Cricket fred

[Banquo]

I don't quite follow why we announced days ahead of the test we might be playing 2 spinners, why tell the groundsman? A shame to see Starc out, he's been great to watch so far

And the reason you'd tell them is it was a cunning trap for them to fall into, perhaps they'd even have a green pitch to counter act the spinners leaving the pitch suitable for a medium paced 4 man seam attack. It was odd given everyone out there thought playing 2 spinners so unlikely, but at least Moeen has looked class again

Moeen mare continues. Pop gun attack again, they seemed to see keeping the run rate down as some sort of morale victory, which is fine and dandy if creating wicket taking chances....errr

[Digby]

I don't quite follow why we announced days ahead of the test we might be playing 2 spinners, why tell the groundsman? A shame to see Starc out, he's been great to watch so far

And the reason you'd tell them is it was a cunning trap for them to fall into, perhaps they'd even have a green pitch to counter act the spinners leaving the pitch suitable for a medium paced 4 man seam attack. It was odd given everyone out there thought playing 2 spinners so unlikely, but at least Moeen has looked class again

Moeen mare continues. Pop gun attack again, they seemed to see keeping the run rate down as some sort of morale victory, which is fine and dandy if creating wicket taking chances....errr

Broad even got his wicket when he'd pitched a few up and was interesting the batsman to be coming forward onto the front foot and to reach a little. It'd had cost him a few runs to pitch it up as again we're not on the money as regards length, and that is hard but it is test level, but still in the main we've set some weird fields and not been willing to risk runs (which we conceded anyway through 3rd man) to have a chance of taking more wickets.

I don't know what to say about Ali now, the captain clearly just didn't trust him today or knew he was injured, either way (or both) it's weird he was picked and shows a disconnect between selection and what the captain is thinking

[Banquo]

And the reason you'd tell them is it was a cunning trap for them to fall into, perhaps they'd even have a green pitch to counter act the spinners leaving the pitch suitable for a medium paced 4 man seam attack. It was odd given everyone out there thought playing 2 spinners so unlikely, but at least Moeen has looked class again

Moeen mare continues. Pop gun attack again, they seemed to see keeping the run rate down as some sort of morale victory, which is fine and dandy if creating wicket taking chances....errr

Broad even got his wicket when he'd pitched a few up and was interesting the batsman to be coming forward onto the front foot and to reach a little. It'd had cost him a few runs to pitch it up as again we're not on the money as regards length, and that is hard but it is test level, but still in the main we've set some weird fields and not been willing to risk runs (which we conceded anyway through 3rd man) to have a chance of taking more wickets.

I don't know what to say about Ali now, the captain clearly just didn't trust him today or knew he was injured, either way (or both) it's weird he was picked and shows a disconnect between selection and what the captain is thinking

You are Bob Willis and I claim cash

[Digby]

Moeen mare continues. Pop gun attack again, they seemed to see keeping the run rate down as some sort of morale victory, which is fine and dandy if creating wicket taking chances....errr

Broad even got his wicket when he'd pitched a few up and was interesting the batsman to be coming forward onto the front foot and to reach a little. It'd had cost him a few runs to pitch it up as again we're not on the money as regards length, and that is hard but it is test level, but still in the main we've set some weird fields and not been willing to risk runs (which we conceded anyway through 3rd man) to have a chance of taking more wickets.

I don't know what to say about Ali now, the captain clearly just didn't trust him today or knew he was injured, either way (or both) it's weird he was picked and shows a disconnect between selection and what the captain is thinking

You are Bob Willis and I claim cash

I'm even more boring than I thought, I was hoping at least drone on like Botham

[WaspInWales]

England's day so far, but there is still a risk of their tail scoring a few.

We've probably averaged just over 300 in our first innings so far, so regardless of how promising things look, even if we make our average, we'll still be behind.

That said, as long as our top order can avoid giving their wicket away cheaply and that is followed up by consistent middle order scoring, we can walk this. 3-1 with Sydney left.

8th wicket gone. Aussies 325-8.

[WaspInWales]

327 all out.

Only downside is that the ball is swinging.

[Mellsblue]

Ff.....ah, hang on.

[Galfon]

Broad,Cook..Root ?...bit late lads.
However avoiding the whitewash would be sort of a victory for this team. MCG tends to do a bit so it's a proper match now.

[fivepointer]

Only right to credit England for a very good day with both bat and ball. Signs of life from Broad and Cook are welcome, if just a tad overdue.
The test is very nicely balanced. Crunch day tomorrow. Press on to make 400+ or falter and get knocked over for a touch over 300.

[Banquo]

Only right to credit England for a very good day with both bat and ball. Signs of life from Broad and Cook are welcome, if just a tad overdue.
The test is very nicely balanced. Crunch day tomorrow. Press on to make 400+ or falter and get knocked over for a touch over 300.

correct, like a bus, they all turned up at the same time!!

