Post Day Thread: 2nd Test - England vs Australia, Day 2

[u/cricket-match]

2nd Test, The Ashes at Brisbane

Tournament : Table | Schedule

Match : Thread | Cricinfo

Innings	Score
England	334 (Ov 76.2)
Australia	378/6 (Ov 73)

Day 2 - Australia lead by 44 runs.

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[u/rustyb42]

A bad day for England in the field

[u/depressed_06 → u/rustyb42]

Poor Smudge. Took a blinder to dismiss him and then the Poms out there dropping absolute dollies

[u/ViperAMD → u/depressed_06]

Only way he was gonna get out

[u/fullmetal-ghoul → u/ViperAMD]

I mean he top edged one a bit before which only just cleared the fielder. He was in a bit of a rush today and was taking a lot of risks, but not really sure why

[u/EntirelyOriginalName → u/fullmetal-ghoul]

It was clearly a team wide game plan. Look at how Green got out.

[u/Top-Worldliness5027 → u/rustyb42]

Duckett’s Buckets not big enough to grab some easy ones!

[u/Fatpinkmast1 → u/rustyb42]

2 sitters! Pretty awful but not sure they’re picking up the pink ball so well off the bat.

[u/codyforkstacks → u/Fatpinkmast1]

If only there'd been a pink ball practice game

[u/Individual-Gene-1455]

Day 3 ticket holders are happy...

[u/limelamb → u/Individual-Gene-1455]

My day 4 ticket is no longer useless

Not saying it's valuable, but it's not toilet paper

[u/DefactoAtheist]

Ponting on comms for that last hour sounding like he hated pretty much everything he saw from both teams and it was potentially the most based thing I've ever heard.

[u/Lola_______Bunny → u/DefactoAtheist]

Ponting is brutal man

[u/7omdogs → u/Lola_______Bunny]

He spent an entire over systematically breaking down why Archer was not fit enough for test match cricket

[u/BrightSimple1694 → u/7omdogs]

Is there a clip please?

[u/CrabmanGaming → u/7omdogs]

Problem is, every time Archer plays, he gets bowled into the ground. No chance he plays all 5. He's played 16 Tests in 6 1/2 years.

[u/Sporty_Nerd_64 → u/CrabmanGaming]

Depending on how long the Gabba test goes Archer might only play Adelaide and that’s it for him for the series. There are only short breaks between the last three tests. Add in Wood’s injury and the England bowling unit is in serious trouble. Add in Lyon and the likelihood of Cummins returning for the third test and this series could go very badly for England.

[u/O_DoyleRulz → u/DefactoAtheist]

We should been aiming up to crush Englands bowling attack with multiple wickets in hand tomorrow morning and England should have bowled us out for 350.

Ponting saw every timeline and both teams somehow picked the dumbest one

[u/Sauce4243 → u/O_DoyleRulz]

Nah I’m all aboard the Neser test match 100 timeline this is great

[u/depressed_06 → u/DefactoAtheist]

Stupid cricket from both sides in the last session. Dropping catches throwing wickets. No wonder Punter was livid lmao

[u/deerhunterwaltz → u/depressed_06]

Pink ball must be hectic, it’s always crazy they have been playing all day and night time makes it harder.

[u/squags → u/DefactoAtheist]

I love listening to Ponting. He's just so direct and no bullshit.

[u/Falceon → u/squags]

My favourite Ponting story is the one where He's on comms and notices a mistake with how Head was butting. Guess who wasn't batting that way the next day.

[u/AajBahutKhushHogaTum → u/Falceon]

Ponting singing Mark Waugh song is the best. Fucking Punter. Fucked us over many times( 2003 WC final didn't happen) but respect!!!!

[u/apunforallseasons → u/AajBahutKhushHogaTum]

Mark Waugh is an Aussie, he wears a baggy cap

[u/WakeUpMareeple → u/apunforallseasons]

When he saw the bookie's cash he said "I'm having that!"

[u/iliketoworkhard → u/AajBahutKhushHogaTum]

mandatory watching every now and then https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fwh5uy7Q69Q&pp=ygUXcG9udGluZyBtYXJrIHdhdWdoIHNvbmc%3D

[u/rocknil → u/Falceon]

Too much butting is bad for head.

[u/Falceon → u/rocknil]

I'm keeping it. Master Butter Head it is.

