The Ashes!

[Xamonas Chegwé]

Khawaja has gone and it's raining again. Khawaja looked promising but Swanny did his usual magic, taking a wicket in the first over of his spell.

[JimC]

So. England have retained the ashes but would dearly love to win the series. Can they finish the job?

Bearing in mind that they only need a draw for a series win and the weather looks a bit iffy and the Aussies are hardly setting the pitch alight with their performance this far (120/3 in 53 overs is not a convincing winning pace) I think this match has draw written all over it.

Probably quite likely, particularly the weather angle; the whole east coast is a rain magnet, these days...

[Xamonas Chegwé]

Nobody else watching this?

Ah well. Can't really blame the Aussie contingent for hanging their heads. But I really think they ought to watch and see how to generate a decent run-rate - it is clear that there is only one side that wants a positive result here - and given the status of the series, it is surprising that it is England going for the win rather than Australia. With rain and forecasts of rain, how did Australia expect to level the series dabbing about at 2 an over? Really? An entertaining blaze of glory, or a stale, rain-affected draw? Your choice was obvious... and a little bit sad.

[Xamonas Chegwé]

England 167/3 at stumps on day 2. 113 behind. Still too early to count poultry but the English scoring rate is encouraging - if we can pass the Aussie score with 4 or 5 wickets in hand, we could make things very tough for Australia - this is not a pitch where teams tend to score more in their second innings than they do in their first.

I think tomorrow is key for both teams.

[JimC]

Certainly the match is tilting England's way, unless we get one of those wicket surges tomorrow that we have managed once or twice this summer...

[klr]

England 167/3 at stumps on day 2. 113 behind. Still too early to count poultry but the English scoring rate is encouraging - if we can pass the Aussie score with 4 or 5 wickets in hand, we could make things very tough for Australia - this is not a pitch where teams tend to score more in their second innings than they do in their first.

I think tomorrow is key for both teams.

If, if, if ... I think 280 was a good score for Australia all things considered. But in general I agree: If England can complete their first innings with a healthy lead (say 100-150, or even more) then they are in the driving seat. I certainly can't see this test ending in a draw unless the weather goes Queensland-style.

[JimC]

England 167/3 at stumps on day 2. 113 behind. Still too early to count poultry but the English scoring rate is encouraging - if we can pass the Aussie score with 4 or 5 wickets in hand, we could make things very tough for Australia - this is not a pitch where teams tend to score more in their second innings than they do in their first.

I think tomorrow is key for both teams.

If, if, if ... I think 280 was a good score for Australia all things considered. But in general I agree: If England can complete their first innings with a healthy lead (say 100-150, or even more) then they are in the driving seat. I certainly can't see this test ending in a draw unless the weather goes Queensland-style.

Which these days would mean the SCG submerged in about 4 metres of muddy water...

[affirmedatheist]

At least half the current Aussie Test team doesn't deserve their spot. Sack most of them just to make the point they have to perform.


Ponting's days as captain are hopefully over. He's lost his touch. I think the Melbourne Test was the clearest sign of this. He completely lost the plot at the umpire, a captaining no-no. This on top of his piss-poor performance in tests mean that should be his last test IMHO.


Not that I think Clarke is any better. In fact, I'm not sure he's suited to tests anymore, let alone the test captaincy.


I can't see us pulling out of this hole for at LEAST 5 years. I reckon England will take the next two Ashes series at least.
, If not 3. I'd not be surprised to see a 5-0 humiliation next time.

Yeah, I'm a realist. Perhaps *slightly* tilted towards pessimism. But not without reason - can anybody think of a decent Australian team right now? Because I can't. Siddle would have to be there (he's been fantastic, one of the few who has) as well as Hussey (although the past couple of tests have been worrying, but his overall performance throughout the series is enough for me to give him provisional benefit of the doubt).

[klr]

England 167/3 at stumps on day 2. 113 behind. Still too early to count poultry but the English scoring rate is encouraging - if we can pass the Aussie score with 4 or 5 wickets in hand, we could make things very tough for Australia - this is not a pitch where teams tend to score more in their second innings than they do in their first.

I think tomorrow is key for both teams.

If, if, if ... I think 280 was a good score for Australia all things considered. But in general I agree: If England can complete their first innings with a healthy lead (say 100-150, or even more) then they are in the driving seat. I certainly can't see this test ending in a draw unless the weather goes Queensland-style.

Which these days would mean the SCG submerged in about 4 metres of muddy water...

"Sticky wicket ..."

Lunch, and England are just 3 runs behind at 277/5 - or 5/277 if you prefer . One of those wickets was the night watchman as well. No rain in sight.

Me, I've got to go to bed.

[Xamonas Chegwé]

The Aussie's total is passed with 5 wickets in hand. If England can play through till close of play, we should be odds-on favourites to take the test. Even adding another 100 should be plenty.

[Xamonas Chegwé]

A lead of 150 and only one wicket gone since my last post. Anything can happen in a test match but I see the chances of an Australian victory as being somewhere between slim and In fact, I revise my earlier estimation of a draw as the most likely outcome and forecast a 3-1 series win for England.

Looking forward to India's visit in the summer. About time we had a real test.

[Clinton Huxley]

Another satisfactory days work.

[klr]

The Aussie's total is passed with 5 wickets in hand. If England can play through till close of play, we should be odds-on favourites to take the test. Even adding another 100 should be plenty.

Only 100? Pah ... not against this Aussie attack.

Seriously, England could now be looking at a lead of 300 or more, which would mean that an Aussie win would be all but out of the question, mathematically speaking*.

*As in "... there's very little chance anyway"

[klr]

England now 608 for 8, and still going. The lead is now ... very big.

[JimC]

England now 608 for 8, and still going. The lead is now ... very big.

Yes, "very big" will do, we can quietly ignore the numbers, I think... :sighsm:

There will be a blood-letting of biblical proportions after this. Ponting is dreaming if he thinks to make a return, and Clarke as well...