4th Test - Day 3

As the saying goes... "The game is delicately poised"

Either side COULD win this...... or it could be a draw.

As always I WORRY that the game will drag on and result in a draw.... unless SOMEBODY finds a way to "progress the game".
Over the first 2 days, only 12 wickets fell. On the face of it there are potentially up to 28 more wickets combining both teams.
At the very least... England need get on with it. Knock off the deficit and then build a lead, but with both 1st innings complete some time tomorrow, there still needs to be time to contrive a win on the 2nd innings.
Putting on my Aussie supporter hat....
Love to see wickets dropping like flies from the outset today and England all out before Tea today, with team scores close to even. Then Australia bat a day+ and score 350+ lead... put England back in towards the end of day 4.. and bowl them out on Day 5.

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

I'd like to see the wickets drop quickly also.

I hope Smith doesn't bowl much today. He gave away too much scoring late in the day.

Keep Lyon in, and when the umpires aren't looking, put him in again.

That's all I've got.



ETA: 10.15am News from Cricket Australia. Steve Smith "not feeling 100%" today but he will take the field. Caught what Cummins had?

A WICKET

JE Root c Lyon b Cummins 61 (133b 7x4 0x6) SR: 45.86

About time... we need MORE!

Australia 327
England 224/3 * (71 ov)

Day 3: England trail by 103 runs with 7 wickets remaining in the 1st innings

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

I am close to calling this game A DRAW.... wickets need to fall to progress the game.. for both teams' sake (ironically)

But... cricket is a funny old game... and there is a NEW BALL due in a few overs.

Maybe the new ball will be "The Big Ugly"?

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

"The Big Ugly"



2nd New Ball taken as soon as available (after 80 ov)

Australia 327
England 246/3 * (80 ov)
Day 3 Session 1: England trail by 81 runs with 7 wickets remaining in the 1st innings


ETA
IT WORKED... wicket 2nd ball
DJ Malan lbw b Hazlewood 14 (43b 3x4 0x6) SR: 32.55

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

LUNCH Break - 4th Test, Day 3

Australia 327
England 264/4 (85 ov) RR: 3.10
England trail by 63 runs with 6 wickets remaining in the 1st innings

Minimum Ov. Rem 62.0

Aussies 2 overs shy
Not as bad as the poms... and they could make up for it in next 2 sessions.. maybe

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

Nice 5th wicket at the onset.

JM Bairstow c †Paine b Lyon 22 (39b 3x4 0x6) SR: 56.41

Moeen Ali had a bit of a bash.. then went out
MM Ali c SE Marsh b Lyon 20 (14b 2x4 1x6) SR: 142.85

Commentators are critical.... but IMHO the Poms had just as well have a bash and score as many as possible. At least that gives them a CHANCE of a win. To bat on much longer will likeely result in a draw. It does also give Australia some chance of a win as well... but so be it

Australia 327
England 311/6 * (94.1 ov)
Day 3 Session 2: England trail by 16 runs with 4 wickets remaining in the 1st innings

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

Thanks for that!
I have been wanting to know what you thought at this point with two (kind of) quick wickets after lunch.
So it's either team can win or it's a draw.

Sort of like at the start.

Yes... except... to me a draw becomes more and more likely the longer England bat.

The 1st innings scores are about even... 50 either way not critical.

They NEED to start 2nd innings.. and make what they can of those.

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

Australia 327
England 327/6 * (103 ov) RR: 317

1st innings scores level. England have 4 wickets remaining

Min overs remaining 44

Tea Break

Australia 327
England 360/6 * (113 ov) RR: 3.18
England lead by 33 runs with 4 wickets remaining in the 1st innings

Minimum Ov. Rem 34.0

Australia 2 behind on this session as well... 4 behind so far today

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

Seventh wicket, about time!

CR Woakes c †Paine b Cummins 26 (62b 3x4 0x6) SR: 41.93

England lead by 39 runs with 3 wickets remaining in the 1st innings

------------------
ETA: 8th Wicket

TK Curran c †Paine b Hazlewood 4 (15b 1x4 0x6) SR: 26.66

------------
ETA: 9th Wicket

SCJ Broad c Khawaja b Cummins 56 (63b 8x4 1x6) SR: 88.88

England lead by 146 runs with 1 wicket remaining in the 1st innings

What about declaring?

Shouldn't England declare at the end of today?

I was almost gonna post a few overs ago... that I would declare. But it's a bit late now.
7 overs left.. and lose 3 for innings break.

but....
If a wicket falls... they may have to start the Australian innings... even if it's down to 1 over

ETA
Apparently... time is the limiting factor now (they will not make the scheduled overs number)
If a wicket had fallen with 12 minutes to go.. Australia would have to come out and face 1 over. We have less time than that, and so it will be STUMPS if a wicket falls now.

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

4th Test - Day 4

Will England come out to bat?

It might have made some sense to declare late yesterday.. and bowl a few overs at Australia, and it would be "less messy" to declare ahead of play today, and I am usually KEEN to see a declaration, but....
Since England have come this far, I would be tempted to come out and bat a few overs... if possible.. there is only 1 wicket left to fall. No point doing that unless the plan is "Shit or bust"... bash from the outset.. scoring 36 runs would be a dream... lead up to 200, and if "plan A" fails... no harm done... Plan B (send Australia in to bat), can go ahead as it would have.



ETA
Talk of ....RAIN!
Even some "spitting" already minutes ahead of start time.

Rain and cricket.... that's why I am always keen to see players "get on with it" while they can and one of the reasons I hate to see overs lost to slow over rate. We already have enough play lost due to rain without more lost to time wasting!

ETA 2
Well... England came out.. but wicket fell 1st ball... so "Plan B" it is

England lead by 164 (87 overs scheduled for remainder of the day).

When Australia start their innings I HOPE they show proper Aussie spirit and go for a WIN... bat like hell from the start.
The alternative is to "defend".. play safe... score slowly with a view to firstly save the game.. play primarily for a draw... a win less likely

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

First casualty wicket for Australia, Bancroft OUT.

CT Bancroft b Woakes 27 (42b 4x4 0x6) SR: 64.28

Usman Khawaja is next in.

I see him as the Aussie version of Ross Taylor... not quite that bad... but his dancing down the pitch to hit a six and then a 4 off Ali might earn him a reprieve



ETA
NOPE... Khawaja is a plonker!!
UT Khawaja c †Bairstow b Anderson 11 (14b 1x4 1x6) SR: 78.57

NOW... Smith and Warner need to "bat like warrior poets"

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