England 2021-22 Ashes Tour

(06-01-2022 10:34 )Boomerangutangangbang Wrote:  4th Ashes Test Sydney Day 3 Close
AUS 416-8 dec (134 overs) Kawaja 137 Smith 67 Harris 38 Starc 34 Broad 5-101
ENG 258-7 (70 overs) Bairstow 103 no Stokes 66 Wood 37 Boland 2-25 Cummins 2-68

(07-01-2022 06:41 )Boomerangutangangbang Wrote:  Ex England women's cricketer Alex Hartley, was on commentary, describing the days play. She said "I bet those of you in the UK weren't expecting to be waking up with Wood in the morning"

Alex is such a character. Love her on comms

It could a few years before we get the Ashes back I'm thinking

(07-01-2022 08:02 )Snooks Wrote:  

(07-01-2022 06:41 )Boomerangutangangbang Wrote:  Ex England women's cricketer Alex Hartley, was on commentary, describing the days play. She said "I bet those of you in the UK weren't expecting to be waking up with Wood in the morning"

Alex is such a character. Love her on comms

Earlier she was chatting about men's bigger balls, cheeky stuff.

England still trail Australia by 156 runs, much will depend on the extent of Bairstow's injured thumb. If he is able to resume his innings, the best that can be expected is to somehow reduce the deficit to less than 100. More weather disruptions are expected on day 4 & 5, they are already 64 over short after 3 days.
Cummins is showing why he is the No.1 ranked Test Match bowler, looking extremely hostile. During an amazing spell of bowling under testing conditions, England lost 3 wickets in 70 balls without a run being scored.
Lyon is very good off-spinner, & he does possess a ball that can hold up or turn the other way, but he's by no means a mystery spinner, & it was a welcome sight to see him take similar treatment to that inflicted on Leach, as he went for just under 6 runs an over.

Sam Billings has been added to the England squad as cover, with injury concerns over both Buttler & Bairstow. Buttler picked up a knock in the field & may not be able to keep wicket in Australia's 2nd innings. Ollie Pope has been practicing his keeping if required as a sub keeper in this match. Billings was due to return to England after his spell in the Big Bash, in order to prepare for the West Indies white-ball tour.

And Stokes was given out LBW after the umpire spotted a slight deflection.
Only to find out that the ball had missed his pads and had glanced the stumps. But failed to dislodge the bail.

That goodness for reviews.

The Ashes: Joe Root surprises Usman Khawaja with a bouncer - https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/av/cricket/59919689

England's first job on the morning of day 4 was to try to make the most from the 10 overs leading up to the 2nd new ball. when the contest would be ramped up. They all achieved the first part, with 36 runs scored in 9.1 overs. Bairstow could only contribute ones & twos with fields set to contain him, leaving the boundary hitting to Leach, Broad & Anderson. Bairstow had a tame end, caught behind off the impressive Boland. It was the right approach from England, when you measure it against the 36-4 in 21.5 overs at the top of the order.

With a 122 run 1st innings lead Australia set about scoring some quick runs with a view to declaring before the days close, to make some inroads into the England's struggling top order, with some uncertainty over the weather on the final day. England had some control with Wood & Leach combining to reduce Australia to 86-4, before Kawaja reeled off him second century of the match, & Green finally showed some batting form with a fine 74. The pair added 179 for the 5th wicket, with Kawaja scoring freely off the spin on a pitch offering variable bounce. England were hampered by Stokes inability to bowl, although he fielded throughout. The toiling Wood was over-bowled, with Broad & Anderson underused.

Cummins as a new captain opted for safety first, declaring 387 ahead, & allowing time for Kawaja to reach 3 figures. Conservative at best, against an England side yet to reach 300 on a good wicket. For once England's openers survived a tricky 11 overs, but with a maximum of 98 overs available, & 2nd new ball it will be hard to bat out the final day without some help from the weather. Despite the forecast, all but 3 overs of the 98 were completed.

^ The Australian commentators were suggesting that Cummins only declared because Jack Leach took two quick wicket.
They say that Cummins was next in and would have had to face the hat-trick ball and also he wasn't even padded up.
So he chose the best option for him, declare