The Ashes Tour 2013

[BookMan]

England started the day losing a clutch of wickets and ended the day getting a clutch of wickets.

England's day and they have the upper hand now. A decent second innings of 300+ and the game is theirs for the taking.

Australia's batsmen got pinned down by tight bowling and a good field. Even Bailey, who can crack a ball was out for a duck after 19 balls. Warner and Clarke both failed but no other batsman could really step up.

[David48]

Yep ... credit to the Soap Dodgers ...

Good Bowling by you and piss poor batting by us ...

You know though, we Aussies still think we can win.

[BookMan]

Ashes 2013: Kerry O'Keeffe to quit commentary

Kerry O'Keeffe has announced he is retiring from cricket commentary after 13 years with the ABC.

An emotional O'Keeffe said on Friday the fifth Ashes Test in Sydney, starting next Friday, would be his last behind the microphone after what he described as a "life changing" broadcasting career.

"I didn't have a bean when I started," the 64-year-old said. "I was virtually unemployed. I'd just drifted, doing casual jobs...but my life changed, and suddenly I was making money. A lot of things sprung from it. I wrote three books that sold and my speaking (engagements). I've been able to secure my family."

http://www.smh.com.au/sport/cricket/ashes-2013-kerry-okeeffe-to-quit-commentary-20131227-2zz92.html

Edited December 27, 2013 by BookMan

[7by7]

Yep ... credit to the Soap Dodgers ...

Good Bowling by you and piss poor batting by us ...

The opposite of the first three tests! Except, maybe, the first day at the Gabba.

Was disappointed, but not surprised, when I woke up this morning to see England all out for 255.

Then I saw the Aussie score!

Why have England left it too late to perform like this in the field?

Still, losing 3-2 is better than 5-0!

[BookMan]

Yep ... credit to the Soap Dodgers ...

Good Bowling by you and piss poor batting by us ...

The opposite of the first three tests! Except, maybe, the first day at the Gabba.

Was disappointed, but not surprised, when I woke up this morning to see England all out for 255.

Then I saw the Aussie score!

Why have England left it too late to perform like this in the field?

Still, losing 3-2 is better than 5-0!

3-2?

Steady on mate

[7by7]

I live in hope.

Who said "it's not over until it's over?"

[Will27]

I've been going on about Australia's poor top order since the series started.

Four of our top batsmens career average are 35 or less which is clearly not good enough.

I know you rate Bailey BookMan, but IMO, he will never be a decent test batsmen

while his arse points to the ground. He only averages 15 in the first innings.

Warner has been good but out of his 466 runs, only 138 have been when it

counted in the first innings.

Smith and Rogers are both "30 something" boys. They've ridden on Clarke's back for

to long and Haddin has saved us more often then not this series.

I think this is a reality check for Oz. We have a great pace attack, no decent spinner

and lack 2 or 3 good batsmen.

Rant over

[Bangkokhatter]

So we can all agree both sides batsmen have been piss poor

[GrantSmith]

Apparently Piers Morgan's available for a call up

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/12/27/piers-morgan-brett-lee-over_n_4506697.html

[David48]

Is Watsons time due?

Is there another batting All-Rounder in the wings?

He's always injured.

He's supposed to be the '4th' seamer / medium quick

But, he's their primarily there for his batting ... which has failed so many times.

What I have admired about Haddin is that his innings have shone when Australia needed runs.

It's all and good to score a century when your side is, on aggregate, 150 runs ahead ... but more treasured to score 50 or 80 when your side is 100 behind ... thus the current magic of Haddin.

My humble opinion ...

[BookMan]

I've been going on about Australia's poor top order since the series started.

Four of our top batsmens career average are 35 or less which is clearly not good enough.

I know you rate Bailey BookMan, but IMO, he will never be a decent test batsmen

while his arse points to the ground. He only averages 15 in the first innings.

Warner has been good but out of his 466 runs, only 138 have been when it

counted in the first innings.

Smith and Rogers are both "30 something" boys. They've ridden on Clarke's back for

to long and Haddin has saved us more often then not this series.

I think this is a reality check for Oz. We have a great pace attack, no decent spinner

and lack 2 or 3 good batsmen.

Rant over

Fully agree with you about lacking the 2 or 3 batsmen Will.

I'm not so fussed about 1st innings v 2nd innings scores, as in Warner. Sometimes 2nd innings is just as important in crafting a win

Sadly, I can't see Bailey keeping his place. He has had a lot of chances and can't seem to convert. He is a free flowing player and besides that end of innings cameo where he equaled the test record for most runs in an over, he hasn't been able to score or play his game.

The question is of course: who does Australia have that can replace some of the current crop?

Watson should be batting down the order, not at #3. His bowling is useful, mainly for his ability to strangle run scoring, but he does get injured often.

[Will27]

heel

Is Watsons time due?

Is there another batting All-Rounder in the wings?

He's always injured.

He's supposed to be the '4th' seamer / medium quick

But, he's their primarily there for his batting ... which has failed so many times.

What I have admired about Haddin is that his innings have shone when Australia needed runs.

It's all and good to score a century when your side is, on aggregate, 150 runs ahead ... but more treasured to score 50 or 80 when your side is 100 behind ... thus the current magic of Haddin.

My humble opinion ...

David48

Watson is the best of a bad bunch. I agree with BookMan though, he should be batting lower, preferably at 6 methinks.

You'd take a batting average of 35 with his ability to snare the odd wicket but injury has always been his Achilles heel.

