I think Trott's two dreadful innings in the last test has unsettled the side. They started off fine at Brisbane and then Trott was so skittish. He did the same against SA in SA a few years ago.

And Brett Lee fastest was 160.8, Taits was 160.7, Akhtar 161.3.

The reality is, Lee to Johnson is like Johnson is to Broad.

The whole who's bowled the quickest thing is a bit hard to judge as like I said before different speedguns produce different results, some very peculiar.
I can only judge on since I've been watching cricket which is 15 years or so and I'd say Shoaib Akhtar was consistently the quickest, followed by Tait and then Lee. Johnson probably 15th or so

I would  rather stand with a piece of wood to defend myself against all of them together.
Than one over calling Mitch buckteeth

Needed to keep Johnson around the wicket to Carberry.  Would have picked him up for sure.

game over already, really disappointed

worlds fastest bowler challenge was conducted with special equipment from University of WA not just speed guns it provided the most accurate measurment of the various bowlers speed ever

Nah, don't think they will enforce the follow on...

Carberry looking comfortable

Left arm Fast Medium?  Doesn't even get a gig as a Fast bowler?

Should have walked

Joe Root, how selfish was that..

they're being comprehensively outplayed

win, lose or draw in adelaide, bring on the perth test, watch johnsons 160klm bouncers

Bring em home, this is embarrassing. And it's Perth up next so we've got no chance, this is long gone.

greened on eng lay,back in for the draw.

West Coast Eagles
06 Dec 13 09:14

I think with cricket= dont underestimate the value of home ground advantage especially when it involves the Big 4 in cricket: India, Australia, England and South Africa


Watching South Africa bowl at India yesterday I couldn't agree more!  It was an absolute joy to watch Steyn and Morkel if not terrorise the Incredibly Talented Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli certainly bamboozle them.

What I find difficult is that in the days of ships, no tv, radio etc there were grounds for being overwhelmed by the different theatres.  Modern players have experience all over the world, have countless tv replays and archive access to work out a game plan to adapt their game for example why don't Indian batsmen face bouncy rubber balls in the nets?  Now with the advent of the IPL they can play extremely fast bowling with not just confidence but zeal, however, watching Kohli trying to drive Morkel back over his head to a half tracker on the front foot is eye watering.

I think it is great that we have different surfaces around the world.  Far from complaining about unfair advantages as the press would like us to it is a joy to see players tested to the extremities.  I guess that is why they call it Test Cricket.

I don't think we can blame the Adelaide Oval yesterday.  England look shot to me.  Fielding mistakes are a sign that there is a lack of confidence in the team.  England have been comprehensively out thought and out played so far.  The continuity in the side that is so often it's greatest strength is becoming it's weakness.  If England do not have a plan to beat Lyon out of the attack with short square boundaries they are in trouble. The plan should then be to take the easy runs on offer and keep Harris and Mitchell bowling for as long as possible.  Ironic that Bairstow is not playing with his bottom hand bias would have been perfect to hit Lyon over the square!  The game is in the head and England are losing it.

England will be sending a message to Australia tomorrow.  Either the pitch is easy to bat on so don't flatter yourself or we are going to be your bitches in Perth!

The reality is, the draw is still unlikely.  England may be playing for it, but all that does is create the ability for Aus to attack the batsmen.  Englands best hope for a draw isn't batting for one now, but batting for the conditions, trying to get as many runs as possible. 
The benefit for them, is that if they manage to put some runs on the board, Clarke is likely to dangle a carrot.  1 nil with Perth to come, it may be a smaller carrot, but I suspect given the chance, the game will be opened up for a result barring anything less than England batting for 200 overs.

