My dear old things, it's STW TMS!

Good day for England there.

And credit where it's due, he deserves it. Just needs to reign it in for those wide balls.

Anyway 305/4 and three very tired Aussie quicks. Not such a bad day at the office 🙂

Good day for England but they need at least two more good days. Could be all out for 350 and I think they'll need at least 450.

Very good day with rain possible for 4&5, did what was needed on Day 1 at the Gabba, batted long and well, showed a lot of composure but also kept the scoreboard moving, the dodge spell was when the scoring was halted.

http://www.bom.gov.au/wa/forecasts/perth.shtml
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450 and taking out the morning and part of the next session is important, put the yards into the bowlers and get ready for some stop start cricket. David Warner will have a century out there unless he is very unlucky. If they are on par at the end of day 3 then we have a game.

ask me at lunch tomorrow.

According to TMS 350 is actually a decent score there in the first dig, if we can get past the nearly new ball and fresh bowling attack then we could well exceed that.

Alternatively, it could easily fizz a couple out, then we're in a tail that doesn't really fancy being the coconuts at a coconut shy, and the Aussies are chomping into the lead with relish against our attack that doesn't have the same threat on this sort of surface.

I have liked Malan since he first came into the side - and Stoneman too, for that matter.

They both seem pretty stoic and good team men. The issue with this is, of course, that being a team man doesn't score you runs. Gary Ballance can testify to that.

Good on him and Jonny Bairstow. Wouldn't it be even lovelier if the decision to flip Jonny and Moeen resulted in Moeen taking a tiring attack to the cleaners after a couple of hours tomorrow.

We need 450 minimum, but we need to be careful here - never try to pre-judge a game until both sides have batted once - fast but true wickets suit both the best attacking players (Warner) but also those with the iffy techniques who rely on hand-eye (Smith, Handscomb).

Still, its better than it was!

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-12-14/malan-the-man-as-england-takes-control-at-the-waca/9259840
The Aussie perspective.

I didn't get Friday on the pic but it's heading to 30 again out there, keeping the Aussies in the field is in the best interest of everyone there, 110-130 overs in it might not be fizzing past them as hard, especially if Ali has a good go at them.

For me this is really play to make sure a draw is very possible. Take it to them on Boxing day after rattling them here

Moeen taking a tiring attack to the cleaners after a couple of hours tomorrow.

Yes please!

One note of caution (or optimism depending upon whether you think it'll help us salvage a draw or save the Aussies from an ignominious defeat) re: the rain. Perth forecasts are notoriously dodgy relative to the eastern states. Most likely of the weather comes from the west, and there isn't much land past Perth to put weather radars on...

If Malan pushes on tomorrow and Bairstow converts, were in with a sniff. Still batting by lunchtime and Moeen in and some very tired quicks with a soft old ball can be taken to the cleaners. But, it's still an if.

That said, it does swing here, and whilst not quite as fast as the Aussies, Broad's effort balls are around the 143 mark. Decent fielding and Warner won't have it all his own way...

So getting ready here, opening in just over an hour, should manage to watch until tea then off for our Christmas party so I'll be checking as we go along, a quick Warner score will change the look of the game.
I'd like to see England push on here, 450 should be the target, 500 a bonus. Anything less and we need to be bowling perfectly and catching 110%

Kind of looking forward to this
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Well 4 overs no wickets, no runs and no reviews left for the Aussies

Some cracks beginning to appear but, other than that, nothing much.

9 overs, 26 runs, 200 partnership, Starc replaced by Cummins.
Steady so far.

yep, steady and then putting them away, boundary rope is doing the lions share of the fielding so far, both guys playing some excellent shots there, lots of milestones falling for 5th wicket partnerships not sure if it's a good or bad thing...

And finally the Lyon gets something, off the top of the handle then scooped out and a good diving catch
Malan, (English) knock of the series so far 140 Runs 227 Balls 15 4's

and Ali 0
time for the tail to get us a quick 60 or it's going to be tight

What have we here? Ali gone for a quack, and just like that we're looking like we can rip defeat from the jaws of victory.

