This is pretty dreadful. I've no idea why there is so much short pitched bowling when the wicket offered a bit of seam and swing. And why we'd go in with a very samey bowling line up in english conditions. Utterly bizarre. Go with tall and pacey in Australia by all means when a kookaburra ball is dead after 6 overs, but in England... 80ish mile an hour swing bowlers will cause Australians havoc all day long. Truly crazy selection.
Smith has been immense. His average this Ashes is unbelievable. Wouldnt surprise ne if they got 500 the rate they're going at the moment ( hope this is the curse we need!)
Them batting on and wanting to only bat once is our best chance of avoiding defeat. Only problem is, they already have enough runs to do that.
Tomorrow will be lost to the rain and they will be on and off more times than a tramps knickers saturday.
Pretty sad isn't it. We know how bad we are with the bat and already we think they've enough runs to bowl us out twice in about a day and a half.
He is undoubtedly good, but we definitely make him look even better, there never seems to be a consistent plan
Top of off, swing away, odd one to go straight on or nip back. He'll edge to the slips all day long as he's done plenty of times, but you've got to threaten the stumps. Not bowling a proper swing bowler against him just beggars belief.
Ha. Top of off, nips away.... 74 miles an hour. I rest my case... it was Paine and not Smith, but its the place to bowl consistently, always has been, always will be.
England’s 12th man to the rescue - rain stopped play. Only way they’re not losing this test by an innings and 90 runs
They say momentum is massive in cricket, what an absolute nonsense. Apart from a few odd sessions Australia have been the better team throughout the ashes this year. The only time we've had a sniff was when Smith was either unconscious or out of the side.
