Saturday 3 August 2013

Ashes - game on!

03/08/13

We’re now at the end of day three with Australia in charge of the game.  Clarke scored a great 187 with support from Smith.  Haddin and Starc batted well towards the end of the aussies innings and the ended up setting a formidable 527/7.  England reply stuttered towards the end of the second day, finishing 52/2.  Root went early which brought Bresnan to the crease with half an hour to go.  Using a night watchman here seemed a strange move, compounded when Bres was out hooking!  This was actually another dreadful umpiring decision which would have been over turned had England reviewed…

England managed to bat all day today, losing a further five wickets along the way.  Cook and Bell both made sixties but the KPego was star of the day with 113.  It was a really interesting day of test cricket, as partnerships were built England looked like gaining a hold in the match but then a wicket would change the mood.  I managed to follow the play closely today, mostly on TMS and a little TV too.  At the end we still need another 34 runs to avoid following on and this by far from a formality.  Once again the first session will dictate how the rest of the day plays out.


Australia are still well ahead in this game and seem to be the only team that could force a win from here, however I can’t see England losing from here.  Our batsmen will be tested over the rest of this match and I’m confident they will stand up to the test.  This match is a reminder that England have managed to pass 400 on very few occasions over the last couple of years.  We have some very good players but they’ve not been firing as a unit lately.  The top five is settled and looks to remain this way for some time to come.  It’s the number six spot that has been up for grabs in recent series and Johnny Bairstow, the current holder of this position has by no means made it his own.  He keeps getting starts but has been unable to convert these into big scores.  James Taylor is the next man waiting in the wings should Bairstow exhaust the selectors’ patience. 

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