4th Ashes Test: Australia v England at the MCG, Dec 26-30 2017

[Eelectrica]

England to come up with some mystery injury for Broad - Pulled heartlidge sounds about right. The bloke over here is as scary as Mitchell Pearce in the halves for NSW is to QLD. He'd probably still be effective on the green grass of English pitches though.

Even if Overton can't make it I'd probably look at replacing Broad anyway. England might as well give another bowler a try, couldn't do any worse.
Guess they're not bringing Stokes into the side now.
Play Ali as a bat and bring the other spinner in to the side for experience. Could salvage something out of it.

Cook to announce retirement and Sydney his last test.

 

[2 weeks]

https://www.foxsports.com.au/cricke...l/news-story/009a5bb849f13afbecf5e0562298a6f0

Mitchell Starc desperate to avoid more Boxing Day heartache over bruised heel

 

[WaznTheGreat]

England would win this Ashes 7-3 if it were a 10 match series

 

[2 weeks]

https://www.foxsports.com.au/cricke...n/news-story/6c6bf3009ea9b245b797711674cefa81

Australian captain Steve Smith takes another step closer to Sir Donald Bradman

AUSTRALIAN captain Steve Smith has moved a step closer to Sir Donal Bradman’s highest ever rankings points following his 239 in the WACA Test.
According to the International Cricket Council (ICC) system that also recognises players achievements before the organisation was formed, Smith is on 945 points, equal in second place with England great Sir Len Hutton.

The right-hander is within 16 points of Bradman’s 961 points and by the time the Boxing Day Test begins he will have sat atop the current list for two years.

Smith’s innings in Perth allowed him to gain seven points after he had dropped from 941 to 938 in Adelaide. But his WACA masterclass saw him leapfrog Peter May, Ricky Ponting and Jack Hobbs into equal second place with Hutton.

The captain’s Test batting average of 62.32 is second only to Bradman’s with at least 20 innings, while his 918 points over the past year is 25 more than Virat Kohli.

Bradman achieved the remarkably high ranking during the final year of his Test career in the summer of 1947/48. Scores of 185, 13, 132, 127*, 201 and 57* against India propelled the master to 961 ranking points.


Four batsmen who played in the Perth Test moved up to career-high positions on the ICC rankings, with Dawid Malan leaping 47 spots to 52nd, while Mitch Marsh is now the 44th best batsman in the world after beginning the match in 65th.

English keeper Jonny Bairstow moved up one place to 15th courtesy of his first innings ton, while Usman Khwaja went up two places after compiling a neat half century in his only dig.

Batsmen (top 10)

1 ( - ) Steve Smith Aus 945 (Highest rating: 945)

2 ( - ) Virat Kohli Ind 893 (Highest rating: 895)

3 (+1) C. Pujara Ind 873 (Highest rating: 888)

4 (+1) Kane Williamson NZ 855 (Highest rating: 893)

5 (-2) Joe Root Eng 852 (Highest rating: 917)

6 ( - ) David Warner Aus 801 (Highest rating: 880)

7 ( - ) Hashim Amla SA 795 (Highest rating: 907)

8 ( - ) Azhar Ali Pak 755 (Highest rating: 787)

9 ( - ) D. Chandimal SL 743! (Highest rating: 743)

10 ( - ) Ross Taylor NZ 739 (Highest rating: 871)

 

[AlwaysGreen]

Softcock pom Michael Atherton having a whinge.

http://www.nospam47.com/au/cricket/...rous-bowling-ashes/1ssos8e6uuiae13rvigzvyk43d

Former England batsman Mike Artherton says umpires haven't been doing enough to protect England's batsmen from the vicious Australian pace attack.

With a crushing defeat in Perth earlier this week, England relinquished the Ashes with two Tests still to play.

Atherton, who played 115 Tests for England in a 12 year career, says the Aussie pace attack adopted a 'bodyline' style approach to England's tailenders.

