3rd Test: England v Australia at Old Trafford Aug 1-5, 2013

[aditya123]

The last stroke by Khwaja against the spin to Swann was so Asian in style. This guy looks the part. Can`t believe he was`nt played in India. So, how many of you think this should be Australia`s opening pair going into the next 2 tests? Watson looks out of sorts against those in dippers from Jimmy Anderson and Broad. Lower down the order he is`nt too bad against spin either. If nothing, Australia can look at redeeming some self-confidence before the home Ashes and get things in order for then (sounds exactly like Ashes 13 by Trickstar ).

On another note, for the first time in many many years we in India are getting the full feed from Sky Sports as part of the Ashes coverage this year. Some of the lunch-time specials have been great the last couple of days. Enjoyed the Brian Lara interview and the one with Phil Neville yesterday. Hoping the rain does not become a factor. I can sense a close draw (a la OT 2005) or an Aussie win here.

 

[Owzat]

262/4 effectively the aussies, probably losing one too many wickets at the moment and could 'self destruct'.

If they want something like 360 to bowl at then I'd think they'd want come need another 50-60 runs before tea which won't be easy with wickets falling, and then push on for 15-30 minutes after tea to score the balance.

England might feel like they have a 'sniff' of victory, maybe 300-330 over four sessions might be attempted as it gives time for a platform of say two sessions over 70-75 runs and then push on with wickets in hand, but it's looking increasingly like the aussies simply won't score quickly enough to set a big enough target AND have the four sessions they almost certainly need minimum to have any hope of winning.

If Cook had sustained a back injury and couldn't bat that might be something, if their mane spinner Lyon was roaring in and not toothless, looking at a five fur perhaps then perhaps it could be England fearing treading into the Lyon's den, and maybe if the top six hadn't all scored 58+ in an innings during the series it could be an innings England fear. Perhaps the aussies should send their spinner on a Lyon's tour

It is a bit surprising to note Cook has a HS of just 62 in five innings, Trott a mere 58 and Bairstow 67. Shockingly Prior has a HS of a very modest 31, yet England look like maintaining their 2-0 lead after three Tests :

Cook : 145 runs @ 29.00
Trott : 111 runs @ 22.00
Prior : 45 runs @ 15.00

Considered stalwarts of the side, 301 runs @ 23.15 between them. Hughes was dropped from a "weak" aussie batting line up with an average of 27.67

 

[Umair7]

Watson when will you start scoring ?? Can anyone give the video of Smith runout i missed that

 

[ste_mc_efc]

Watson when will you start scoring ?? Can anyone give the video of Smith runout i missed that

My Cricket Average

for those who tldr that link

"The conclusion we have reached is that Australia are batting a slightly inferior Tim Bresnan at the top of their order, whilst England conversely, are playing a slightly improved Australian Opener at number 8. Perhaps this indicates a fundamentally different approach to selection in the two camps, with Australia choosing to play a 5 man bowling attack, using Watson as their all rounder. Conversely, England stick rigidly to 6 specialist batsman whilst having a player of Bresnan?s quality coming in at 8. Were they to use Bresnan like Watson, they would be able to play an extra seamer (Tremlett) or spinner (Panesar), depending on the conditions."

 

[Umair7]

Bad Light yup England you lucky bastard Ashes is not coming home and now we will have to wait till the next ashes to regain it

 

[aditya123]

Light is bright enough for the batsmen to be scoring at 5 r.p.o but dangerous and gloomy according to the umpires. The ICC regulations are sometimes amusing to put it mildly.

If they come back out again tonight, will Clarke come out and bat or declare! Surely, the lead is big enough.

 

[vaibhavtewatia]

If they come back out again tonight, will Clarke come out and bat or declare! Surely, the lead is big enough.

In any case England look like they are more interested in a 'no result', as they find every way to waste time. So should be better to declare and bowl immediately as the day starts, and as you said, the lead is big enough anyway. Shouldn't be a problem.

 

[Owzat]

Light is bright enough for the batsmen to be scoring at 5 r.p.o but dangerous and gloomy according to the umpires. The ICC regulations are sometimes amusing to put it mildly.

It used to be batsman's call, but as one side might set the light "benchmark" lower because they want to bat on, it had implications - either they all bat on in relative gloom, or they all go off when it gets a bit overcast.

Clearly with sides wanting to be playing or not playing according to how the match was going, something had to change.

But now it's just silly. The captains should either agree they'll play on at the start of the match before anyone can tell who's on top, or the umpires just play wherever possible until physical danger is there.

Personally I've never cared much for consideration of disadvantages, that is to say if it is hard to see the ball then that's just tough luck. But if the batsman is in danger of injury then you have to come off, although teams might bring on a quick bowler to sway the umpire's and to me that's "sportsmanship" which is a soft way of saying "cheating, like saying a politician is "dishonest" rather than call them a liar. You're trying to gain an unfair advantage, same goes for not walking when out, pitching short at tailenders, all kinds of things that ain't cricket.

Bad light is always contentious, but they played on famously in Karachi was it and England won. Maybe if the players stopped bowling their overs slowly and were given the hurry up then bad light wouldn't be much of a factor. The bowlers should know what fields they want, X slips fair enough but it should be made so they get in position within 3.5 minutes for the over or the field stays the same as at the start of the over. A lot of the time wasted is field placing, talking, strolling back to the mark, drinks breaks etc and the actual bowling of 90 balls (15 overs) probably only takes an hour

If they come back out again tonight, will Clarke come out and bat or declare! Surely, the lead is big enough.

He may be left with little choice if there are three or less sessions of play left.

 

[barmyarmy]

Strange match with both sides effectively playing for rain. I like Clarke's captaincy - I can't see Cook setting up an England win in a similar situation.

 

[Haarithan]

Surely that's that for Australia? Also 98 overs of play tomorrow I guess?

 

[barmyarmy]

Well with rain 98 is very unlikely. England will go for the draw.

 

[Haarithan]

I just hope England bat extremely well either way. Last thing you'd want is for all the media outlets to overshadow England's Ashes retention with a caption pointing towards rain helping their cause and saving their blushes in this test match...

Also Matt Prior needs a bit of a wake up call. It's not just his batting that's been woeful since being named England cricketer of the year..

 

[MasterBlaster76]

332 to win - this is doable, albeit unlikely. I can see this resulting in a draw, which'll do us. And I believe at least one member here has money on 4-0 as opposed to 5-0.

 

[aussie1st]

England falling to bits, their brilliant review process has gone out the window this test.

 

[Skater]

It's going to rain. It's going to be a draw. We're going to keep hold of the urn until we come over there.