And Woakes.

If I were Malan I'd be just a little peeved that all my hard work was being undone.

And Bairstow.

5/25 😯

Not enough unless the bowlers up their game, the tail should have done better than that.

That was predictably disappointing from England and pretty much what we have seen in every test. We have a good couple of sessions then follow it up with an absolute stinker.

Moeen and Woakes dismissals were really disappointing.

For just once... Just for one time, I'd like to stop caring.

Let them off the hook, should have been 450 minimum. I refer back to my esrlier post Re no runs in the tail but Moen and Woakes disappointed. Good to get Warner though

Checked the phone in the night. J and D still in. Nearly got up. Glad I didn't.

How can opening the text commentary in the morning be such a nerve racking (and ultimately disappointing) event!
Moeen is a confidence player, this run is of bad form will probably continue (reverse mockers).

Although.....

FFS - you know that word, "snowflake" ? ...

The Aussies know they can whitewash this; all they need to do is apply the tiniest bit of pressure and we'll fold. ECB should withhold the match/tour fees from one or two, Cook included

Well I'm watching again now, can't see any way these 2 are going to get out. Going through need the weather for this one now.

And the Anderson lbw shout summed it up, foot over the line and a no ball.

Wishing I was still asleep

Sigh.

Yep, utter hogwash

From the moment Ali got out for the Duck the wheels were coming off, looking like 100 short of what they should have posted yesterday. Been watching since Lunch here and it's traditional dull 😉 test cricket Steve Smith just needs to pick where he wants to declare now.

Smith's just a flat track bully though. We might as well let him write down his score and have a day off. 4 play and misses in nearly 300 balls, only one of those was a defensive shot. One time we've beaten him in a day of play.

More disappointing, the fact that 3 Marshes now have test hundreds has ruined my crap cricket joke.

'Which is the only family to have 3 test centurions in it: Javed Miandad'

Smith 200. The crap Marsh on a century. Says it all really.

This really is just turgid. Utter tripe from England.

So crap and I'm still watching it wondering if these two will run each other out to spice it up a bit.

Haven't even turned the radio on this morning.

I'd save the electricity and not bother. The highlight of today from England's perspective was Malan's wrongun. I think that says it all.

Coupled with our own collapse, the bowling today pushes this match very close to the top of the list of worst performances I've witnessed from England. Utter capitulation.

Well day 3 over.
Unless it starts raining now and Perth floods its over. England will be padding up an hour before lunch tomorrow and be facing balls up and in them.

I still think that the teams are not that far apart, home advantage is just worth that much. That said instead of lining their coffers the ECB could have used the Sky deal to invest in the future, instead cricket is becoming a public school sport and the championship concentrated early in the season just encourages swing bowlers and batters that can play swing.

No, they're not that far apart at all. That's what makes our utter capitulation yesterday so infuriating.

they are miles apart at times england have been in the game but they have never been ahead
If you disagree what engand player[s] are making the Australian team on ashes form? Not one bowler and probably no batter

Well, batters I'd say Stoneman and Bancroft about equal, and I'd rather Root than Uzi, Malan over either Marsh, and Bairstow over Paine.

In these conditions I concede I'd struggle to pick one of our bowlers over their attack.

It's a fair point about home advantage - I recall seeing a stat recently showing the number of away test and series wins for all teams declining rapidly.

The difference is there and it was covered on one of the commentary stations. England don't play on anything like this, nothing that fast and nothing that bouncy. The Aussie bowlers can be nullified a bit on English pitches and moving the ball becomes more important - the night session at Adelaide proved that.
The simple things we are lacking is a genuine accurate 145kph bowler and batsmen who are used to facing them. Which of the Englishes has played red ball cricket here?
I'm sure before the last ashes trip to England the Aussies were playing domestic cricket with the English ball for practice.

[quote=mikewsmith ]I'm sure before the last ashes trip to England the Aussies were playing domestic cricket with the English ball for practice.

