3rd Ashes Test: Australia v England at Perth, Dec 14-18 2017

[The Mad Hatter]

I don't exactly know what I feel about this Marsh ton.

It's great he's crushing poms. Truly embarrassing them, which I love.

BUT...

I don't think this is the moment MMarsh arrived. I think he's determined to prove a point. But with a lot of sports persons of this era, they have one emotional outburst and succeed and can't or won't back it up. The dude's had plenty of chances too, which annoys me. Whose to say Joe Burns or Travis Head or Glenn Maxwell wouldn't have got a double ton up on this pitch?!? Far out, Paine or Cummins would have toned up.

There was a great segment on Roy and HG yesterday, where they scornfully mocked the state of the pitch and mocked Bairstow and Malan's first test tons as meaningless. It was hilarious but achingly true. They said how people were gleefully saying they were coming of age and that come Melbourne or Sydney, they'll be back to their usual plod, etc. Heaped scorn on the curator etc. That Marsh went out there and did would he did made me wryly chuckle all evening, thinking back to Roy and HG. Hell...I got home and told my wife about the segment before midday, before Marsh even made it to the crease, and she was laughing too saying imagine if Mitch goes bonkers and scores big and then CA will smile ear to ear with their "we were right so you can all go eat shit you trolls!".

I'm certain the selectors will tell themselves all is right with MMarsh at 6. But for mine, he now has to be this destructive at 6 a hellauva lot of the time now, or he doesn't justify his place. Destroying a limp, flailing...no...DYING...English bowling attack on a pitch even I think I could score a fifty on, doesn't really count for me.

But then again, WTF would I know!?!

On the positive, he did use those f**king massive levers to hit some delicious shots to the boundary. He did look unfazed and he did take on what was left of the attack. He needed to be there to get us to parity with Smith.

So as it stands, in this moment, I'm enjoying MMarsh destroying England. But one swallow does not make a summer...and I can see a return to plod.

And let's face it, the FIGJAM centre of the universe Brad Hodge got a double ton at the WACA and barely played another test.

 

[The Mad Hatter]

Forgot to add, the only way Smith will get out is if they bowl him a gimp ball.

 

[TheParraboy]

African poachers got him.

I think their names are Smith and Marsh

 

[hineyrulz]

I don't exactly know what I feel about this Marsh ton.

It's great he's crushing poms. Truly embarrassing them, which I love.

BUT...

I don't think this is the moment MMarsh arrived. I think he's determined to prove a point. But with a lot of sports persons of this era, they have one emotional outburst and succeed and can't or won't back it up. The dude's had plenty of chances too, which annoys me. Whose to say Joe Burns or Travis Head or Glenn Maxwell wouldn't have got a double ton up on this pitch?!? Far out, Paine or Cummins would have toned up.

There was a great segment on Roy and HG yesterday, where they scornfully mocked the state of the pitch and mocked Bairstow and Malan's first test tons as meaningless. It was hilarious but achingly true. They said how people were gleefully saying they were coming of age and that come Melbourne or Sydney, they'll be back to their usual plod, etc. Heaped scorn on the curator etc. That Marsh went out there and did would he did made me wryly chuckle all evening, thinking back to Roy and HG. Hell...I got home and told my wife about the segment before midday, before Marsh even made it to the crease, and she was laughing too saying imagine if Mitch goes bonkers and scores big and then CA will smile ear to ear with their "we were right so you can all go eat shit you trolls!".

I'm certain the selectors will tell themselves all is right with MMarsh at 6. But for mine, he now has to be this destructive at 6 a hellauva lot of the time now, or he doesn't justify his place. Destroying a limp, flailing...no...DYING...English bowling attack on a pitch even I think I could score a fifty on, doesn't really count for me.

But then again, WTF would I know!?!

On the positive, he did use those f**king massive levers to hit some delicious shots to the boundary. He did look unfazed and he did take on what was left of the attack. He needed to be there to get us to parity with Smith.

So as it stands, in this moment, I'm enjoying MMarsh destroying England. But one swallow does not make a summer...and I can see a return to plod.

And let's face it, the FIGJAM centre of the universe Brad Hodge got a double ton at the WACA and barely played another test.

Agree with this 100% Hatter, if Marsh was going to get test runs for Australia yesterday was the day. Good on him but i'm still not convinced on non roads when the opposition isn't already crying out for the trip home.

 

[The Mad Hatter]

Agree with this 100% Hatter, if Marsh was going to get test runs for Australia yesterday was the day. Good on him but i'm still not convinced on non roads when the opposition isn't already crying out for the trip home.

Try to imagine him on an English swinging green top, or a dust bowl in India needing to dance about.

I did. I chuckled.

But this is what it is. Perhaps horse for courses? And he plays just the WACA test. But I don't see that happening.

I was at a bowling club for 3rd session last night and they had it on big screen with type text. One commentator said a lot of England's problems can be attributed to Root's captaincy. Does anyone know which commentator said that? I'm thinking Chaps.

 

[Twizzle]

Pretty amazing batting effort from both guys.

As good as MM batted, its well known he is strong off the front foot but the amount of half volleys the poms kept dishing I found just hard to believe, its like they were feeding his strength when the ball was not seaming or swinging. Half volleys were never going to take wickets on this pitch.

Ordinary bowling and some very good patient batting. At this rate MM will overtake Smudger in the first session I reckon, he really is seeing them well although Smudger did say last night they may change their attitude this morning so after they settle in it may be go time.

