Friday, August 12, 2005
Following on?
Another fabulous days cricket from Old Trafford. England failed to push home their day one advantage and only added 103 runs to the overnight total, but then struck back taking seven Aussie wickets before stumps.
With Warne and Gillespie batting, and only Lee and McGrath to come, the big question is what to do if they cannot add another 35 runs to their total to save the follow on? Should England put them back in, or bat once more themselves in the hope of getting so far ahead that they cannot lose?
The weather will also play a big part in any decision, with the forecast for rain until mid-afternoon tomorrow.
In my opinion, if it rains as expected or longer, if we can get the last three wickets quickly, we should enforce the follow on. If the weather is good though, and we get them out early in the morning I would bat again.
This Aussie team are no mugs, even if they have been playing poorly (or below par) over the last couple of weeks. If they bat properly on this pitch, a second innings total in excess of 400 is well within them, and to see England bat against Warne on the last day chasing 200-odd could be painful. I would much rather we batted again, made 300 and then asked them to hit a record last innings score to win. If England didn't make the runs expected, the feeling would be that we could get them out too, as they had us.
Of course, Warne, Lee, Gillespie and McGrath are quite capable of getting a lot more than the 35 needed tomorrow to save the follow on - they did get over 100 for the last two wickets at Edgbaston! - and make the above all academic. I reckon this is what will happen. We then need our boys to bat sensibly and build the biggest lead they can, and try to ensure that Australia have to bat for the last four sessions minimum on the turning pitch in order to save the game. We'd also get use of two new balls if this was the scenario.
Finally, how many times have we seen England in good positions to win games ruined by the weather or something else. I really hope the forecast for cool dry weather all day on Sunday and Monday comes true...
With Warne and Gillespie batting, and only Lee and McGrath to come, the big question is what to do if they cannot add another 35 runs to their total to save the follow on? Should England put them back in, or bat once more themselves in the hope of getting so far ahead that they cannot lose?
The weather will also play a big part in any decision, with the forecast for rain until mid-afternoon tomorrow.
In my opinion, if it rains as expected or longer, if we can get the last three wickets quickly, we should enforce the follow on. If the weather is good though, and we get them out early in the morning I would bat again.
This Aussie team are no mugs, even if they have been playing poorly (or below par) over the last couple of weeks. If they bat properly on this pitch, a second innings total in excess of 400 is well within them, and to see England bat against Warne on the last day chasing 200-odd could be painful. I would much rather we batted again, made 300 and then asked them to hit a record last innings score to win. If England didn't make the runs expected, the feeling would be that we could get them out too, as they had us.
Of course, Warne, Lee, Gillespie and McGrath are quite capable of getting a lot more than the 35 needed tomorrow to save the follow on - they did get over 100 for the last two wickets at Edgbaston! - and make the above all academic. I reckon this is what will happen. We then need our boys to bat sensibly and build the biggest lead they can, and try to ensure that Australia have to bat for the last four sessions minimum on the turning pitch in order to save the game. We'd also get use of two new balls if this was the scenario.
Finally, how many times have we seen England in good positions to win games ruined by the weather or something else. I really hope the forecast for cool dry weather all day on Sunday and Monday comes true...