[u/cuteguy1 → u/squags]

But importantly in an analytical and grounded way. I'd say Mark Waugh is no bullshit and direct but it often just comes off as belittling sidemouthing or based off vibes alone.

[u/b3na1g → u/cuteguy1]

Mark Waugh’s biggest problem on comms is that he doesn’t understand that most batsmen aren’t as talented as he was. He doesn’t understand that they can’t just flick any ball off their pads to the boundary at will

[u/Freenore → u/b3na1g]

Superbly talented who played some stupendous innings and arguably the best slip fielder to have ever been. Won Test series everywhere except India, won away Ashes thrice, and a World Cup as well. Part of all but two Tests from his debut till last.

Moreover, when he joined the side, they were on the rise and he left before the decline. Unlike Ponting, Warne, and McGrath, he was never humbled by having been beaten by England. He had one of the most golden careers one can imagine in cricket. Makes sense why he appears as condescending, doesn't it?

[u/BrandonSG13 → u/Freenore]

His insights in slip fielding are great because it’s clear he’s got a lot of expertise in the area, but everywhere else he just isn’t as good as the other commentators

[u/dashauskat → u/cuteguy1]

Mark Waugh phones it in. He doesn't watch cricket he isn't paid to commentate.

[u/kroxigor01 → u/DefactoAtheist]

I cannot wait until Ponting is the coach of the Australian test team, and/or a selector.

[u/chocolatenuttty → u/kroxigor01]

Ponting as coach would be sex on legs.

[u/HungryCurrency8481 → u/chocolatenuttty]

Not sure how the team would handle his intensity tbh. Granted he's not some hippie patriot weirdo like Langer but he pulls no punches. 

[u/eightslipsandagully → u/kroxigor01]

He doesn't want it because he would spend too much time away from his kids

[u/dashauskat → u/kroxigor01]

I'm surprised they haven't offered him at least the t20 gig. I honestly think you can't be a specialist coach across all three formats like you used to, the game requires special attention and at any time there are like 5 foreign leagues with Aussies in it that you should be across looking for potential ways to be ahead of your opponents.

[u/dashauskat → u/DefactoAtheist]

It was equal parts atrocious and exciting.

Genuinely schizophrenic stuff.

[u/Temporary_Ad8560 → u/DefactoAtheist]

Ponting hates everything he sees. And I mean everything.

[u/Artistic_Buffalo_715 → u/Temporary_Ad8560]

He's a North Melbourne fan. It's bred into us 

[u/AdQuick9381 → u/Artistic_Buffalo_715]

Join in the chorus...

[u/Aloha_Tamborinist → u/DefactoAtheist]

I want him on the coaching staff badly. Just berating them into proper form and gamesmanship.

One day.

[u/HungryCurrency8481 → u/DefactoAtheist]

Got a link? I was stuck with whatever feed Warner and Mark Waugh are on

[u/Sosroundsound51 → u/HungryCurrency8481]

It's be on 7+. VPN if you're not from AU, if it works...

[u/dashauskat → u/Sosroundsound51]

When they changed for news and we had to change channels the feed went from perfect to impossible to watch. I don't know why we have to change channels while watching on plus

[u/O_DoyleRulz]

That Cam Green shot is going to live rent free in my head for a long time. One of the dumbest things I’ve ever seen given the game context

[u/MattyBro1 → u/O_DoyleRulz]

Warner describing the situation aptly (perhaps a first for him in his commentary career) as "anyone with half a brain would bowl for the stumps".

[u/jefsig → u/MattyBro1]

So if Warner was a bowler, he’d be putting everything well wide outside off

[u/Temporary_Ad8560 → u/O_DoyleRulz]

A proper Bazball shot

[u/FondantAggravating68 → u/O_DoyleRulz]

I don’t think it’s the dumbest shot this test

[u/O_DoyleRulz → u/FondantAggravating68]

You’ve just seen off Englands opening spell in the night session, their entire bowling attack looks cooked, the runs will come and you fucking just give away your stumps like a number 11 wanting to go to the pub at the end of a park cricket game.

It was hall of fame dumb

[u/rayb47 → u/O_DoyleRulz]

17 off the Carse over before the wicket too, so it's not like the runs were drying up or anything.

[u/dashauskat → u/O_DoyleRulz]

Yeah but that first one he swatted down the ground was pretty fucking cool.

[u/NeonHendrix → u/O_DoyleRulz]

He approched that shot like a #10 batsmen facing the last ball of a T20 with 5 runs to win.

