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Maxwell 150 or so not out. A masterpiece in timing. I can see him playing in the 2nd test especially given our limp batting performance today. I think all the brash Aussie talk is now finished as they realise that England may well be heading for a 1- 0 lead in the series unless Smith and co can do something special.

Beasley Hutton wrote: Stokes will be out soon and he will swing the series the Poms way unfortunately.
England to win the series and retain the Ashes 3-1.

I did try and warn you all having seen the Poms first hand a few weeks back at the WACA.
We are a very ordinary cricket side at present nowhere near the sides of the past and currently have the poorest assembled Australian batting line up since the late 70s when the World Series players all left and we had the likes of Peter Toohey, Ian Davis, Rick Darling, Craig Serjeant, Dav Whatmore, Julian Weiner et al in our top order!

Middle order is digging in a bit at mo.

But personally I don't know what all the Oz hype was , pretty ordinary outfit tbh.

Bazza wrote: Middle order is digging in a bit at mo.

But personally I don't know what all the Oz hype was , pretty ordinary outfit tbh.

Baz hope I don't put the Mozz on Shaun Marsh.But he's looking ok just hit 30 runs.Just Scored a nice boundry.

Beasley Hutton wrote:

Beasley Hutton wrote: Stokes will be out soon and he will swing the series the Poms way unfortunately.
England to win the series and retain the Ashes 3-1.

I did try and warn you all having seen the Poms first hand a few weeks back at the WACA.
We are a very ordinary cricket side at present nowhere near the sides of the past and currently have the poorest assembled Australian batting line up since the late 70s when the World Series players all left and we had the likes of Peter Toohey, Ian Davis, Rick Darling, Craig Serjeant, Dav Whatmore, Julian Weiner et al in our top order!

Hold your horses BH I reckon we've still got two world class batsmen at the crease and a strong tail to come. I do wish Neville was coming in next rather than this show pony Paine though ( I do hope Paine makes me eat my words)

I call him a show pony Anchor because 1: he doesn't even keep at shield level
2: he has already muffed a couple chances this test, 3: his first class record is suspect
But by jeez I hope he makes me look like an idiot! Fantastic game of cricket so far love seeing runs hard to come by and come on SOS and Smitty

Me thinks England has botched it, although that will not become totally clear until the end of tomorrow's play. It will come down to whether they can bat for a day and and a half to save the match. If England can save the match, I think, as BH has suggestted, England, will keep the Ashes.

A fascinating match so far. England have had us on toast twice today and both times have let us back into it. The first was when they were 4 - 250 an hour before lunch and had blunted the new ball. At that stage they were heading for 400, but instead lost 6 -52.
The second time was when they had us 4 - 76 but then Smith and Marsh brought us back into it and it appeared the pitch was becoming more benign as the day progressed.
As it stands at stumps the game is evenly poised in my view. If Smith and Marsh can double their current partnership and both score tons then there is enough batting left in the shed for Australia to get a decent lead and put some second innings pressure on the English batsmen. Alternatively if England can make some early inroads they may still be able to get a 50 -100 run first innings lead which then puts them in the ascendancy. Delicately balanced.
There were also some standout performances in the shield today headlined by Maxwells 213 against a 2nd string NSW attack, Mitch Marsh 141, Travis Head 80 not out in a team total of 140 and Jackson Bird taking a 5 wicket haul for Tasmania. Will be interesting to see how Matt Renshaw goes at the WACA tomorrow up against Jason Berhendorf and Co

TBH Anchor with Aust batting lineup one can never have Aust noses in front....even if Starc goes bezerk tomorrow and skittles the English, anything over 100 and Anderson et al will fancy their chances.

Fantastic captains,knock by Smith also well done to Marsh and Cummins for providing their skipper with some batting support.....as you say big 1st session tomorrow.....saying that both sides have struggled to score quickly....be interested to see Eng tactics tomorrow.....Aust just need to get Eng out fast and for not too many.....Root is a class act, hopefully Starc can rattle his helmut again....

anchorman wrote:

Tiger of old wrote: I call him a show pony Anchor because 1: he doesn't even keep at shield level
2: he has already muffed a couple chances this test, 3: his first class record is suspect
But by jeez I hope he makes me look like an idiot! Fantastic game of cricket so far love seeing runs hard to come by and come on SOS and Smitty

He doesn't keep at shield level.He would have if Wade had not gone to Tassie.
In my humble opinion he is still the best glove man in the country.
Muffed a COUPLE!!!!!,I reckon I have seen one .Let's not tamper with the truth TOO.
I hope like hell that he proves you and many other wrong as well.

Why doesn't he keep ahead of Wade at Tasmania? Yet he is the Australian keeper? Explain that to me Anchor because I don't get it.
He missed a catch off Lyons bowling and he also missed a tickle down leg side, a tough one, but that = a COUPLE