England v Ireland & Australia Test Cricket 2019

I may have to edit my comments about there being serious consideration of including M Starc next test! He is 'labouring' against Derbyshire, and appears to have an issue with his groin!! Any hint, and pull him from this match!

Siddle - who Bob Willis more or less said couldn't bowl - not good enough - seems to be in decent shape....good rhythm and decent pace!! Derbyshire 160 odd for 8, Not sure - rather than practice per se - what the Aussies can gain against an opposition unlikely to push them!

Many say that the counties shouldn't give a touring side the kind of prep that would allow them to set themselves up for the contest against England. I disagree, both for the spectators, and the integrity of the match/series! I guess - no disrespect - that Derbyshire fit the bill in that regard! Don't often pull up many trees!

It's the 4th test today at Old Trafford.
Australia won the toss and elected to bat. Current score 57-2.

Joe root the most uninspiring England captain i think I've seen

Say what you like about Steve Smith (the pantomime villain booing is getting very old now) his borderline genius - no matter how ungainly he may look - is something a true cricket fan can only admire and look on at with amazement!! Ok, he has ridden his luck a little today, but to front up, having sat out the last test in it's entirety after having taken an horrific knock, and compile yet another ton (of high quality) is quite simply remarkable!! 391 for 7 as it stands, and in excess of 400 to come, England are under the pump!!

Starc walking, but not out!! Running amock here too, so another 20 mins of him in this mood, and England can forget it!! They can probably forget it from here anyway! (caveat being the last test - you just never know)

Australia declared at 497 - 8.

England have to bat for 40 minutes

Joe Denly is no opening batsman. He has a bad habit of chasing deliveries that are wide of off stump, and he has nightmares against the short pitched ball, taking his eye off it.

Excellent innings by Rain so far today.
Showing the sort of nagging application and perseverence required at test level

(05-09-2019 18:52 )Carl-Gen X Wrote:  Joe Denly is no opening batsman. He has a bad habit of chasing deliveries that are wide of off stump, and he has nightmares against the short pitched ball, taking his eye off it.

Denley isn't a test batsman, and he isn't good enough to be a test bowler.

It's better to give Ollie Pope a decent run in the team.

No play because of rain this morning.

Expect a lot of pressure on Joe Root once Overton the night watchman gets out. If Root fails, then England could be in real trouble because Jason Roy is a wicket waiting to fall, then we’re into the middle order which has looked brittle on more than one occasion.