And the Murrindindi wine goes to Chris Weaver for this comment: “The weather intervenes and stumps are called on Monday evening (GMT) with England having got the better of a drawn game.” The game was called off at 4.39pm local time due to rain. Further correspondence welcome if you feel you have been hard done by.
All comments welcome. And you can subscribe to the Murrindindi Vineyards newsletter here.
Watson
Rogers
Khawaja
Hughes
Clarke
Smith
Haddin
Siddle
Harris
Lyon
Bird
Swann & Panesar will spin Australia out by the 18th over, 1st session day 4.
Watson
Rogers
Khawaja
Clarke
Warner
Smith
Haddin
Agar
Siddle
Harris
Lyon
Watson will have to be the third “quick”. The pitch will take spin.
Australia will win the toss, bat and in no time be 3 for. say thirty. England will be batting in the last session.
All over by the end of the last session day three, England by an innings and fifty.
Swann to take last wicket in 65th over of Australia’s second innings they having scored 156, following their 176 in the first dig.
Warner must play
Watson
Rogers
Warner
Clarke
Smith
Haddin
Agar
Siddle
Harris
Lyon
Bird
Finish – day 5 1st session. 25th over.
Like Dips’ team.
Negativity from all is depressing. Cmon Aussies!! Find something.
Just before drinks on the 2nd session of Day 4.
Sorry Dip, can’t agree with one less batsman when our batting has let us down so far. If you have Smith and Clarke and even Warner who can all spin the ball to the slips of the right hander, do you make them back up Agar who spins the same way, or Lyon as an alternative offie? I think our poor batting means we can’t afford an extra bowler unless Agar was experienced enough to perhaps risk batting at 6 as a genuine all rounder (but he’s not yet). I think maybe Warner’s near double hundred warrants his recall (on form only – off field misdemeanour’s is another debate). So for what it’s worth to contribute to the discussion, this is my thought on the line up.
Watson
Rogers (If they were plucking a ringer out, why not Brad Hodge?)
Warner
Hughes
Clarke (should be at 4)
Smith
Haddin
Siddle
Harris
Lyon
Bird
If Australia wins the toss and bats first, we can win or draw this test. I’m going to be positive and say that some of these guys will come through but it’s hard to immediately replace Ponting and Mr Cricket, just as it took a while to adjust to the loss of Warne & McGrath. I think Khawaja might make it but best to leave him out of this one, as the pitch is untried (ever) but is sounding like a turner to suit Swan.
TG – this is not about who I like, its about who they’ll select.
I’d like to see S Warne playing on this pitch.
Khawaja probably stiff if he doesn’t play. They may go for Khawaja as another batsman and leave out Bird. I could understand that. Can’t rely on Smith to bowl a lot; especially if he’s got Clarke’s back complaint. Therefore Agar plays.
We need to bowl them out, not just hope on making runs. Therefore load up the bowling attack. We can’t do that with a multitude of spinning hacks/part timers.
Same as Luke. Change in batting order to get me the liquorice. Batting well in Zimbabwe does not translate to form in England. So even if we leave aside the attitude (which I can’t), so Warner can’t play. Watson lucky. Agar or Bird? I’ll go Bird as stump-to-stump bowling can be v effective on a wearing deck. Match end Day 5, second session just before tea.
1. Rogers
2. Watson
3. Khawaja
4. Clarke
5. Hughes
6. Smith
7. Haddin
8. Siddle
9. Harris
10. Lyon
11. Bird
Bizarrely, the less ‘batsmen’ we choose the better off we might be.
Letter to the Ed. in Sydney Morning Herald today ” If Australia wins the toss they should elect to go home .” I read recently Clarke and Watson got (I wouldn’t say “earned”) $5.5 mill. and $4.5 mill respectively last year. Time to put them on performance -based pay i reckon. Meanwhile the Australian Women’s cricket team is ranked no. 1 in the world in all 3 forms of the game and is off to England tomorrow to defend the Ashes won in 2011. Performing much better than the men , and a helluva lot cheaper.
Watson
Rogers
Khawaja
Clarke
Warner
Smith
Haddin
Agar
Siddle
Harris
Bird
Day 5, 1st session, 21st over
I’m pumping for 2 spinners on a dustbowl; hoping we bat first and bowl last. I think there is a chance we might play only 2 quicks and play either Wade or Warner as batsmen. Just doubt we will do that with the Harris injury record, and Watson is hardly a reliable backup for the same reason. I think Smith only has brief surprise value as a bowler. If we can’t make runs with 5 batters and Haddin, and extra is hardly likely to add much. I reckon we are a silly chance – but only if we win the toss.
