England v Australia - THE ASHES

[ToffeeDoug]

are they? i thought the main argument was that they're not admitting it. i wouldn't expect my employers to pay me full wage if i was only doing 3/4rs of my required duties. they have the 3rd umpire checking the line all the time anyway, so why not just have it in their hands if that's the reason why.

it is a bit hard to try and keep your eye on it whilst also quickly turning you're head up the pitch to watch a 90mph delivery to see where it's pitched, hit etc. i'd imagine. especially with legs and feet getting in the way.

Umpires coped perfectly well for most of the 138 years Test cricket has been played. Umpires are scared to make their own decisions, knowing there is a recourse available to them if a wicket fell and the ball was illegal. How many times do we see batsmen run out or stumped by a mile but the umpire checks with the 3rd ump all the same. There was some chat on TMS during the last Test when they were discussing no-balls being missed by the umpires and someone said that the elite panel of Test umpires have got very nervy about the close TV scrutiny on all their calls.

 

[Elong]

fairly carbon copy of lord's this one. we just need to bat the same length as them if days 4 and 5 are washed out as expected.

looked straight and didn't do anything that from siddle.

Jesus H Christ.

 

[Elong]

Some very good balls and some very ordinary shots. Some of the worst test cricket I've watched.

 

[strummer]

Just seen the highlights of yesterday and those shots from lyth stokes and bairstow were unforgivable. To be fair though smith played some awful shots over the 2 days and somehow made the luckiest century ive ever seen.England have got to dig in now cos if they do the weather could ensure a lucky draw

 

[neil999]

key day today, prob best for batting so interesting to see what Australia do once they get us out...especially with sunday/Monday forecast

 

[wandyr79]

key day today, prob best for batting so interesting to see what Australia do once they get us out...especially with sunday/Monday forecast

The key is to keep them in the field for as long as possible, if the follow on is enforced the bowlers will be that little bit more tired and if Clarke does not enforce the follow on the weather could easily come to our rescue.

 

[No8Bally]

Forced to follow-on. Dreadful by England. No8 top scoring.

 

[wandyr79]

Goodbye Lyth

Hello Hales

 

[The Equaliser]

Top bowling from Siddle again this morning.

 

[The Esk]

I think starting your test career as an opening batsman must be one of the toughest ordeals in sport.

There's a fantastic description of life as a young opener in a book called "Letting Rip" by Simon Wilde. It describes an imaginary first morning session of an opener in a test match at Lords facing a West Indies team featuring Marshall, Garner, Croft etc.

Actually it's a very good book - one of the memorable pieces from it was a description of Rod Marsh standing 33 yards back from the stumps to Thomson and Lillee at Perth with the ball still going through to him on the rise.

 

[roydo]

Atherton describes it well in his book as well.

And Blue Fin Tuna off Penzance btw!!

 

[flibbyflob]

Lyth deserved his chance, scored lots of runs for Yorkshire in the last couple of years but like Robson is flawed outside off stump and the good bowlers have exploited it. Doubt Hales will be any different but wouldn't be surprised if Moeen opens against Pakistan to fit Rashid in the side.

 

[The Esk]

Atherton describes it well in his book as well.

And Blue Fin Tuna off Penzance btw!!

yes I heard that - first time ever apparently?

 

[roydo]

yes I heard that - first time ever apparently?

Not sure, but extremely rare non the less. And its illegal to catch and keep one. No EU quota for them for Brit fishermen. Weird that.

 

[strummer]

Our openers haven't made a single 50 partnership throughout the whole series. Thats a shocking stat and surely spells the end for lyth.