Topic: Test Cricket Prediction and Discussion Thread [self - mod] - page 1170. (Read 172687 times)

Putting the tired English openers for ten overs was a very smart move and they have successfully taken a wicket during that time which is crucial when they start their innings today, Australia does put their team interest than anything else unlike other countries who look for individual scores and records.
Smith is in his prime form but he will not cross the records set by the legendary Don Bradman.

It would have being better psychologically pressure of 500 to score would bring them under pressure . Though OZ took the first wicket before EOD itself would be rewarding and would like to wrap the inning quickly and if given a chance they should give them follow on .

I disagree. Smith is a batting legend at present and is in the form of his life at the moment, but Kohli is 2 steps ahead in every department. Smith has a better batting average currently, but I don't think he will go ahead of Kohli overall.

While I am not sure about your Australian statement, I do agree that their decision was right in this case and they have a big lead which they are capable of defending with bowlers like Starc in their camp.

This is a good batting pitch comparing the earlier pitches played in the series. Do you think that Aussies can enforce a follow-on with a score below 500? I don't think English team would crash like that. I am sure that they'll get past 350 in the first innings. Anything below that would be a result of poor batting display. When Paine declared, Starc and Lyon were in great form and would have easily taken the score to 550-580 in the remaining 10 overs. If either one of them were dismissed, then Paine could have declared. As far as Denly's wicket is concerned, he sacrificed his wicket by changing the batting lineup and giving an opportunity for Roy. In all the previous matches of this series, the openers were struggling with the new ball and the opening partnership didn't get past 25 runs in any. As far as my opinion goes, AUS should have batted the remaining overs aggressively if they didn't lose wickets it would have done a lot of good to them. You could have still taken a wicket the next day.
I don't say that Paine's decision was stupid but they would have had a better chance for winning this match now it looks like more of a draw to me or English winning miraculously like the previous match.

BTW, just checked the AFG vs BAN match. AFG had scored a good 342. Looks like Tamin's replacement Shadman got out for a duck and the BAN are struggling at 5/1.

Very surprising that you guys are criticizing his decision. Australians have always put their team interests above any individual targets. And his decision was proved right. It gave the Australian bowlers 10 overs against the English batsmen, and they were able to get the wicket of Joe Denly. Statistically, it was just one wicket. But in the end it is going to put England in a lot of pressure. Therefore I would say that it was one of the most courageous decisions ever made by Tim Paine as the captain.

BTW, you guys may be interested in this: #PoliteEnquiries: When will Steve Smith return to his home planet? in espncricinfo.com. It discusses the possibility that Steve Smith is actually an alien from another planet.  

There was no numerology or any thing involve Aussies just want to give very few overs and they have some good tactics as they take one wicket now they have some good edge and can take lead again in this series England is under pressure and Starc have ability to destroy them very quickly.

Bradman was and still is the greatest batsman of all time however Steve Smith is fast getting up there with the great man and against England Smith very well may break Bradman's record for most centuries against England in less innings. Bradman currently holds that record scoring 19 centuries in 63 innings against England and Smith is currently on 11 centuries in 45 innings so he has a big chance to break this record.

Smith has the best record since 2013 to now batting in the first innings averaging 108 runs and scoring 16 centuries and that is in 33 innings. Smith is well ahead of Kohli who many compare the two.

Australia are in a dominate position and I think declaring was the right decision as it put England under pressure and it paid off getting a wicket before the close of play.

Seriously it made no sense to declare before 500. Are they underestimating England to not even score 250 in the first innings or they just felt they are short of time? Looks like his astrologer told him declare at 497. Sometimes these captains make such weird decisions that I feel they all follow numerology.

Even Starc scored a fifty. Smith is the real test player. It would be better decision if they declare the innings earlier, however, in that case, we may not see the double from the legend. Although England lost a wicket earlier, the match will be drawn. If England can play the whole 3rd day and score 300+, there's no chance of getting a winning team.
I don't know how Bradman scored an average of 99, but for me, Smith is for than a legend in test, more than a Bradman.

No words to describe the consistent performance of Smith and there is no way England could win any test match with Smith in the team, last test match was a thriller simply because Smith was not in the team. Australia does not need to score 500 to win the test match, England already lost their first wicket and i am expecting a dominating performance from Australia.

When everything was going fine and everybody was looking for a 500+ score, Paine decided to declare at 497/8

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Edit: England has scored 23/1 by the end of the day losing only Denly.
 

Smith has been the key player for Australia and he deserved the double century, had he played in the third test match Australia would have easily won it. This test match already seems to be over as Australia is now closer to scoring 500+ runs, and England will crumble while chasing it. @Avirunes I’ll second that after his stellar performances in this series he deserves to lead them.

Everyone is free to make their own opinion, and I just voiced mine. And I wasn't just considering one or two matches. Smith has performed exceptionally well during the past one year. Anyway... now the question is whether Australia would reach 500 or not. They're at 486/8, with Starc and Lyon currently looking comfortable against Archer.

Don't you think that its over-exaggerated Smith deserves all the respect for his wonderful knock in this match no doubt in that but haven't you seen the Cricket Legends?

Anyways Aussies were like 400 a few minutes back, now the tail-enders have got the score to 475. Suddenly, the test match has changed to a T20 match. Now 500 is only a few overs away. What an innings from Mitchell Starc  Well played 

The best batsmen the world saw after the second world war just got out for 211. As the commentator put it "England couldn't get him out, so he himself got out". Enormous respect for Steve Smith. He scored a double ton on his return after suffering from head injury.

I still remember the appalling scenes I witnessed during the first test match. The crowd was booing when Smith came out to bat. The England captain refused to intervene (unlike Virat Kohli during the world cup, when he reacted strongly to the booing). Now when he got out after scoring 211, I was again watching TV. Everyone was standing up to show their respect and not a single one was booing.

Smith kicking some ass today and English blue-eyed boy Jofra archer is wicket less so far. 

It appears to me Oz going for the direct kill in this Test match and don't want to bat again. Oh boy, I too wish to him back as a Captain and feel sad for Warner, he missing out all the fun with his poor form.

Mitchell Starc has gone berserk against Broad hitting 4 back-to-back boundaries in an over. 500 seems gettable at this point.

Edit: Smith is gone for 211(319 balls) to Joe Root  Maybe Aus won't reach 500 afterall.

Its easy double century for Smith now but 500 seems pretty difficult since non-regular batsman are the only ones left to partner with Smith in this innings. I love the way Smith have leaded Australia so far in the Ashes. I don't know about others but I really hope Smith regains back his captaincy role once again. Yes he did mistake but hey everyone does it.

Smith on 179. Double century is close. Never thought they could cross 350 but now 450-500 is easy for them. Aus won't declare before 500 now. Considering the second day is almost going to end in 5 hours, this match will likely end in a draw.

What happened during the 1st and 2nd tests just repeating again. Back then, Smith built valuable partnerships with lower order and tail end batsmen such as Siddle, Cummins and Lyon. We are not quite at the tail yet, but I think the Australian tail will add another 100 runs to push the total above 500. If that happens, then England will go down by an innings and more.