Watson
Rogers
Khawaja
Clarke
Smith
Haddin
Agar
Siddle
Harris
Lyon
Bird
Here we go:
Watson
Rogers
Kwahja
Hughe
Clarke
Warner
Haddin
Agar
Siddle
Harris
Lyon
In light of it having those mysterious grey patches, with the possibility of it breaking up, let’s try 2 spinners. Then again there’s talk of rain being forecast for the third day and beyond, so the pitch might not prove the turner some of us fear it is. A draw would satisfy me !
Glen!
Batting order:
Rogers
Watson
Khawaja
Hughes
Clarke
Smith
Wade
Siddle
Harris
Lyon
Bird
Match will finish Day 5 final session, 92nd over. Siddle clean bowls Anderson middle stump out of ground.
Haddin’s keeping has been poor, he has cost us runs and wickets. Time Wade came back into the side.
The weather intervenes and stumps are called on Monday evening (GMT) with England having got the better of a drawn game.
Steve Smith plays, but Warner replaces Hughes.
Pietersen doesn’t play and is replaced by James ‘Fire and Rain’ Taylor.
Warner is embroiled in a sledging furore, while Watson manages NOT to be dismissed lbw in either innings.
Chris Rogers makes a couple of capable starts, but fails to kick on to a big score. Anderson and Swann are the bowlers who dismiss him.
Peter Siddle takes seven wickets during the match, while Nathan Lyon takes three.
Rogers
Watson
Khawaja
Clarke
Warner
Smith
Haddin
Agar
Siddle
Starc
Harris
Can’t afford to have two specialist spinners – Smith and to a lesser extent Warner or even Clarke can “hold up an end”. We have demonstrated we need to make more runs so we need to bolster the batting – not bowling. The end? I reckon morning session on Day Four 67th over – another victory and the Ashes to the poms
Watson, Rogers, Khawaja, Warner, Clarke, Smith, Haddin, Siddle, Harris, Lyon, Bird.
Draw due to weather with England marginally in front.
Righto…..
Watson
Rogers
Khawaja
Clarke
Warner
Haddin
Agar
Siddle
Harris
Lyon
Bird
Not sure whether Smith will play, but if he does, then he will play instead of Agar. Hughes had to go and we need to play two spinners, so it’s either Agar or Smith.
If we win the toss, we’re a chance to take it into the middle of day 5, especially with rain forecast. So give that it’s going to rain and we lose the toss (and we are 0/2), I reckon it’ll be all over by over 81 on day 4 with Clarkie to rupture a tear duct at the post match presser.
Cheers
Stuart
My real selection is same as Haiku Bob, so in the interest of a bag of liquorice, let’s open with Warner!
Watson
Warner
Khawaja
Clarke
Hughes
Smith
Haddin
Agar
Siddle
Harris
Bird
Test to be all over day 5 first session. England win by 8 wickets
Rogers
Warner
Khawaja
Clarke
Smith
Haddin
Agar
Starc
Lyon
Siddle
Bird
Day 4
Third session
Over 17
Good article on Cricinfo by Michael Jeh about the dilemmas of life success and competitive success in the professional sporting world. He uses Ashton Agar as the example for his argument, but the discussion is probably more relevant to AFL/NRL given the scandals of recent months.
http://www.espncricinfo.com/blogs/content/story/656711.html
These glib American slogans like “Whatever It Takes” may be good for whipping up on-field success, but they hardly reflect a balanced life.
We talk of players as role models, maybe we should be asking whether Cricket Australia or some of our football clubs are model corporate citizens – or just another ‘greed is good’ example of dubious morality.
Watson
Rogers
Khawaja
Clarke
Smith
Warner
Haddin
Siddle
Harris
Lyon
Bird
England win day 4, over 71
Watson
Rogers
Khawaja
Clarke
Warner
Smith
Haddin
Agar
Siddle
Harris
Bird
Australia gondi by the 65th over, 10h over, last session day 4.
Sorry, I meant 10th over, last session on day 4.
It’s sunny in Manchester. This thing will be over inside four days with the cool kidz of the Australian XI bored by day three. England shortly before tea on day four (54th over).
Watson
Rogers
Kawaja
Warner
Clarke
Smith
Haddin
Agar
Siddle
Harris
Bird
Day 5 in the last half an hour of the morning session
We can do it! Aussies to win on last day .Third session Cheers Maroons
Australia to bat first and win 10 minutes before tea on the last day on a raging turner. Watto makes 98 and 43 and takes 7 wickets for the match bowling cutters on a low, slow track. Man of the Match.
Make my next one a double bartender.
I don’t have any opinion (useful of not) on the team selection – neither who should be chosen, nor who will be.
My guess as to when the match might conclude is likely to prove equally well-informed.
