International cricket thread

MFPM

Marsh has started with a maiden if England aren't scoring off the non front line bolwers, they'll have a problem. This is like a continuation of the other night, very un England like. Still only 3 per over.

Strumms

England have bet the house on the batsmen performing, they are not performing.

They’ve selected a lineup with a tail that looks long even for test match cricket. Plenty of batsmen / bowlers a touch shy of ‘proven’ all rounders... that’s risky.. a very strange selection.

I know Morgan, his team of selectors and most of these players won the World Cup, but you don’t win games on reputation. Morgan gone now, Aussies been gun barrel straight... excellent bowling.

MFPM

Zampa gets Morgan again, that's 4:0 in that contest between them. England need to up the rate if they are to get anything like a reasonable score...Maybe Woakes might have on of those innings he has from time to time...

MFPM

Michael Vaughan on BBC talking about how difficult it will be for Australia chasing 200+ fair enough but England are currently on 117/5 and struggling - let's see where they finish first.

MFPM

England struggling here..144/7 just over 11 overs left. Woakes is their best hope to get to 200 or close to it.

Mysterypunter

MFPM wrote: »

England struggling here..144/7 just over 11 overs left. Woakes is their best hope to get to 200 or close to it.

The bowling is way too good if the big guns struggled the tail won't score many. 180 maybe

MFPM

According to BBC stats guy, Australia have bowled 7 maidens, most maidens bowled against England since 2009.

MFPM

OK, Woakes won't be that saviour...Mysterypunter is right about the lower order! Hazelwood great again, only 1 wicket but just 27 runs of 10 overs, that's impressive.

Mysterypunter

MFPM wrote: »

OK, Woakes won't be that saviour...Mysterypunter is right about the lower order! Hazelwood great again, only 1 wicket but just 27 runs of 10 overs, that's impressive.

Mysterypunter is wrong about the lower order 😅 England got 231-9, aussies melted a bit

MFPM

Really poor from Australia in the last few overs but great batting from Rashid and Curran, though given how they batted the Aussies can take some heart for their own chances. Isn't it amazing how often we see this in cricket, serious batsmen struggle and then tail enders play like Viv Richards!

Gillespy

I don't know what to make of England batting. Key players look out of form, they also seems to have lost that no fear approach they had in the years up to the world cup. All these bowlers have gone the distance many times before playing this team. Pitch might not be a road but it's not that bad.

Anyway, they managed to get some score together to mean the second half might be worth watching.

Gillespy

Poor start to the Australian chase. Warner gone. Archer too fast for him.

Strumms

Gillespy wrote: »

I don't know what to make of England batting. Key players look out of form, they also seems to have lost that no fear approach they had in the years up to the world cup. All these bowlers have gone the distance many times before playing this team. Pitch might not be a road but it's not that bad.

Anyway, they managed to get some score together to mean the second half might be worth watching.

Good point re: the no fear approach.. halfway through the innings when you would have needed exceleration the English batsmen were finding the fielders constantly. They needed to risk going aerial or lower with added power, push the field back, make scoring off every ball realistic possibility. That worked at the end, but because it only came at the end , English lads have only managed to set a 232 target... with a bowling attack primed for keeping good economy over good pressure and danger.

MFPM

Steady enough by the Aussies, 5 per over would do it from here...easier said than done!

MFPM

The Aussies have dealt with Rashid much better today.

Strumms

MFPM wrote: »

The Aussies have dealt with Rashid much better today.

Much better indeed. They’ve sent him going for a hair under 8 an over.

MFPM

Good comeback here by England with Archer and Woakes.

Richard Hillman

Is Carey playing for this average or what?

MFPM

Appalling batting performance from Australia, excellent comeback by England, they'll win it from here.

Gillespy

Carey needs to take responsibility here. Zampa is a blocker, he has no shots. Giving him the strike every time is only heaping pressure on.

MFPM

Gillespy wrote: »

Carey needs to take responsibility here. Zampa is a blocker, he has no shots. Giving him the strike every time is only heaping pressure on.

What was Carey at, no effort?

I haven't seen much of Carey but from tonight's showing, surely Wade is a better option. He's more pro-active with the bat anyway.

Gillespy

Adam Gilchrist was pushing for Josh Philippe before the series.

MFPM

No boundary for 8 overs...8!!!

Gillespy

Hazlewood is capable of doing this job if it was Buttler or Dhoni batting at the other end.

MFPM

Well done England, excellent bowling performance winning a game they had no business winning. Langer should read the riot act with some of his batters, Smith has to come back for game three. Set up nicely for the finale!

MFPM

MFPM wrote: »

Well done England, excellent bowling performance winning a game they had no business winning. Langer should read the riot act with some of his batters, Smith has to come back for game three. Set up nicely for the finale!

If Smith is recovered, I'd be dropping Warner. He looks hopeless in English conditions. He's continued on from where he left off in the Ashes.

MFPM

Ward J. Littell wrote: »

If Smith is recovered, I'd be dropping Warner. He looks hopeless in English conditions. He's continued on from where he left off in the Ashes.

Yep, I agree but I suspect they'll retain him but what more does he have to do to show he can't play in England? Carey got a score tonight but showed no intent on trying to win, played for himself, not the team.

Gillespy

Two Curran brothers were excellent. Tom batting with Rashid, match winning 9th wicket partnership. And both bowled well. Tom very economical and Sam taking three wickets.

The pitch came to England. Run making was next to impossible at the end there. Next game will be on a fresh pitch thankfully. I thought I heard them say all three were on the same one. Wouldn't mind a belter and seeing Bairstow and Roy cut loose.

MFPM

Series decider today - England win the toss and will bat. Mark Wood in for Sam Curran. Australia somewhat incredibly unchanged, Smith still feeling the effects for the blow to the head in training.