They still lost - 16 years since they last won a series in England. However the obvious difference is that they have managed to win tests (even ones which aren't dead rubbers), whilst England are looking like they might be on the way to their 3rd whitewash in 4 visits since they first won the urn back on home ground.*

Not that trying to replicate Aussie conditions for practice in England would be likely to help much - and nor would getting England players to play domestic Aussie cricket (were that even possible given the modern international merry go round). The problem is far earlier in the system.

* I think I'd take a non-whitewash as a moral victory

Not that trying to replicate Aussie conditions for practice in England would be likely to help much - and nor would getting England players to play domestic Aussie cricket (were that even possible given the modern international merry go round). The problem is far earlier in the system.

way i see it is that in general batters build a platform - you need enough runs to win a game - but bowlers earn you the wins; taking 20 wickets on test match quality pitches is hard work.

Our batters haven't scored enough runs to give the bowlers the platform, but I haven't really seen evidence from the bowlers that they could capitalise on it anyway. The only time we've really looked dangerous was with the moving pink ball around the dusk period. We look toothless on these flat decks, and without any scoreboard pressure it's easy pickings.

http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDR701.loop.shtml#skip
Perth Radar this morning

Fast and bouncy? That describes almost all indoor facilities where you'd think they hit the odd ball

Bowlers in these conditions are the main issue though.

It is worth noting that the England team is missing three of its most promising bowlers: Wood, Roland-Jones, and of course the ginger kiwi. Take Cummings, Stark and Hazelwood away and the second string Aussies look decidedly average themselves.

I can understand them not bringing Plunkett, he's been a liability with the odd spell of brilliance in the past. That said, hindsight suggests he can't be much worse than Broad in this test

That crack doesn't give me hope. Broad just bowled a leg break

The only good thing about that crack is that it won't be in play in the same way for all our lefties.

Still, the crims have just knocked up well over 600, nothing stopping us doing the same 😆

It's still a 3-400 pitch easy if they get settled. Don't think there is enough time to score 300 out there with the forecast but you never know, they need a very steady progress. I think Smith has a score and/or a time in mind.
Jimmy has an Lbw pending review coming

Why hasn't he declared? Very puzzling.

wants to win with the ball not rely on the bat/weather Love Chappelle saying plan A break some bowlers fingers 😉

Must have missed that charming comment. It's not hard to see why Beefy laid him out in the Adelaide Oval car park a few years ago.

yeah, tough it's amazing how much KP makes Warne seem like good bloke too.

And that is it, 259 ahead with Lyon banging it up there. We have at least the rest of this session Bom has 90% chance of rain from 5pm.

There we go.

I don't actually mind either Warne or KP commentating for the most part, but then I'm one of the few who still questions why sacking KP was seen as the fix it clearly hasn't been for England's woes.

...I've changed my mind on the Stoneman vs Bancroft question

4-1

How long until the rain?

It's coming, but probably not soon enough:

http://www.bom.gov.au/products/national_radar_sat.loop.shtml

After that shot, Cook needs one of those arm restrictors Slats was showing off earlier. A stretched poke back to the bowler. Effing wonderful.

Yeah, he needed to go big very slowly, and marsh into the attack

Well knocking off some beer and single malt cheering the rain

Star Wars for me this evening. I seem to spend my life supporting the underdog...

If its like the cricket then the two best characters will drop their light sabres very early in the fight as the dark side walks around smiting all foes effortlessly

At the risk of providing spoilers, I'll say no more on that analogy...

Well, I hate to say it, but looks like the rain will stop just in time for play

Looks like this particular wet otter and his/her pocket may stick around for a while. 😀

So somebody moved the covers over night?

It's a real shame we can't win 3-2 now. Such is life however.

http://www.cricket.com.au/video/waca-ground-wet-pitch-rain-groundsman-australia-england-ashes-waca-third-test-highlights/2017-12-18

oh well, much deserved. What might of been ... Root will grow as Captain and we have found some decent new players. With our best bowlers back we'll win them back in England I'm sure.... ish

Watching the last blows here, been a desolate day there waiting for the rain that never came, can Anderson and wakes get 44?

Probably not, but it would be quite amusing to get a lead of one and bowl Warner off that bloody crack.