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Australia [497/8d & 186/6d] beat England [301 & 197] by 185 runs in the fourth Ashes Test

I must say pretty ordinary bowling display from Stokes 10.5 overs for 66 runs with economy of 6.09 (In a test match that is) without any wicket.

Yes I understand his role is to bowl aggressively but execution has been really poor as the stats display.
 
Titan24 said:
I must say pretty ordinary bowling display from Stokes 10.5 overs for 66 runs with economy of 6.09 (In a test match that is) without any wicket.

Yes I understand his role is to bowl aggressively but execution has been really poor as the stats display.
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It seems that he has gone off injured.

Wonder if the injury has been there since yesterday or if it just appeared in this session. He has been poor on both days.

Either way, he bowled himself into the ground in the second innings at Headingley and I guess this is the result.

He would still merit his place in the side as a pure batsman though.
 
James said:
It seems that he has gone off injured.

Wonder if the injury has been there since yesterday or if it just appeared in this session. He has been poor on both days.

Either way, he bowled himself into the ground in the second innings at Headingley and I guess this is the result.

He would still merit his place in the side as a pure batsman though.
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Yes that second innings at Headingly was much more than his usual workload as a 5th bowler i.e to bowl 10 overs or so and around 15 when the batting team is playing a long innings however, he bowled almost 25 overs and not to forget a pretty draining innings he played to win the match, not only in terms of time at the crease but the pressure associated with it.
 
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Most epic moment of this match was when Smith was given out caught off Leach and the England crowd started booing him only to get punked by a no ball.
 
Ronaldo7 said:
Is the pitch dead or is Steve Smith just the GOAT?
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Irrespective of the pitch Smith is already a GOAT. He plays well in every condition and almost looks invincible more often than not. Yes just like any other great he might have bit of weakness against swing but still plays that much better than many top players.
 
Day 2 - Tea

Aus 369/5 (101.0)

Smith 173* (263)
Paine 58* (126)
 
And Overton takes Paine's wicket on the first ball after Tea! England didn't manage to pick a wicket in the whole 2nd session, but finally get the breakthrough on the first ball of the third session. Aus now 369/6 (101.1). Cummins in
 
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I don't think Aussies can lose this Test now. It will probably be a draw or an Aussie victory.

Well done, Smith and Paine.
 
Overton was getting bashed all over Twitter yesterday before the match had even started, but he’s done quite well so far - dismissed Labuschagne who is Australia’s 2nd best batter, and also taken out the Australia captain Paine, both of whom were set on 50+ scores and both times to break big partnerships.

It was a good toss to win, and both Overton & Broad have given a best effort on this flat pitch.

The disappointments have mainly been Archer’s innocuous performance and the various dropped catches - also Leach and to a lesser extent Stokes.
 
Leach finds Cummins' edge and Stokes takes it safely at slip, Cummins gone for 4 (9). Aus 387/7 (105). The wickets are starting to flow for England, but Smith remains not out on 186.
 
Smith making sure he also makes the runs he missed in the last match :)
 
And Steve Smith reaches 200!! England still cannot find a way to get him out, and he continues to dominate this series singlehandedly. Currently, 201* (310).
 
Double century for smith,his 3rd one and all of them are against England 2 in England and 1 in Australia
 
AUS 447/8 (118.5) CRR: 3.76
Day 2: 3rd Session - Australia opt to bat
 
Total squash at this point. England need to bat 5 sessions in their reply here if they want to create a chance of the draw. But Australia will have other ideas and are already impossible to defeat in this match - there are several routes to the win for them, including the follow-on if needed.
 
Steve Smith is challenging for the greatest test batsman of all time barring Bradman.
 
Jofra Archer should be rested for the next game, he looks spent. England are better off getting a fresh pacer in
 
What's the point of declaring at 497? Should've declared after 500. Psychologically more menacing.
 
These England openers only average 24 and 27 which is less that Tim Paine.

Why are England playing them?.
 
Gilly said:
These England openers only average 24 and 27 which is less that Tim Paine.

Why are England playing them?.
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Absolute absence of batting talent in the country at the moment is why. It’s embarrassing to say so, but this is literally the best that’s available.

England has often boasted a couple of world class players per team; and these have then been surrounded by solid, gritty and useful 35-40 averaging batters.
Not so in this team.

The world class players feature in this one too - Root and Stokes - but everyone else in the lineup is pretty mediocre at best unfortunately, and club standard at worst!

That said, these openers have started better than I expected. I wouldn’t have been surprised to see us 2 or 3 down for 7 runs or so, but amazingly enough they are 12 for 1....
 
Denly's comical attempts to play the short ball was... well comical

AUS 497/8 decl
ENG 12/1 (7.0) CRR: 1.71
Day 2: 3rd Session - England trail by 485 runs
 
Overton playing the short balls better than Denly.
 
AUS 497/8 decl
ENG 23/1 (10.0) CRR: 2.3
Day 2: Stumps - England trail by 474 runs
 
Steve Smith's relentless double century demoralised England and put Australia in prime position to retain the Ashes after two days of the fourth Test at Old Trafford.

