Ashes 17-18

KevIRL · 26-12-2017 4:22am

Curran gets Warner out for 99 but is called for a no ball. If anything summed up England this ashes series...

Gizmo55 · 26-12-2017 4:40am

135-1. Hard to watch if you’re an England supporter.

KevIRL · 26-12-2017 4:46am

Now he's gone. 103. Nice pressure from England, plenty of dots

KevIRL · 26-12-2017 7:38am

Good session after lunch from England but Smith yet again making the difference since then.

KevIRL · 26-12-2017 8:07am

244/3 at stumps

Conchir · 26-12-2017 4:02pm

The period around Warner's wicket on 99, no ball, and then eventual 100 was a great spectacle. The excitement of Test cricket, love it. The swing in emotions for Warner and Curran was great, and the crowd right on them the whole time.

StringerBell · 26-12-2017 8:26pm

Strange day that, off to a super start in the morning with Warner, then a lull for pretty much all of the afternoon, you could have been forgiven for thinking rain must have played a part! The evening session picked up again with the current partnership.

Curran continues an English tradition of having your first Test wicket taken off you for a no ball

Same old problem for England now though, how to get rid of Smith. I think there is a stat that he has not been dismissed at this ground since 2014 scoring big tons each time in the first innings? Definitely got close to 200 in one of them and over a hundred in the other two.

Conchir · 26-12-2017 10:31pm

StringerBell wrote: »

Same old problem for England now though, how to get rid of Smith. I think there is a stat that he has not been dismissed at this ground since 2014 scoring big tons each time in the first innings? Definitely got close to 200 in one of them and over a hundred in the other two.

His average at the MCG is around 130 if I recall correctly, phenomenal.

Mysterypunter · 27-12-2017 2:13am

318-6 now, that Warner is a right little scumbag

Mysterypunter · 27-12-2017 2:21am

318-7 Paine out for 24

Beasty · 27-12-2017 2:27am

Certainly a bit of a turnaround this morning - 325-8!

Beasty · 27-12-2017 2:34am

...and at 326-8 at lunch I can go to bed happy. The fact they've managed to get to the tail end before the ball deteriorated much has to be a big plus. Hopefully the England batsmen will be learning from the way these wickets are falling - 3 played on and 2 lbws this morning and the softer ball is not getting much height at all.

Gizmo55 · 27-12-2017 2:35am

82-5 in that session.

StringerBell · 27-12-2017 2:39am

Serious mornings work from England, 5 wicket, 3 of them drag on's which indicates the two paced nature of the wicket.

Warners 100 is getting better looking by the minute! 326/8 at lunch. Did I miss something regarding Warner? He is one of those guys easy to dislike if he isn't on your team of course but did he do something specific to be labelled a scumbag by a poster?

The tail looks decidedly more fragile with Bird coming in at 9, England have gained a foothold in the Test now. Interesting to see if they can knock the tail over fast. They are usually good for a couple of good sessions per Test though then the collapse comes so a lot to be seen yet

StringerBell · 27-12-2017 3:15am

Second ball back after lunch and Broad removes Cummins. The last of the decent batters in the Aussie line up. The fat lady is warming up here for the first innings!

Broad has deserved this, bowled like a man wanting to send a message to his many critics

StringerBell · 27-12-2017 3:31am

All out 327, Anderson taking care of Lyon.

Warners hundred may be a difference maker here, interested to see how Englands batsmen play the pitch.

Credit to England, from 243/3 to all out for 327 in just over a session is very good going.

The question now is will the slow pitch help Lyon as much as you think it probably will and can Australia find that reverse that England were getting?

Mysterypunter · 27-12-2017 3:33am

Wrapped up very fast from 309-5. Hard to know is it a good score or not, maybe 400 is

Mr. Guappa · 27-12-2017 9:36am

England 192-2 at the close. Cook with a century. England in the driving seat, let's see if they can see this one through.

StringerBell · 27-12-2017 11:43am

England's best day of the series so far. Too little too late in terms of the series but a chance to save face a little is now firmly in their hands. Good day with the bat tomorrow and that's job done

StringerBell · 27-12-2017 11:48am

Was also nice if Smith to have a bowl at cook before stumps to make sure to get him over the line today ðŸ˜

Beasty · 27-12-2017 2:30pm

Hope it's going to be a cracking morning session tonight! If these 2 can survive the next session England will be in a great position. If the Aussies can get both wickets there's a risk that England will collapse in a similar fashion to the Aussies when they get hold of the new ball

StringerBell · 28-12-2017 1:38am

Root gone for 61, gives the opening.

226/3

StringerBell · 28-12-2017 2:05am

Cook is looking unshakeable here, Smith very ropey, on and off the field a bit. Similar to Cummins yesterday, reports of illness in the camp.

The fielding has been defensive from Smithy also. When Malan came in, new man, just 1 slip in place. Malan hit 3 boundaries then through the slip/gulley corridor, defensive captaincy from both camps this Test.

New ball due soon though maybe see a change in that policy.

Malan has slotted in handy, some loose bowling has helped that but these two could be in for the long haul barring some new ball magic.

StringerBell · 28-12-2017 2:08am

New ball, Hazelwood into the attack. This period before lunch will have a large bearing on the outcome of the Test

StringerBell · 28-12-2017 2:11am

Boom, 2nd ball. Malan out lbw to Hazlewood.

246/4, trailing by 81....wow, just saw the replays. Malan didn't review, and he very well should have. Big inside edge!

Actually farcical from Malan not to have felt that or reviewed.

Beasty · 28-12-2017 2:15am

Crazy that 2 on the English batsmen didn't realise they had hit the ball. Think there may be an issue with the new team members feeling the aftermath of wasted decisions in previous series. Now you don't lose a referral on umpire's call they should be thinking of appealing a few more times

StringerBell · 28-12-2017 2:16am

Big inswing on a full ball to Cook slams into his pads but its going down leg side, scary moments for England here!

StringerBell · 28-12-2017 2:19am

Bairstow playing like Bairstow, he will be one to come away from this series with reputation intact anyway

Beasty · 28-12-2017 2:22am

The good news is England still have Cook and Bairstow to handle the new ball with Ali to come. If these 2 can survive the first 7 or 8 overs after the break they will be well placed to take a healthy first innings lead

StringerBell · 28-12-2017 2:29am

There we go, Bairstow driving hard, flies through the gap at 3rd slip for four. Bairstow was lucky the ball before that too when the ball beat him but just beat the off stump also. Bird bowling alright with the new ball.

Last over before lunch for Hazlewood.

Ashes 17-18

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