2017 Ashes - Spoilers only

[psmiffy]

Finally, the England old guard put in a performance.

Yup - a bit of luck and circumstances going Englands way - it is almost like the first three matches were the meaningful practice they needed in Aussie conditions - but more like the Aussies always had a good game plan when it came to keeping their bowlers fit and a batsman that thrives in home conditions- First time Smith has been out in a test at Melbourne since 2014? - to win the series

Englands problem is the "old guard" are as still as good as it gets if picking a team from the pool of English players - You have only got to look at Cooks numbers in the County championship early doors this year to see he is still the best opening bat - Broad and Anderson still have what it takes when they get to see an opening - Root I think has been under so much pressure from one thing and another both on and off the field that he has been trying too hard

 

[Beebo]

Finally, the England old guard put in a performance.

Those central contracts are worth a lot of money. They will want to eek out a few more years.

 

[philk56]

Avoid losing a quick wicket tomorrow and could be looking good.

 

[psmiffy]

And on another matter - why is it that as soon as England begin to make a bit of progress they put Moeen on to bowl - Moeen is a more than competent spinner - more than 100 test wickets so he must be - but on a flat non-spinning Aussie pitch? against more than competent batting!

Must not grumble too much though - Cook benefited from some buffet bowling by Steve Smith at the end of the day - Its interesting tho - without Starc the Aussies have not been able to exert the same amount of pressure that they did in the other matches - Bird is pretty much the 5th or 6th seamer (Coulter Nile is injured) - Cumming and to a lesser extent Hazelwood have fed off the pressure that Starc creates - while Lyon holds down an end allowing them to bowl in very short spells - that Lyon has only one wicket (another very good c&b) suggests that the pitch is very benign

 

[J1888]

Avoid losing a quick wicket tomorrow and could be looking good.

England certainly looking good - Warner and Smith aside, it looked like a tricky pitch to score on, and those three wickets where the Aussie batsmen played their shots to early and onto the wickets made it seem like England's shaky top could struggle too.

Think England will have to be clever in the opening session - don't worry too much about scoring 4 every over, just play it safe during the inevitable barrage.

All that said, if Australia get 1 or 2 quick wickets, it could be rather disappointing.

 

[tallliman]

Need England to have another good day tomorrow and then we could think of a lead....

 

[rich p]

Well, that went better than expected.
Cook has gone through droughts throughout his career and always manages to crawl out of the hole in the nick of time.
It's the only thing that stops him being regarded as highly as his stats suggest.

 

[philk56]

Very nice to wake up to. Now to see how the Aussie batsmen cope under pressure.

 

[Bonefish Blues]

Odd info about the non review of not out decisions x2 in the innings I thought.

 

[Fonze]

Cook was awesome ..
Finally something to cheer about ..

 

[rich p]

I wake up at 230-3 and by the time I've brushed my teeth...

 

[tallliman]

It doesn't take long when you only have two.

Batsmen?

 

[J1888]

Well, looks like 4-0 then...

Interesting listening to TMS, doubts being cast on the future of the Ashes and test cricket more generally...apparently the pitches should be better etc...

Cant help but think that if England were closing in on 4-0 that there wouldn't be this level of criticsm

 

[tallliman]

I think the issue is that test series are increasingly being one sided affairs. Think of the recent England v India series which have been one sided in both countries.

As a result, there needs to be a better focus on getting sufficient preparation/acclimatisation before a series. Quality of warm up opposition often makes the games a non-event for example.

Sport is fun to watch as a contest. Without the contest (as an Arsenal fan, the Invincibles era was fun to a point, games were often won in 25mins but often lacked contest), it ceases to be as fun.

 

[Beebo]

Root has gone to hospital with dehydration before the start of day 5.
Not the best start to the day but his health is more important than trying to rescue a lost cause.