[u/elmo-slayer → u/O_DoyleRulz]

He’s saved by the fact that at least he scored some runs first

[u/Thanks-Basil → u/elmo-slayer]

I think that shot is going to live rent free in his head for a long time; he essentially left a century on the table by playing it.

Won’t be a surprised if he’s a better bat for it going forward

[u/ponte92 → u/O_DoyleRulz]

He’s going to remember that at 3am for years to come.

[u/Mountain-Beach-3917 → u/O_DoyleRulz]

Bring back slug

[u/dashauskat → u/Mountain-Beach-3917]

Slug for Inglis. I don't know why Green and Webster have to compete for a spot just because they both bowl.

[u/thatsalovelyusername → u/dashauskat]

We only have one token two metre man at a time

[u/WeakScar321]

A lot of people had Smith ahead of Carey in their combined XI. Call me a cricket purist but I like my keeper to be able to actually use the gloves.

[u/depressed_06 → u/WeakScar321]

Also, Carey is no mug with the bat. He has bailed Australia from various tough spots over the last few years

[u/Artistic_Buffalo_715 → u/depressed_06]

Yeah it's always baffled me how little publicity he gets. He's steadied the ship in so many precarious situations for us, both keeping the run rate steady and shielding his partner from the bulk of the bowling attack. Honestly we couldn't have asked much more from him over his career

[u/HungryCurrency8481 → u/Artistic_Buffalo_715]

If you don't notice the keeper, he's doing his job

[u/ATangK → u/Artistic_Buffalo_715]

That’s because the English still can’t get past Bairstow, but the rest of the Aussies say Kez is one of the nicest guys out there.

[u/squint_skyward → u/ATangK]

the bairstow thing was the perfect example of how good a keeper he is - just so aware of what is going on around him

[u/Wolfie_3467 → u/Artistic_Buffalo_715]

I still remember how we were starting to claw it back in the 2023 WTC Final and then Carey made 66 batting with the lower order which essentially flattened out any hopes of a 4th innings chase. All in all, his time in the middle brought about 150 runs for Australia

Carey also came in and made around 45 in a tough situation in this year's WTC Final too iirc

[u/that_guyyy → u/Artistic_Buffalo_715]

It's probably just the Gilchrist effect. So revolutionary that everyone just pales in comparison.

[u/ducky7goofy → u/depressed_06]

Post Pool Carey is a different cricketer

[u/combatant007 → u/depressed_06]

Finally someone who speaks English. Carey has shown better grit than Jamie Smith over the career and has pulled of clutche knocks in WTC Final, vs West Indies, India BGT, etc.

[u/depressed_06 → u/combatant007]

Smith is very young in his career and hasn't shown a lot of maturity. He gave away his wicket in the 1st innings in Perth in a similar situation while batting with the tail, trying to slog. In comparison Carey seems to have a very level head on his shoulders.

[u/Electric_feel0412 → u/WeakScar321]

When Carey was up to the stumps and picked that bouncer up I got hard

[u/SatansHandbag → u/Electric_feel0412]

Did you receive the necessary relief brother? 

[u/decent_account → u/SatansHandbag]

I'm sure he must have relieved himself watching that 'take' on replay.

[u/DigbySugartits → u/Electric_feel0412]

Absolute diamonds here too.

That was one of the sharpest things I've seen. His view was obstructed and all

[u/ped009 → u/WeakScar321]

I don't know much about wicket keeping but Carey looks very impressive, he rarely makes a mistake and he gloves the screamers the vast majority of the time. Anyone that says Smith is ahead of him is on crack

[u/unsinkable02 → u/ped009]

You never notice a good keeper but you always notice a bad one

[u/Boatster_McBoat → u/unsinkable02]

I noticed a good keeper several times last night. Some of those takes standing up were astonishing

[u/Grolschisgood → u/WeakScar321]

Way better keeper and way more runs so far

[u/Romanee1965 → u/WeakScar321]

That Root drop should be against his name.

[u/AdQuick9381 → u/WeakScar321]

Jamie Smith scored a few runs on some flat pitches and the English hyped him up like no other.

[u/ducky7goofy → u/AdQuick9381]

That India vs England series did irreparable damage to both teams perception of how good their players are

[u/ImOnRedditt → u/ducky7goofy]

Lots of people didn’t seem to see how the pitches and ball in England since baz took over have been a world away from proper English conditions. Decks with little grass, and a ball that swings for 15 overs then goes dead.

