Thursday 5 September 2019

Fourth Test

Two busy days at work skipping between TMS and Cricinfo, I haven't missed much.
Day one was rain affected, England started well with Broad removing both openers including shitbag Warner for a two ball duck.  This just brought Funnyname and Piggy Smith together and the two of them accumulated nearly all day until Overton (selected from nowhere when Jimmy was ruled out) got funnyname with a beauty.  The day ended 170/3.

Day two started OK in the first session with two more wickets but Smith just batted and batted and batted.  He gave chances that were missed including being out of a no ball... from Leach FFS!  He had support notably from Paine who got his first half century of the series and inevitably got to his third Ashes double century.  Whatever I may think about Smith I have to recognise he is a phenomenal batsmen who keeps getting better and better.  Take him out of this Aussie team and the batting line up is poor.  He was eventually out for 211, to Root of all people.  England had a poor day in the field and even Archer appeared to be showing signs of fatigue.  After some tail end carnage Australia eventually declared on 497/8 leaving England a tricky forty five minutes to survive.

Poor Joe Denly was moved up the order to open and fell to Cummins but Burns and nightwatchman Overton made it to the close, 23/1.  So for the second match in a row it looks bleak for England but it has to be said things aren't as bad as they were after two days at Leeds.  England need to be still batting on Saturday if we have any chance in this series, our batsmen need to realise they are playing for their careers now.

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