England limp to 31/4 (still 51 behind) at Stumps on Day 2 after bowling out Australia for 267

[MenInG]

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[MenInG]

Situation dire for England - miracle needed to win this game but will it happen?

[Amjid Javed]

Situation dire for England - miracle needed to win this game but will it happen?

Aussies will pile up the runs today and will be 150 runs ahead at least by close of play. Eng bowlers dont have runs to play with, plus their catch is so poor it stops them having any chance of applying constant pressure.

[Majestic_Inzi]

Aussies will pile up the runs today and will be 150 runs ahead at least by close of play. Eng bowlers dont have runs to play with, plus their catch is so poor it stops them having any chance of applying constant pressure.

I think if Lamb and Smith taken out early, eng will be back in it.

[SwitchHit]

What are the Odds of Australia Declaring at 430-7 and England ending the day at 25-2.

[The Googly]

I blame Root.

Did you see his body language after losing the toss? He was about to cry and said he wanted bowl first! Instead of smiling and showing defiance by saying thing like 'We don't care' and 'Aussies will be batting last', he simply looked beaten. This was then reflected in the way the England openers walked out. They looked scared. Meek. Ready to surrender. Body language was negative. Contrast this with the ways the Aussie openers SWAGGERED to the crease. Full of intent, fire and brimstone. Joe Root really is a poor captain and is making this England team worse then it is.

[Saj]

Aussies to bat all day?

Then put England in and win by an innings?

[Manunited18]

I blame Root.

Did you see his body language after losing the toss? He was about to cry and said he wanted bowl first! Instead of smiling and showing defiance by saying thing like 'We don't care' and 'Aussies will be batting last', he simply looked beaten. This was then reflected in the way the England openers walked out. They looked scared. Meek. Ready to surrender. Body language was negative. Contrast this with the ways the Aussie openers SWAGGERED to the crease. Full of intent, fire and brimstone. Joe Root really is a poor captain and is making this England team worse then it is.

Whilst I do agree Roots captaincy/leadership is questionable, but when it comes to how many times he's bailed out or trying to bail out out the batting is laughable. It's basically "get Root and it's over"

[Amjid Javed]

Aussies to bat all day?

Then put England in and win by an innings?

pretty much what will happen. All fight in england team has be removed as soon as 2nd test ended.

[Gilly]

I dont think the England players want to play ashes cricket anymore, the series is too long and they are away from home too long. They would prefer to play T20 competitions and earn more money. Its over for the ashes and the next two decades will see the ashes fade into the background.

[Saj]

ECB Statement

The England team and management are currently at the team hotel awaiting results of RFT COVID tests following a positive test in the team’s family group.

We will provide more information in due course.

[DeadlyVenom]

I dont think the England players want to play ashes cricket anymore, the series is too long and they are away from home too long. They would prefer to play T20 competitions and earn more money. Its over for the ashes and the next two decades will see the ashes fade into the background.

The Ashes is whats keeping test cricket alive.

If this goes the whole ship will sink.

[Gilly]

The Ashes is whats keeping test cricket alive.

If this goes the whole ship will sink.

Players will not want to dedicate their careers to a series that pays less than six weeks of T20.

[Saj]

ECB:

The England team have been given the all clear to travel to the MCG and we are about to set off from the team hotel.

[DeadlyVenom]

Im surprised that the game is allowed to continue.

[Gilly]

Im surprised that the game is allowed to continue.

If England lose this test you can bet there will be plenty of positive tests and England will return home.

[Firebat]

ECB:

The England team have been given the all clear to travel to the MCG and we are about to set off from the team hotel.

Update: Day 2 will begin at 11am local time, a 30-minute delay, the same as yesterday.

[Savak]

Deep down, England must be wishing this series is called off due to the rising number of Covid Cases. It is pretty clear that England did not want to tour Australia for this Ashes at all due to the prolonged Bio Secure Bubble, none of the players have looked up for this series but commercial interests dictated that this series go ahead.

[The Googly]

Whilst I do agree Roots captaincy/leadership is questionable, but when it comes to how many times he's bailed out or trying to bail out out the batting is laughable. It's basically "get Root and it's over"

Great player of course - in the top 2/3. But as a captain, he is awful.

[wrongun]

Deep down, England must be wishing this series is called off due to the rising number of Covid Cases. It is pretty clear that England did not want to tour Australia for this Ashes at all due to the prolonged Bio Secure Bubble, none of the players have looked up for this series but commercial interests dictated that this series go ahead.

