England V Australia 2013-14 Ashes - ODI & T20 Series

Clarke is finally out for 187, bowled by Broad. It's been an entertaining day's play today and Swann has 5 wickets in the innings. Australia are now 430/7.

Great theatre with Warner booed to the crease & booed off after a very brief stay

Close Day 2
Australia 527-7 dec
Clarke 187 Rogers 84 Smith 89 Haddin 65 no. Starc 66 no.
Swann 5-159

England 52-2
Cook 36 no.
Siddle 2-7

Time for Cook,Trott,KP & Prior to deliver in this innings.If England can somehow bat for 4 sessions then it will be up to Clarke to chase the game & try to set up a win.I will be important for England to still try to bat a a decent scoring rate today & not just try & crawl towards the follow-on target.

Lunch - day 3 England 119-4 cook 62 Pietersen 33 not out

Tea - day 3 - england 211-4

Pietersen 78 not out & bell 51 not out have put on101 for the 5th wicket,the 2nd new ball has just been taken,England have to get through the next hour with these two still at the crease.

I guess today is going to be the crucial day, we are adrift of the follow on and I probably would say our best option would be to go for the draw as a win would be out of our reach now. If the Aussies collapse dramatically in their 2nd inns, which is probably unlikely then I would say go for the win

Rains going to play a major part in this match.
There's probably only going to be two sessions remaining.

If England manage to avoid the follow on, I can't see Australia forcing a result.
At least the crowd will have Warner to entertain them.

Runs have come quickly this morning,follow-on saved.Amazinglt both Broad & Swann walked after edging behind to Haddin.At drinks England have made 67 runs in the first hour & are 361-9.Australia lead by 166 runs.

(31-07-2013 10:38 )Boomerangutangangbang Wrote:  It was mentioned on Sky the other day that they are hoping for a little bit of rain to make the game last into the 5th day to make more money for Lancashire CCC because England could stuff them inside 3 days if they don't improve.

But not too much rain ,got to get those minimum 25overs in .Don't want to have to reimburse the ticket holders .
(whaddya mean "that's cynical" ?