Stumps on day two in NZ. Jonny Bairstow got his century before England were all out for 307. NZ then collapsed to 45/5 thanks to Broad and Anderson, before BJ Watling (77 not out) and Colin de Grandhomme (72) fought back in a stand of 142. NZ are 192/6.
SA are currently 344/6 on day two of the Fourth Test in Johannesburg.
It's been a good week if you happen to like watching Australians crying. Warner has managed to make himself look an even bigger twat after his press conference!
I was both shocked and surprised when I heard that bit of news. Makes me wonder what he knew.
After being "exonerated" by Cricket Australia - this is a complete turnaround.
I rather like Lehmann - he spent nearly ten years at Yorkshire - but walking was the right thing to do whether he knew about it or not.
I agree.
I grew up in South Australia watching Lehmann play for the State side while continually being overlooked for the Australian squad. He's a cricketing hero of mine and to see this downfall is a little devastating.
It's been a good week if you happen to like watching Australians crying. Warner has managed to make himself look an even bigger twat after his press conference!
While Lehmann and Smith had some dignity about them....Warner was indeed a giant twat.
Stumps on day three in NZ. England leaked runs in the morning to allow the NZ tailenders to bat their team into a stronger position of 278, only 30 runs behind England's first innings total. However, England batted better in the second innings and finished on 202/3, a lead of 231. Stoneman and Vince scored 60 and 76 respecively, before getting out in frustratingly familiar fashion. Cook was caught on 14. Is that the last time we will see him at the crease in an England shirt? Still, England are in a strong position to win the game.
Down in Johannesburg, the Australians recovered from a dicey 97/6 to finish 221 all out, thanks to a century partnership between Pat Cummins (his maiden Test fifty) and Tim Paine. They still have a massive deficit, though. SA opted not to enforce the follow on (Morkel is injured) and have just started their second innings. They currently lead by 285 runs with ten wickets in hand.
Stumps on day four in NZ. England declared on 352/9 (Root out for 53). NZ are 42/0 chasing 382 to win the game on the last day.
In Johannesburg, SA are batting on to set Australia a mammoth total to win the Fourth Test. They lead by 469 runs with 7 wickets remaining, Faf du Plessis on 81 not out.
Back in Australia, Smith and Warner are preparing to fight their bans from domestic cricket.
And in a blink or miss it effort from the Australians.....we collapsed again to suffer another crushing (and embarrassing) defeat.
A sad and sorry test series in South Africa.
Dean Elgar said he'd never heard an Australian side so quiet on the field.
England meanwhile were unable to win the Test in NZ, falling two wickets short of victory. Root said post-match that Cook will still be opening in the summer... not sure Cook has the skill to bat on anything other than a flat pitch anymore. I hope Stoneman and Vince are dropped too. A very poor winter tour for England. Six Test losses and a draw.
A historic day in cricket today, as Ireland make their Test debut in Malahide, 16km north of Dublin. They play Pakistan, who will be playing England in a short series starting May 24th.
But would you believe it's been raining steadily all morning! So, play has been delayed. The forecast for the rest of the day looks bleak.
You sound a bit surprised by that litefoot. Here in Ireland it rains pretty much every single day. On the rare occasion the sun comes out, productivity grinds to a halt! The rain was indeed forecast today, I don't think anyone was really expecting much play. On the plus side, I'm heading down to Dublin tomorrow morning to enjoy the weekend's play, weather permitting of course.
You sound a bit surprised by that litefoot. Here in Ireland it rains pretty much every single day. On the rare occasion the sun comes out, productivity grinds to a halt! The rain was indeed forecast today, I don't think anyone was really expecting much play. On the plus side, I'm heading down to Dublin tomorrow morning to enjoy the weekend's play, weather permitting of course.
I used the exclamation because the rain is falling on the very first day of Ireland's very first Test. And though you may be used to the rain, it's still unfortunate.
I had a great weekend in Malahide. Ireland bowled well on the first day and had Pakistan on the ropes at one stage. 2nd day they got through our order and forced the follow on. We've batted well today to get a lead and brilliant to see Kev O'Brien get Ireland's maiden test century. The sun was out, big crowd and I said hello to Mick Jagger
I had a great weekend in Malahide. Ireland bowled well on the first day and had Pakistan on the ropes at one stage. 2nd day they got through our order and forced the follow on. We've batted well today to get a lead and brilliant to see Kev O'Brien get Ireland's maiden test century. The sun was out, big crowd and I said hello to Mick Jagger
Just had a look. This sequence of events is pretty damn close to the perfect Test match.
England's summer of cricket has started, and with a new selector, it seemed like things would be shaken up a bit. England began yesterday with IPL runmeister Jos Buttler at seven, and Root and Bairstow moving up a place.
So how did we get on?
England were 40/3 at lunch and then collapsed to 184 all out. So pretty much the same dross we've had for years. Pakistan batting nicely on 84/1.
Pakistan completed a major walloping of England in the first Test. That's six losses and two draws in the last eight matches. Feeble. Something's got to change.
