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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