Saturday, December 30, 2017

Australia Finish Strongly In Drawn Test.

As I write, the fourth test is petering out to an inevitable draw. England have played reasonably well but in their second innings, the Aussies have stolen back to some kind of parity. 
Again, how many England batsmen have simply gifted away their wickets? (At least in this match, the bowling attack seem to have finally learned how to bowl an appropriate length.)
Disappointing. Even if rain had not intervened on Day Four, I doubt that England would have possessed sufficient firepower to bowl the Aussies out on a very flat pitch and using the wretched Kookaburra ball which is excessively batsmen-friendly.
3 - 0 down after four matches - at least the whitewash has been avoided!
The Aussie success may be almost wholly down to the extravagant form of skipper Steve Smith whose 600+ runs over four matches have been the difference between being better than England - and dominating them! 
But then again - when they have three fast bowlers who are regularly bowling in excess of 90mph and we don't - maybe defeat is almost inevitable. England have had to use part-time spinners - the Aussies have got Nathan Lyon - the top wicket-taker in the world in the last year.
England on tour have failed yet again. Using English conditions - you would back Joe Root's side against anyone but away from these shores - they are wretched! I simply dread our next tour to the Indian sub-continent as England can neither bowl spin nor bat against it!

The African Churches Are Putting Us To Shame.

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