Kraigg Brathwaite carried his bat in the 3rd test in Sharjah this morning. Only the 5th West Indies batsmen to carry his bat. Windies in with a good chance of a rare away win. Pakistan are on 87/4 in their second innings, a lead of just 31.
First test against South Africa starts at the WACA tomorrow. Mitchell Starc is good to go, which is good. Siddle will also bowl, they brought Joe Mennie into the squad from South Aus who no one has heard of and got whacked around the shop in his ODI debut a while back, not exactly filling everyone with confidence that these are the best bowling options available.
Mitchell and Shaun Marsh will both start for Australia, brothers at last playing on their home ground. For that reason alone, I predict South Africa will end this within 4 days.
Groundsmen say it’s a lively, springy, traditional WACA wicket. So that means it will probably be as dead as fuck.
Is Khawaja still dropped?
No he’s back in. He spat the dummy in the press after being dropped (which he was right about) and Lehmann had to have a word, made it out like he was telling him whats what and to cop himself on, but my sources tell me Khawaja fucked him from a height and Darren apologised. He’ll have to score a few runs here to justify himself though.
Interesting. Surprised he got back in so soon after going to the media.
West Indies chasing a target of 153 in the third test in Sharjah. They were looking very wobbly on 67/5 but an unbeaten partnership of 47 between Brathwaite and Dorwich has moved them to 114/5 at stumps on Day 4.
Mitchell Starc takes out Stephen Cook in the first over with a great catch by Mitchell Marsh.
Amla’s gone now, SA looking shaky, poor start. The pitch actually looks decent, nice bit of bounce in it, for once.
Elgar out now, Hazlewood with his second. SA 20/3 in the 9th over, in all sorts.
Old man Siddle just one, bloody hell, Duminy gorn. 32/4 in the 13th. SA have that little fella Bavuma in now. He’ll probably score a double century.
Du Plessis gone, huge wicket, 96/5 in the 32nd. Over rate appalling, they’ll struggle to get their overs in for the day, need to cop themselves on. The little fella Bavuma is going alright on 27, get De Kock out and we’re into the tail, though Philander’s pretty handy with the bat.
175/7 at tea
Finished up SA all out on 242, Straya currently on 115/0, Warner’s cracking on and Shaun Marsh after some initial jitters on 38 now. SA need wickets here, could be a big score. They reckon this pitch is going to turn early and the spinners will be a big factor. It’s not as springy as first thought, but the aussie bowlers have done well. Bavuma scored a half century. Quote of the day from Chris Rogers commentating for the ABC when the SA debut spinner Maharaj plonked Mitchell Starc back over his head for 6 “It took me 21 tests to hit a six, he’s done it in the tenth ball of his test career”.
Warner the tool gets out on 97, flashing at a ball he should have left. Some consolation for Steyn who is seething out there atm.
And it all falls apart. Lost 4 wickets in 10 overs, including Smith for a duck, FFS. 181/4.
Englandesque
Khawaja didn’t do much for all his talk.
No the fucking eejit. And Smith for a duck, when will they learn to occupy the crease? Hopefully Voges can score well and then we’re into the fireworks with Mitch Marsh
Great performance by Australia to lead by two on first innings. Mitch Marsh out for a duck.
Fuck me. That truly was englandesque. Didn’t think the Aussies would lose at the waca, but now I’m not so sure. Sa will dig in better in innings 2 you’d expect. Won’t see a fifth day I’d imagine.