I’m not sure streaky is a fair description of Broad anymore. He’s pretty consistent these days.
Great start to the morning for England, picking up three early wickets as South Africa slumped from 137/4 to 156/7. A 54 run 8th wicket stand between Elgar & Steyn has just been broken by Ali’s third wicket of the morning - 210/8. Elgar is still there on an unbeaten 118. Could carry his bat yet.
Over at the MCG, some surprising resistance by Darren Bravo and the tail to get the Windies from 83/6 to 271 - still a sizeable first innings deficit of 280. Australia unsurprisingly decided not to enforce the follow on - no better way of boosting batting averages with little or no pressure to get runs. 179/3 at stumps, Steven Smith 70 n.o. Thought they might have bumped Adam Voges up the order to allow him to chance to overhaul Sir Donald Bradman at the top of the all time batting averages, but no sign of him yet.
Two quick wickets from Finn to bowl out South Africa for 214, a first innings lead of 89 for England. Elgar 118 n.o., first South African to carry his bat since Gary Kirsten at Faisalabad in 1997.
Surely even the aussies would be rightly sickened by this voges lad overhauling the Don by playing against an assortment of pie chuckers on flat wickets.
England are 82/2 with Compton and Root at the crease.
Compton survives a poor umpiring decision.
Eng 99-2
Morkel gets Compton for 49.
Eng 119-3
Stumps Day 3
Eng 172-3 ( lead of 261 runs )
Exactly, Bradman is revered in oz, as if they want some no mark beating a record that could otherwise never be beatan, even their own no mark.
In my book, a score of 350 should be about par on a test wicket. Anything above that, should be down to exceptional batting. In Australia now, a score of 550 is more or less par. This business of batting again when you already have a lead of 280 is nonsense. The not out scores when there’s no pressure on really bumps up the averages though. Brian Lara in 232 innings in 131 tests, had just 6 not out scores. Invariably he was under pressure every time he came to the crease to make hard runs.
Its been a terrific performance from this young England team. If the weather doesn’t intervene they’ll win it from here.
Over at the MCG, Australia have declared overnight leaving Windies a target of 460. 10/0 after 4 overs.
150/5 now, another crushing defeat for WI reaching its conclusion.
Finely poised between England & South Africa at stumps Day 4.
De Villiers still hanging in there. South Africa 2nd Innings 136-4 ( Target 416 ).
It’s hardly finely poised, pal. England should wrap it up fairly comfortably from here.
De Villiers is the kicker. If they can’t get him out then he can keep a partner ticking over. Draw while a big ask is not out of the question.
Hussain & Co in studio reckon between Lunch & Tea tomorrow as an end time. The saffers will love that talk.
Regardless, very good performance from England. Root, Compton, Broad & Finn really leading the team onwards. 
England should win it. I expect Moeen to get a few tomorrow.
Ah no, this is far from finely poised. England in command.
Leave @carryharry alone. He just started watching cricket today and had already developed a lovely line in cricket banter.
2 Likes
England will bowl them out for 200-220.
138-7 now. Moeen got AB third ball of the day.