The Cricket Thread

[Strike 7,478]

Bollocks. There was no need to stop play there

[Ankit 3,176]

Have to give it up to the umpires. Never seen such idiots on the field officiating! How can a ground with floodlights have bad light problem?

[BlueLion. 21,491]

People are talking about the rain saving England. The rain has saved Australia from a 3-0 loss, as far as I'm concerned. We have decimated them in their second innings so far; and Clarke knows well that he's lost his chance. He'll have to declare and try and bowl England out in what limited time there is tomorrow. Without the rain, I'd have backed my country to chase down the runs Australia post.

[Ankit 3,176]

England on the defensive and on the ropes here! I just hope rain doesn't interfere in what can turn out to be a great day for test cricket!!

[Ankit 3,176]

KP gone, this becomes interesting now!! Time for England to cry about DRS now!!

[NishC300 1,865]

People are talking about the rain saving England. The rain has saved Australia from a 3-0 loss, as far as I'm concerned. We have decimated them in their second innings so far; and Clarke knows well that he's lost his chance. He'll have to declare and try and bowl England out in what limited time there is tomorrow. Without the rain, I'd have backed my country to chase down the runs Australia post.

uh.... ru sure? U believe England can chase 300 odd runs on a day 5 pitch?

[BlueLion. 21,491]

Without the rain, absolutely.

[Ankit 3,176]

Without the rain, absolutely.

I beg to differ. Considering Cook's ultra defensive mindset, pretty sure he would have gone for a draw even if there was no rain.

[BlueLion. 21,491]

That's because Cook is too conservative a captain. He expected the game to be rained off, and for whatever time at the crease the batsmen should simply block out the overs. Now it looks like we'll get 60+ overs today, and instead of playing shots he is still intent on fending off hostile seam bowlers. He should be telling his troops to hang around and play shots when they can, not go gung-ho and try and play a t20 innings. Nevertheless, England should be attacking. Australia need 7 wickets, but England need 298 runs, which is achievable. Or should I say "was" achievable before three poor dismissals.

[Ankit 3,176]

I am not saying England should go all out as in a t20 but 35 runs in 20 overs. Are you kidding me? That's like when teams in football sit back and sit more deep and then concede a scrappy goal in the 85th min to lose the match!! All the confedence and momentum will be with Australia because they know English won't be doing anything. Clarke can attack all he wants now!!

[BlueLion. 21,491]

^ you're missing my point. I said before the start of the day's play, England knew they were going to bat. As you say, why just block all the way through? With 10 wickets in hand on a very good surface - a batting surface - a target of 332 is easily achievable if restraint and attacking nous are both on display. Instead Cook went out thinking he was going to block out 20 overs and the rain would come down. Not the right attitude at all.

[Ankit 3,176]

Absolutely with you on this!! Pathetic attitude by the captain and hence the team. But i would say it won't have been that "easy" to chase down 338. There are very few instances when teams have scored over 300 runs on the last day of a test match!! England haven't been an aggressive team under Cook, not just in this particular match but over all too in tests!!

[BlueLion. 21,491]

Absolutely with you on this!! Pathetic attitude by the captain and hence the team. But i would say it won't have been that "easy" to chase down 338. There are very few instances when teams have scored over 300 runs on the last day of a test match!! England haven't been an aggressive team under Cook, not just in this particular match but over all too in tests!!

I agree, I think it's a poor attitude to demonstrate. Michael Clarke would have gone out with intentions to win the game, or lose by trying - never to draw.

Fair point on the run-chase, but I think this is a beautiful batting surface. Australia aren't a good batting side but they've managed to amass 700 runs for the loss of just 14 wickets over two innings. There is still pace in the pitch, and with the ball becoming heavier and wetter it will become difficult for the Aussies to maintain this bowling brilliance.

Only the rain can save us now! It's like the Ashes series of old

[Strike 7,478]

I feel England will hold on

[NishC300 1,865]

Feel sorry for the Aussies. If luck had favoured the could easily have been 2-1 up in this series.