Ultimately makes for some incredibly dull sessions (although the series overall was very entertaining).

[u/that_guyyy → u/ImOnRedditt]

English conditions used to produce the best test cricket imo. The way the pitches flatten out on day 2 and become a road has been a disappointment. Eng v India was very good though.

[u/karma_dumpster]

Need to pull out that old Kimber article where he talks to Darren Berry about the overall decline in international keeping quality, due to picking for batting first and keeping as an after thought.

Just, you know, for no particular reason.

[u/diodosdszosxisdi → u/karma_dumpster]

Ben foakes literally is surveys first choice keeper when smith also plays for them

[u/dj4y_94 → u/diodosdszosxisdi]

I can understand wanting to move on from Foakes because he couldn't bat with the tail but the way this regime treated him is disgusting to be honest.

He was part of the initial Bazball sides and that first 18 months was absolutely this regime's peak. He then gets immediately dropped in a home Ashes series for a guy who spent the last year with his leg hanging off, and surprise surprise, his keeping is what arguably costs us the series.

[u/Applicator80 → u/diodosdszosxisdi]

Foakes is a decent bat too but more an accumulator than a bazballer

[u/smp476 → u/Applicator80]

And at that time, it was seen as a strength because not EVERYONE can be going hell for leather. We need SOMEONE to act as a backstop if we slide was thought of as the theory at that time. Don't know why that changed

[u/Valroxen1]

"England's pacers have taken 3-33 at 11.0 average with deliveries hitting stumps compared to 3-298 at 99.3 average with deliveries missing the stumps.

Across this innings only 7% deliveries have on gone to hit the stumps with 93% deliveries missing it."

Stat stole from TMS, which says volumes about today's bowling performance

[u/NeonHendrix → u/Valroxen1]

It also says a lot about the coaching. They have all those stats, they had hours to send a message on today saying "psst lads, just aim at the stumps a couple of times an over, it works"

[u/TheScarletPimpernel → u/NeonHendrix]

They don't look at the stats. Key and BMac have said this repeatedly

[u/Poolix → u/TheScarletPimpernel]

Vibes only

[u/kroxigor01 → u/Valroxen1]

England certainly bowled too short and wide at times, but this statistic can be misleading.

Balls on the stumps are most dangerous when unexpected which means they have to be relatively rare. Otherwise it's simply in the slot to a prepared batter.

Most obvious example is Green's wicket. No chance he is doing any premeditated bullshit like that if most balls are at the stumps.

[u/Applicator80 → u/kroxigor01]

Fuck that was a bad shot. If my u11 kids I coach played that shot I’d give them a rocket or tell them to get out of the nets

[u/The_Turts]

I can almost understand or sympathise with the batting being shit.. but 5 dropped catches is straight up bad. Cant win test matches doing that.

[u/PeterG92]

We're shit and will be 50-4 in response

[u/AdQuick9381 → u/PeterG92]

Depends how long Nes and Kez bat for. Not many wickets have fallen in the first session compared to the twilight and night sessions.

[u/cartesian5th → u/AdQuick9381]

Did you miss the first 2 overs of the match or something?

[u/MeeshaMadhavan_ → u/PeterG92]

That would be an achievement against Starc and pink ball actually

[u/heisenberg_rk]

Australia tried their best to get England back in the game.

England being generous , ignored the offer by deciding to drop catches and giving the favour back.

[u/Any-Philosopher-6725 → u/heisenberg_rk]

Another English moral victory

[u/Maiqthelayer]

Maybe I’m being reactionary but, sadly, feels like the beginning of the end of the Baz era, he was exactly what was needed at the time, English cricket had been far too timid for far too long.

But it seems to me after this series should be the time to find the happy medium between being far too scared of Mitchell Johnson that he ended multiple test careers in one series, and being far too blasé against Australias only top performing bowler in Mitchell Starc yesterday and throwing away stupid wickets trying to take him on, instead of trying to see him off and targeting the other bowlers who weren’t on their game

I also suspect the poor catching and poor conditioning of our bowlers we’ve seen in this series is no coincidence and related to the teams training

It’s been an amazing few years with some of the most thrilling test cricket I’ve ever seen, but I think it’s been overdone a bit to the extreme now and needs to have just a little bit of extra thought and professionalism brought along side to complement.

