England are still in the game simply because McGrath and Warne aren't around anymore but the odds are definitely stacked against them.
I normally watch it till lunch then listen to TMS whilst I slip in and out of consciousness. There was a fantastic bit last night when Aussie were about 160 ahead and Aggers sounded suicidal. Then he learnt that Boycott was on next to 'cheer everybody up'.
I agree England can still salvage a draw if they can scrap together a hard, tough, defensive block-fest like they started at the end of Day 3. As unfashionable an approach as it is to cricket nowadays, it can certainly help you live to fight another day. The absence of Warne and McGrath is a big factor too... the Australian bowling line-up is competent, but doesn't have the destructive force to guarantee a cheap 2nd innings rollover. I'll be interested to see how Xavier Doherty goes today, because it was Hauritz's impotency in 2nd innings on deteriorating wickets that essentially got him dropped from the side.
EDIT: One and a half sessions later and England are looking much better, and a draw is indeed the likely result.
Retro.
"Politics are too emotional now. Contemporary culture generally is too emotional, really... I'd rather people looked to the truth." (Neil Tennant)
This is top batting by England. They have onlt given one decent catching chance that Johnson dropped and one half chance that Clarke couldn't quite keep hold of.
The Aussies bowling has been pretty average but you still have to play. It'd difficult to really assess whether England have bounced back big style, or the Aussies haven't taken control when they had the chance to.
Still not over though. It will be interesting if this carries on because England might just find themselves thinking about a declaration tomorrow afternoon. Especially if they get a 200+ lead.
Undertaker wrote:Still not over though. It will be interesting if this carries on because England might just find themselves thinking about a declaration tomorrow afternoon. Especially if they get a 200+ lead.
I reckon it's over - the pitch is just too good.
Especially with the kind of run-chases we see nowadays care of the T20 game... there's no way England will be able to put enough runs together to make a confident declaration until there's maybe just a session and a half to go... and that won't be long enough on this wicket. The pitch was a little under-prepared with rain around Brisbane before the match, so it's peaking late.
From an Aussie perspective, I'm hoping Johnson gets dropped for Bollinger for the Adelaide Test. He is bowling woefully.
England would be better served to bat as long as they can and grind the Aussie bowlers into the dirt... especially in light of the back-to-back Tests.
Retro.
"Politics are too emotional now. Contemporary culture generally is too emotional, really... I'd rather people looked to the truth." (Neil Tennant)
I don't get what's happened to Johnson. He was on fire in South Africa a few years ago.
It's back-to-back Tests too so Aussie have big problems going into the Second Test. Apparently there's a Muslim guy who's next in line to come into the batting line-up.
I thought the Aussies did alright considering they were 0-2 and 2-3. Also thought Finn and Broad were quite poor. They could have taken the Aussies to the cleaners.
Ponting is becoming more of a c***. What was all that about at the end? Someone is feeling the pressure . His tactics have been questioned for quite a while now and when you are failing with the bat, the only way you get away with it is by winning tests. He can't expect Hussey to carry him every game and i thought leaving Hilfenhaus out was an extraordinary decision.
. His tactics have been questioned for quite a while now and when you are failing with the bat, the only way you get away with it is by winning tests. He can't expect Hussey to carry him every game and i thought leaving Hilfenhaus out was an extraordinary decision.
