Test Cricket Prediction and Discussion Thread [self - mod]

[Avirunes]

I'm really not sure why the Australian selectors keep playing Warner as he failed once again with the bat, he should of been dropped for Finch and maybe then Australia could get a good start.

I feel the same way. They should have replaced him with Finch. But I think Warner is much into Test format and have helped Australia in lot of test matches earlier so I get why Australia is putting trust into him despite poor performance.

If it would have been ODI then they would have replaced him with Finch in 3-4 match. (that's what I feel)

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[JSRAW]

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I feel the same way. They should have replaced him with Finch. But I think Warner is much into Test format and have helped Australia in lot of test matches earlier so I get why Australia is putting trust into him despite poor performance.

If it would have been ODI then they would have replaced him with Finch in 3-4 match. (that's what I feel)

I have a biased opinion in favor of Warner, but the truth is Finch sucks as a Test opener when bowl doing a bit with seam and reverse. Australia can try Finch against Pakistan in home series and Drop Warner or maybe Harris for the next 2 test.

[bryant.coleman]

England is in control of the Test match for the first time in this ashes and if they are able to built a good second innings score they could level the Ashes. Smith is continuing his form if not they would have lost the Ashes. Australia need some major changes as none of the players are consistent and hence they are changing the team members with every match. England has good players but they are yet to prove their worth in the longer format of the game.

I wouldn't say that they are in control. If they had a lead in excess of 100 runs in the first innings, then I would have agreed with you. But their lead of 69 runs is not something that is very unsurmountable. Even in this test, none of their batsmen (perhaps apart from Ben Stokes) looked capable of confronting the Australian bowlers without any fear.

Australia continues to depend too much on Steve Smith and this may prove to be their undoing. The only other batsman who gave him some sort of support was Marnus Labuschagne (even he was unable to score a half century). All of them failed against the pace of Jofra Archer in a pitch that gave no extra assistance to the fast bowlers.

[onrise]

England is in control of the Test match for the first time in this ashes and if they are able to built a good second innings score they could level the Ashes. Smith is continuing his form if not they would have lost the Ashes. Australia need some major changes as none of the players are consistent and hence they are changing the team members with every match. England has good players but they are yet to prove their worth in the longer format of the game.

I wouldn't say that they are in control. If they had a lead in excess of 100 runs in the first innings, then I would have agreed with you. But their lead of 69 runs is not something that is very unsurmountable. Even in this test, none of their batsmen (perhaps apart from Ben Stokes) looked capable of confronting the Australian bowlers without any fear.

Australia continues to depend too much on Steve Smith and this may prove to be their undoing. The only other batsman who gave him some sort of support was Marnus Labuschagne (even he was unable to score a half century). All of them failed against the pace of Jofra Archer in a pitch that gave no extra assistance to the fast bowlers.

Considering the England who has had good first innings but could not capitalize it so actually it is true that match may just not be 100% in control of the England. Though they have a bright chance to win it if they play really well as currently they lead by 78 and have 10 wickets . Anything above 325 to chase would be a challenging total.

[AB de Royse777]

Australia continues to depend too much on Steve Smith

Another proof that without Smith, Australia batting line is very fragile. Smith out and Australian team booked for only 225 runs. Imagine in the 2nd innings Smith somehow fails to perform then Australia is going to lose this Test.

This is not very good situation for Smith too. He is in under pressure whenever he is coming for batting. This consent pressure eventually will harm his batting performance. If he fails to get run is constitutive 2 or 3 innings then he will have the same time like Warner is having now. Australian team really needs to train their batsmen psychologically. All of them are very much capable of scoring big but at this moment their performance is not up to the mark.

[Haunebu]

Even in this match Smith is the lone survivor and taking the team to a respectable total even when the entire team fail to spend some time on the crease. He is on a legendary form at the moment and he could break many records in the series for the most runs scored in history, hands down he is the best Test player right now with an average above 60 is something incredible. England is bowling really well as they have already lost 7 wickets and Smith is the still batting and looks like he will run out of partners.

As expected, Archer stepped up and Australia are in deep trouble now. I still don't understand why they replaced Starc again since he is great with both bat and ball and it seems like a bad decision. Cummins and Wood will be going in for the kill now.

If he fails to get run is constitutive 2 or 3 innings then he will have the same time like Warner is having now. Australian team really needs to train their batsmen psychologically. All of them are very much capable of scoring big but at this moment their performance is not up to the mark.

Very true. They are over-dependent on Smith at the moment which I mentioned was a bad thing recently. Credit needs to be given to Archer though who was spectacular. My bet is on a draw or an English win if they score over 200 in the 2nd innings.

[AB de Royse777]

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My bet is on a draw or an English win if they score over 200 in the 2nd innings.

I am still for Australia. Even if they have a target of 350+ runs to chase still I believe that Australia can manage it even though their betting lineup is performing the worse.

My calculation based on Smiths performance by the way. He is a character and he will not give away his wickets until he take the ship to the port.

[FIFA worldcup]

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My bet is on a draw or an English win if they score over 200 in the 2nd innings.

I am still for Australia. Even if they have a target of 350+ runs to chase still I believe that Australia can manage it even though their betting lineup is performing the worse.

My calculation based on Smiths performance by the way. He is a character and he will not give away his wickets until he take the ship to the port.

