The Ashes – Third Test, Adelaide Day 4: At last but unfortunately least

 

 

AT LAST BUT UNFORTUNATELY LEAST

 

Day 4 dawned with South Australia still batting and a large crowd hoping for more of this largess.

 

Carey and Head continued on their merry way early in the day until Head (170) holed out in the deep.

 

The locals were bitterly disappointed as they were lusting for more blood in revenge for Les Favell and Geoff Noblet not playing more test matches.

 

When Carey(72) went to Stokes, his first wicket in this test, Australia tumbled losing the last 5 wickets for 20 runs.  Not that it mattered as the lead was well over 400.  What it did do was give net bowlers Carse 3 and Tongue 4 wickets to improve their average,

 

Hard to believe that Brydon Carse has taken more wickets than any of his team mates.  

 

Many pundits believed that England still had a chance on such a benign wicket. But that was snuffed out two balls into the innings when Cummins got Duckett (4) to edge one to the floppy hatted Marnus at slip.

 

Marnus too, a Smudge catch, when he dived hard left to take a snick from the Pope (17). Brilliant stuff and his eminence has no hope of being centre stage at the Cathedral, which is the ‘G’, next week.

 

You know Marnus could nearly get picked for his fielding and floppy hat alone.  He has not dropped a catch this series and has made some superb saves.  One can only wonder just how many runs he alone has saved.

 

Root And Crawley steadied the hip and the pundits were smiling. They were doing it comfortably and there was nothing for the fast bowlers after Cummins early two wickets.

 

But, as Albion as Albion has been in this series lost Root (39) and Brook (30) playing an atrocious shot to Lyon bowed.

 

If I want sweepers I go to the local council or home care people. I often wonder just how many runs are scored with the shot that was invented by the Maharajah of Connemarra late in the 19^th century?

 

Better still how many wickets have been taken and runs scored by the shot?  Thanks Rick Finlay who might be able to work this one out.

 

It was just typical of the way England have been playing throughout the series.

 

The other thing that I have noticed in the last two tests is that Mr Bazball himself has been sitting alone in the dressing room with his sun glasses on. I’ll let you take up that story.

 

Stokes (5) did get a ripper from Lyon who was now definitely on the line and he took the last three wickets to fall for the day.

 

One of whom was Zac Crawley who, up and till the time of his dismissal had played a masterly innings with, in particular, his handsome driving to the fore.

 

Again, with all the time in the world he went out of his crease to hit Lyon and was easily stumped. A very disciplined display for his 85 until that moment.

 

With 6 wickets down and Smith (1) and Jacks (11) still at the crease it would be a great victory if England can pull this off.  228 to go with four wickets in hand.

 

The Australian attack led to day by Cummins 3/24 and Lyon 3/64 is too formidable.

 

It will have only taken Australian 11 days to retain The Ashes which is probably a record in itself.

 

Main interest out there  now for the chooks is who will Australia drop to bring in Smudge and will they make other changes?  Green should be rested for mine and Webster to play for the first time this series.

 

Lord knows what the poms can do.  I have seen Michael Vaughan and his Lordship limbering up and David Lloyd looks like he could still wield the willow and heaven forbid the greatest fielder of all time Phillip Tufnell.

 

Look I know I m joking but this English team is probably the worst on record and their up-beat coach, who incidentally I always admired as a player, can only sit by his lonesome in the dressing room, feet up and glasses on.

 

Pondering his own future and the demise of Bazball perhaps?

 

 

Here is the link to espncricinfo website for the full scorecard.

 

 

More stories from Citrus Bob Utber can be read Here.

 

 

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