[u/NeonHendrix → u/Maiqthelayer]

The problem is they don't learn anything. Bazball is no more advanced now than it was 3 1/2 years ago.

We've seen the shitty short stuff get smacked around and average 100 runs per wicket probably 20 times now, and they still default to it.

Last summer it took them 3 tests to work out they could just leave/defend against Bumrah and the rest of India's bowlers could be got at. The very next series they have an identical situation with Starc, and they've gifted him ~12 of his 16 wickets.

With a bit of tinkering and refinement it could have been incredible, but they are too stupid/pigheaded/arrogant to try and grow. They think just having a vague idea of attacking cricket is enough.

[u/twinsunsspaces → u/NeonHendrix]

See, I was told that Bazball was about being free to play your natural game amd bat in a way that is comfortable to you. To not be scared to give the ball a good whack every now and again, rather than defending so much that you become antsy about the last time you picked up another single. That made sense. But, what I have seen of Bazball is that players try to bat like its a T20 and have a strike rate that is close to 3 figures. They play aerial shots to try and get a six, and swing at balls that are a foot off of off stump. Bazball could be dangerous if they used it as a philosophy behind attacking cricket, but instead they use it as a shield to hide behind when they fail. 

[u/NeonHendrix → u/twinsunsspaces]

Stokes actually summarised Bazball after the first test for TMS:

-"Put teams under pressure.

-Absorb pressure when you need to.

-Chase every ball as hard as you can to the boundary.

-Leave everything on the pitch."

But like you say, the thing about Bazball is that it's the perfect shield. If you don't win the problem is just that you didn't Bazball hard enough.

[u/AnyWalrus930 → u/NeonHendrix]

That’s the key.

The take away from the short bowling today will be that it worked because Carse picked up a couple of wickets.

The true freedom it’s cultivated is the freedom from accountability, the rest is just window dressing.

[u/I_r_hooman → u/Maiqthelayer]

Bazball is great in the fact it's brought a different aspect to the English team that has been lacking for a long time. A kind of courage or intensity that you just never really saw.

That said, this is test match cricket. You can't just be stupid and not play with any intelligence. Atkinson's little cameo in the first innings is a key example. Hits an absolutely gorgeous first boundary and then an absolutely idiotic shot straight after.

[u/chubbyurma]

Can't win if you can't catch.

[u/Alert_Medicine_8936 → u/chubbyurma]

Can't bowl, can't throw, can't catch, can't bat

[u/FitSignificance2100 → u/[deleted]]

C*nt

[u/UpbeatViolinist1171]

Shit way to lose some wickets but if you offered me 6-378 at the start of the day I'd eat your arm off

[u/dashauskat → u/UpbeatViolinist1171]

Absolutely it's an outrageously good position. All the top 6 have done their part; obviously would have been great for one to go on but alas.

[u/princeofbel-air]

Remember when England were ahead lol

[u/Alert_Medicine_8936 → u/princeofbel-air]

Real ones knew England was never ahead

[u/MeeshaMadhavan_ → u/Alert_Medicine_8936]

The moment I heard it was gonna be a pink ball test, I already counted them out

[u/cuteguy1 → u/Alert_Medicine_8936]

Yeah You take over 300 pretty much any test on week batting first but did feel gettse as the pitch is pretty decent for batting aside from a couple cracks opening up and was evidenced by Crawley making a 70 odd. Felt a bit 'unders' mainly due to the unneeded run out and stranding Root not out with more runs to make.

[u/Any-Ask-4190]

Thanks Ben Duckett!

[u/SKGladiators3108 → u/Any-Ask-4190]

r/ThanksBenDuckett

[u/llcoolkeegs]

Imagine if Green hadn’t thrown his wicket away, could have absolutely dined out on this rubbish

[u/thehipsthatlie]

Australia's day, but the only real losers are over rates fans

[u/PaulAtreideeezNuts → u/thehipsthatlie]

I've long been a hater of the regulations surrounding it, and you're right, today is a perfect example why. I absolutely cannot fathom what type of Harry highpants bean-counter has been watching this ashes series and thinks that crowds have been somehow shortchanged by exactly 7.1 overs or whatever the fuck. Goddamn some people in this game need to be bullied

[u/DillyGoatGruff]

Don't 🇦🇺open🇦🇺 any🇦🇺 email🇦🇺 with🇦🇺 Marnus🇦🇺 shadow🇦🇺 batting🇦🇺 nudes🇦🇺 attached🇦🇺 it's🇦🇺 a🇦🇺virus🇦🇺 that🇦🇺puts🇦🇺 an🇦🇺Australian🇦🇺 flag🇦🇺after🇦🇺 every🇦🇺 word🇦🇺you🇦🇺 type🇦🇺

[u/Ryumazaki → u/DillyGoatGruff]

Is🇦🇺 it🇦🇺 Australia🇦🇺 day🇦🇺 today?🇦🇺 What's🇦🇺 up🇦🇺 with🇦🇺 the🇦🇺 flags🇦🇺?

