Australia were slow.. yesterday and today. They made up overs in overtime last night. Finished bowling 89 overs.
Today, they should have bowled MORE than 30 before lunch.. because lunch was delayed... they only bowled 26... which is crap.

If they play overtime tonight it will be to make up for Aust slow over rate again this morning.

If life were fair.....England only need bowl 60 overs today... 2 sessions since lunch. You could say England only need bowl less than 60.. because some of the normal scheduled time today was used up by Australia bowling extra overs ahead of lunch.

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

So... with day 3 about to start...
My advice to Australia is "get on with it" (I guess that is almost always my advice)
As mentioned previously they need to clear the deficit and amass a lead, but they need to get it done today. Declare late today (if they are not bowled out before)
I look to see a run rate 4+ and Australia with 500+ runs (a lead of 100+)

IF Australia do lose quick wickets... then all is not lost. They were always going to need to bowl England out again.... and they still need to do that. Then match whatever target is set.

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

Interesting summary there, Rumpole. We shall see.
I only made it to 52 overs last night and Smith was at 78.
Being easily entertained, I'm excited to see Smith get a century, glad it didn't happen last night.
After that, I'll let you deal with the specifics and math. I can't see a high enough score to declare, but what do I know?

Declaring is not just about High total. Although typically a declaration does come once a large score is made.

It is also about strategy... time left...perhaps with rain likely.......moving the game along.

It is even conceivable that a team might declare while still BEHIND on the scoreboard.

I grew up watching NZ cricket and so I know a side can bat defensively... use up time to save a match... that is BLOCK a better team from having enough time to actually play the game out and win.

My suggestions are made assuming that Australia want to WIN!!

They could, of course, at this stage aim to bat all day today and well into tomorrow... eventually making a small lead. In which case they would need a lot of remaining time to bowl England out.... and almost certainly NOT have enough time to match a target. Game likely a draw.

It's all about "strategy".... a bit like 3-D chess?

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

The match pre-play commentary has "experts" suggesting that Australia need to "bat all day" (and into tomorrow)

As I have said... I dont agree... and maybe that option will be taken away if wickets fall and Australia is all out before the end of today.

I don't think the commentators are taking the possibility of RAIN seriously enough? Also.... if Australia can bat all of today on top of 2 sessions yesterday, then presumably England can bat an entire day... or more.. and so Australia will struggle to get 10 wickets (and some runs) to actually win

IF AUSTRALIA just want to make certain that England CAN'T win... then batting all day would make sense.... but... IMHO that is NOT the way Aussies play cricket... it is more like how NZ used to play in the bad old days

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

Steve Smith made his century.... so time to get on with the game

Current RR 2.8... not good enough

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

He's amazing. One of the most fun players to watch (for me).

In fact, other than Taylor, I can't think of another players I look forward to watching. Probably Grandhomme is a 3rd one.

Ok now, big scores and 30 overs by lunch is what I'm looking for.

Yeah. Steve Smith is a keeper... Taylor.. not so much.... (Khawaja is similar in my mind... slightly better than Taylor)

Guptill is OK... on occasions. (when fit)

Warner is good (not last few innings)

I want to see a RR much better than 2.3

Most of the English bowlers are injured... time to take advantage of the fact

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

Australia trail by 169 runs with 7 wickets remaining in the 1st innings

Next milestone could be get the deficit below 100

And/or get RR for last 10 overs up to 4

(3.2 at the moment)

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

80+ overs... new Ball



Australia trail by 133 runs with 6 wickets remaining in the 1st innings

RR last 10 overs 3.6

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

3rd Test Day 3 - LUNCH

England 403
Australia 314/4 * (89 ov)
Day 3 Session 1: Australia trail by 89 runs with 6 wickets remaining in the 1st innings


Australia have reduced the deficit to less than 100

RR last 10 overs = 5.40

This session, England bowled only 27 overs

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

I lost stream coverage but got it back right before lunch.

It's BTsport, SkySports is not available today. I did see when they got under 100 and the RR jumped in the last two or three overs.

Next milestone... erase the deficit

Then.... Smith double century... then beat his HS 215

Also M Marsh HS 87 then maiden test century

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

Australia have erased the deficit

England 403
Australia 404/4 * (109.2 ov)
Day 3 Session 2: Australia LEAD by 1 run with 6 wickets remaining in the 1st innings

Last 10 overs RR = 4.50


So.... time to cash in.... go like hell then declare


England have been obviously VERY slow... they need to be penalized.
They look to be ratty and petulant.

It doesnt look like Australia will declare.... but in that case even MORE reason to bat like hell and put on a huge lead.

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

Smith on track for a double century, then passing his Test HS 215
Smith 180* (258), SR 69.76

M Marsh has passed his previous HS of 87, and is closing in on a MAIDEN Test Century
M Marsh 91* (121), SR 75.20

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

M Marsh Makes his Century

M Marsh 100 (130), SR 76.92

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

3rd Test, Day 3 - TEA

England 403
Australia 421/4 * (115 ov)
Day 3: Australia lead by 18 runs with 6 wickets remaining in the 1st innings

Last 10 overs RR = 3.3.... not so good
IF it rains at all during next 2 days... Australia may regret slow scoring.

Scheduled still 37 overs!!
England are now 7 Overs behind today!!!!
If they are say 3 or 4 overs down over the final 2 hours of play.. that is a failure of 10 or 11 overs on a day's play.
They can not blame anything... they were clearly shagging about between overs (and within overs)

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

I never thought Tea Break would get here.

Rumpole, I don't believe I have ever watched a match like this before. If I have, I've forgotten and that's surprising.
In fact, I haven't watched many Tests all the way through because of time difference.

I have learned what a maiden test century is. Thanks for emphasizing this about Marsh.

And I NOW completely understand your mention of "declaring".

You are a good teacher and so far you're on the money today.
Nothing you can do about loss of overs but complain.

Nothing you can do about loss of overs but complain.

There has been talk for years about it. I think MY solution would fix it.

Penalize the offending team by adding "Extras" to the opposition... I have suggested 2 or 3 times the teams RR for each over not bowled

So today for instance.. assuming England are 10 overs behind at regular end of day time... add 3x4x10 runs (= 120 runs) to Australian total... and still make the bastards play half hour over time (which is likely 7 overs of the 10 lost at least)

I think if Australia were gifted 120 runs today... England Over rate would be much improved tomorrow

As you saw (in NZ) there is already provision to punish the offending team Captain... ban him from playing in next Test...there are also financial penalties levied on match payments.... but that to me is not a good enough penalty.

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light