The Ashes 2 Nd Test, Adelaide: Day 2

[ChillDoubt]

Battle will recommence in less than an hour and England need 5 more wickets before they get their chance to post a score. One would hope that the Lurpak has been scrubbed from the hands after Day 1 (I'm looking at you especially, Mr Carberry), we need to try and curtail the Aussies to 340-360 IMHO, then surpass that by some 80 runs in our first innings.
This IS a 450+ track I believe but we need to take Clarke in the first hour, that is crucial.
No demons in the pitch so it'll be down to hard graft and a bit of trickery (not enough slower balls for me), along with a little bit of 'banter'.

[ChillDoubt]

Dafuq? Why does AB STILL post a capital letter after a number, even with a gap? It looks sh!te.

[Zacs-Master]

I think on a wicket like that, we need to pitch to silly mid off with some seaming. When's the next new ball?

[ChillDoubt]

Took it last night late on Zacs, so got a long way to go with it. See my Day 1 thread below to see what happened to it.
I think it's something like 8-10 overs old, minimum.

[Zacs-Master]

Ah right. Cheers. No chance off that then. Will be tense.

[ChillDoubt]

Both teams emerge to observe a moments reflection at today's sad news. The Aussie batsmen stay out, England return to the dressing room for a last gee-up no doubt.
They're quickly back and Broad gets us underway from the Cathedral End.

[ELVIS68]

Not a cricket fan but I'm actually going to watch this tonight.

Nightshifts are such a drag but hey ho!

[ChillDoubt]

Clarke has a bit of brain fade and almost gifts his wicket to Monty's first ball. Looks like he wants to put England to the sword all by himself.....

Should get interesting very soon.

[ChillDoubt]

You got Sky Sports at work Elvis?

[ELVIS68]

No Chill, watching on my iPad Sky app

[ChillDoubt]

Clarke moves to 71 and puts the 300 up for Oz. We need a wicket badly.

[ChillDoubt]

In the runs stakes, we are currently leaking faster than a wicker canoe and look bereft of ideas.

[seekeerz]

Haddin has his half century then is almost out, Clarke on 98 looking for his ton

[ChillDoubt]

Clarke gets his ton and the game has already slipped from England, who are now playing for a draw IMHO.
I realise drop-in pitches are a necessity Down Under but why do they always seem to produce such drab, lifeless tracks?

[seekeerz]

Was the Sydney pitch a drop in, Chill ? I know the Adelaide is, they're still getting the field sorted after the renovations but I thought Sydney had a bit more life in it

[ChillDoubt]

Don't know in all honesty seekerz, I would doubt it as I never heard it mentioned once in commentary and there haven't been any comparisons made by Sir Geoffrey et al so I would say not.

[seekeerz]

Lunch and the Ozzies are 5/389 and the suns shining, no rain delays today

[ChillDoubt]

400 up and it's an absolute bore-fest of a wicket. I'm off to bed, England will face a tricky hour before C.O.P. I fancy, not easy with a low sun and lengthening shadows.
Aus will have 550 on the board by then though, minimum.

[seekeerz]

Ozzies now 8/495 so there's been some action in the last short while - haddins still there with 106 but Clarke, Johnson, Siddle and someone else have all departed, will we decl at 500

Oh and Stokes has his first test wickets - 2 so far

[seekeerz]

500 up and the one I couldn't remember was Bailey. Harris is getting some steam up

[seekeerz]

Play resumes after tea, with Oz on 8/516