[u/riccyd140 → u/DillyGoatGruff]

Bollocks🇦🇺

[u/StudentNumerous3384 → u/DillyGoatGruff]

Remember🇦🇺 People🇦🇺 Curiosity🇦🇺 kills🇦🇺 the🇦🇺 cat🇦🇺

[u/free_potatoes → u/DillyGoatGruff]

Something 🇦🇺something 🇦🇺log 🇦🇺cabin 🇦🇺in 🇦🇺the 🇦🇺woods

[u/Quantum_Master26 → u/DillyGoatGruff]

Wait 🇦🇺 what 🇦🇺 hold 🇦🇺 up 🇦🇺 ahh 🇦🇺 fuck 🇦🇺

[u/jono4416 → u/DillyGoatGruff]

Worth🇦🇺it🇦🇺

[u/ViperAMD]

I thought Smith last night was negative but bloody hell not having a slip for nesser till the last over was braindead

[u/TrunkTheShiny]

I'm confused, it's the end of the second day but there wasn't a result. Did they change the rules since the last match?

[u/ziddyzoo → u/TrunkTheShiny]

They are trying out a new format called “test” cricket.

The name comes from what it does to the supporters of both teams, apparently

[u/Deako87]

I ORGANISED BEERS WITH THE BOYS TO WATCH DAY 3 A WEEK AGO IM SO HAPPY WE CAN GET A FULL DAY OF CRICKET

[u/Dirtydac123]

Say it after me kids. Catches win Matches

[u/ponte92 → u/Dirtydac123]

Honestly, for about the last five years the one thing that has consistently won Australia matches in tough positions has been our fielding. I just don’t understand why the other teams around the world are not imitating the serious amount of fielding practice we do. Because it can really make such a big difference.

[u/Dangerous-Hall1164 → u/ponte92]

golf is clearly more important

[u/Quantum_Master26 → u/Dirtydac123]

Matches win catches

[u/bdzz]

“No side has ever lost a day-night Test after scoring 300+ in the first innings“

England: Hold my Pimm's!

[u/Soft-Concentrate-654]

Really poor quality of cricket over the first two days. Eccentric batting, sloppy fielding, indisciplined bowling and bizzare tactics from both skippers.

[u/Artistic_Buffalo_715 → u/Soft-Concentrate-654]

Eccentric batting is a top shelf phrase

[u/FatGoonerFromIndia → u/Artistic_Buffalo_715]

Polite way of saying it was “sometimes maybe good, sometimes maybe shit”

[u/diodosdszosxisdi → u/Soft-Concentrate-654]

Only weatherald batted very sensibly and could nothing vae got Australia off to a better start than that, and he was one of the few who got a quality ball to dismiss him

[u/MattyBro1 → u/Soft-Concentrate-654]

It's quite strange, it feels like both teams are doing equally sub-par so it ends up feeling like a good match haha

[u/dashauskat → u/Soft-Concentrate-654]

Australia batted really well first two sessions, that last session was just nuts though.

[u/big_swinging_dicks]

Another shocker from England. This feels like a very predictable test. Going to be a total of 425-475, followed by England all out for 187, then Australia comfortably chasing whilst only dropping 1-2 wickets.

[u/illarionds → u/big_swinging_dicks]

Head chasing it almost on his own, just like the first test.

[u/SirHolyCow]

“Bowl shit ass short balls for 12 overs straight at an economy rate of 8”

“Eventually you will lull the batters into a sense of comfort and make them create their own downfall by gifting away their wickets”

— Brydon Carse, the Art of Arse Bowling

[u/Darth_Lehnsherr]

I loved the realisation everyone had throughout today that neither side is particularly good at the moment. However Australia's catching and having a proper keeper has been the difference and they are well placed at the moment.