You mean if Aussie get a target of 350, smith will make 250 of those runs ? Anything under 400 is chase able provide all the Aussie batsmen come in the form in the last innings of the Ashes.
Also i still do not think it will be as straight forward as everyone is expecting. Like in the previous 2 tests we might see more twists in this test match too.

[Vishnu.Reang]

Australia continues to depend too much on Steve Smith

Another proof that without Smith, Australia batting line is very fragile. Smith out and Australian team booked for only 225 runs. Imagine in the 2nd innings Smith somehow fails to perform then Australia is going to lose this Test.

This is not very good situation for Smith too. He is in under pressure whenever he is coming for batting. This consent pressure eventually will harm his batting performance. If he fails to get run is constitutive 2 or 3 innings then he will have the same time like Warner is having now. Australian team really needs to train their batsmen psychologically. All of them are very much capable of scoring big but at this moment their performance is not up to the mark.

Rather than providing training, the current bunch of selectors needs to be kicked out along with non-performing batsmen such as David Warner. Warner has managed to score just 84 runs in 9 innings and I don't know how the selectors are able to justify their decision to include him in the playing XI. On the other hand, Mitchell Starc was given just one opportunity and was dropped despite picking up 4 wickets.

[akhjob]

For the first time in the series, it looks like ENG are in control of the match. Denly and Stokes are doing a good job at the moment and the lead is almost nearing 250. At this rate, if they don't collapse, I believe they'll set a target over 400 runs. And if they concentrate on taking the wickets of AUS players other than Smith, they got a chance to level this series.

[AB de Royse777]

330 runs lead for England so far.
5 wickets in hand.
Buttler is still batting.
More than two days in hand.

Everything is looking good for England in this Test. However if they can not win this Test from here (except rain interrupt) then it will be unfortunate for entire English team.

[akhjob]

By the end of 3rd day, England is leading by 382 runs. Everything was working in favour of ENG especially when the partnership of Denly and Stokes was going on. Buttler managed to get a few runs on board. But after that there was a bit of a collapse but I think they still have some chances of winning this match. A target close to 400 is tough to achieve on the fourth innings. Anyhow, let's see how AUS is going to bat.

[AB de Royse777]

Australia will have a 400+ runs to chase for sure if England's last two wickets last for at least half an hour, tomorrow morning. After that Australia will have around two days to chase down the target. The only motivation for Australia will be to get points for Test Championship since the Ashes has already retained by Aussies.

Can we see a good innings from Warner? Dude really needs some run.

[akhjob]

Australia will have a 400+ runs to chase for sure if England's last two wickets last for at least half an hour, tomorrow morning. After that Australia will have around two days to chase down the target. The only motivation for Australia will be to get points for Test Championship since the Ashes has already retained by Aussies.

Don't you think that there is a difference between winning a cup and retaining a cup by drawing/leveling a series   I don't think points alone are a motivation

Can we see a good innings from Warner? Dude really needs some run.

I highly doubt that Broad is just playing with his wicket.

[AB de Royse777]

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Don't you think that there is a difference between winning a cup and retaining a cup by drawing/leveling a series  I don't think points alone are a motivation

Yeah you got me, after all it's Ashes :-D

[erikalui]

400 runs are not enough and with only 2 wickets left, I don't think they can add even 50 more runs. To win this match, everything now again depends on Smith's wicket. I thought they would reach 450 easily when Butler was still present at the crease but after his wicket, no hope left.

[AB de Royse777]

I thought they would reach 450 easily when Butler was still present at the crease but after his wicket, no hope left.

England were looking very good before they were losing their 5th wicket. Quickly losing Woakes especially Buttler, slowed the run scoring and also the dream to give big target to Aussies. But around 400ish target will not be bad at all. Quite safe unless Smith snitch the dream from English.

Again this test will be between Smith and England.

[Little Mouse]

400 runs are not enough and with only 2 wickets left, I don't think they can add even 50 more runs. To win this match, everything now again depends on Smith's wicket. I thought they would reach 450 easily when Butler was still present at the crease but after his wicket, no hope left.

I think 400 is quite a good amount of run. It will not be that easy to chase this score. I don't think this Ashes will be a full of record. At this moment there's only 3 successful 382+ chase. If England can't get more run and Australia chase it, it will be 4th highest successful chase in test history, probably 1st in Ashes.

[7788bitcoin]

As expected, Archer stepped up and Australia are in deep trouble now. I still don't understand why they replaced Starc again since he is great with both bat and ball and it seems like a bad decision. Cummins and Wood will be going in for the kill now.

Apart from Smith the entire team is a failure and they are not sure how to sort their situation and hence they are changing the players with every match, England is in another situation where none of the players are performing, bowlers are doing their part in the series for England and Australia but the batsman are not consistent. If smith is not in the form of his life, it would be an interesting encounter as the bowlers rule the entire series.
England now has a lead of 382 runs and 2 days left, England should level the series this time around.

[eaLiTy]

~ snip

I wouldn't say that they are in control. If they had a lead in excess of 100 runs in the first innings, then I would have agreed with you. But their lead of 69 runs is not something that is very unsurmountable.

Would you agree now that England is in control with a lead of 382 and two full days left for this match , when Australia struggled to put runs on the board apart from Smith i knew the match is getting away from Australia and now England have a commendable lead against them and it is a matter of how long they will go before declaring and putting Australia to bat, England will level the series in my opinion and we will see some major changes in the Australian team.