Smith remorselessly worked his way to 211 - taking advantage of being dropped by Jofra Archer on 65 and dismissed off a Jack Leach no-ball on 118 - to lead the tourists to 497-8 declared.

His third century of the series took his tally of runs to 584 and average to 194.66, all despite having missed the third Test because of concussion.

Even with the brilliance of Smith, England may have had the chance to chip away at the other end had Australia captain Tim Paine not been dropped twice in his 58.

Instead, their tired attack was flogged by Mitchell Starc's 54 not out as the tourists, who at various points could have been 246-6 or 273-6, surged towards a declaration.

England were given a difficult 10 overs to bat and lost Joe Denly to Matthew Wade's superb reaction catch at short leg to close on 23-1. Rory Burns has 15 and nightwatchman Craig Overton three.

All is not lost for the home side - the placid pitch should provide no obstacles as they bid to bat well into Saturday in order to get close to the Australia total.

However, because Australia have such a large score on the board, any sort of England collapse could see the Ashes secured with a Test to spare.

In the same way that all of England's plans for Smith have been exhausted - he also racked up 687 runs in the 2017-18 Ashes series down under - so too are there no more superlatives for unquenchable desire to bat for hours on end.

In just four innings he has become the leading run-scorer in Test cricket this year, a remarkable achievement considering he did not play a five-day match until 1 August because of his ban for the ball-tampering scandal.

If there was any question that he would be rattled by the blow from Archer that concussed him at Lord's, Smith answered with another peerless display of patience, sound judgement and an ability to hit the ball in areas where only he is capable.

Yes, he had the fortune of the reprieves, but he capitalised to flatten both the home side and the Old Trafford crowd, the latter mercifully allowed to watch in more pleasant conditions after the rain and cold of Wednesday.

Throughout the World Cup and the first two Tests, Smith was booed at every opportunity - when he walked out to the middle, reached a milestone, even when he came back out to bat after being hit by Archer.

This time, when he was finally dismissed, Old Trafford gave him a standing ovation, recognition that we are witnessing an Ashes performance for the ages.

If England had the excuse of the elements for their below-par performance on day one, there was no hiding from their ragged and wasteful display on Thursday.

Archer has been lacklustre with the ball throughout - he returned 0-97 from 27 overs - and it was he who gave Smith his first life, getting both hands to the ball in his follow-through after the former captain drove a low full toss back to the bowler.

Paine was reprieved from simpler chances - Jason Roy put down an edge at second slip when he was on nine, while a diving substitute fielder Sam Curran failed to cling on to a miscued pull at mid-on on 49.

But the most galling was the Leach no-ball, discovered after Smith edged a beautiful delivery to slip. Leach at least continued to bowl tidily, but Smith added a further 93 runs.

England's misery was compounded by Headingley hero Ben Stokes leaving the field mid-over with a shoulder niggle. After Stokes returned - he did not bowl again - wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow needed treatment on his right thumb.

Despite captain Joe Root's attempts to rally his side, their frustration and dejection was palpable until Australia's declaration gave them the opportunity to drag themselves off.

At 170-3 at the start of the day, 183-4 when Travis Head played around a straight one to give Stuart Broad his third wicket and 224-5 at the point Wade inexplicably skied Leach, Australia were far from in charge.

That was changed by the stand of 145 between Smith and Paine, the captain making his first Test half-century for almost a year.

Smith was Smith. If the ball was not being left with comical flamboyance, it was tucked into the leg side or driven beautifully through the covers and down the ground.

There were times when he was troubled by Leach, or when England tried to test his patience, but Smith outlasted them. Only when the declaration became apparent did he open his shoulders, lofting two sixes before reverse-sweeping Root's spin to short third man.

By that point, Starc was climbing into the bowling, hitting Broad for four successive fours, then slapping Root and Archer for a six apiece.

When Denly was brilliantly caught at short leg off Pat Cummins by Wade, who dived to hold a rebound off his own body, it epitomised Australia's superb day.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/cricket/49596683
 
England wicket-keeper Jonny Bairstow said that despite Steve Smith's 211, his team isn't ruling out the possibility of pulling off another unlikely victory at Old Trafford, akin to the one they did at Headingley in the previous Test.

Star Australia batsman Steve Smith put on yet another masterclass in the fourth Ashes Test, notching up a brilliant 211 on the second day – his third triple-digit score of the series from four innings, and his third double-century overall.

Resuming the second day on 60, Smith did look a touch uneasy by his standards early on, but quickly settled down into a good rhythm. During that early passage of play, England were able to beat his outside edge a few times, and Bairstow said that was reason enough for the hosts to stick with their plans going forward.

"We'll be sticking to the plans that we've got," said Bairstow. "He's played and missed to a few balls today, which he hasn't previously in the series. On another day, we get him out earlier."

Smith's knock put Australia in pole position as the side declared at 497/8, before getting an early breakthrough to have England go to stumps at 23/1. But, even though they have their backs to the wall, England don't have to look beyond their own one-wicket heist at Headingley for inspiration.