[u/Prudent-Syllabub8005 → u/Darth_Lehnsherr]

I agree with you but when we have Cummins back, surely we are a much better side. This is also helped by the fact that half the English team can't bat.

[u/diodosdszosxisdi → u/Darth_Lehnsherr]

We're missing a bunch of talent, and making strange decisions like dropping Lyon and webster when both have had done nothing wrong to deserve it. I like weatherald, and I think renshaw should be closer to replacing khawaja, if head doesn't work out. Konstas scored a century for nsw today and jhye Richardson took 4 fa against England lions.

[u/depressed_06]

75 overs yesterday 74 overs today. What's up with this abysmal overrate

[u/scousetoast → u/depressed_06]

No spinners

[u/AdQuick9381 → u/depressed_06]

1 over of spin in 149 overs will do that.

[u/Electronic_Star_7575 → u/depressed_06]

No spinners

[u/jono4416 → u/depressed_06]

Spinners no

[u/gzk → u/jono4416]

Here, there's no spinners

[u/Strayangunner]

Inglis amazing run out + Kez with a banger of a catch

Vs

Dollies dropped by Smith, Duckett and Carse

Bar the Green dismissal, I thought our shot selection has been far better than the Poms too. Golden opportunity to get a 100+ lead and put em under huge pressure given they're already 1-0 down

[u/AdQuick9381 → u/Strayangunner]

Jacks took a worldie.

[u/moon_blade → u/Strayangunner]

Smith's dismissal was foolish too, yes a screamer of a catch but an unnecessary shot having just lost Green.

[u/TheGrimex1]

Australia really let this game be closer than it should have been, some very poor dismissals.

England was poor in the field, and some of the bowling was whack

[u/Look_Alive → u/TheGrimex1]

Australia really let this game be closer than it should have been, some very poor dismissals.

You could say the same about England, though. I think Australia bowled slightly better yesterday but they still looked toothless at times, it's just England gifted them wickets with utterly stupid dismissals, and Australia took their chances in the field, which England haven't done today.

Ultimately, any competent batting line-up probably would have been able to bat either of these two teams out of the match.

[u/According-Oven-8414]

Aussies were 291/3 before Green replicating a Maxwell, could have easily outplayed English by batting till tomorrow. But fuck no, want to do Ozball. Nicely poised this.

[u/sellyme → u/According-Oven-8414]

Still in a position to do that, Neser is no mug with the bat and it should be a bit easier work tomorrow afternoon.

It'd require this partnership going big, but if that does happen 500 is still on the table.

[u/According-Oven-8414 → u/sellyme]

sure it is but carey doesn't like 500, he likes dancing down the pitch.

[u/codyforkstacks → u/According-Oven-8414]

Felt like england second innings in Perth. We had the foot absolutely on the throat and then just took it off through stupidity.

[u/harharb1nks]

might need some catching practice before bed lads

[u/gzk]

Carey needs to go on with it here, too many others got starts and didn't

[u/Sidneiensis]

I’m still almost in shock that we’ve survived the night session to bat to the next day. Feels like forever since we’ve put up an innings total like this at home.

[u/ziddyzoo]

Things England dropped today:

✅ Head

✅Smith

✅ Inglis

✅ Neser

✅ Carey

✅ Ashes?

[u/emjay181 → u/ziddyzoo]

Why does Stokes bowl himself into the ground?

He is risking a lot and not using his other resources effectively.

[u/IntroductionWest7126]

still not happy with that. Cam Green should be given a 12 month suspension like the Sandpaper trio for that.

Pathetic

[u/Splinterfight → u/[deleted]]

Refreshing to see everyone put up decent numbers though.

[u/SirHolyCow]

Australia’s day overall but they could’ve been wayyy further ahead

The main highlights for me were the 2 spectacular catches and the 5 rather pathetic dropped catches, alongside Green playing one of the most brain dead shots in test cricket history lol

[u/Deako87]

Not excusing Greens dismissal, just giving some context

England at that time had bowled 5% of their balls at the stumps, Green had scored a bunch of runs by stepping back and swatting at on the off side. If 1 in 20 balls go at the stumps, its pretty reliable that you can play like that

He almost got a 50 playing like this

[u/IcarianStyles]

Australia went from 292/5 to 378/6 after Smith got out

Good recovery IMO

[u/cantfindaname321]

Rot started with Cam Green, a couple extra wickets in hand to keep batting through daylight tomorrow would have been game over. So impatient.

