Scorecards, Stories & Screenshots

[Slug1793]

4th Test Melbourne - Eng lead the series 2-0

In form Cook goes big again, Smith’s first 100 and the Aussies keep the series alive



Another double ton from Alistair Cook couldn’t prevent Australia from wrestling their way back into the series. A superb bowling performance saw the hosts claim a 15 run victory, defending just 132.

Whilst the Ashes have been retained, Andrew Strauss’ men suffered from complacency and in doing so, have left the series in the balance going into the fifth and final test.

On to the SCG…

 

[DuneTiger]

4/17 to defend 131! Hell yeah P Siddy! Hmm, maybe not a great nickname nowadays...

 

[Slug1793]

4/17 to defend 131! Hell yeah P Siddy! Hmm, maybe not a great nickname nowadays...

At first it was like ahh no problem, just one decent partnership and I’m home, but I just kept knicking off and before I knew it I was thinking, I’m going to lose this!

 

[jwest661]

The ANZSA 6 is complete. Melbourne come out of nowhere and win 3 straight to secure a place in the final 8. Cape Town won an all South African affair on the final day but ended up not qualifying on net run rate. Joburgs power hitting with Warner Klaasen Pollard and Rossouw is proving to be key to their success. However with the age of these players they will soon have to rebuild, Warner will likely retire after this season and Pollard not far behind him. Evin Lewis was a star with the bat for Perth but they were just dreadful outside of him. Auckland at times were good and Cape Town just didn't bat deep enough with Mulder and Jansen having to come in at 6 and 7 which is probably too early for a T20 lineup.

On a team building note it was good to complete one of the leagues as it gives me a better idea of how I should be constructing the teams, batting depth was an issue for a lot of teams. Obviously with 24 teams, talent is scarce and teams need to make compromises. As I progressed through the games I got better at playing spin however power hitting could improve perhaps. There weren't a great amount of sixes hit throughout the games, but par scores were around 160 so I find that a nice balance, 200+ scores are boring in my opinion.

I have gone through and Input all the statistics on a spreadsheet and will use that for team building next season. I will also do a team of the season and some other awards for the ANZSA 6 and then it's onto the Gulf 6!

 

[DuneTiger]

2nd Test, BGT, 2018

Unfortunately a 4th innings target of 296 wasn't enough to as India haul it in before tea on day 5. Tough to swallow that one I can't lie, but Kohli and Pujara were just unbreakable together, and put India close enough that a small fightback meant nothing. India lead the series 2-0, the BGT is retained. Good news is Australia can now pick 3 players per match that played in the Cape Town test, with their bans being removed.

 

[DuneTiger]

3rd Test, BGT, 2018

With Shaun Marsh, Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon all returning for their first test since Cape Town, Australia would go onto claim victory in the boxing day test, with spectacular performances from Glenn Maxwell, skipper Cameron White and returning Nathan Lyon, setting up a big 228 run win, after a 4th innings capitulation by India. The series goes to 1-2, and although the BGT is gone, Australia will look to even up the series in Sydney.

 

[Slug1793]

3rd Test, BGT, 2018

With Shaun Marsh, Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon all returning for their first test since Cape Town, Australia would go onto claim victory in the boxing day test, with spectacular performances from Glenn Maxwell, skipper Cameron White and returning Nathan Lyon, setting up a big 228 run win, after a 4th innings capitulation by India. The series goes to 1-2, and although the BGT is gone, Australia will look to even up the series in Sydney.

View attachment 303011

Boooo what happened to the lifetime ban? They chose sandpaper over cricket

 

[DuneTiger]

Boooo what happened to the lifetime ban? They chose sandpaper over cricket

I realised I needed reinforcements before the Ashes, that opening pair of Roy and Burns got me nervous.
Smith, Bancroft and Warner are still banned for life, so there goes half of Austraila's runs from that series, and than the 22 runs or whatever Warner and Bancroft scored combined in that series.

 

[Slug1793]

5th Test Sydney - Eng lead the series 2-1
1st innings done for both sides and things are pretty even. England take a small lead into their 2nd innings having bowled the hosts out for 328 - Steve Smith in the runs again, top scoring with 90.

With a session and 2 days left to play England face a stick or twist situation, with the Ashes retained, but the series still up for grabs this is surely must not lose, rather than must win.

For the Aussies however, they have a great opportunity to level a series that looked out of sight after the first 3 Tests. It may not mean they regain the little urn, but avoiding defeat in what will surely be Ricky Ponting’s last home Ashes will be huge.

 

[Slug1793]

5th Test Sydney - Eng lead the series 2-1
The series had all come down to a 1 innings apiece shoot-out. Australia in a must win situation in order to level the series and England dare not lose having been 2-0 up.

England would have certainly hoped for more…



The mere sight of a series victory in the backyard of the old enemy had almost caused England’s batsman to crumble under the pressure, but a superb lower order revival helped the tourists up to a lead of 201. Possibly not enough, but at 7 down for 67, they’d have snapped your hand off for a lead in the 200s.

With around 3 hours left on day 4 and then all of day 5, time was certainly not on England’s side, instead, they needed someone to step up.

Luckily for Andrew Strauss and his side, 2 people did…



Jimmy Anderson and Graeme Swann, 8 and 9 wickets respectively in the match and each with 5 in the Aussie second innings. Jimmy started immaculately, with great control and purpose, and before anyone knew it, he had 3, and Australia only had 25 runs on the board

It was Swann’s turn next and as a small partnership began to build between stand in captain Michael Clarke and Mike Hussey, the off spinner made sure that England kept a lid on things. The pressure began to tell and Swann started getting his rewards, reducing Australia from 3 for 60 to 7 for 89. Almost job done.

Anderson came back for one last hurrah and picked up two more to complete his 5fer, before Swann removed Hilfenhaus and sealed the series win, picking up his 5fer in the process.

142 all out and England had won by 59 runs - a first series victory in Australia since 1986.





England win the Vodafone Ashes Series 3-1 and retain the Ashes
1st Test, The Gabba - Eng won by 9 wickets
2nd Test, Adelaide Oval - Match Drawn
3rd Test, The WACA - England won by 6 wickets
4th Test, MCG - Australia won by 15 runs
5tg Test, SCG - England won by 59 runs