The rest, Smith, Rogers and Bailey are lucky to be there. Rogers is 36 years old and averages 31. He's not going to get

any better. Bailey 31 and averages 27. His go is when quick runs are needed. Really a limited over specialist. Smith averages

34 and is only 24 so he has age on his side, but he's got an ordinary technique.

You said "another batting-rounder in the wings". Mate, we haven't even got another batsmen in the wings. Think Phil Hughes,

Kwajala etc etc. That's the reason Baily is playing, because there is no one else.

I'd love a Stokes like England have . Australia's last all-rounder was Gary Gilmour I think. Eng have produced Botham and Flintoff.

I don't know why we don't produce them.

Alex Doolan shows a bit with the bat and Mitchell Marsh is a promising bowling all-rounder.

Maybe it's time to give at least on the younger guys a crack. Rogers would seem to be safe

as I don't there's another opener. Hughes has been given multiple chances already. Maybe

Mitch Marsh for Bailey and move Haddin up to 6 and bat his at 7.

Anyway, the Poms seem to be in a hurry being 0/32 after 7 overs and lead by 83.

Australia won't want to be chasing 300 on this deck methinks.

Update: Lyon just had 8 taken of his second over. No surprise there.

IMO, he couldn't spin a yarn

Edited December 28, 2013 by Will27

[MrRed]

England now 131-4 a lead of 182

Pieterson 23

Stokes 19

A 300 run lead by England is needed to win this test match still about 30 Overs left today just restarting after tea.

A mini recovery by these two batsman after we lost 3 wickets for 1 run.

[Old Croc]

England now 131-4 a lead of 182

Pieterson 23

Stokes 19

A 300 run lead by England is needed to win this test match still about 30 Overs left today just restarting after tea.

A mini recovery by these two batsman after we lost 3 wickets for 1 run.

Oops, Stokes gone!

[MrRed]

A lead of 205 runs!!

153-5

Pieterson 39 still in at the moment and is going for it now by the looks of it.

300 NEEDED.

[Bangkokhatter]

Wake up to yet another batting collapse, it's like Groundhog day round here.

[GrantSmith]

Getting a bit windy out there today...

http://www.cricket.com.au/video/Johnson-and-KPs-heated-exchange

[David48]

Have to say ... tis exciting.

I'm not going anywhere.

[GrantSmith]

9 down now...

[noikrit]

All Out 179 ...

[BookMan]

Aussies 0-17 with still some play left today...

Going to go and be an exciting day tomorrow!

[Bangkokhatter]

That has to go down as one of the worst batting displays in recent history and there have been some shockers. How can a ropey spinner get a 5 for on a flat pitch ?

Painful to be an England supporter right now.

[BookMan]

That has to go down as one of the worst batting displays in recent history and there have been some shockers. How can a ropey spinner get a 5 for on a flat pitch ?

Painful to be an England supporter right now.

Absolutely. Lyon getting 5/50?

[farmerjo]

Must say i was bored as bat shit yesterday however today was great,only hate when warne sticks his neck out,although he was right today.

Good to see rodgers playing his shots and turning the strike today.

Of better players to come in,mike husseys cameo last night for thunder was a class above whatever else we have running around.

[mad mary]

<deleted>!

[farmerjo]

Off topic,dont worry MM,the darts are on tonight and only one aussie left,surely the english will take that out.saw some great action last night.

[jackr]

Disgraceful cricket from Eng even if they go on to win the fourth. Nuff said!

[7by7]

<deleted>?

173 for 5 to 179 all out!

By any reckoning Lyon is an average spinner at best. But he got 5 in this innings on this spin unfriendly pitch!

Only some excellent bowling and fielding from England coupled with poor batting from Australia can save England now.

Either way, all over tomorrow. England may get out of gaol, but this series has shown that they must look very carefully at their batting; something is very wrong.

How can a side whose top 5 contain three men with test averages above 45 keep getting out for such low scores?

Edited December 28, 2013 by 7by7

[BookMan]

<deleted>?

173 for 5 to 179 all out!

By any reckoning Lyon is an average spinner at best. But he got 5 in this innings on this spin unfriendly pitch!

Only some excellent bowling and fielding from England coupled with poor batting from Australia can save England now.

Either way, all over tomorrow. England may get out of gaol, but this series has shown that they must look very carefully at their batting; something is very wrong.

How can a side whose top 5 contain three men with test averages above 45 keep getting out for such low scores?

Very poor..not much different for Australia 1st innings.

Im going with the Aussies to win this one...Just 200 needed with 10 wickets in hand...I really hope Warner doesn't try for a run rate of 6 an over...4 will suffice...

5/230 is my hope

[Will27]

<deleted>?

173 for 5 to 179 all out!

By any reckoning Lyon is an average spinner at best. But he got 5 in this innings on this spin unfriendly pitch!

Only some excellent bowling and fielding from England coupled with poor batting from Australia can save England now.

Either way, all over tomorrow. England may get out of gaol, but this series has shown that they must look very carefully at their batting; something is very wrong.

How can a side whose top 5 contain three men with test averages above 45 keep getting out for such low scores?

Very poor..not much different for Australia 1st innings.

Im going with the Aussies to win this one...Just 200 needed with 10 wickets in hand...I really hope Warner doesn't try for a run rate of 6 an over...4 will suffice...

5/230 is my hope

All credit to Lyon for his Michelle Pfeiffer. But after having seen all of the dismissals tonight several times, I can

honestly say that there was not one Jaffa or unplayable ball with his wickets. A few decent well flighted deliveries

yes, but 5 for 50! A shocking effort by England today.

I'm hoping Warner can blast away at one end for an hour or so while Rogers can push and nudge them around.

A few twist and turns left I think. I hope we don't end up being 4 for 80 though.