4th Test: Australia v England at Melbourne Dec 26-30, 2013

[derp]

England has a 50 run lead after the first innings

England are 0-60, get bowled out for 179

If England lose this game it will be an epic choke not even the stains could equal.

 

[Timbo]

The Proteas could.

 

[derp]

How pale is that pommy ranger in the kfc ad ?

 

[Mr Spock!]

It wouldn't surprise me to see a Sarfraz Nawaz (7/1) performance on this deck when the ball gets old.

 

[derp]

The deck looks pretty flat, It's been shit batting from both sides.

 

[derp]

Can anyone name a softer merkin other than Shane wazn in any other world class sport?

 

[Tonearm Terrorwrist]

How good was the decision to bowl first now? (what you say Timbo?)

Our bowlers get 2 extra days rest before the Sydney test, so 5 full days. Also if we end up batting first in Sydney and bat for well over a day and a half, its basically a full 7 days rest for our speedmen. Fcking brilliant Clarkey and that you England too

Lol epic whinging on the first morning of the test about bowling first. 3-0 up why not be aggressive and put the pressure on them? Their batting has been trash all series, they had the best conditions to bat in for the first time in the series and shut up shop midway through the second session :lol:

Win or lose Clarke's decision has been vindicated, if we have an epic collapse that we are capable of it's not the captains fault.

 

[Timbo]

If the series was in the balance, there is no way in hell Clarke bowls.

I want to play every test to win as though the series is on the line she me.

 

[Tonearm Terrorwrist]

If the series was in the balance, there is no way in hell Clarke bowls.

I want to play every test to win as though the series is on the line she me.

Think about it though, if we win this test bowling first then we'll psychologically ruin this team. There's no coming back from it. They can't hide from the fact that we flogged after winning the toss and batting first in the 3 previous tests. Clarke has told them that not only do we not rate their batting but we're prepared to bowl first with 2 fragile bowlers that could break down at any moment (one actually did) and another who is one bad over away from capitulating.

I see it as more of a statement than we've won the series lets just muck around. If England go down this will be their worst loss on tour IMO and will total enhance Australia's performance in the first 3 tests. This more of mental disintegration that batting first for 2 days would have been.

I bet you Lehmann had this planned in his "perfect series" fantasy.

 

[Timbo]

I completely get it, I really do.

I just prefer to play every game as though it's in the balance.

 

[TheParraboy]

Lol epic whinging on the first morning of the test about bowling first. 3-0 up why not be aggressive and put the pressure on them? Their batting has been trash all series, they had the best conditions to bat in for the first time in the series and shut up shop midway through the second session :lol:

Win or lose Clarke's decision has been vindicated, if we have an epic collapse that we are capable of it's not the captains fault.

Agree

I would have batted, but as you said they had the best conditions, which meant (hopefully) we would have scored a lot more had we got those conditions. But by bowling first also thought a good chance give our bowlers more rest before SCG test , I just wonder if that was Clarkes thought process as well? or one of them in deciding to bowl first? Hopefully one of the commentators can ask him

In Tubbys and Tuggers dominant sides, we would lose a lot of dead rubbers. So maybe turning things around a bit gives the side a new challenge ie bowling first

Either way poms have been woefull, let see how we go in South Africa, then we have India at home next summer, who I expect to be considerably better than their last tour

 

[RHCP]

Can anyone name a softer merkin other than Shane wazn in any other world class sport?

The Dugan.

 

[TheParraboy]

I completely get it, I really do.

I just prefer to play every game as though it's in the balance.

A dead rubber is a dead rubber, there is no way you get hyped up and prepare the same way as you do for a live test. That's why dominant sides of tubby and Tugger lost a lot of dead rubbers, despite claiming every test is important to win

 

[vvvrulz]

I actually thought it was a good decision to bowl first, on the basis that their batsmen were shot and it was a chance to capitalise on low confidence. It was an aggressive call and I like seeing that.

 

[undertaker]

A dead rubber is a dead rubber, there is no way you get hyped up and prepare the same way as you do for a live test. That's why dominant sides of tubby and Tugger lost a lot of dead rubbers, despite claiming every test is important to win

This.

No matter how hard you try, there just isn't the same level of motivation to lift yourself for a dead rubber. Not to say that Australia don't want to win this series 5-0, but their motivation just to win the series before it started (after losing the last 3 Ashes series) is many times greater than winning 5-0, which would be seen as a bonus in addition to having already won the series.

 

[undertaker]

Australia aiming to be the first team since 1962 to chase down 200+ in the 4th innings of an MCG test match.

 

[benched tiger]

At the moment i think our boys saviour every victory and chance to win considering the lean trot they had before this ashes series.

 

[BunniesMan]

A dead rubber is a dead rubber, there is no way you get hyped up and prepare the same way as you do for a live test. That's why dominant sides of tubby and Tugger lost a lot of dead rubbers, despite claiming every test is important to win

There are no more real dead rubbers like back in the days of Tubby and Tugger.

Rankings matter. We want to play in the test championship don't we?

 

[undertaker]

Anyone know the depth of these drop in wickets?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DyfJ51_Fxoc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifcW_qz0SAQ

 

[Red Bear]

The deck looks pretty flat, It's been shit batting from both sides.

I sort of agree, but I think this understates how good the bowling was, especially the first innings.

What is also obvious is whilst there isn't alot in the pitch, it's not great for batting either. Slow with the ball not really coming on to the bat, which makes it a bit tougher. Combo of disciplines bowling and fielding and that pressure has caused alot of the eventual shit shots.

Well done Lyon