I’m going with 10 minutes beyond scheduled stumps on day 4, when the umpires extend play to allow the final wicket to fall or the final few runs to be knocked off. I’d expect an England victory.
I’m not too concerned if they are swapping Hughes for Warner – like types I guess with Warner a much better bet. Either he opens to drop Rogers to 3 (his county spot) or else put him down at 5, with Khawaja at 3, and let him show if he has the gears to go or whoa.
Australia to win! on day 5 first session 16th over just into 2nd hour
Watson
Rogers
Kawaja
Clarke
Warner
Smith
Haddin
Agar
Siddle
Harris
Bird
Redpath
McCosker
I. Chappell
G. Chappell
R. Edwards
Walters
Marsh
Walker
Mallett
Lillee
Thomson
Australia by lunch on day 4 in a hand-canter.
Wine’s the prize for picking when the test will end right? Rightio then. Fifth day, first session, 25 mins before lunch.
As for guessing the Aussie team, raffle ’em.
Cheers
Won the toss, batting first but still looks like a dodgy pitch.
Anyway better effort expected so finish on Day 5, second session, over niumber 35
Have a crack guys – lots of fans depending on you
Dropping Agar is a disgrace. Lyon and Starc couldn’t bowl a hoop downhill. Where is Bird/Faulkner??
Aussies to win on 5th day, first session 15 overs in.
C”mon boys, we can do it.
All right the Indians are right. Lets get rid of DRS except for run outs. Maybe stumpings. The practical application of LBW and catches is a joke. All it adds is TV commentator fodder.
Give it back to independent umpires – ALL THE TIME – and take the rough with the smooth. Or the umpires may as well just be mobile hat stands and let the TV call EVERYTHING.
By the way, Watto should never open again. He plants his foot too early and shifts his weight, so he is locked in for late ball movement. He is gone as soon as he gets late movement. He has to attack because he is an accident waiting to happen when he defends. He only opens because of his political campaigning, based on his flat track record in limited overs.
Never again opening. I’ve had enough of the lunatics running the asylum. But he is still a handy attacking 5/6 in tests with his bowling.
Peter B
Is it just my imagination, or is your Avatar getting redder?
The sooner this footy/cricket season is over for you, the better I reckon.
At least our mighty Victorian opener is still going strong at lunch.
Love from the east coast :)
Look MOC at least we’ve got another decent red blooded West Australian in Ross Edwards coming in next. Then Marsh, Mallett (really a Sandgroper just like Rogers) and Lillee. So we’ll be ok.
MOC-I am looking for you and Mr Fithall and Mr Dowsing to be in prime booing form on Sunday. I got in first with a Tony Award winning performance for lead booer in a musical at Subi a few weeks back – but I am sure you Magpies can get up a decent “HOOOOOOOOOOOOOO…………………………………..” on Sunday. The Captain Formerly known as a Brownlow Medallist will be back from drug rehab so I expect to even hear Haiku Bob booing from Sweden.
As for my avatar, I try to keep him off the Shiraz – but as Tom Waits sang “the piano has been drinking”. Cheers.
Love your work, PB.
Almost went for W. Edwards to open with Redpath.
But thought we needed someone to come out with his head all bandaged up, so well is the series going.
Actually, on second thoughts, maybe I should have gone for A Selwood.
No booing from me on Sunday. Innocent until proven Schwarzenegger.
Cab Sav, from Thornbury.
By the way, how come the Pommie bowlers are using a giant Body of Christ as their run up marker?
Body of Christ?
Amen.
MOC, it’s because a chalice would be too obtrusive and may cost five runs.
MOC – Australian top order:
A Selwood
J Selwood
S Selwood
At least we’d get plenty of generous decisions from the umpires for a change.
SERIOUS PREDICTION: Whoever can get Adam Selwood as a coach should grab him. Classic Sheedy/Malthouse street smart rat cunning defender who has got every penny out of his body and ability. Smart as a whip; speaks well and a genuine person.
Will be a premiership coach in 10 years (after he has got the Ashes back for us).
The Test will go the full 5 days until stumps.
When will cricket administration learn? Get rid of the review system. Its a blight. And the AFL should do the same with goal reviews.
The Indians are right – no review. Let the umpire decide. Its part of the fabric of every sport.
Smoke
The comeback is all down to your presence, of course.
See if you can break into that big red mail box, and give us a wave from the balcony.
A draw, I think. both teams may regret not taking in 2 spinners. Swann was getting turn early on day 1. Cmon Aussies, get 450 and knock some heads off!
PS: ugly ground. What’s with the red?
Dips,
The umpire gave it out.
Get rid of Matt Prior’s appeals!
Crio – correct. So what’s the point of the review system if the technology can’t differentiate a howler like that? Its like a lead weight.
