Ashes 2019

[KiwiPie]

@barbarian As everyone says - not since Bradman. Batsmen have had big series since then but usually in a batting line-up also making comfortable runs.

[barbarian]

The size of the hundreds is so relevant too. We were 5/241 when he notched his ton. There's still a very real chance we could be bowled out for under 300 if he loses his wicket for a Mark Waugh-esque 104.

Instead he kept his focus (and his luck), and put us in a winning position.

Same goes for the first test - a massive difference between 100 and 140 in the context of both innings.

[Siam]

@barbarian and each innings is almost like seeing him for the first time, such is his uniqueness and obvious success. Listening to warne and ponting you can hear the same thoughts in their commentary.

Truly awesome, in the correct sense of this overused term, including the weird mannerisms and talking to himself.

Opposition teams must spend hours on plans for him alone

[canefan]

@Siam said in Ashes 2019:

@barbarian and each innings is almost like seeing him for the first time, such is his uniqueness and obvious success. Listening to warne and ponting you can hear the same thoughts in their commentary.

Truly awesome, in the correct sense of this overused term, including the weird mannerisms and talking to himself.

Opposition teams must spend hours on plans for him alone

Hard to plan for a guy who has no plan, he basically plays each ball as he sees it. He could be playing in the back yard or on a beach, it would be crazy trying to analyze a guy like that

[barbarian]

You can plan for him. England actually found two successful formulas in the first two tests - target the period when Smith is on 140 where he tends to lose concentration, and actually try and kill him to take him out of the game.

Sadly for England it appears he thwarted both of those approaches in this game.

[Billy Webb]

I actually think people commenting on the Ashes don't give England enough credit. They have worked Smith out.

Let him bat for over 8 hours and get 200+.
Then when he goes on the slog in anticipation of the declaration - he looks as vulnerable as any batsman.
And it worked for them yesterday. Good work England.

[NTA]

Smith is leading Test Run scorer for 2019 on 580ish.

On 4 innings.

Next best is Stokes about 50 runs behind with 12 innings.

[NTA]

Hoff on fire late last night after Root and Burns out a decent partnership together.

The ball to get Roy was pretty good, but exemplifies why he isn't a Test batsman.

[NTA]

[sparky]

Three ducks in a row for David Warner.

🦆🦆🦆

[sparky]

Another fifty by Steve Smith.

[sparky]

Wow! Cummins gets Burn out third ball of the innings and then Captain Root for a Golden Duck.

[Billy Tell]

@sparky said in Ashes 2019:

Wow! Cummins gets Burn out third ball of the innings and then Captain Root for a Golden Duck.

That ball to Root was glorious.

Steve Smith is amazing. Even better than before the cheating scandal. And to come back from the head knock in the last test.

[Siam]

First time I've found wee Davey genuinely amusing. Made me laugh even. A fine response

[NTA]

Good delivery from Cummins to get Roy. Fucking the guy has some massive defensive flaws

[NTA]

Stokes doesn't get the bat out of the way and Cummins has 4. Paine knew. Stokes knew. Umpire didn't move but stokes walked

[sparky]

England 87-4 after lunch.Stokes gone. England need a miracle to bat out these two sessions and keep the session alive.

Surely Australia can't throw away victory again?

[canefan]

@Siam Way to own it and turn the crowd back on his side, for a moment at least

[sparky]

Denly gone. Australia need 5 wickets to retain the Urn.

[ACT Crusader]

This is enthralling stuff.

Crowd have been riding every ball for the last 90 minutes!