Cricket

[Ferret]

It just needs one good ball from England...

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It wouldn't be right if the Test didn't end in controversy. But it has and England have won thanks to Erasmus deciding that there was an edge behind but personally, whilst I'm not complaining, I'm not convinced there was enough there to overrule the on-field umpire.

Nonsense I'm afraid. I was convinced when I watched it live, and the audible noise as the ball passed the bat could not have been anything else other than leather on willow - the bat was miles from the body, pads or anything else. Correct decision made for once! Oh, and although it's after the event, snicko subsequently provemd Haddin hit it.

Wonderful Test match despite the Agar/Trott/Broad controversies. Who knows, if it wasn't for the shocking Agar decision, this Test would not have been so close. And, one suspects Australia may have won were it not for Aleem Dar's howler with Broad. Roll on Thirsday...

 

[flymo]

Well if all 5 tests are as dramatic as that one then I'm going to need another set of fingernails to nibble on. It seems somewhat fitting that the last man out was an overturned umpire call, it just seems rather fitting with the experiences of the previous 4 days.

The use of the review system it seems is critical to the outcome of the game, both reviews need to be used wisely.

Ah well, onwards to Lords on Thursday, should be a belter.

 

[ainsworth74]

Nonsense I'm afraid. I was convinced when I watched it live, and the audible noise as the ball passed the bat could not have been anything else other than leather on willow - the bat was miles from the body, pads or anything else. Correct decision made for once! Oh, and although it's after the event, snicko subsequently provemd Haddin hit it.

Having watched it again I agree, especially once we got Snicko's view.

 

[Johnuk123]

Who said test matches are boring?

 

[Ferret]

Having watched it again I agree, especially once we got Snicko's view.

I'm amazed they haven't sought to speed up the snicko so that the 3rd umpire can use that too.

The Beeb pointed out that Haddin looked guilty, as though he'd nicked it. He looked gutted!

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Looks as if this heatwave is here for some time, so how the next venues' square reacts will be interesting. If the hot dry weather keeps up like this, it will be like playing at the WACA...:cry:



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Some amazing bowling figues by the vintage all-rounder, Shahid Afridi, for Pakistan against the West Indies in a 50 over ODI match.

9 overs -3 maidens - 12 runs - 7 wickets hock:

 

[Arglwydd Golau]

I'm amazed they haven't sought to speed up the snicko so that the 3rd umpire can use that too.

The Beeb pointed out that Haddin looked guilty, as though he'd nicked it. He looked gutted!

Just a further point on this - Haddin now says that he knew he nicked it, waiting for umpire's decision, as he had a right to (just like Broad). There has been far too much talk in the media and much grumbling from older players about 'walking', but I remember similar in the 1960's when I was a young lad....I don't really think that there was such a golden age of honesty, but of course nowadays with endless close-ups if you look guilty you will be found out!

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Wonderful Test match despite the Agar/Trott/Broad controversies. Who knows, if it wasn't for the shocking Agar decision, this Test would not have been so close. And, one suspects Australia may have won were it not for Aleem Dar's howler with Broad. Roll on Thirsday...

In the cricketing equivalent of "locking the stable door once the horse has bolted", the ICC have made a statement to the effect that Marais Erasmus had incorrectly given Jonathon Trott out lbw using DRS, in the first Test Match.
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The square must be much to the liking of the batsmen at Old Trafford in this heatwave, as Glamorgan had amassed 474 before their final wicket fell, to which Lancashire have responded with a score of 567 all out by lunch on day four of the match.

It does not always rain at Old Trafford during matches..

 

[Johnuk123]

Terrible start in the second test with both Cook, Pietersen and Root out with only 28 on the board.

Yet again our top batsmen fail to deliver.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I see that Finn was replaced by Bresnan for the second Test Match. Experience preferred to age ?

 

[Johnuk123]

I see that Finn was replaced by Bresnan for the second Test Match. Experience preferred to age ?

