Looks like the Poms have unearthed a good one with their keeper batsman, Jamie Smith.
Scoring a ton in the first dig tonight against India.
He had a good series previously, not sure who against.
Got a 100 in the first session tonight.
Not sure if it is his first hundred.
An amazing batting innings statistically, 2 guys scored 150+ and there were 6 ducks! The partnership of 303 between Brook and Smith made up over 75% of the England score. The other 9 wickets contributed 104. Smith does have at least 1 other test century, He reminds me a little of a right handed Adam Gilchrist. He will do well in Australia I think
Interesting game. India are in a dominant position with 2 days to go. Their lead is 244 but their quandry is when they should declare. How many runs is a safe lead? England have already said that they will go for any target that they are set so the Indian Captain will have to judge how many runs is enough while still giving his bowlers enough time to dismiss England. He will want to set England a minimum of 5 runs per over to win, so 450 on the last day, which you wouldnt write England off from getting given the way they bat
2 Likes
I did a quick number crunch, mikeh, and Smith and Brook scored an incredible 84% of England’s first innings of 407. India now leads by 412 with 57 overs remaining today and of course 90 tomorrow. If India keeps scoring at a run-a-ball for the next 23 overs, their lead will be 550 and England will potentially have 120-125 overs to chase this target down. Assuming they have sufficient wickets to do so, India could maybe set England 600 in, say, 110-115 overs (weather permitting).
1 Like
3/72 at stumps…will be a good test for Eng’s bazball…especially with Root gone, as he usually is the calming glue to it all…should be an intriguing last day’s chase…
Looking forward to watching the 3rd test at Lords. The series is beautifully poised at 1-1 and both sides will be strengthened by the return of some first choice bowlers, Bumrah for India and Atkinson/Archer for England.
@mikeh yes mate looking forward to watching day 5, late wickets last night for the poms has left this game in the balance, both sides will want to go 2-1 in front
Pant is the key here…a quick fire 50, and that run chase quickly shortens from over 100 to around 50…get Pant early and I can see India fold here for under 150. Looks like an intriguing chase for runs and wickets for both sides…game on as they say.
Fell 22 short after a good last wicket effort. Stokes bowled well but wonder if his body can hold up to bowl that many overs in each game
1 Like
If they can keep Archer fit he could really trouble the shaky Australian batting order this summer. A fantastic test match which demonstrated the fighting qualities of both teams
It is going to be very interesting to see just who mgets a berth in the Aussie team as a batsman.
Two new openers for sure. Green , after recovering from a slow start, is a lock.
Gee who would want to be a bowler in Eng these days…some of these test and county scores of late, are set up for batsmen to fill their boots, and the bowlers to look like pie throwers as the UK summer kicks in. Gone are the days where bowling in the UK was a bowlers safe haven.
Kudos to Root for test ton 38, the English champ edges past Ponting, with Sachin in his sights. Hopefully Root keeps filling his boots, and then the well runs dry, when he lands in Perth for the first test. His record in Eng is 2nd to none, not so in Aust, which is weird, considering the MCG and Adelaide roads produced on previous Ashes tours. 
Never scored a test ton in Oz, is that correct Freez?
Terry Alderman, Dennis Lillee, Bob Massie, Mick Malone, Glenn McGrath etc must thank their lucky stars they played on proper English pitches unlike the dry roads dished up for Root & co to feast on.
Having said that day 1 was overcast and perfect swinging conditions.
Its not just the tests where they are serving up roads. Have a look at some of the county scores that are being posted. One team scored 820 last week!
Having said that I think the ashes series is going to be a lot more competitive than the last few in Australia ( then again the only way for England is up)
It is shaping as Englands settled batting line up v Australias Champion bowling line up. On the other side of the coin we have Englands dodgy bowling line up v Australias dodgy batting line up.
Englands best seamer this summer has been Ben Stokes who is injury prone so it will be interesting to see how he goes on harder Australian pitches.
Anchorman, Joe Root has never made a test century in Australia. Its a blip in his record that he will want to correct this summer.
1 Like
Hopefully we deny him that.
Gee India have fallen away completely. After being out on the field for a day and a half watching England amass 669, they lost 2 wickets in the first over.An innings defeat looks inevitable, probably won’t need day 5. Surprising given India have been competitive for the first 3 tests even though down 2-1
they are Stuart Highways for a very good reason mate
England do not want India’s quicks getting greentops at any cost
they know they have more batsmen than India full well
Good to see India hold on for a solid draw only 4 down, and well done to them for not accepting the handshake with 15 overs left and allowing their two batters to get to 100 each. Clever tactic to keep the poms out there after the long day in the field knowing the next game starts in three days
2 Likes
Yeah well done to India. Ironical that England always bang on about respecting “the Spirit of cricket” and then proceed to behave in the childish, petulant , entitled manner that they did in the final 20 minutes of that game
2 Likes
Agree mikeh, spirit of the game my arse…kudos to Jadeja and Sundar on their tons…well deserved and Eng have only themselves to blame India 2/0, and then make another 400 + for the loss of only 2 wickets…another road for the batsmen to fill their boots…1400 runs for the loss 24 wickets says it all…17 centuries already scored in this series…10 - India…7 - Eng…and one test to go…