"Commercial interests". Or 150 years of tradition? The expectations of a cricket loving public? Why would the Ashes be called off when there is cricket happening in SA? Domestic BBL still being played...

It's the Ashes.

[wrongun]

Great player of course - in the top 2/3. But as a captain, he is awful.

Yep. He's too nervous to tell Jimmy & Broad to bowl the way he bloody wants them to out on the ground. So he'd rather drop them since he came into the side as a boy, when they were big shots & he's never managed to change the relationship to one where he's comfortable giving direct, clear instructions to them & dousing any pushback from them.

He'd probably be a more confident & competent captain with an attack of Wood, Archer, Overton, Mahmood (select 3).

The difference between the two is Root batting anyway (the boring, batting captains constant choice for every toss) at Brisbane when it looked like a "bowl first" wicket & weather. Then Cummins getting the same choice- greenish pitch, bit of cloud at Melbourne & taking the innovative, aggressive option, bowl first, get em out, bat when it's easy.

[The Googly]

Just watch the England team ready to go on the field. Heads down. Looking miserable. Hameed standing apart from the rest. Shocking body language.

[The Googly]

Anderson and Broad - this should be their last series abroad.

[Justcrazy]

England has 124 runs lead , They need to make it count , just come out and bowl as if the series depends on it , they have to get wickets here, there is NO other way , its make or break.

[Justcrazy]

Wood should have been given the go here

[Justcrazy]

Four Four

Lyon doing well here , reducing the lead

[Majestic_Inzi]

Ollie is poor bowler

[Justcrazy]

Robinson strikes , Poms need a few more of this

[The Googly]

Interesting comment from Ian Chappel. "It's hard for a bowler to hit the stumps in Australia"

[The Googly]

Labushagne is a cocky so and so! Fair play. Top player.

[Majestic_Inzi]

Toothless bowling

[imshally81]

Interesting comment from Ian Chappel. "It's hard for a bowler to hit the stumps in Australia"

Agreed...

[Justcrazy]

Aussies trail by 105 runs here

[imshally81]

Wood strikes in his first over..

[Majestic_Inzi]

Smith averages 91 here

[imshally81]

Another dropped for butler.. But tough chance

[imshally81]

Need at least one more slip on Stokes bowling..

[Majestic_Inzi]

Another dropped for butler.. But tough chance

That wasnt a chance

[imshally81]

That wasnt a chance

It was a chance... But very tough

[Majestic_Inzi]

Need smith early if they want a sniff in this test.

[imshally81]

Out n review...

[realitygaf]

How is root so incompetent that he left out Broad in both green tops. The pitches where he performs the best . How is he so incompetent

[imshally81]

Smith gone...

[Majestic_Inzi]

3 best batsmen of aus gone.

[jnaveen1980]

Excellent comeback by England. Finally, they have a chance to turn a test around. They should be relentless Rest of the lineup is not that good.

[Justcrazy]

Poms have 58 runs to play with , need to get few more wickets here and restrict Aussies within 200 here

[James]

Some handy breakthroughs and something for the English fans to enjoy. There is however still a lot of bowling for England to do here. We could be looking at a lower scoring game. England won’t want to concede more than 220, and certainly not more than 250 (absolute tops). Seems like Warne was onto something when he said yesterday that 275 would have been a very competitive score first up on this pitch.

[Majestic_Inzi]

Whats the point of leach?

Harris has been very lucky it looks like he will score big 2day. Need these wickets quick as aus likely to score 300 here.

[DeadlyVenom]

Mark Wood is a joy to watch.

He should be the first name in Englands bowling line up for every match outside of Asia.

The most bizarre decision out of the many bizarre decisions was 'resting' him for the second test.

[Ab Fan]

Good fightback from England. Hopefully, they stay on their toes and keep doing well session by session to go and win this test as you don't want the series to be dead by third test only.

[Ab Fan]

Too much of X not playing last test or Y being left out on these tests.

Let us be aware of real facts now :-

1. The only reason Mark Wood is doing well in this test is because he was rested last game and hence his pace is up and is trying to bring out his best here in a must win game. He has never played back to back three tests on trott. That tells us why he has not been able to be bracketed among the top league of fast bowlers.

2. Broad not playing is completely due to his lackluster performance over past 2 years. He has been poor throughout this period since the time he has cashed on the Windies at home conditions. Went wicketless in India.