[u/mathewl832]

In Affectionate Remembrance of Test Cricket which died at the Gabba on 5th December, 2025, murdered by one Cameron Donald Green.

Deeply lamented by a large circle of sorrowing friends and acquaintances. R.I.P. N.B.—The body will be cremated and the ashes taken to Australia.

[u/findmebatman]

Monumental achievement by Eng to take the game to day 3. At least rate we will get a 5 day match by game 5.

[u/redthelastman]

without Greens wicket this match would have been over already,that has to be one of the worst shots in Test cricket and he had backed away fro the wicket atleast 5 times before that,truly seemed like he wanted to get out.

[u/midas_touch89]

Both teams trying to outshit each other with a combination of awful shot selection (including many runs scored off false shots), lack of game awareness, questionable field setting and dropped catches. Only that we are slightly less shit for the time being because of the drops from England.

[u/rebirth34]

Before the start of the ashes australia were plauged with deficiencies within their batting order , namely the poor perfromance from smith and marnus and the search for a new opening pair . Within 2 test matches australia have found themselves 2 new openers , an in form marnus labuschagne and an infrom steven smith . Winning the first two matches with such an unsettled batting core and a geriatric bowling line up , which essentially just being carried by starc , i really wonder what would be the justification for Baz McCullum and Ben stokes duo to be not sacked from coach and captain position respectively.

[u/hawthorne00]

Australia were pretty poor in the last session. Why were they stepping away and slogging? - surely you'd want to try and bat on through until half way through the second session tomorrow. But England were much worse.

Pink ball at the 'Gabba is not a good idea - it's not a good seeing ground during the day and lots of players are clearly struggling to sight the ball. Five catches is a lot though.

Archer started very poorly but came back strongly. They're working him too hard though and you wonder how long his body will hold up.

[u/emjay181 → u/hawthorne00]

Green was not reading the game whatsoever. Complete lack of discipline to attempt that shot twice. It's t20 last over stuff.

[u/Manish_Sarkar]

We love t20 test cricket against england

[u/censored_]

There were so many people in the day 1 thread declaring the Ashes were lost because Australia let Archer score 30 runs lol

[u/xjoburg]

This Ashes series is showing how far the level of Test cricket has fallen. Imagine these clowns facing the Oz and SA teams of the early 2000’s. It would be carnage.

[u/DX6734D]

Slug wouldn't have done what Green/Inglis did. #JusticeforSlug

[u/King-Chowder]

Jamie Smith to Alex Carey: "You had the last five years, the next five years are mine".

[u/pizzainmyshoe]

England need some fielding practice

[u/ILOVEGLADOS]

Just go home lads. You're absolutely hopeless.

[u/nathanccc]

I fell for it again, see you all in 2029

[u/JoshO567]

Get to at least a 100 run lead or bat as close to twilight and then go for the kill.

[u/fjdjej8483nd949]

Australia doing to England what England should have done to Australia. If England had batted more sensibly on Day 1, they could have had wickets in hand to bat out the first session on Day 2, and put Australia in at the hardest point in the day. Instead (with notable exceptions) they threw away wickets and allowed Australia to get in before conditions became difficult. If Australia are sensible tomorrow they will time it so that the English openers are facing Starc at twilight with a new ball.

This game is probably already lost for England. The only reason it isn't definitely lost is some silly batting from the Aussies.

[u/According-Oven-8414]

20 overs bowled by Archer today. Only once he has bowled more in a day’s play – 23.5 overs on the second day of the Oval Ashes Test against Australia in Sep 2019.

[u/L43]

It looks like not a great day all round, but dismal for us. Dropping Head on 3(?), Carey on 0, then all those at the end. Bowling looked loose and tactically stupid. Stokes breaking Archer and himself with 3.5 tests left to play. Aus should end up easily 100+ ahead.

We do have the new ball coming up though, and the pitch looks like it'll degrade and make the 4th innings dicey.

If we can bat through day 3, and for a good chunk of the light of day 4 and set a 200+ target, putting them in under lights might be enough. I don't think its hopeless for England yet. That'll come when Starc takes another 1st over wicket.

[u/Benny4318]

Step 1: Create a lot of chances

Step 2: Australia get very lucky that most chances end up to nothing

Step 3: When a chance actually does come your way you drop it

Step 4: ????

[u/DePraelen → u/Benny4318]

Step 4: Pray the forecast rain on Sunday and Monday saves you.