Cricket fred

[Banquo]

138 behind with 6 wickets in hand is a better position to end Day 2 on than I could've hoped for at the start. We need the Brooks and Stokes partnership to put on at least another 60 runs - if one gets out early tomorrow, then a lot of the good work will be undone - but it is a solid position, even with our elongated tail.

Puja

its good....but they all were out in pretty daft ways, even with bazball factor.

[Banquo]

(ps Root didn'r deserve to still be in, but there were several angles showing that ball was touching grass....)

[Puja]

(ps Root didn'r deserve to still be in, but there were several angles showing that ball was touching grass....)

I did think that myself, but I am very fuzzy on what the laws actually are on those, so I assumed I was misunderstanding it.

Puja

[Puja]

We need the Brooks and Stokes partnership to put on at least another 60 runs - if one gets out early tomorrow, then a lot of the good work will be undone.

Well fuck.

At least it was a genuine mistake rather than trying to launch a ball over where all the catchers are standing. Not that how he got out makes the match situation any better - we're theoretically still well in the game, but I can really see one of Brook/Bairstow getting out to a stupid heave and us being all out for 330.

Puja

[Puja]

Okay, so it looks like 330 might've been optimistic.

Puja

[Banquo]

There’s Bazball and there’s stupid shots. Now the Aussies will bounce us all series. With Lyon crocked we had every chance of winning this game by riding out the bouncers. Very poor decision making, esp Root tbh.

[Puja]

Sometimes it's not a treat being right.

Puja

[Banquo]

poor batting. series looks one way now

[fivepointer]

There’s Bazball and there’s stupid shots. Now the Aussies will bounce us all series. With Lyon crocked we had every chance of winning this game by riding out the bouncers. Very poor decision making, esp Root tbh.

Yep. It was moronic. Crazy decision making and rotten execution. Bowlers havent done much in helpful conditions either.

Need a very big morning to get back into the game.

[Stom]

Feels like the first test was thrown away by inaccuracy, and the second will be thrown away by stupidity. So what'll happen to the third? Incompetence? Or will it all come together and we'll praise the team for amazing fortitude...

[Stom]

Also, surely if Pope is out, Foakes has to come back in? Bairstow just is not good enough behind the sticks.

[Banquo]

good bowling from both sides today, in different ways

[Puja]

Speaking of me not really knowing how the grassed catches laws work...

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/av/cricket/66077865

I have to say, that does look counter-intuitive to me. He's definitely caught that securely in two hands and it seems weird that him basically using his ball-carrying hand to avoid from face-planting counts as dropping it. Might be correct with the lawbook, but it doesn't look right, especially since I've seen catches where someone's barely had the ball in their hand a split second before throwing it up in the air in celebration.

I'll take it though - we are definitely due a bit of luck.

Puja

[Puja]

Pish. Hard to criticise someone for getting 98 and 83, but we did need Duckett to hang around for a bit longer today. 194 still to win - it's not impossible to do, but we need centuries from both Bairstow and Stokes. Our tail's far too long.

Puja

[Banquo]

Pish. Hard to criticise someone for getting 98 and 83, but we did need Duckett to hang around for a bit longer today. 194 still to win - it's not impossible to do, but we need centuries from both Bairstow and Stokes. Our tail's far too long.

Puja

correct. Its poor decision making again. Its actually feck all to do with Bazball as a strategy, but compulsive hooking by Duckett again.

[Puja]

Pish. Hard to criticise someone for getting 98 and 83, but we did need Duckett to hang around for a bit longer today. 194 still to win - it's not impossible to do, but we need centuries from both Bairstow and Stokes. Our tail's far too long.

Puja

correct. Its poor decision making again. Its actually feck all to do with Bazball as a strategy, but compulsive hooking by Duckett again.

I don't mind that wicket so much actually - he scores a lot of runs from the hook, so asking him to put it away would take away a lot of his positives. He got a good ball that jumped unexpectedly high on him - it looked like it was there to be hooked and Hazlewood just got something extra on it.

Puja

[Puja]

That is a hell of a thing to've happened. Technically correct decision and there was no requirement for Australia to not appeal or to withdraw the appeal, but it's an ugly way to win a Test match.

Stupidity from Bairstow though. TMS are saying that he was continually wandering outside of his crease and making his own decisions about when the ball was dead, so he's got no-one to blame but himself.

Puja

[Puja]

Could be a tactical error from Australia. Stokes is *pissed* and has launched into them, getting to his hundred with three sixes off three balls. Broad is batting sensibly at the other end while clearly also being spitting mad - he's giving near constant verbals and sledging to the Australians.

We didn't really want the lunch break there. Just 128 runs to win now and, if Stokes and Broad come out with the same mindset and the same concentration, that number could go down awfully quickly.

Could just as easily get out first ball after lunch though.

Puja

[Banquo]

Pish. Hard to criticise someone for getting 98 and 83, but we did need Duckett to hang around for a bit longer today. 194 still to win - it's not impossible to do, but we need centuries from both Bairstow and Stokes. Our tail's far too long.

Puja

correct. Its poor decision making again. Its actually feck all to do with Bazball as a strategy, but compulsive hooking by Duckett again.

I don't mind that wicket so much actually - he scores a lot of runs from the hook, so asking him to put it away would take away a lot of his positives. He got a good ball that jumped unexpectedly high on him - it looked like it was there to be hooked and Hazlewood just got something extra on it.

Puja

Out hooking twice- gets big on you, leave it.

On YJB - he was careless. If he'd done that to Smith, we'd be happy.

Stokes is a legend- don't think he'll pull this off, but he is demonstrating bazball for the other guys- pick and choose your moments and shots.

(if Broad is moaning about being bounced, its a bit rich; if its about 'spirit of the game', given he said 'why should I walk' after the biggest edge in history also rich....spirit of the game is myth tbh and Carey was fine. Fired us up tho).

[Mellsblue]

Just seen the ‘stumping’… I’d have been tempted to practice my hook/pull technique on some of the Aussies if I were Bairstow.

[Stom]

Wish I’d put a wedge on… thought this morning England would get out for 300-310, looks very likely now

[Banquo]

Indeed
Another two out hooking, post Stokes magnificence.

Great entertainment, but ultimately some lazy batting in the first innings and a great spell from Starc have done it.

Disappointing after Stokes tbh.

[Banquo]

Selection issues too. Jimmy must be in the mix for dropping sadly. Tail is too long, too many extras, bowling sometimes too ordinary.

They are playing a very good side tho, and definitely threw the first test away.

[Stom]

Selection issues too. Jimmy must be in the mix for dropping sadly. Tail is too long, too many extras, bowling sometimes too ordinary.

They are playing a very good side tho, and definitely threw the first test away.

I think we threw this test away, too.

But anyone who thought that was a good bowling lineup was insane. Completely one paced.

[Banquo]

Selection issues too. Jimmy must be in the mix for dropping sadly. Tail is too long, too many extras, bowling sometimes too ordinary.

They are playing a very good side tho, and definitely threw the first test away.

I think we threw this test away, too.

But anyone who thought that was a good bowling lineup was insane. Completely one paced.

We chucked away a good position for sure. Oz bowled really well at us the first 30 overs second innings