Finn can be brilliant but in the first test he was really ineffective, replacing him with Bresnan - well we'll see.

 

[ainsworth74]

I see that Finn was replaced by Bresnan for the second Test Match. Experience preferred to age ?

Should have gone for Onions, he likes bowling at Lords.

80-3 at Lunch, not brilliant but still a while to go before I reach the hair pulling stage.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

A very good recovery by England, but what a pity that 271-4 soon became 274-6.

 

[Johnuk123]

289-7 at the close of play, Australia have the edge with today being such a perfect pitch for batting we shouldn't have shed wickets like we have.

 

[Whistler40145]

We shouldn't have lost so many wickets to the very very part-time spin of Steve Smith, quite embarrassing!

 

[furryfeet]

I'm amazed they haven't sought to speed up the snicko so that the 3rd umpire can use that too.

The Beeb pointed out that Haddin looked guilty, as though he'd nicked it. He looked gutted!

there are moves afoot to get the snicko available within 5 seconds, but no definitive timescale has yet been put ....

 

[Arglwydd Golau]

We shouldn't have lost so many wickets to the very very part-time spin of Steve Smith, quite embarrassing!

Just one of those things, I suppose (tho' the ball that got Bell was a good one), odd that in Australia last time his bowling seemed to have been treated by the English batsmen as a bit of a joke.
England need to get up to at least 350, I would suggest, but if Ryan Harris puts on his snarly face and with the new ball they might be lucky to reach 300.
Test cricket!

 

[Searle]

We shouldn't have lost so many wickets to the very very part-time spin of Steve Smith, quite embarrassing!

He seemed to be getting a lot of revs on the ball though! I like Steve Smith, mainly for his outstanding fielding. The C&B was quite impressive

Hoping for another stand from the tailenders tomorrow morning though. Not sure how hopeful I am though with the new ball about to come in.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

We shouldn't have lost so many wickets to the very very part-time spin of Steve Smith, quite embarrassing!

Very much so. In a day when 89 overs are bowled and seven wickets falling, Steve Smiths figures of 6-1-18-3 for a part-time spin bowler are quite amazing.

 

[ainsworth74]

Makes me wonder what one G Swann will be able to do...

 

[Johnuk123]

At the start of the game they said on Sky that it was at least a 450 run pitch, I think we''ll be lucky to get within 100 of that.

 

[Whistler40145]

Lets hope "The Burnley Express" (Jimmy Anderson) can make an impressive start with the New Ball. I expect Broad will be his opening partner?

 

[Johnuk123]

Lets hope "The Burnley Express" (Jimmy Anderson) can make an impressive start with the New Ball. I expect Broad will be his opening partner?

Hopefully that will be very late in the day.

 

[Arglwydd Golau]

At the start of the game they said on Sky that it was at least a 450 run pitch, I think we''ll be lucky to get within 100 of that.

Well, they reached 361 due to a typical Broad/Swann partnership! Much better than I expected after the first ball of the day....the key now has to be the first few overs with the new ball.
At 27/3, England would have settled for 361.

 

[Johnuk123]

Well, they reached 361 due to a typical Broad/Swann partnership! Much better than I expected after the first ball of the day....the key now has to be the first few overs with the new ball.
At 27/3, England would have settled for 361.

I think we'll know if 361 is a reasonable score by Saturday.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Both Australian openers have now gone, both lbw....50-2

Watson to Bresnan for 30, Rogers to Swann for 16.

 

[Cab2Cab]

I see Erasmoose got another umpiring decision wrong again........but i'm not complaining this time ...............and trott has just dropped a catch.

 

[BlueFox]

Australia 91/6

 

[ainsworth74]

Good stuff so far and a bit better than I'd had in mind at the close last night (I was thinking England all out 330ish and Australia all out 250ish). Still we've got to get through Agar yet, I'd rather he didn't come out of perform more heroics!

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Australia now 104-9, with Swann taking four of the wickets.