"Law 41.6.1 on the bowling of dangerous and unfair short-pitched deliveries is clear," Atherton wrote in The TImes.

"'The bowling of short-pitched deliveries is dangerous if the bowler's end umpire considers that, taking into consideration the skill of the striker, by their speed, length, height and direction, they are likely to inflict physical injury on him/her. The fact that the striker is wearing protective equipment shall be disregarded.'

"Test cricket or not, the Law and the playing conditions are there to protect batsmen incapable of protecting themselves.

"Cricket is an odd game in that it has three distinct disciplines and, within that, you have the unusual situation where someone who is totally useless in one area, can face a world-class performer in another - with potentially harmful consequences.

"Batsmen who cannot bowl are not required to bowl to great players, but the opposite is obviously the case - precisely why the Law is framed as it is, as built-in protection for the incompetent.

"No one wants to see the game sanitised, but the Law is there for a reason. The umpires should make use of it."

The third Ashes Test will take place at the MCG on Boxing Day.


Surely he's taking the piss. Learn to bat softcocks.

 

[mozza91]

Whinging Poms gonna whinge.

 

[Twizzle]

I bet the poms wish they had a bowling attack that was capable of bowling fast and short.

 

[TIGER14]

Is Anderson still ready for a broken f**kin arm?

 

[Eelectrica]

Good article Athers. Would laugh again.

 

[The Mad Hatter]

It's like having ya mum hanging over the fence screeching : "Don't hurt my boy. DON'T HURT MY BOYYYYYYY!!!!"

It'ssoooo f**king pathetic.
Same as Panesar saying the Aust Press are being mean. Ffs.

Aust got 60 un England. Bet their press had a field day.

 

[The Mad Hatter]

Like Metallica would say, when it comes to the poms, and a pace barrage... Kill 'Em All.

Plus Jimmy Anderson is one of the biggest merkins to ever grace the game.

This is the same sook who said he'd never tour Australia again after 2006/07.

But kept coming back...

 

[East Coast Tiger]

Anderson on radio saying take Starc, Haze and Cummins out of the Aussie side and Australia would be in shit.

Where do you even begin?

 

[hineyrulz]

Not only are they the worst Pommy team to tour in over 20 years they are the biggest bunch of sooks as well.


Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah it’s not fair, and they are mean as well.

 

[hineyrulz]

Plus the merkins got 3 f**king flat roads to bat on.

 

[The Mad Hatter]

Lol @ Jimmy.

Jim-mah.

f**king comedic gold.

Australia probably lacked some motivation to knock off the Lions in two dead rubbers. Now it will be Faster Pussycat Kill Kill.

 

[The Mad Hatter]

Take out Ambrose, Walsh and Bishop...

Take out Lillee and Thommo...

Take out Akram and Younis...

Take out Hadlee...

Take out Merv and Alderman 1989 lol...

f**k me Jimmy makes me laugh. How does he stand upright without a skerrick of spine?

 

[King hit]

Not only are they the worst Pommy team to tour in over 20 years they are the biggest bunch of sooks as well.


Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah it’s not fair, and they are mean as well.

The most incompetent useless Poms since the generals at Gallipoli

 

[jargan83]

I thyink Jimmy is still out of it from being roughed up by Patty at the WACA, I'm sure if you take out the best 3 bowlers out of any side and they'd be f**ked.

 

[hineyrulz]

Anderson on radio saying take Starc, Haze and Cummins out of the Aussie side and Australia would be in shit.

Where do you even begin?

That is one of the most geniused and idiotic things I have ever heard. Take 3 of the best quicks in the world out of any side and they will struggle.

The Windies of the 70’s and 80’s are about the only side in the history of cricket who could cover the loss of their 3 best quicks.

 

[King hit]

Just read Penasars comments about our media smashing their beloved team. He should stfu. I will never forget how cocky and ignorant all Poms were before they came here last time. I’ve been in England during an Ashes series and their press take any chance they get to knock our blokes and they do it brutally. Sooks can dish it but can’t take it.