Either way, Lyon already getting plenty of purchase, so spin will only improve.  England in the same boat as Aus were in England.  A team full of left handers, batting last against an off spinner using the foot marks.  6 left handers in Englands team, so they are right up against it, and because of that, Lyon will see plenty of overs.
May have been seen as a weak move Aus putting right handed batsmen in, but I think they have picked the best team available.  Whether or not them being right handed came into play, I can't be sure, but I doubt it is a "weak" move.  Lose the toss, and have left handed batsmen facing spin in the 4th innings, and you give the opposition a huge advantage.  Lyon good for 6-7 wickets this game, if not more.  Pietersen/Bell Englands only real hope.  Root does look like he is the real deal, but not there yet, especially if they are batting time as he will be right up against it.

Unless the Poms take it up to the bowlers, I full expect a result.  I doubt they get past 350 this innings so their bowlers will have a chance to get some easy wickets with Aus going full attack in the 3rd innings to quickly get England back in to have a go at the win.  That will open the game up for a result, but think the target will be higher than the last game in this scenario when England actually had a crack.

I think the play has to be lay the draw.  For that to come down basically means England need to be scoring at 3+ an over.  They keep going at the current rate wickets will still fall, for less runs.  The ball, shown to be most dangerous after the 30 over mark.

I fully expect England to trade much shorter late in this game.  I expect the draw to trade above 3 tomorrow and much higher day 4/5.

Aus had 20 overs to test all their bowlers out tonight.  I suspect Johnson will get a good go first thing tomorrow and I expect him to get Carberry out around the wicket.  Root will fall to Harris/Siddle on the drive.  Pietersen should make runs here, and Bell is solid. 
They should be 3 down for less than 80 and the draw will be much higher, so that is my play.


As for WD, I think a lot can be said about the decision to play in Alice Springs.  Apparantly, they had a great team bonding time.  But the reality is, they played in most likely ridiculous heat, and were outplayed by a bunch of cricket hopefuls.  Not only would it be physically draining playing cricket there leading into a test, and then fielding for the first 2 days, but it would have been demoralizing for them to still not be competitive.  If they batted first here, they may well have found some sort of form, but I feel after a slaughtering in the first test, a draining demoralizing game in AS, and then 2 days sitting in the field has created a dream situation for Aus to take them on and go for 2-0.  As I have always said, not a whole lot between the teams on the whole, but Aus have a huge advantage here and they will go after it.  Not here for the draw.

I was impressed for the most part with Cook attacking the wickets with attacking field settings, but then of course when it didn't go his way he went the opposite as per usual, and tried to limit the runs.  Already playing for the draw, and already allowing Clarke to decide the fate of this match.  His main theme right now, will be bat as long as possible, and see when Clarke declares.  Up until then, I fully expect that there will be zero other strategy.  If Clarke dangles a carrot to further enhance the chances of a result, which is more than likely, then, and only then, will he make a decision on going for it, or continuing on for the draw.
Luckily for England, he is already out, so can't influence the players on the crease with his negative mentality.  Carberry looks attacking, but won't last long, so the only thing that can really change the course of this match heading for an Aus win, is KP.

That is how I see it, and that is how I will bet.



Biscuit, I doubt there will be a follow on unless they are bowled out for sub 150....

@BJT, i dont think this England lineup is good enough to chase down anything 300+ on the final innings given as much time as possible. (wouldnt back them at any price) But have to agree with you on the lay of the draw being the play. If Australia bowl, England out tommorow (which is very possible)........could see Australia step on the gas in the 2nd innings, and give themselves 4-5 sessions at England. Clarke is quite innovative in his declarations..............but think England will look to play patiently tommorow especially in the morning sessions and the first hour of the afternoon session.

12 pm to 2 will be interesting tonight , outcome of match might be decided largely then .  Last night the draw came in rapidly from 2.68 pre play to under 2.2 in about half an hour when it became obvious batsmen were only going to get themselves out . Anyone who wanted to could have stayed in all day such was the wicket and the lack of help to the bowlers . Trevor Bailey could have batted for 2 days on that without giving so much as a sniff to the bowlers !