England are in complete control of the 1st Ashes test with Australia needing 412 runs to win across the last two days.
In recent series, the team that has controlled the first test has controlled the series. This does not bode well for the Aussies retaining the Ashes urn.
England have looked the better prepared team, they have a clear plan and are sticking to it. By contrast Michael Clarke changes things up almost every ball. The bowlers are clearly confused and the batsman have once again failed. The tail didn’t save them this time.
Pivotal moment – England were already on top before it took the second new ball early in the morning session courtesy of the predictable wicket of Shane Watson LBW and Nathan Lyon.
Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad made the new ball sing, hooping it both ways, cleaning up the the Aussie tail that has troubled them in the past inside five overs.
Compare that to how Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Johnson and Josh Hazelwood used the new ball immediately after and you get a good view of why England are cruising to victory. Yes they did have them 2/22 (appropriately after a tribute to the late Richie Benaud in the lunch break) but bowled too many loose balls from that point on to ease the pressure.
I am still worried about – Johnson. Lacked penetration with his bowling again. Did get Ian Bell and Moeen Ali out late in the day but just doesn’t look right to me. The ankle injury to Starc may save him for now but he needs to come back strongly at Lords.
What Australia needs on Day 4 – a miracle. The Aussie batsman need to bat sensibly, not give away their wickets and show some ticker that they have rarely shown in these situations in recent years. It starts at the top, Clarke and Steve Smith must show leadership and deliver in the hour of need.
What England needs on Day 3 – more of the same good bowling.
Today could be the last day of test cricket for – Watson and Brad Haddin. Watson almost needs a century to save his career. Looked lost at the crease yesterday morning and has barely bowled in this match. The team would be far better off with either of the Marsh brothers at No.6
Haddin cost the team 134 runs with his dropped catch of Joe Root in the first innings. His keeping was generally poor despite a couple of good catches off Lyon, he conceded 24 byes. His batting is no longer worthy of the No.7 spot. The time may have come for this great servent. Peter Nevil is a willing and able replacement.
What the – the Decision Review System has some obvious flaws. Relying on the umpire’s decision on line-ball calls is not a fair way to operate the system. In the morning session Watson was given out LBW. For once it was a fair review by Watson, Hawkeye showed the ball to be clipping leg-stump.
Hours later England opener Lyth was given not out in almost the same circumstance. The umpire gave it not out and Hawkeye showed the same amount of the ball to be clipping the leg stump just like Watson’s. Watson was clearly a victim of his history of getting out LBW.
In these line-ball cases where half the ball might clip a stump it should be not out regardless of the umpires decision. After all the benefit of the doubt going to the batsman has been a part of cricket since its inception.
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