Cricket 2013

[Troy]

Hope that Cowan enjoyed his last ever test innings. Yet again he doesn't go on with it and he doesn't add anything to the team. 18th test, only averages 13 and has only passed fifty 7 times in 32 innings. Nice delivery from Root to tempt him outside off but he shouldn't have been playing a shot at all, especially right before tea. Happy to see Rogers get 50, need Clarke in now and these two to kick on. Still a very long way to go with 200 runs left to chase.

Did find it funny that we lost a wicket on 111, David Shepherd would have had a chuckle if he was alive.

Clever captaincy from Cook to bring on a part timer, puts pressure on the batsmen and there really is nothing to lose to try it for a few overs. It is something that Clarke and Cook should have done earlier in the match.

 

[AZUCAR!]

174-6 at the close of play. We have had a good evening session tonight, all we need to do is get those 4 remaining wickets quickly tomorrow morning (probably won't happen) and get Agar out ASAP. We don't want him scoring anywhere near 98 again.

 

[Troy]

This is so tense. Had to stay in the same spot for the last hour, didn't want to move whilst Pattinson and Haddin were batting. With the lunch break I could finally move. Why would anyone pick T20 or ODIs over this? Nerve wracking but thrilling test.

After lunch 20 runs to get with one wicket in hand.

If only Dar could see then this would already be over.

 

[Troy]

Trust a DRS decision to end the match. Would have been an easy win if Broad was given when he was clearly out, hopefully Dar is given a rest for the rest of the series. Hopefully get some luck next test as well.

The entire Australian team need to do a lot of DRS homework before the next test.

Sucks to lose another close one but gives a lot of confidence for the rest of the series, England look beatable and not the clear favourites that they were before the start of the series.

 

[Dale]

Trust a DRS decision to end the match. Would have been an easy win if Broad was given when he was clearly out, hopefully Dar is given a rest for the rest of the series. Hopefully get some luck next test as well.

Easy to say that, but on the flipside we could say that Agar should have been given out stumped which would have made a massive difference too.

Saw earlier on Sky Sports that Dar has been moved upto 3rd umpire for next test.

Cracking start to the series and hopefully the rest is just as good. Vital for us to draw first blood in the series to give us the momentum leading into the second test even if we have a lot of improving to do, think we may have ever so slightly just deserved to win in the end up.

 

[AZUCAR!]

There were times I thought we wouldn't get that last wicket, but I was pleased when we did. Bring on the 2nd test on Thursday now.

Should be interesting to see if we drop Finn for Bresnan for Lords as it's being rumored, the same as Australia dropping Ed Cowan for Usman Khawaja is being rumored, the same as possibly replacing Cowan with David Warner.

 

[Troy]

Easy to say that, but on the flipside we could say that Agar should have been given out stumped which would have made a massive difference too.

Saw earlier on Sky Sports that Dar has been moved upto 3rd umpire for next test.

Cracking start to the series and hopefully the rest is just as good. Vital for us to draw first blood in the series to give us the momentum leading into the second test even if we have a lot of improving to do, think we may have ever so slightly just deserved to win in the end up.

Not really, with the Agar decision that actually went upstairs and with all the technology available there wasn't enough evidence to give it out. With Broad if it had gone upstairs there is no way it wouldn't have been given not out. In the end what it shows is that Clarke shouldn't waste reviews on 50/50 LBW decisions and should save them for the real mistakes.

There were times I thought we wouldn't get that last wicket, but I was pleased when we did. Bring on the 2nd test on Thursday now.

Should be interesting to see if we drop Finn for Bresnan for Lords as it's being rumored, the same as Australia dropping Ed Cowan for Usman Khawaja is being rumored, the same as possibly replacing Cowan with David Warner.

Finn was poor this test so from an Australian point of view I hope he stays in the team, can't see him keeping his spot. Cowan has to go but the sad thing is is that there isn't a stand out replacement. Warner is off in Zimbabwe for an Australia A tour so isn't available for the second test, I can see him being brought in as a number six later in the series. Khawaja has had chances before but hasn't really done anything with them, he is coached by Lehmann on the domestic level so he may get the seal of approval because of that. Since the game is at Lords I would like to see Harris or Bird in to use the slopes to their advantage. Not sure if the selectors would drop an Australian bowler though. Starc is most likely to be dropped but there is only a very slim chance of it happening.

