The Ashes 2006/07: The Perth Test Thread - Day Three.

[Rachael]

Originally Posted by Underzaker

Will England go for a win? [...] They have nothing to lose.

Yes they do: a Test match. A drawn match is always better than a loss... and in this game it would keep the Ashes alive into the fourth Test where losing would concede the series.

Precedent: Atherton's heroic rearguard action in SA. There are no real gremlins in the pitch (a bit of up and down movement, but nothing that cannot be countered if batsmen avoid cross bat shots off the front foot). It's technically feasible... and Cook, Bell and Collingwood have the temperament for it... so that HAS to be plan 'A'.

[Underzaker]

Risky declaration. The morale is shattered but 2 days is still enough to reach the target needed.
Should have set the target 600+.

One or two overs more and Gilly would have covered that.

[Underzaker]

They will never survive 2 days so better have a go at it.

At least their misery would not be extended to the next two matches.

[Irish Left Armer]

Well there's 1 down. Strauss leaves a ball swinging into his pads. Silly boy.

[Underzaker]

This is brutal.

Human rights should intervene.

[Irish Left Armer]

Going over the top according to Hawk Eye, that's dodgy dismissal number 3 for Strauss this series.

In fairness though, he was asking for it, not playing a shot.

England's bowling, fielding and captaincy at fault as much as Strauss though, shouldn't have let the Aussies get into a position where they could put them in tonight.

[Mike]

Hawkeye showed it was going over the stumps. Another poor decision involving Strauss.

[Aussie-Yank]

When a batsman leaves the ball and are trapped in front you are always going to be judge harshly.

[south beds mikey]

Originally Posted by Irish Left Armer

Well there's 1 down. Strauss leaves a ball swinging into his pads. Silly boy.

Leaving on length. Clearly going over but with Rudi in charge not being out isn't enough it seems. The way to avoid it is put a green cap on, middle one to silly point, stand there and wait for Rudi to give you not out. Strauss must be spitting bullets. By my reckoning thats 3 out of 6 really bad decisions hes had, and the ICC say they get 95% right?!

Congratulations Australia, they absolutely deserve it. Its just a crying shame that from our point of view a combination of really poor umpiring and even worse befuddeld selection and captaincy has made this so easy for them.

One point I would like to make is that despite a few things going against us I have not seen one of our players shout obcenities at the Aussie balcony like certain defeated ashes sides I could mention.

Oh well, roll on 2009!!

[south beds mikey]

Fletcher just being interviewed on Sky and STILL wont admit any selection mistakes!! This really is arrogance of the highest order

Assuming our usual abject 1 day performance and humiliation in the VB and world cup I think Fletchers time may have run its course.