"There are three innings and three days of cricket left," Bairstow said. "If we can go out and apply ourselves tomorrow, bat for a long period of time like we did at Headingley, there is no reason why not.

"Let's look at the next day, let's look at the next session and see where we get to. I don't think looking too far ahead, we've had two contrasting days with the weather, we'll see how the pitch changes over a period of time."

https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/1337916
 
tyron_woodley said:
what do you expect? he is 6 foot 6. denly is barely 5'10.

to overton you have to bowl Yorkers.
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Actually it should be easier for denly to play the short ball if your Using the height presumption he should be able duck under easier, denly is dangerously not looking at the ball when anything short that comes around chest neck head eye, it's his well being that actually needs to be considered also with that tecnique, denly is definitely not the answer for opening against a quick attack
 
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Manunited18 said:
Actually it should be easier for denly to play the short ball if your Using the height presumption he should be able duck under easier, denly is dangerously not looking at the ball when anything short that comes around chest neck head eye, it's his well being that actually needs to be considered also with that tecnique, denly is definitely not the answer for opening against a quick attack
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eng have no answers to their opening problems. its been 3 years lol
 
Yes the cupboard is bare, plus what isn't helping is the schedule of the county season, the batsman are not being helped by the schedule, first class games april-may, then limited overs june to august, then first class cricket again
 
Overton gone

AUS 497/8 decl
ENG 31/2 (13.3) CRR: 2.3
Day 3: 2nd Session - England trail by 466 runs
 
When Pakistan tours Australia later this year, I expect a lot of our batsmen will be dismissed off short pitched bowling, but not in the way that is common, ie, caught hooking to fine leg or deep midwicket. Most of them will be dismissed by the legside strangle to the wicket keeper.
 
Good duel between the world’s premier spinner and England’s best batter on a turning track here.

Crowd bagging poor Lyon every time he fields.
 
Root has t battle hard here and get a big century, with the others playing around him. Don't lose a wicket all day, bat well tomorrow and miracles can happen.
 
Century stand. Burns and Root like batting together, averaging fifty as a partnership.

Lyon must be fuming at this mickey taking by the crowd. The way to shut them up is take a wicket.
 
Strange series. Both teams find batting easy at times. also hard at times. Both are inconsistent batting line ups. Australian bowling unit is stronger though. England looks mediocre without clouderson with clouds. Once Broad leaves the scene England will struggle to win even home matches.
 
Good batting by Burns and Root.

Is this something to do with Root batting at 4? Why not bat him full-time at 4?

England need runs from Root with bat more than anyone or anything else. Root at 4, Stokes at 5, Bairstow at 6 and Foakes at 7 with gloves on is the best combination for England in the middle order. They will need to dominate teams at home atleast if they have to be in strong contention for the test championship.
 
Paine burns yet another review. Is that eleven out of eleven wrong?
 
This pitch must be seriously flat if we are 159/2. lol
 
AUS 497/8 decl
ENG 166/3 (65.0) CRR: 2.55
Day 3: 3rd Session - England trail by 331 runs
 
Poor from Root. He simply doesnt have the ruthlessness of a truly great player. You need your top bat to get a big score when you're replying to 500 declared.
 
AUS 497/8 decl
ENG 196/5 (72.4) CRR: 2.7
Day 3: 3rd Session - England trail by 301 runs

Roy gone
 
Hazelwood on fire!

England will have a tough job avoiding the follow-on here - 298 the target, so 98 more required.

Another Stokes special would do it, and/or about time that Bairstow/Buttler did something useful.
 
Roy is a hack ,pitch was flat still he can't able to score down the order
 
AUS 497/8 decl
ENG 200/5 (74.0) CRR: 2.7
Day 3: Play stopped due to bad light - England trail by 297 runs


England probably happy with a draw at this rate.
 
That is why I am not a fan of 4 day test match theory as with rain delays, bad lights etc. To consistently complete test match in 4 days will be too much to ask as even 5 day test matches on quite a few occasions experience draws.
 
MenInG said:
AUS 497/8 decl
ENG 200/5 (74.0) CRR: 2.7
Day 3: Play stopped due to bad light - England trail by 297 runs


England probably happy with a draw at this rate.
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AUS 497/8 decl
ENG 200/5 (74.0) CRR: 2.7
Day 3: Stumps - England trail by 297 runs
 
Cuts_and_cuts_hard said:
Poor from Root. He simply doesnt have the ruthlessness of a truly great player. You need your top bat to get a big score when you're replying to 500 declared.
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Hes pretty ruthless considering he has the highest number of test runs this decade. What he seems to be lacking right now is the timing needed to push ahead after a start or a fifty.

I mentioned some time ago, before his slump even, that his back may trouble his career.
 
barah_admi said:
Hes pretty ruthless considering he has the highest number of test runs this decade. What he seems to be lacking right now is the timing needed to push ahead after a start or a fifty.

I mentioned some time ago, before his slump even, that his back may trouble his career.
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Definitely not in Smith kohli williamson class, his conversion rate to hundreds is poor
 
Cummings and Hazelwood are outstanding bowlers.They were unlucky not to get more wickets today.I don't see England scoring too many tomorrow.
 
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