SPORT/BETTING: Ashes Update (2)
Fucking English weather. This has been a nightmare test for reading the atmosphere. Rain has been coming out of nowhere; basically sub-tropical conditions, humid warm days warming up the clouds to dump a bit of aqua over the cricket pitch. Add to that Ponting's unbelievable decision to come off for bad light (on Day 2, I can understand it on Day 3), and I'm in a bit of a hole.
At least I got one thing right a couple of days ago. Ponting is dumb. For some months, I've always though that he bears a striking resemblance to George W. Bush. Now I believe he is a clone and shares the same (lack of) intelligence. That decision on Day 2 to go off for bad light when you're 112-0 and needing to win the game defies belief. I can understand last night's decision, only 5 overs were left and 2 to the new ball. But on Day 2, they lost at least an hour, closer to 90 minutes and the light wasn't that bad. On the one hand, I hope it comes back to bite them on the bum; however my book does need an Aussie win to get out of this little hole I've dug...
Australia can still win this test, and I'm impressed with the way they are playing - not panicking and getting into a position where they can win it on the final day (and the opposition can't). It's a bit like the Aussie of old; I have seen so many tests where their opposition have had parity over the first 3 days only to be crushed on the fourth or fifth day, so it wouldn't surprise me that they get over the line in this one. Even in this series, they have been very strong in the latter stages of the last 3 test matches (fighting back to nearly win, or draw, after being dominated for the first 3 or 4 days) so it will be an interesting test of England's mental strength when they come out to bat.
England will need to bat about 90 overs at some stage to save this test. That's a tough ask, although the pitch has not deteriorated to the extent I would like thanks to the weather interruptions. Much will depend on what England can bowl Australia out for - the bigger the lead, the more pressure their batsmen will be under, and the more likely Aussie will win. In short, if Aussie can get to 550, I fancy an Aussie win - anything less, that victory parade can go ahead.
At least I got one thing right a couple of days ago. Ponting is dumb. For some months, I've always though that he bears a striking resemblance to George W. Bush. Now I believe he is a clone and shares the same (lack of) intelligence. That decision on Day 2 to go off for bad light when you're 112-0 and needing to win the game defies belief. I can understand last night's decision, only 5 overs were left and 2 to the new ball. But on Day 2, they lost at least an hour, closer to 90 minutes and the light wasn't that bad. On the one hand, I hope it comes back to bite them on the bum; however my book does need an Aussie win to get out of this little hole I've dug...
Australia can still win this test, and I'm impressed with the way they are playing - not panicking and getting into a position where they can win it on the final day (and the opposition can't). It's a bit like the Aussie of old; I have seen so many tests where their opposition have had parity over the first 3 days only to be crushed on the fourth or fifth day, so it wouldn't surprise me that they get over the line in this one. Even in this series, they have been very strong in the latter stages of the last 3 test matches (fighting back to nearly win, or draw, after being dominated for the first 3 or 4 days) so it will be an interesting test of England's mental strength when they come out to bat.
England will need to bat about 90 overs at some stage to save this test. That's a tough ask, although the pitch has not deteriorated to the extent I would like thanks to the weather interruptions. Much will depend on what England can bowl Australia out for - the bigger the lead, the more pressure their batsmen will be under, and the more likely Aussie will win. In short, if Aussie can get to 550, I fancy an Aussie win - anything less, that victory parade can go ahead.
Labels: cricket
posted by Rob Crawford at 3:50 PM
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