The Ashes: 2nd Test - December 2nd 2017 - Adelaide

[Flamethrower]

Re: The Ashes: 2nd Test - December 2nd 2017 - Adelaide

This is why the whole DRS system is stuffed - it should not be incumbent on the players, they are there to play the game, not to officiate it.

If the umpire is not sure about an LBW or caught behind decision, he should call for the review as they do for run outs and stumpings.

[jeemak]

Re: The Ashes: 2nd Test - December 2nd 2017 - Adelaide

I'm not so sure about that. I think Smith would've been looking for a 350+ run lead with England to bat at night on a 4th day wicket. I would be terrified to see us chase 100ish total with a night session involved.

I think batting again guaranteed England would be chasing a big total and Australia wouldn't be chasing under extreme conditions. It also means more load for the England bowlers. Even wth hindsight I'd have batted again if I was Smith.

We'll see how it goes. I definitely understand not wanting to have to bat in the evening with a small target to chase, I just though England were completely cooked after their innings and would have been really easy to knock over.

Hopefully the ball has some zip in the night session, and isn't too worn.

[bulldogtragic]

Re: The Ashes: 2nd Test - December 2nd 2017 - Adelaide

Get Gaffney off now. He's not paying painfully obvious ones. Thank God Smith pulled him up this time.

[bulldogtragic]

Re: The Ashes: 2nd Test - December 2nd 2017 - Adelaide

What's the record for most DRS overturns in a test?

[lemmon]

Re: The Ashes: 2nd Test - December 2nd 2017 - Adelaide

Pat Cummins has superstar potential. He could just drag us over the line.

[Remi Moses]

Re: The Ashes: 2nd Test - December 2nd 2017 - Adelaide

Should never have been this close . Credit to England for a great fight back, but they should have been batting underlights with a new ball last night.

[Bornadog]

Re: The Ashes: 2nd Test - December 2nd 2017 - Adelaide

Once Root falls, they will capitulate

[Twodogs]

Re: The Ashes: 2nd Test - December 2nd 2017 - Adelaide

That fourth wicket just before play came to an end felt huge. We were really starting to struggle, getting that wicket snatched us back some of the momentum.

[jeemak]

Re: The Ashes: 2nd Test - December 2nd 2017 - Adelaide

Should never have been this close . Credit to England for a great fight back, but they should have been batting underlights with a new ball last night.

I didn't manage to get in front of the TV until half an hour remaining in the last session. I saw our dismissal clips, some of it was a bit untidy and purposeless. I hope it doesn't bite us in the arse. We should have been digging in a bit to ensure the ball was newer in the late afternoon and night session.

[lemmon]

Re: The Ashes: 2nd Test - December 2nd 2017 - Adelaide

I didn't manage to get in front of the TV until half an hour remaining in the last session. I saw our dismissal clips, some of it was a bit untidy and purposeless. I hope it doesn't bite us in the arse. We should have been digging in a bit to ensure the ball was newer in the late afternoon and night session.

Spot on. The shots Paine and Marsh played showed a real lack of game awareness. They should've been accumulating runs and soaking time to make sure the ball was as new as possible when the floodlights came on.

Lyon's the key for me today. He's been our best bowler in the series but Root's played him comfortably. On a fifth day Adelaide wicket, your spinner should be coming to the fore.

[Sedat]

Re: The Ashes: 2nd Test - December 2nd 2017 - Adelaide

I'm not so sure about that. I think Smith would've been looking for a 350+ run lead with England to bat at night on a 4th day wicket. I would be terrified to see us chase 100ish total with a night session involved.

I think batting again guaranteed England would be chasing a big total and Australia wouldn't be chasing under extreme conditions. It also means more load for the England bowlers. Even wth hindsight I'd have batted again if I was Smith.

Normally I agree with the concept of batting again to take the opposition completely out of the picture and work their bowlers to the ground, but Monday night was an opportunity to put the foot on their throat and humiliate their batting line-up en route to an innings victory. The conditions last night coupled with a new ball, a very poor English top order and a fantastic Australian pace attack would have destroyed them beyond any possible recovery yesterday. Australia should still win and the end will justify the means, but it would have been a stronger statement to crush them than to potentially limp over the line. And if England somehow conjure up a victory it will completely change the momentum of the series. If we're being honest, this test series is playing like 4th at home vs 5th away - not a lot of quality cricket being played outside 3-4 stars.

This is why D/N test cricket is so wonderful - the dynamic of pitch and weather conditions adds multiple layers of tactical decision making to the mix that otherwise don't exist.

[Bornadog]

Re: The Ashes: 2nd Test - December 2nd 2017 - Adelaide

Woakes out second ball

[bulldogtragic]

Re: The Ashes: 2nd Test - December 2nd 2017 - Adelaide

Woakes out second ball

Great start. Good decision from Dar too.

[lemmon]

Re: The Ashes: 2nd Test - December 2nd 2017 - Adelaide

Not sure about starting with Starc. I would've gone with Cummins.

[Bornadog]

Re: The Ashes: 2nd Test - December 2nd 2017 - Adelaide

Root GONE