Matt Prior appeals more times than the Salvos. Disgraceful.
Greg Baum is right to tweet that the: “trouble with DRS protocol re Khawaja is that third ump was being asked to conclusively prove a negative.”
That’s the problem, in this case.
Overall the DRS decision protocol has resulted in some clangers being overlooked and some clangers being corrected. End result = some clangers still occur (for & against each team; one hopes that they will balance out over the course of a 5 Test series). But importanly, another result of the DRS decision protocol is that field umpires have their status & confidence undermined.
This is the sinister aspect of the system, that I fear will affect junior and suburban cricketers and supporters. It’s hard to go back to: The umpire is always right and respect for the office.
Well, it was a stupid and/or gutless decision by the 3rd umpire. You’re not just there to act as a technician in an editing suite (computer says no).
However, please, please don’t use these errors, no matter how glaring, as a reason to abandon the whole process, if for one reason only: at last, the DRS system protects left-handed batsmen from being given LB from balls pitching outside (their) leg stump.
For over a century umpires have given it – just ask Justin Langer, who nearly lost a great career because of a string of them – because, I’m convinced, in their mind’s eye, the ball pitched outside the off stump (of the standard issue right-handed batsmen who weren’t occupying the crease at the time).
The number of times you hear commentators, afflicted by the same delusion, saying “that’s plumb” only to withdraw sheepishly when the camera shows that the ball pitched inches outside the line of the left-hander’s leg stump, bears witness to the effect.
It’s certainly convinced me that I was never really out LBW in my long, absolutely undistinguished, career as a determined but weaponless left-hand opener.
Red is the colour of Lancashire’s rose,
It is also the colour of Emirates, which has it’s name splashed about all over Old Trafford.
@TruckerSlim: C’mon Aussie c’mon, c’mon! #theashes
Aussies 500, Starc 50 and from a 4 mind you, and it’s Tea. Game’s over. We did tell the Poms it was first to 500 didn’t we? #theashes
I know nobody asked, but I think we need a Test team of verbs:
COOK
BOYCOTT
ROOT
TROTT
GRACE
ENGINEER
SLEEP
FRY
MARSHALL
GARNER
WARNE
Time for bed.
Clarke misses out on a double ton. For those who don’t read the (highly-recommended) Guardian online – a trivia question. Who is the last Australian player to score 200 outside Australia ? Hint : he’s not a recognised batter. Hint 2 : he’s the coach of Yorkshire. Answer : Jason Gillespie. Funny game cricket (cliche) So lucky we won the toss this time (truism)
Interesting that Lyon has very much quickened up his bowling action. And seems to have lengthened his delivery stride, resulting in less over spin & bounce. Not sure this is a good thing. Good session again for us though. Harris and Siddle have bowled well. Starc lucky to get Cook with a poor delivery.
Great team of verbs MOC. I’m sure there are a million more but can I nominate Hookes as 12th man.
Agree with Luke re Lyon. Give the Poms Lyon (or Agar) and us Swann and the series would look very different, as would the pitches presented. When Lyon came in as a green and naive spinner his biggest assets were his temperament and his flight. He’s lost the latter and the selectors and his own form have placed a heap of pressure on the former.
Rain
Aussies can’t take a trick. They were more worried about weather last night which impacted on their bowling and batting. A full day tonight may give us a chance. Doubtful.
This is driving the nation nuts.
The skipper! Noooooo. 3/22.
not out
Next….might become part of the vernacular…”need a Joe”
God I love DRS. Its so much more interesting than cricket. I’ll bid a Khawaja and trade you for a Pietersen.
Huge wicket, KP was looking ominous. Even the DRS evens out in the long run it seems. Siddle keeps on standing up.
Pietersen dismissal? Remember hot spot is only a tool: it is not 100% conclusive. Wow, series might go 2-1! But I just checked radar … rain is on the way!!@!!!
T Bone, hot spot and Pietersen are both tools!
MOC,
Jack Crapp.
Big omission.
And then there are the aptronyms such as David Hookes.
Gareth Batty and Arthur Fielder both played for England
PJF – I think we should go quiet on aptronyms on a website managed by John Harms and Paul Daffy.
Stephen Cooke seems pretty safe.
I’ve just been entering the surnames of some Almanac contributors into Urban Dictionary.
Makes for hilarious reading.
Bloody rain… in the heyday of Empire they said “God is an Englishman.” Could be worse though – the French came close to colonising this place first ;if they had we’d be playing boules.
Bloody rain … in the heyday of Empire they said “God is an Englishman.” Seems enough of them still believe it.
Whoops … thought that first bit had vanished and made the second attempt less wordy … how embarrassing , sorry.
KP out. he hit it. Wanker.
Rain robbed us. We had em on toast.
Bugger