched in English conditions.. The series will be noted for the hot spots, close results but not for the great quality of cricket that has been played.

England has four all time greats in Root, Anderson, Stokes and Broad (in England). The rest are ordinary triers.

Australia has Smith still averaging around 60, Cummins and I suppose Starc and Lyon (for T1 anyway). The rest are a mix of B Graders like Ussie, Marnus, Carey and Boland.and players who will be no more than interesting footnotes like Warner and ,Marsh.

Oof. Too much to answer on a hot arvo when I am trying to do two other things.

But just the one addition - Wood is already a folk hero, even if he crashes out at this point.

For the character, for the humour, for the heart, the speed and just general wonderfulness.

by PeterCS Fri 07 Jul 2023, 17:15

horace wrote:Disaster.

Oz still comfortably ahead.

But they need to resteady the ship a bit at this point, and not get into an England-like hysterical doom run.

by lardbucket Fri 07 Jul 2023, 17:18

PeterCS wrote:
horace wrote:Disaster.

Oz still comfortably ahead.

I don’t know how you figure that. Our tail 7-11 can’t be counted on for 20.

by PeterCS Fri 07 Jul 2023, 17:24

Because

Aus have Marsh and Carey, Starc and Cummings to come after these two (I rate the latter three higher than yourself!) - Only 3 down and 100 ahead

England are batting last

England are - a couple of batsmen apart - either walking mummies or way out of form (or both)

Cummings is a star, Starc a maverick but very dangerous, others can chip in

Australia are clinging on to just about every catch

5 or 6 reasons there, OTTOMH

by PeterCS Fri 07 Jul 2023, 17:25

PS: I am not saying Australia have enough already! Or have this already won. Hence my comment about resteadying the ship (after two moments of madness).

by beamer Fri 07 Jul 2023, 17:26

200 Test wickets for Mighty Mo… remarkably, only the third England spinner to achieve that.

by horace Fri 07 Jul 2023, 17:27

PeterCS wrote:Because

Aus have Marsh and Carey, Starc and Cummings to come after these two (I rate the latter three higher than yourself!) - Only 3 down and 100 ahead

England are batting last

England are - a couple of batsmen apart - either walking mummies or way out of form (or both)

Cummings is a star, Starc a maverick but very dangerous, others can chip in

Australia are clinging on to just about every catch

5 or 6 reasons there, OTTOMH

Nice woof Petey

by horace Fri 07 Jul 2023, 17:29

beamer wrote:200 Test wickets for Mighty Mo… remarkably, only the third England spinner to achieve that.

Good on him. England has stuffed him around throughout his career.

by horace Fri 07 Jul 2023, 17:30

Give Slobbo a bowl.

by PeterCS Fri 07 Jul 2023, 17:30

horace wrote:Bargearse gives Smith a gob full. What a useless grub. MCC have sent him an hon membership.

Didn't see it (radio), don't know if anything preceded it. But such gobbing off is always ugly. ugly.

Jonny is no doubt exasperated with the situation, and his failings, and worked up to a dangerous degree.

He needs a few stern words, ... and a liedown in a dark room with a damp cloth across his brow ASAP.

And probably a fine and censure, too. Whatever brought it on - if anything. We don't need any more inflammations.

by PeterCS Fri 07 Jul 2023, 17:34

horace wrote:
PeterCS wrote:Because

Aus have Marsh and Carey, Starc and Cummings to come after these two (I rate the latter three higher than yourself!) - Only 3 down and 100 ahead

England are batting last

England are - a couple of batsmen apart - either walking mummies or way out of form (or both)

Cummings is a star, Starc a maverick but very dangerous, others can chip in

Australia are clinging on to just about every catch

5 or 6 reasons there, OTTOMH

Nice woof Petey

Call it as you see it, H. I'm just reading it as I saw the set of factors, as of that moment in the flux of the Test.

Experience suggests I am rarely titanically off the mark when I take a careful considered view! (I am just talking cricket conclusions - not life.)

As ever, yet again: on verra .... I have no idea how the carpet of cricket will roll out in the end. Just a snapshot, above.

by PeterCS Fri 07 Jul 2023, 17:42

Acc. cricinfo:

"So we've found out what Bairstow told Smith after the batter's dismissal. "See ya, Smudge," according to the stump mic."

Well tbh I've heard worse. Unless cricinfo is joking. (Let me not get paranoid.)

If so, retract the fine and censure (see above). Just a quiet word, and the damp cloth on brow in a dark room lying down ASAP. ....

by PeterCS Fri 07 Jul 2023, 17:44

Khawaja leaving the scene shifts the kaleidoscope a wee bit.

by lardbucket Fri 07 Jul 2023, 17:50

First innings: Marsh enters at 4-85
Second innings: Marsh enters at 4-90

by PeterCS Fri 07 Jul 2023, 17:51

Progress!!

by lardbucket Fri 07 Jul 2023, 17:55

Barring injury, I can’t see Woakes or Wood missing the next game, ie no return for Anderson

by beamer Fri 07 Jul 2023, 18:32

lardbucket wrote:Barring injury, I can’t see Woakes or Wood missing the next game, ie no return for Anderson

Surely Robinson misses out, given his fitness issues here?

by beamer Fri 07 Jul 2023, 18:34

Maybe I’ll just bring Ian back on occasions when I want to have a good rant about something…

by PeterCS Fri 07 Jul 2023, 18:36

beamer wrote:Maybe I’ll just bring Ian back on occasions when I want to have a good rant about something…

Wrong thread, Dr Jekyll? ... Very Happy

by PeterCS Fri 07 Jul 2023, 18:36

Australia edge the day. But not out of the Wood yet.

by horace Fri 07 Jul 2023, 18:47

Fun day of thrills and spills - sorry that was not another Bairstow joke.

Batsmen who managed to tarnish their reputation were aplenty. Root never looked comfortable, Bairstow just fails to comprehend reality, while Smith and Marnus were ridiculous. I'm not counting Warner who batted as expected. Stokes was great as was Ussie in contrasting but equally important knocks.

by horace Fri 07 Jul 2023, 18:51

As for the bowlers, Cummins was terrific, Wood diligent and Moeen proved decisive.

Personally I cheered quietly for Murphy for sticking to his task and belatedly getting his man.

by PeterCS Fri 07 Jul 2023, 20:36

I sense your respect for Stokes has grown a bit, H.

Mind you, it was down in the basement, so perhaps not saying a lot ....

by Norfolk Ian Goode Fri 07 Jul 2023, 21:52

PeterCS wrote:
beamer wrote:Maybe I’ll just bring Ian back on occasions when I want to have a good rant about something…

Wrong thread, Dr Jekyll? ...

Maybe

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