Michael Hussey and Brad Haddin have showed England how to bat on this pitch and that is to put a big partnership between them on a flat pitch like this. I hope England play good sensible cricket and not play horizontal stuff because if they do there is only one winner in this test.
They probably need to bat thru to lunch on final day should have a lead of about 250 then leave the Aussies with just under two sessions to bat with swann on a wearing pitch.
Well we won day four
In terms of result I would say a draw here, England bat until an hour after lunch at the latest and then declare.
Statistical note: Strauss and Cook claimed a record today as they now have the most runs by an England opening partnership, beating the figure of 3,249 amassed by none other than Hobbs and Sutcliffe. Those two legends racked up their runs in 38 innings rather than 82 though and their average stand is more than double that of Strauss and Cook, 87.81 to 42.68. Today's partnership was a very worthy 188 (Strauss 110, Cook 72), but still beaten in this match by the earlier stand of 307 between Haddin (136) and Hussey (155) in Australia's first innings total of 481 all out.
A much improved batting performance so far. Lets hope it continues on day 5 with no collapse. Cook has had an excellent game.
I must admit England played very well today and hope they bat out the entire day tomorrow so that the game will be safe and a draw would be just the right result.
Looks like honours will be even in this test, which is a fair result since no side has completely dominated for more than one, maybe one and a half, sessions in succession. I've been pleased with England's performance overall, runs have been distributed fairly evenly, as were wickets. I do think both captains were a little negative at times in the field, neither seeming willing to risk a few quick runs being conceded in order to try and force a wicket. Whether this was because of the pitch, natural caution or even a slight lack of faith in the bowling attack on both sides remains to be seen, a result wicket will give a better indication. This track has been awful, only really offering any help to the bowlers on day one and the morning of day two, when it was still a touch damp under the surface.
Because things have been so even, only a once in a lifetime spell from Siddle prevented England piling up a much larger first innings total, both teams will go into the second test and beyond fancying their chances, which bodes well for some good cricket being played out over the next few weeks. It's going to be fascinating to find out whether England's slight superiority in terms of quality of player available, or Australia's strength at home ends up being the decisive* advantage.
* Being an Englishman, I consider a drawn series to be a victory to England, since the Ashes are retained by us. For Australia only victory is enough to get what they want.
Statistical note: The 329 stand between Alastair Cook and Jonathan Trott is the highest by England in Australia and only the 3rd instance of a 300 partnership for them in this country. It's also the highest partnership at the Gabba, going past the 307 stand that Michael Hussey and Brad Haddin had put together only a couple of days ago. One more thing, England's top 3 all scored centuries for only the 2nd time. The previous occasion was at Lord's in 1924 against South Africa, when Jack Hobbs, Herbert Sutcliffe and Frank Woolley made hundreds in a match England won by an innings & 18 runs.
shame cook cant produce that performance every test if he did he would ranked inside the current world top 10. hopefully next test england need to produce that batting form in the 1st innings which would help the bowlers to attack more than with a smaller total. the only time a small total is good is if the opposition are batting second and only a couple sessions to get the runs they tend to get themselves out.
the aussies are making a couple of changes to their bowling for the next test.
I am pleased with the result have taken time off work to watch the action live.Lets hope they can continue with the level of play shown on the last 2 days.I think it says alot that the aussies are already having to consider bowling changes after one test whereas england could go with the same side 4 the second test.
come on england!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