 

[Fangs]

Steve Smith could go down as the clear greatest batsman since Bradman. But having said that his batting style is not particularly pleasant. It borders on ugly.

And yes of course it is better to average 60 while batting ugly than averaging 35 and looking nice. But I still wish watching him bat was a little easier on the eye.

Completely agree. The world's best and ugliest batsman.

He has hit a purple patch just as every Australian captain has since Steve Waugh. Ponting managed to average over 60 at some point. Would be amazing if Smith can keep it over that.

 

[Fangs]

I’m being serious, quote me on this later. Mitch Marsh is gonna belt the poms into oblivion. He will take 40-50 balls to settle in , then wooska. Pity I’m at work now.

Well played.

 

[AlwaysGreen]

Smudger is smudging it all over the smudger. I can see smudger being the greatest smudger in the history of smudging, a helluva smudger indeed.

 

[AlwaysGreen]

Tricky situation for Smith really. The poms can't win but they can still draw which means they can still hold onto the Ashes if they win in Melbourne and Sydney. So it is in Australia's best interest to go for the win rather than bat on and on and on.

 

[JW]

Jesus, I spend a day away from the Cricket and return to find the greatest all-rounder of the past 24 hours smashing his way towards a double. Taking a while to process.

 

[Pete Cash]

Great post by @The Mad Hatter

Its not that the waca is flat (it is) its the combination of a lot of things. The WACA has always been a dream to bat on once a bloke is set. Its got 4 of the 10 fastest centuries here. Its a small ground, very true bounce and a lightening quick outfield. Put a pitch with not a lot of sideways movement and its a batting dream

But also Marsh was batting with Smith who looked like it was impossible to get him out. Thats setting a great platform for a bloke. He knew what his role was and by the time smith was stuffed marsh could just bash some dingers and keep the scoreboard ticking over. It was the best possible batting conditions for Marsh. Even in his innings i have a few questions. He got himself into a position to be lbw a few times against moeen with cumbersome footwork. Id worry about a guy batting like that in asia. He plodded forward against anderson a few times. Id worry about a guy doing that in england or new zealand.

Still the bloke scored the runs so ill give him his due but one swallow doesnt make a summer.

 

[jargan83]

Just saw Shane Warne at the WACA and he looks hungover as f**k so something to look forward in commentary for you guys.

 

[Eelectrica]

Tricky situation for Smith really. The poms can't win but they can still draw which means they can still hold onto the Ashes if they win in Melbourne and Sydney. So it is in Australia's best interest to go for the win rather than bat on and on and on.

True, but how long can England last after being out in the sun for possibly 2 days? I doubt Bairstow can produce another innings like like that. Their tail is hopeless and can't won't stick around. Cooks wicket might as well be in the books already.

Weather is the X factor that they'll need to weigh up the most I feel. 4 sessions should be more than enough to knock England over. I doubt England will last a full 3 sessions.

 

[Mr Angry]

Anybody seen the field Vaughan would set for Smiffy?

 

[2 weeks]

http://www.news.com.au/sport/cricke...d/news-story/485582de1f627cef74b7a9fdbb2ec0d7

STEVE SMITH’S INCREDIBLE SERIES OF RECORDS

Almost peerless.Source:Getty Images

STEVE Smith’s innings at the Waca caused cricket statisticians to go into meltdown on Saturday.

Here a list of the records he set with his knock of 229 unbeaten on day three:

— Smith’s haul of 5786 test runs (at the time he was 229 not out) gave him the most test runs across any other batsman in cricket in their first 108 test innings. Sir Garfield Sobers previously held the record. Sir Donald Bradman only played 52 tests.

— He bettered his own previous high score in test cricket when he topped his knock of 215 against England at Lord’s in 2015.

— He is just the fourth player to score multiple double hundreds in Ashes tests.


— Smith brought up his 22nd test hundred in the third fewest number of innings out of every batsman in test cricket. Smith scored his 22nd Test century in just 108 innings, quicker than Sachin Tendulkar’s (114). Only Sir Donald Bradman (58) and Sunil Gavaskar (101) have scored 22 Test hundreds in fewer innings than the Aussie skipper.

— Smith has now scored 1000 runs in four straight calendar years — becoming just the second batsman ever to achieve such a streak. Matthew Hayden is the only other batsman to do it when he went five straight years with more than 1000 runs from 2001-05.

— Smith’s innings set a new record for the most runs scored by an Aussie against England at the Waca when he eclipsed Ian Redpath’s score of 171 in 1970.

— Smith became the second-quickest Aussie batsman to reach 22 test hundreds.

 

[mozza91]

Triple M shooting themselves in the foot. Would be happy to listen to Skull and Botham but changed the station as soon as I heard Brayshaw’s voice. How that cocksnap has a job is beyond me.

 

[Mr Angry]

As Bill Lawry (as the 12th man) would say, I want to boof him.

 

[Mr Angry]

Triple M shooting themselves in the foot. Would be happy to listen to Skull and Botham but changed the station as soon as I heard Brayshaw’s voice. How that cocksnap has a job is beyond me.

Victorians, they just know New South Welshman are superior.

So they made their game, for fargwits.

 

[2 weeks]

Just saw Shane Warne at the WACA and he looks hungover as f**k so something to look forward in commentary for you guys.

You should've asked him if he wanted a fish milkshake.