LUNCH - Day 4

Australia 327 & 70/2 * (25 ov) RR: 2.80
England 491

Australia trail by 94 runs with 8 wickets remaining

Minimum Ov. Rem 62.0

Poms behind the required over rate.. by 2

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

I agree with commentators who say this is a CRITICAL partnership.... and a critical period of play.

How Smith and Warner play.. and if they remain not out for a lengthy period could well determin the result of the game. All 3 results still possible, but a Win for England would be more likely with Smith and/or Warner out cheaply.

I disagree with Healy saying "runs dont matter, so long as these two survive"

I think it is important that Australia knock off the deficit (as well as not go out)... that will be a huge psychological milestone in this game. If these two are still together when scores level.. they could well score with more freedom as they bat to increase an Australian lead. Quite different from batting just to "catch up" the score.

Also... I think psychologically ... England will start to "droop" increasingly as Australia are putting on more and more of a lead.

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

Rain Delay

Australia 327 & 86/2 * (36.2 ov)
England 491
Australia trail by 78 runs with 8 wickets remaining (Minimum Ov. Rem 50.4)

It looks increasingly like either England will win, or Australia will save the game for a draw.

It would be poetic justice if England look like heading for a win.. but run out of time.... just an hour or so.

They may well then consider the fact that they waste time with slow over rates.

ETA
Play to resume at 2:30 PM (lost half an hour)
Tea pushed to 3.40pm

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

Comment on ESPN Score page while waiting out the rain delay.

"We have a Kitchen, a Nurse, a Hope and two Taylors in one match and a Cook, a Root, a Broad, a Bird and a Lyon in here.
It would be fun to see Kitchen against Cook."

Rain Delay - (maybe TEA Break)

Australia 327 & 103/2 * (43.5 ov) RR: 2.34 (minimum overs remaining 43.1)
England 491

Australia trail by 61 runs with 8 wickets remaining

Play has not been OFFICIALLY abandoned for the day... but trust me.... The day is DONE!!

BTW... it's gonna end in a draw tomorrow.

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

4th Test - Day 5

I predict a draw and an early end of day's play.

The Poms had a chance of winning yesterday, but I would have bet on Australia saving the game.

The Poms DO NOT DESERVE a win.... in fact they deserve to miss out because of a lack of time after overs lost (due to rain yesterday)... England get away with slow over rate all the time.



ETA
They are starting half hour early, but 8 extra overs does NOT change my prediction

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

Cricket is a funny old game....

Their is still plenty to entertain even in a "dead" game. Individual performances and milestones etc.

First up is Australia knocking off the deficit... hopefully with no wickets down.

Then Smith and Warner playing more freely and giving the Poms a batting lesson

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

Warner's Half Century, so glad he made it.

My worry was that there would be wickets dropping first thing out of the chute when it started (early).

Yes, this is fun to watch at this point but they need to get going, don't you think?
These "dots" aren't helping their cause.

Yes Australia are just running out the clock... but they could get on with it a bit.


England are at least partially to blame for Australia playing slow.... though it was the rain that took away 30 overs or more..
IF there was more time and Australia had a realistic chance of winning .. they would likely be taking more risks and so (ironically) that would help the English cause.

BTW
The 98 overs is a scheduled MINIMUM. There is nothing to stop England bowling far more if they get through overs faster. They are still shagging about and wasting time as far as I can tell

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

RAIN

Thought to be only brief delay... we'll see

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

Australia have knocked off the deficit

Australia 327 & 164/2 * (66.4 ov)
England 491

Scores level. Australia have 8 wickets remaining


Next stop... A Warner Century... and completing another milestone of a Century in BOTH innings of a Test match (3rd person to do that at MCG)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_c ... Test_match

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

CRAP - Warner Out

DA Warner c Vince b Root 86 (227b 8x4 0x6) SR: 37.88

Australia 327 & 172/3 * (69.2 ov)
England 491
Australia lead by 8 runs with 7 wickets remaining

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

FINALLY, Smith gets a Half Century, after 151 b, four 4s.

CRAP again - Mash out - LUNCH taken - 4th Test - Day 5

SE Marsh c †Bairstow b Broad 4 (22b 1x4 0x6) SR: 18.18

Australia 327 & 178/4 * (76 ov)
England 491
Australia lead by 14 runs with 6 wickets remaining

66 overs remaining.....England Overrate slow.... but I have to concede Australia are parially responsible.

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

So.... England do have HOPE of a win but.....

That would mean they bowl Australia out, say within the 30 overs of the next session with Australia lead less than 100... AND... if England bowling can do that to Australia... then so too could the Aussie bowlers do it in the last session.

So..... Australia have just as much chance of a win.

I and STILL picking a DRAW

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

4th Test - Day 5. TEA

Australia 327 & 225/4 * (105 ov)
England 491
Australia lead by 61 runs with 6 wickets remaining

Minimum Ov. Rem 37.0.

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

They wont be playing to scheduled time.

Smith is on to make a Century...
Steven Smith(rhb) 87* (228)

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

Smith Makes his 23rd Century

Steven Smith(rhb) 100 (259)



Australia 327 & 250/4 * (117.4 ov)
England 491
Australia lead by 86 runs with 6 wickets remaining





They just as well stick a fork in this game now.... DRAW

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