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I went to bed at "lunch" (01:30 UK time) with England cruising; and Cook & Carberry in total control. I then rose at 06:30 UK astonished to see Aussies 0-0 after the most abysmal England batting collapse. Then; seemingly no gremlins in the same 'drop in wicket' for the aggressive Oz openers despite a new cherry.
How did we allow Haddin and No. 11 Lyon to add 40 ? Even so; that was still a lead of 51; and then over 100 for no wicket. Can we blame this batting failure on Trott's absence at 3? How did we let a second rate dibbly doobly get a soft five-fer? Can these professionals play "too much cricket"? Have they eaten too much turkey (er......Fosters)? Exactly why did Swann retire mid series? Been away too long? What hope a miracle tomorrow?
We now need a 1981 Bob Willis performance with the ball; but without having had the inspiration of a Botham with the bat have today's bowlers the same appetite? Frankly; I expect to see a few more retirements at the series end as minds & bodies will be spend after spending part of almost every day of a series in the field.
Will see you all bleary eyed at WHCS tomorrow (remember the Victoria Inn is opening early for us at noon); as I guess I won't make my bed much before 04.00am tonight.....hoping for a miracle. But three points against Crewe and all will be forgotten.
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Spineless England on 10:53 - Dec 28 with 620 views
Another year; another late night; and another test.....
Went to bed at 'lunch'; Oz four down Woke up to see Stokes mop up the tail. So far so good......
In between; Rankin gets crocked (but how could he ever be match fit having not played for six weeks?); and Borthwick has been despatched to all parts of the SCG. Now we are 8-1 and a five -nil whitewash possible.
It just shows that making wholesale changes to selection and tactics doesn't necessarily alter things. It is a staggering statistic that after trapping Watson LBW at will during the summer only 18 balls have been bowled at his stumps in five tests in Oz. The 19th on target got him.
Now we are missing Root as a bowling option to ease the burden on Anderson; Broad and Stokes given Rankin's demise. I wonder if this could be Pieterson's chance with the ball?