Cricket

[RibbleValleyRover]

Was listening to TMS the other day and Jim Maxwell said that Harris was the best bowler for Australia over the past two-three years. I can see why.

[Steve Kean's Hypnotoad]

England tail wagging as usual.(not)..we're about 100 runs below par on this pitch.

Wagging now. Come on Swanny and the legendary, the magnificent, the greatest man alive, Stuart Broad!

[RibbleValleyRover]

Another Australian batting collapse on the cards by the looks it it due to dumb ass shot selections - wasted their DRS again as well. England well on top. Clarke needs to get a big hundred here otherwise this test could be over well before day five.

Edited July 19, 2013 by RibbleValleyRover

[Steve Kean's Hypnotoad]

Fantastic stuff from England, think all these "par scores" need to be re-jigged for this series!

[T4E]

England tail wagging as usual.(not)..we're about 100 runs below par on this pitch.

Please stick to your area of expertise, ie being a cantankerous old @#/?.

[broadsword]

The Aussies of 2005 vintage would've got 450 on this strip, quite easily.

The current test side for Australia seems awful weak.

Not that I'm complaining, of course. I'm loving it. And the inability of their side to understand how DRS works is just the cherry on top.

[RibbleValleyRover]

The pitch is a batsman's paradise and will be for at least another day by the looks of it, teams should be getting 400+ on this. Not a single ball has been a jaffa/unplayable delivery in this innings, some of the worst shot selection you would ever see is why they are 96-6. You think South Africa, India or Sri Lanka would be 96-6 for on this pitch in their first Innings? No chance.

Edited July 19, 2013 by RibbleValleyRover

[broadsword]

To get run out in that situation is almost unforgiveable.

If I was Cook, I wouldn't enforce the follow-on (which will surely be an option).

[ABBEY]

One man team Jim?

Wtf was that ball from Swan . Don't think I've ever even one move that much even by Warne

[cn174]

Spare a thought for Scotty and Manchester Blue ...

Scott Thornton ‏@ScottThor226m

So, at the start of day, while England were still batting, we jokingly said we'd have a Jagerbomb every time the Aussies lost a wicket..

ChristianLyth56m

How bad is it that I'm praying the Aussies don't lose another wicket before tea? Who came up with the daft rule of jaegers every wicket?

Hehe

[broadsword]

They must be totally stocious and ready to go to war now?

Bert they're hoping the follow-on isn't enforced.

Edited July 19, 2013 by Bryan

[RibbleValleyRover]

What are the chances of Australia begging Ponting to come out of retirement? Or maybe bring back Katich? I would bet Langer and Hayden who have been out of the game for years could probably do better than some of this lot as well.

Edited July 19, 2013 by RibbleValleyRover

[BiggusLaddus]

Another average performance from the England attack. I bet youvraj would have had them all out at least 10 mins earlier.

Good decision not to enforce the follow on. This is still a batting wicket. We should be posting a lead well in advance of 500 with a good 2 days to get them out.

[SouthAussieRover]

Spare a thought for Scotty and Manchester Blue ...

Scott Thornton ‏@ScottThor226m

So, at the start of day, while England were still batting, we jokingly said we'd have a Jagerbomb every time the Aussies lost a wicket..

ChristianLyth56m

How bad is it that I'm praying the Aussies don't lose another wicket before tea? Who came up with the daft rule of jaegers every wicket?

Hehe

They sound like a pair of pissheads!!!

[jim mk2]

Good old England off to a good start again !

[broadsword]

The Trott and Pietersen dismisslas were particularly bad.

Reckless even.

[jim mk2]

Poor, poor batting. What is going through their minds ? Decent club cricketers would not play those shots.

[broadsword]

Possibly too much 1-day and 20-20 is messing with players' heads.

Although I think the calendar in general is now too crowded, it's almost inevitable that that will have some sort of negative effect.

I'd still back England to win.

[Stuart]

Why didn't we force the follow on? I missed the last wicket.

[T4E]

Because the pitch is doing plenty and its only day 2. You don't want to be batting on that on day 4. Need to try and bat through to a lead of 400+ by mid afternoon tomorrow. Put them in half an hour before tea and make it really uncomfortable.

[Baz]

On the other hand, you may not need to bat again...

I would have put them back in, at worst you may need 100 to win

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

Tired bowlers ( don't forget we've only got four ). Not wanting to bat last on a sun baked track that is already starting to have variable bounce. All in all the right decision in my view.

[cn174]

And it'd be just our luck, we'd put them back into bat they'd pull 100 or so in front of us and then it'd rain for the first time in decades (or what feels like decades!)

[gumboots]

tms guys all reckoned it was the right decision.

[Stuart]

I thought it was a bowlers' wicket myself but I'm no expert. We were skittling them out. Maybe we didn't fancy a target chase?