Ashes 17-18

This was a very nice story
http://www.thecricketer.com/default.aspx?pageid=1223&catid=71&topicid=43620

And that’s that. Such a shame to see England collapse like that after working so hard to get back into the match.

The collapse is so familiar

Some positives to take forward? Showed fight to take it to the final day and give themselves a sniff after the opening two days I guess.

Beasty wrote: »

It's looking bad, but equally this England team have shown they have the talent. Yes it's 40 years since they won there, but you could also look at it as a case of a win is long overdue. Equally in this day and age many more Tests are producing positive results. Who knows Perth could be decided by the toss of the coin

If they can get the upper hand and win at the WACA we could well be set up for an exciting couple of tests over XMas and the New Year

Never has a glass been more half full. (if that were possible) It'd be lovely if it panned out like that but I'm more in the two hopes school of thinking.

In most parts of the world pouring a pint over Jimmy Andersons head would be seen as a the right thing to do whatever the circumstance

Very foolish as a touring squad in general, literally the first night the curfew was relaxed for!

I dunno, will obviously have no bearing on the Ashes series itself but another but of bad pr for ECB to be dealing with.

Moving Bairstow up is a good move imo

There was an attempted match fix for upcoming third test apparently.

https://amp.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/cricket/sun-investigation-smashes-bookies-multimillion-pound-plot-to-rig-third-ashes-test/news-story/b9f9b563b4843d7fd0c8c86e90dace35?__twitter_impression=true

StringerBell wrote: »

Could have sworn I heard he left already, after the first Test I thought. Either way, horrible news and hopefully it is a very treatable form and she makes a full recovery.

He flew home after the 2nd test and isn't coming back. Yeah, dreadful news, hopefully she'll be OK.

162/4 England. No collapse but nothing to get too excited about either. Stoneman wicket was a dodgy one.

KevIRL wrote: »

162/4 England. No collapse but nothing to get too excited about either. Stoneman wicket was a dodgy one.

Nothing dodgy at all

Clearer and clearer with each replay. Good day for England, Bairstow moving up has to be seen as a successful move too with the partnership.

They may not actually lose this Test match!

KevIRL wrote: »

Some stuff this partnership

Solid jinxing. Malan out

Fair old collapse from the tail as England make 403

Warner gone for Australia already

Both openers out for Australia 55/2. Smith to the crease. If England can get him today they'll fancy keeping Australia to a v low score

203/3 at close. Australias day, but England well in this match after giving themselves a chance with runs on the board (even allowing for the collapse)

Smith will have to start all over again in the morning, which is about the only hope England have of removing him it seems!

Pretty even after the two days?

A wicket is badly needed. Scores are even. Aussies only 4 down.

Smith nearly at 200. I’m not trying to jinx him, honestly

Australia look like they could bat into next year here if they wanted

Smithy broke a few records today also and joined Hayden as the only batsmen to score a thousand runs in 4 consecutive years....hayden out on his own with 5.

Australia will declare before or at Tea depending on the run rate and the weather. If Australia can put together a lead of anywhere between 270/300 they will just declare at that point and have a proper rattle at them but they will want to keep them in the field for a good part of the day after being in it toiling all day yesterday and a part of the day before.

I will say this though, I think on the evidence of the first couple of overs 250 is enough to win here without batting again. Two balls have hit cracks so far, one took a wicket, one was completely unplayable.

Jimmy broke through in the first over of the day trapping Marsh LBW, pretty plum, only issue may have been height and it was reviewed but went with umpires call, looked a good one tbh.

Paine joins Smith out there, who has moved with ease to 239 now.

560/5 becomes 560/6 as I type

Smith! The big one is gone, on review.

Given not out, England reviewed it, and it was overturned. There was a couple of sounds and there is no bat on the replay, big big wicket for England

Anderson again. He was unsure going for the review, the noises I'd say putting him off. Smith played the wrong line as the ball straightened, the pitch certainly has some demons now!