Dec 3-7: 2nd Test: Australia v England at the Adelaide Oval

[angryangy]

Two openers who get starts and don't make the opposition pay.

Yeah, as much as I would otherwise say they're two of the better batsmen in the team at the moment and in theory are good enough to face the new ball, their concentration says they're both middle order batsmen at heart.

 

[sami ullah khan]

This is the worst I have seen an Australian side perform in their own backyard.

 

[lethalhughes]

Yeah, as much as I would otherwise say they're two of the better batsmen in the team at the moment and in theory are good enough to face the new ball, their concentration says they're both middle order batsmen at heart.

... . Yes we could have one at most having both is stretching it abit,3rd test would be the time to get a proper opener back in cause its long been over due.And to get North out,there is a lesson in there for the selectors, when batsmen keep failing consistently it might just be because they're not good enough and no excuse like ''experience ,offer a bowing option'' can change that fact .A lost here might seem the worst thing that can happen to Australia but might be a blessing in disguise

 

[icyman]

Hmmm, you are right. The Aussies haven't been up to their very best and are struggling with some important decisions out here. Will be now up to their batsmen to try and save the Test. Can't really blame the bowlers in this as the batters themselves threw away their wickets.

 

[lethalhughes]

Hmmm, you are right. The Aussies haven't been up to their very best and are struggling with some important decisions out here. Will be now up to their batsmen to try and save the Test. Can't really blame the bowlers in this as the batters themselves threw away their wickets.

... ..On this flat pitch the worst that could happen is some batters like north ton up and keep their spot and the same process begin again.lets hope it doesnt come to that for Aussie sake.

 

[pcfan123]

Dougherty has 4 runs to go to get a wicket before he fails to improve on his average of 74

What a ████ selection

Mark added 13 Minutes and 13 Seconds later...

runs seem to have dried up, I hope that does not induce a rash shot from KP. He needs this 100

 

[icyman]

... ..On this flat pitch the worst that could happen is some batters like north ton up and keep their spot and the same process begin again.lets hope it doesnt come to that for Aussie sake.

I doubt that Marcus North would be in starting XI or even in the squad for the 3rd Test. His form has been a spot of bother ever since the India tour. Plus, the onus will also be on Ponting and Clarke to score and not let Hussey do the clean up act once again.

Doherty should have not played here as well. Haurtiz could have done well as a first choice spinner here.

 

[angryangy]

North's batting has been a spot of bother since last summer.

 

[angryangy]

With his bowling however, I have to admit, if North does find a fortunate patch of rough, it should do something rewarding. He's bowled slow and kept the ball right up there. Doherty has bowled faster and flatter without being in that properly hurrying mould, but he's also bowled a shortish length. In this game and the last, he's gotten a few balls to really turn, but rather than head for home, they've galloped off into the distance.

 

[JonDogg]

I had a feeling that Australia wasn't going to do well today. 2 wickets in the day when England was able to get 10.

The temperature reached 38.2 C (100.8 F), hotter than what was predicted.
Sunday____Cloudy. Shower or two. ___ Max 33
Monday____Cloudy. Shower or two. ___ Max 29
Tuesday___A few showers. Afternoon thunderstorm.__Max 29

So it sounds warm and humid for the next few days. Hopefully for the Aussies the weather can help them get a draw. But I don't think the rain can save them.

 

[angryangy]

I was disappointed not to see a hint of reverse, but if you pick that day's play up and throw it in after Australia have made 400-500, it could be any of a number of Adelaide Tests. Even the last Ashes at Adelaide, England were 3/400 against a much more highly rated attack. It's just that Australia batted so inconceivably poorly yesterday that it becomes what it is.

 

[cooks1st100]

I was disappointed not to see a hint of reverse

It was quite noticable that the Aussies didn't work on the ball anywhere near as well as England did yesterday, hence resulting in there being no reverse for them today.

 

[Owzat]

England should go on and establish a winning lead from here, eight wickets in hand and 72 runs in front already with three days to go. Add 250+ runs leaving 10-12 overs of the final session of tomorrow to have a bowl. I know some (commentators) like that tricky little short spell, but I say if you get a wicket or two do you REALLY want the spell to end? 10-12 overs is enough time to get maybe 30-40 runs on the board, but it is also the chance to do REAL DAMAGE and make best use of fresh new bowlers ie gives you two bursts with new ball bowlers either side of close of play.

Perhaps the aussies were a little hasty changing half their bowling attack in one go. And none of the bowlers have done real damage since the first innings

aussie bowlers

Siddle : 6/54, 0/90 & 0/50 (ave 32.33, SR 56.00)
Harris : 1/51 (ave 51.00, SR 114.00)
Bollinger : 1/76 (ave 76.00, SR 90.00)
North : 0/1, 1/47 & 0/28 (ave 76.00, SR 180.00)
Doherty : 2/41, 0/107 & 0/70 (ave 109.00, SR 191.50)
Watson : 1/30, 0/66 & 0/31 (ave 127.00, SR 246.00)

Hilfenhaus : 1/60 & 0/80 (ave 142.00, SR 306.00)
Johnson : 0/66 & 0/104 (ave n/a, SR n/a)

Might have been wiser to give at least one of the two dropped another chance, even Johnson has had some decent series in the past two years with the ball, only twice has he averaged more than 35 with the ball in a series - although that doesn't count this series since he hasn't got an average. His batting has been poor, only three times averaging more than 20 with the bat in a series. Then again what did Harris do with the bat? He missed out on the 500+ for one wicket, I don't think you can single out Johnson for having a mare in that innings and the aussies ain't exactly wiping the floor with England this innings either.

 

[midgetwars]

Okay... The problem i see is not the bowling, it's the batting... Yes england are 2-300 but it's a good batting pitch. It was the batters that were supposed to take advantage it but it didn't happen.

Instead of Dropping Clarke, Swap Hussey and Clarke around that way since Hussey is in form both can score runs.

Drop North and put in khawaja or smith and put him somewhere where he bats

 

[JonDogg]

Last Ashes in Adelaide England batted first and made 6/551 dec. Then Aussies made 513, then England out for 129, then Aussies won 4/168. So England made this big score in first innings and still lost. So history can mean some hope for Australia. But Australia didn't make 500 runs in their first innings, and I can't see them getting England all out for 129.