Lord’s Day 3

What a terrible turn for the 🐐. 

Gaz’s calf injury appears to be bad . Bad enough to potentially rule him out of the series, and on his 💯 consecutive test no less. However there is more to this story. I refer you to my favourite cartoon of the past few years, Bluey. But there is one episode in particular called "Cricket" (please invest the 7 minutes by clicking this iView link) that has been described as "a masterpiece", "brilliant", and "perfect". It has even claimed tears from grown men's eyes on occasion. For those who haven't seen it, I recommend you click this link for a run down, or here's another critique is here.

While that news is bad for the Aussies, it could have been much worse. What the cricket public did discover today is that Bazball is trumped by Ronball. England were poised to take a big first innings lead at the Home of Cricket. But instead, some absolute laughable shot selection by the English (none worse than Donny’s hideous cross bat hack) meant they would finish their stint 91 runs of the visitors. The Australian bowlers changed their length as they weren't bowling on the M31 for this test, and started to deliver some chin music to the English - I'm not sure what chin music would sound like, but I'd like to think it would be like this --> The Tenants. The morning session saw the hosts lose 6 wickets for 47 runs in under 16 overs. It was mildly amusing seeing more mature pundits like Geoffrey Boycott shaking his head at some of the dismissals. Baz and Bent: please refer to the lesson from Bluey above...

While an increased run rate allows a bowling team more time to take 20 wickets, the downfall is if you throw your wickets away, you can’t chase down the total. 

The second innings began well enough for the visitors, but true to form for the series so far, the cloud rolled in and the Duke began moving sooner than the 12th over as it has previously done once the lacquer has been removed. Short window of opportunity for optimal usage given they’re being replaced at the 30th over on average. Australia’s left handed openers began positively with still a touch of caution. Positive stroke play tool the opening stand beyond 60 until the Pool Cleaner was taken LBW by Too Much yet again - gone for 25 in the 25th over. 

Enter The Conductor who was looking more fidgety than usual. Keen not to be a leg before victim like his predecessor, Marnus was batting a metric mile outside the crease. So much so that the CuddlyBair attempted to stump him (SPOILER ALERT - the significance of this action will obviously reveal itself later). I think Marnus was just happy to not be facing Archer, and under the circumstances of four years ago. But hopefully that same grit would see him press home the Green Caps’ advantage. Oops, spoke to soon, gone for 30 and caught by Donny too. The rain seemed to halt England’s momentum as the Aussies reached 2/130. The soon to be outlawed Sportsbet, has the Aussies as $1.20 favourites but stranger things have happened in test cricket, especially when betting is involved. 

Looking forward to Day 4

JT