3. Leech could have been backed for another test but given that it was pink ball test, they went all way out with four pacers in the 130s zone who can swing or seam it.

It is true that Root and team management have shown inability to read the game as well but there is clearly the lack of quality in all departments of the game too for England. If they had a fit Archer, things could have been slightly different. Having said that, they won't have been winning with Archer in the mix either. They would have just been a bit more competitive in this series.

[Justcrazy]

Leech needs to get wickets here and justify his spot

[Justcrazy]

England need to find couple of good spinners if they want to compete well at Test level.

[Justcrazy]

Leech has been a weak link here

[Nikhil_cric]

Mark Wood's average speed this test has been 150 kph? Tyars unbelievable

[Devadwal]

Buttler countinue to give chance for Australia batters .

[Justcrazy]

50 runs partnership so far.

[Majestic_Inzi]

Game slipping away now.

[Justcrazy]

Travis Head once again is looking good here .

[jnaveen1980]

If England limits the lead to 50 or less they have a real chance to turn this into a one innings Test.

[Devadwal]

Australian commentators really shocked about Indian team performance in Australia that's why they often talked about india during ashes

[imshally81]

Jack Leach is a useless bowler by country mile

[jnaveen1980]

No plan against Harris?

[imshally81]

Andersin strikes again.. Harris gone

[Devadwal]

Anderson get's Harris .

[Majestic_Inzi]

Some think eng are still in this, i dont think they are now, a lead close to 100 will be difficult to make up.

[Justcrazy]

OUT

Aussies 6 down here !

[Justcrazy]

England have to get the tail quick here , they cannot afford a big lead by Aussies.

[Majestic_Inzi]

Wicket Haris gone, its a rollercoaster

[Ozeirk]

This might be the point when England comes back into the Ashes.

[jnaveen1980]

How does Green generally bat? 3 runs in 31 balls. Not sure where he is going to go with this innings.

[MenInG]

Update: Day 2 will begin at 11am local time, a 30-minute delay, the same as yesterday.

Cricket Australia StatementCricket Australia has been informed that two members of the England Cricket Team’s support staff and two of their family members have returned a positive COVID-19 Rapid Antigen Test. The affected individuals are currently isolating.

The entire playing group and all other support staff have undertaken Rapid Antigen Tests this morning and all have tested negative. The England Cricket team will also have PCR tests today, and both teams will take extra precautions throughout play. Both playing squads remain unchanged.

There is currently no further impact on fans or other parts of the venue. Cricket Australia and the MCC will continue to monitor the situation and follow the endorsed Victorian Government COVID-Safe Event Plan.

Play will has been delay this morning and will resume at 11:00am AEDT.

[Majestic_Inzi]

This might be the point when England comes back into the Ashes.

All depends what lead aus get.

[jnaveen1980]

Anderson 6019 overs. Now 1003 overs more than the next highest which is Stuart Broad with 5013 overs.

[wrongun]

Mark Wood's average speed this test has been 150 kph? Tyars unbelievable

Commentattors are saying avg 146k, which is still very impressive fast bowling. He's hit 150 a number of times just in the periods I've watched. It's the missing ingredient which makes the others more likely to take wickets around him + he got Marnus. You've got a quality, ultra experienced operator in Jimmy up one end with accuracy & subtle movement. You've got sheer speed unsettling guys at the other end.

I think Wood is quite a good bowler, he's hit the edge & the splice a number of times. Short spell here & then bring him back run through the tail.

[sindhiboy]

This pitch now has alot of movement and bounce.
Eng are regretting picking Leach over broad

[wrongun]

How does Green generally bat? 3 runs in 31 balls. Not sure where he is going to go with this innings.

Generally a proper, correct type batsman. Bats in the top 4 in Shield cricket. So he'll try and build an innings and is capable of hitting to all parts once he gets in. But he's not a Stokes or Buttler type destroyer who comes in & tries to dominate from ball one.

[Aman]

Aus are playing with 10 with Cam Green in the team. Useless.

[Aman]

Generally a proper, correct type batsman. Bats in the top 4 in Shield cricket. So he'll try and build an innings and is capable of hitting to all parts once he gets in. But he's not a Stokes or Buttler type destroyer who comes in & tries to dominate from ball one.

He's not Test standard currently.

Not a meaningful contribution with bat or ball in his entire Test career over 2 years.

No idea why you're fine with playing with 10. Overseas it's going to backfire bad.

[jnaveen1980]

Looks like it is not going to be much of a lead for Australia.