Ashes Series (inc ODI's) 2017/18

Bad captancy, bad selections, bad batting, bowling and fielding

Woeful Cook needs to quit by far the worst series he's had

^ And you'll replace him with who?

Cook's not been the only bad batsman. Joe Root is supposed to be one of the worlds best batsman and he's struggled to find form.

I Would pair Malan & Stoneman together for just one Test and drop Cook down and see how that works

It's the 4th test and England have given Tom Curran his debut in place of the injured Craig Overton. Jackson Bird replaces the injured Mitchell Starc for Australia who have won the toss and are batting. Conditions look good for batting, so England really need to bowl well today.

(26-12-2017 00:28 )William H Bonney Wrote:  It's the 4th test and England have given Tom Curran his debut in place of the injured Craig Overton. Jackson Bird replaces the injured Mitchell Starc for Australia who have won the toss and are batting. Conditions look good for batting, so England really need to bowl well today.

Not much chance of England bowling well I'm afraid. Anderson too short as usual, Woakes feeding Warner long hops outside off stump, no spin for Ali, no seam or swing for Curran (or anybody for that matter) only Broad really trying, probably because he's playing for his place.

Oz 115 for 0 despite Bancroft looking like a walking wicket for the first 90 minutes. Could be looking at 400 by days end.

(26-12-2017 02:35 )Hawaiian Brian Wrote:  Could be looking at 400 by days end.

I think England have bowled pretty well - Australia only scored 43 runs in the afternoon session. Tea is taken at 145/2 from 54 overs.

(26-12-2017 04:38 )straw man Wrote:  

(26-12-2017 02:35 )Hawaiian Brian Wrote:  Could be looking at 400 by days end.

I think England have bowled pretty well - Australia only scored 43 runs in the afternoon session. Tea is taken at 145/2 from 54 overs.

Surprisingly good after lunch, I must agree. Pity they didn't bowl that way in the first session. (or perhaps it was just that Warner seemed to be batting on a different pitch to Bancroft)

After 74 overs OZ are 212-3 which means since lunch they have only scored 110 runs from 46 overs at roughly 2.4 runs per over compared to 3.64 before lunch. Looks like my estimate of 400 should be more like 270!

Australia are 244 for 3 at the close

It's been a truly good morning for England with 5 wickets in the session, Australia taking their score to 326/8 at lunch. Warner's century yesterday is now looking like a very good innings, which really transcended the conditions.