[WaspInWales]

Root you donut!

Both he and Cook were looking completely comfortable. Attacking sensibly, picking off runs as and when. Sensible test play and then just gave it away.

218-3.

Delicate time for England.

[WaspInWales]

Second new ball and Malan is lbw a few balls later...

Hotspot shows he got a nick though.

That's twice now.

[Galfon]

Barney Rubble for Cook & lead over a hundred, 9th.wicket
Partnership over 50...bit better you might say.
Chance for Cook to carry his bat for first time in a test..(only Abel,Hutton & Boycs. have done it in Oz. for E.)
Good chance of a win now.

[Mellsblue]

Well done Cooky. Never doubted him!!

[Mellsblue]

Double century by Cooky over today and tomorrow. Don’t you worry.

Told you.......ish.

[Banquo]

didn't see a 50 from Broad coming! Fair play to Cook, great effort.

[canta_brian]

Second new ball and Malan is lbw a few balls later...

Hotspot shows he got a nick though.

That's twice now.

Why no review? They had a chat about it and then he walked. He must have felt that surely.

[Banquo]

Second new ball and Malan is lbw a few balls later...

Hotspot shows he got a nick though.

That's twice now.

Why no review? They had a chat about it and then he walked. He must have felt that surely.

ditto Vince. Very odd.

[Mellsblue]

Second new ball and Malan is lbw a few balls later...

Hotspot shows he got a nick though.

That's twice now.

Why no review? They had a chat about it and then he walked. He must have felt that surely.

There was a fairly lengthen discussion on TMS about it. They also brought up that the Vince dismissal was similar - though, his nick was tiny - and Curran reviewing when he had nicked it. The obvious conclusion is they neither heard it nor felt it. It seems unlikely but there is no other reason. Vaughan tried to put some blame on Cook for not giving good advice from his end. How you expect him to spend four sessions in the field and then 3/4/5 sessions batting and still concentrate for 100% of his partners balls is beyond me. Still, we all know Vaughan likes to get a dig in whenever he can.

[canta_brian]

Second new ball and Malan is lbw a few balls later...

Hotspot shows he got a nick though.

That's twice now.

Why no review? They had a chat about it and then he walked. He must have felt that surely.

There was a fairly lengthen discussion on TMS about it. They also brought up that the Vince dismissal was similar - though, his nick was tiny - and Curran reviewing when he had nicked it. The obvious conclusion is they neither heard it nor felt it. It seems unlikely but there is no other reason. Vaughan tried to put some blame on Cook for not giving good advice from his end. How you expect him to spend four sessions in the field and then 3/4/5 sessions batting and still concentrate for 100% of his partners balls is beyond me. Still, we all know Vaughan likes to get a dig in whenever he can.

Cook's only able to say that unless you nicked it that's plumb. Can't be his issue surely. Vaughan should stfu

[WaspInWales]

Double century by Cooky over today and tomorrow. Don’t you worry.

Told you.......ish.

Yes, good call. Timing must be down to the time zone difference and jet lag.

[WaspInWales]

didn't see a 50 from Broad coming! Fair play to Cook, great effort.

Absolutely fantastic.

Just like Cook, he has responded to the criticism in style.

Just like Cook, it may keep his test career going for a bit longer.

Just like Cook, it's just a shame that it's too late for the urn.

[WaspInWales]

Second new ball and Malan is lbw a few balls later...

Hotspot shows he got a nick though.

That's twice now.

Why no review? They had a chat about it and then he walked. He must have felt that surely.

The Vince one I can kinda understand as it was very faint...still think you'd feel it though.

It was mind-boggling not to see Malan review his though. You could see it, hear it and there was a substantial spot on hotspot.

Baffling.

The only explanation I can think of is that we're giving them a chance. We've been doing it all series so that must be it.

[Digby]

Why no review? They had a chat about it and then he walked. He must have felt that surely.

There was a fairly lengthen discussion on TMS about it. They also brought up that the Vince dismissal was similar - though, his nick was tiny - and Curran reviewing when he had nicked it. The obvious conclusion is they neither heard it nor felt it. It seems unlikely but there is no other reason. Vaughan tried to put some blame on Cook for not giving good advice from his end. How you expect him to spend four sessions in the field and then 3/4/5 sessions batting and still concentrate for 100% of his partners balls is beyond me. Still, we all know Vaughan likes to get a dig in whenever he can.

Cook's only able to say that unless you nicked it that's plumb. Can't be his issue surely. Vaughan should stfu

Vaughan will not expect them to be error free, but it is part of the game now without doubt, and let's be honest that Cook would expect to do better on the Malan one. I do wonder with Malan whether they got distracted as to whether the ball pitched in line, but whatever Cook will hope to do better, and at least we can be grateful DRS is post Thorpe's career as he'd have been god awful as he really did switch off when not facing

[Galfon]

Hardly worth padding up..need to knock a few over early doors now or they'll just get cocky..