I think the Australian team will be;

Watson
Rogers
Khawaja
Hughes
Clarke
Smith
Haddin
Agar
Starc
Pattinson
Siddle

 

[Troy]

Siddle is a bit think isn't he. Bowls Bairstow off a no ball, the same thing he did to Kallis last summer and to Dravid the summer before. You would think that a bowler would learn from their mistakes but Siddle hasn't. Cost 40 odd runs as well. Very happy with Harris returning with such a start, perfect for these conditions and has a five for so far. Some great captaincy from Clarke and some poor captaincy from him as well. Very smart move to use Watson early since he is very much a stump to stump bowler but I wish he had used a sixth bowler much earlier than he did. Should have given himself or Smith a bowl before Tea rather than waiting for before the new ball was due. Nice to see Smith get in the wickets as well. Have to mention Bell, three hundreds in a row in Ashes test, has a much better temperament these days.

319/9 and hopefully we can get that last wicket without leaking anymore runs. Very good bowling performance on a track that looks flat for now.

 

[Troy]

Now I know what it felt like for England last test. Last wicket partnership is wagging, 48 runs at over 7.5 an over at the moment.

One thing that has bothered me a bit so far this test and last is that the umpires are frequently checking Australian bowlers for front foot no balls after wickets. They checked Harris' last one and he had half a foot behind the line. I think that they should simply check all of them rather than picking and choosing like they do now.

 

[Troy]

Boof better roast Watson when he gets back to the dressing room. Yet again out LBW and yet again wastes a review when it is plumb. Should be banned from using it.

42/1 at lunch chasing 361. Poor start but then again the real batting for Australia is in the tail

Read a stat earlier on that so far this Ashes series the 10th wicket partnership has delivered the second highest number of runs, just behind the 5th wicket.

 

[Troy]

How unlucky is Rogers. Gets a huge full toss from Swann, hits him in the groin but doesn't use a review because Watson's ego already used one. Wouldn't have been out if he reviewed it. Rogers tried to do the team thing and keep a review alive for the bad decision and I am sure that if 2 reviews were available that Rogers would have used it. Australia should fine Watson $5k every time he reviews a decision because he is always wrong.

Australia still need to do more homework on DRS because we are pathetic with it.

52/2 now with Khawaja and Hughes in. Two young players wanting to prove themselves, I like that Clarke has been left at 5 which is his best batting position.

EDIT: Beautiful delivery from Swann to Khawaja, edges it straight to first slip but gets dropped. Very lucky for Khawaja who doesn't look comfortable at all against the spin.

 

[Troy]

FFS Bresnan bowls to Hughes who swings at a wide one outside off. Given out and Hughes reviews immediately, nothing on Hotspot but still given out. Hughes reviewing it immediately knowing that we only had one review left lends me to think he was confident he didn't hit it. No deviation and a slight sound.

All three wickets involved DRS, the second one in that Rogers should have reviewed it in that it wasn't out, please take this away from us haha.

 

[Troy]

Khawaja, Khawaja, Khawaja. What a dumb shot. I get that he was struggling against spin but randomly charging and trying to slog it for six is a dumb way to try to break the shackles. Play it along the ground until you get your eye in.

69/4 now.

 

[AZUCAR!]

I lol'ed at Watson reviewing his lbw, when like you said, he was plum lbw. We got lucky with the Chris Rogers wicket, and i'm sure had Shane Watson not reviewed his lbw decision he would've reviewed it, but he obviously didn't want to take the risk, with Australia then having 1 review left. The Hughes wicket to me it looked like he edged it slightly, as on one of the hotspot angles there's a slight white mark on his bat. Khawaja was obviously getting bored out there and skyed the shot straight in the air and straight into KP's hands.

4 wickets down and i'm pleased. If we can get another wicket or two before Tea, that'll be even better. Plus Australia have 0 reviews left

 

[AZUCAR!]

86-5.

Steve Smith out for 2.