• ASHES SECOND TEST: ADELAIDE
  • ASHES SECOND TEST: ADELAIDE

    StrumSolo > 04/12/2013, 18:09

    After the 381 run defeat in the opening test, a win for England here is vital. Lose it and they can probably say goodbye to the urn.

    The big story since that game has of course been Jonathan Trott's withdrawal from the tour with a 'stress related illness'. He didn't exactly set the Gabba on fire but he'll still take some replacing. Word is that Joe Root will be moved up to bat at 3 and Gary Ballance will be handed his test debut. No pressure... Tim Bresnan's fit again though and has been officially added to the party. He could replace Chris Tremlett.

    Australia have named an unchanged side and promised to be a bit nicer than they were last time out, no mention of Trott or anything. Michael Clarke lost 20% of his match fee for that one thanks to some colourful sledging, and both captains have agreed that the atmosphere just wasn't, er, cricket. Keep it civilised chaps.

    Predictions?

  • RE: ASHES SECOND TEST: ADELAIDE

    StrumSolo > 05/12/2013, 13:45

    So England went with Stokes rather than Ballance, and Monty got a recall too! The teams:

    Australia: Rogers, Warner, Watson, Clarke (capt), Smith, Bailey, Haddin (wk), Johnson, Siddle, Harris, Lyon.
    England: Cook (capt), Carberry, Root, Pietersen, Bell, Stokes, Prior (wk), Broad, Swann, Anderson, Panesar.

    A mixed day for England. Australia won the toss, opted to bat and were 273-5 at the close of play.

    Hard going for the England bowling attack in the morning session with Chris Rogers and Shane Watson putting on a second wicket stand of 121. Things improved as tea approached though, with the tourists taking 3 wickets for just 19 runs.

    3 dropped catches towards the end took the sheen off it though. 273-8, and you'd have to say that England had won the day, but as it stands it's pretty evenly poised.

    Need to see how we're batting before drawing any conclusions though really...

    Oh, and the Aussies' promise to behave themselves didn't last long. This tweet was deleted and an apology issued.

    [Image: 1048f]

    Bantz!
  • RE: ASHES SECOND TEST: ADELAIDE

    StrumSolo > 06/12/2013, 11:10

    Anyone hoping that England would make short work of the Aussies' tail end at the start of day 2 might want to look away now.

    As it was the home side added 297 runs to their overnight total, eventually declaring on 570-9. Highlights of the innings were undoubtedly Michael Clarke's 148 and Brad Haddin's 118.

    The tourists' reply got off to a bad start when Mitchell Johnson bowled Alastair Cook for 3 but Root and Carberry managed to not embarrass themselves and at the close of play, after 21 overs, England were 35-1.

    Given the state of our batting at the Gabba, it's difficult to see England getting anywhere near 570...

    Image source
  • RE: ASHES SECOND TEST: ADELAIDE

    willis52 > 06/12/2013, 22:24

    It's not lookng goos at all! If we don't bat all through this 3rd day I think we'll be looking at a 2-0 defecit.
  • RE: ASHES SECOND TEST: ADELAIDE

    StrumSolo > 07/12/2013, 12:19

    Game's gone, and most likely the series too.

    England started steady enough, and rallied a bit at the end, but the damage was done in a catastrophic five over spell after lunch in which Mitchell Johnson tore through the middle order with figures of 5-16. He finished the innings 7-40 as the tourists were bowled out for 172. Bell (72) and Carberry (60) didn't disgrace themselves but it was one to forget for the rest of the batting line-up.

    Australia went on to add 132 to their first innings lead of 398, so currently have a 530 run advantage with 7 wickets remaining.

    Dismal.

  • RE: ASHES SECOND TEST: ADELAIDE

    RussyRover > 07/12/2013, 14:07

    Mitchell Johnson the destroyer, when he's on form he's just brutal, but when he's bad he's utter dismal. Unluckily for us the 'good' one turned up for this game as well.
    As he took Broad's leg stump out of the ground as Broad walked across his wicket first ball, that was pretty much it, well to be honest the writing was on the wall before that, but that just put the icing on top...
    England seem almost clueless for want of a better word, Shiite also mind, but definitely clueless... Going 2-0 down as they most certainly will - there doesn't seem to be rain around to help them - means the urn will be heading back to the Aussies as I can't see them winning 2 out of the remaining three tests, but will quite happily like to be proven wrong.
  • RE: ASHES SECOND TEST: ADELAIDE

    RussyRover > 07/12/2013, 15:54

    BBC Sport Chief sports writer Tom Fordyce on Mitchell Johnson...

    From Cartoon Clown To Dark Destroyer...

    Liked this bit - "So incapable were England's recognised batsmen of resistance that number 11 Monty Panesar survived three times as many deliveries as seven of his team-mates"

    So true... Based on this form the Aussies could declare now and have the 5th day off....
  • RE: ASHES SECOND TEST: ADELAIDE

    StrumSolo > 07/12/2013, 17:03

    (07/12/2013, 15:54)RussyRover Wrote: So true... Based on this form the Aussies could declare now and have the 5th day off....

    Given how soon the 3rd test is that might not be the worst idea.

    Though you'd imagine England will be feeling far more tired than the Aussies right now.
  • RE: ASHES SECOND TEST: ADELAIDE

    RussyRover > 08/12/2013, 01:25

    Looks like I mentioned the lack of rain too soon as due to the possibility of showers later, Australia have declared...

    But guess what Cook c Harris b Johnson 1 (Eng 1-1)

    Why did Cook try to hook that? If you're trying to bat out to save the game, the last thing you want is early flamboyancy which then you get wrong....

    So an early start for Root, the 2 new(ish) boys together at the crease... Can they last till lunch?



    Nope is the answer, after a good first innings, Carberry also tries a waft and a hook and his fate is the same Carberry c Lyon b Siddle 14 (Eng 20-2)

    Time for KP to make his mark now, I've got a good feeling in my water about him this time out :D
  • RE: ASHES SECOND TEST: ADELAIDE

    RussyRover > 08/12/2013, 11:56

    It seems that the feeling in my water was just the overriding need to take a piss!!! as Siddle gets KP to edge one onto his stumps, Pietersen b Siddle 53 (Eng 131-3) though he did make his first half century from 4 innings..

    Bell doesn't last too long as he hits a Smith full toss straight to mid on, Bell c Johnson b Smith 6 (Eng 143-4)

    Time for Ben Stokes to save the day...
    But it's Root who makes a mistake as he gets an inside edge on to his thigh pad, and a Haddin dive sees him walk for a respectable 87.. Root c Haddin b Lyon 87 (Eng 171-5)

    In comes the extremely out of form Prior, time for him perhaps to send his demons to hell and play us safe!
    The new ball gets taken and it's not long before Stokes falls victim to Harris, and a gift of a catch to Clarke at second slip Stokes c Clarke b Harris 28 (Eng 210-6)

    Prior and Broad with only a handful of overs to survive the day out and they manage to do it, CLOSE OF PLAY - Eng 247-6


    So England make it to Day 5, a small victory at least... don't really expect them to be batting after lunch though... Get settled down tonight as it's sure to be a feisty start to knock the last couple of wickets over and go 2-0 up for the better side, which now happens to be Australia... unless of course England can survive another 90 overs or score another 284 runs!!!