Aussies claim a catch that was originally given out on Broad and on review it was grounded by Voges Mitchell was bowling and got boooooed when he went back to the boundary and i think he give the crowd the old Nescafe wave
My primary disagreement is with a two point gap between Giles and Ali. I'd reduce it to one or even score them equally.
That's interesting. Because I think there's a massive gulf between the two. I have compared them in the role of number eight batsman and spinner who's role is to give the quicks a break. In terms of batting, Giles knew which end of the bat to hold - without question. But, in his entire career, he only made a highest Test score of 59. Ali, meanwhile has a highest Test score of 108* despite having only played in 11 Tests. In terms of bowling, they are closer. Giles' Test best was 5/59, while Ali's is 6/67. Both Ali's batting and bowling averages are 8 better than Giles'. So, in terms of numbers, it's unarguable.
But what's important is what they do for the team. Ali *can* turn an innings that has a bad start into a decent score. Whereas you never got the impression that Giles would turn a 60/6 into a 350 all out. And this year's Tests are not going to be played on turning pitches. So the Ashes won't necessarily be won by the team with the best spinner; they'll be won by the team that can avoid capitulation, reinforce winning positions and "edge" the key moments. For my money, Ali is brilliantly suited to do those jobs, whereas Giles was, if not a walking wicket, an easily-overcome obstacle to the tail-enders.
Of course, we might even see Adil Rashid play instead. If so, it will be because the strategy to win on slow, seaming wickets has failed and we'll be onto plan "B".
Moeen Ali's highest Ashes score is now higher than Ashley Giles'. And, whatever happens in the rest of this match, Ali will have a higher Ashes batting average than Ashley.
At 43-3 I would have taken 430 all day long. Still a very good surface for batting, draw is probably the favorite with the 5th day looking like being a wash out...
Wasn't the worst review but I'd love to see the stats for each review made by a bowler. And I wouldn't mind betting that Broad would be somewhere near the bottom for successful ones.
Comments
Mitchell was bowling and got boooooed when he went back to the boundary and i think he give the crowd the old Nescafe wave
380-7.
Broad c Haddin b Lyon 18 (Eng 395-8).
England now 412-8.
416-8 now with Ali on 74 and Wood on 3
We know what happened yesterday after the drinks break.
Don't you just love it when a fast bowler (Starc) tries to bounce a tail ender - and it ends up going for five wides.
We never used to manage that in ODIs
(Glad I F*cking Came).
Anderson b Starc 1
Wood not out 7
Starc 5-114.
So, England in the marginally better position. Now let's reinforce it.
430 all out