I makes sense for side winning toss to bat at Sydney..
Historically a pitch that does deteriorate and offer assistance to spin bowlers.. especially on 5th day. So a Captain would opt to bat first, and more importantly NOT bat last on this pitch

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___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

Guys rolling hoops and running around for no apparent reason

Hysterically funny ... will never get old. LOL
But the chess-looking table is what cracks me up .. there is no rhyme nor reason to it in the entire vid! LMAO!

I just saved the RedBull smiley ... cool!

I cant take cricket seriously now.. thinking of the vid of how Americans see it...

Fielder sprawling on the grass, stopping the ball.. no run .. and the crowd cheers and claps.. apparently for NOTHING happening other than a guy sprawling on the ground

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Not ALL Americans

And the audio of the announcers, LMAO ... that is pretty much real as to half of what I hear (until I learn more).

Kicking the hoop then chasing it.

Is Lyon a "spinner"?

Yes... but dont ask me too much more

Nathan Lyon:Right-arm offbreak spin bowler

I posted info and link in the Cricket Basics thread
viewtopic.php?f=103&t=1354&p=111595#p111595

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Lunch

West Indies 92/1 (32.0 ov)

They bowled more than 30 overs in a session... it's a Miracle

Not really surprising with a spinner (or 2) bowling... get through overs much quicker.

Close to 100 runs in a session is OK work by WI.

Australia probably disappointed to have only taken one wicket in a session, especially this first session with new ball, overhead conditions likely to assist swing.

So I would say the session belongs to WI

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1st session recap:
That's what I was gonna say, Rumpole!

Thanks for the bowler info... perfect.

Nathan Lyon:Right-arm offbreak spin bowler

I know better than to ask before looking.

I am no expert on the details of spin... I just go with the flow

Every now and then a good/great one comes along.... for one country or another.

Warne helped revive the "art" .. he certainly popularized it and made spin bowling "sexy"

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I missed a bit and now see there is a RAIN DELAY

West Indies 115/3 (41.3 ov)

I see 2 wickets fell in the first overs after lunch.. before delay.

Looks like WI are snatching defeat from the jaws of victory

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I like the stats that pop up.

Last time Australia played two front line spinners in a SCG Test, before this.
Warne and McGill played vs South Africa and shared just 6 wickets between them.
2006

2:53pm: It does look grim at the SCG.

Cricket!!!!

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Restart planned 4:00PM - in 4 minutes

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Started, but now...... ANOTHER rain delay

West Indies 144/4 (56.1 ov)

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They have come back... they could maybe play another hour?

Not sure if they will start half hour early tomorrow.. to make up some lost overs?

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Stumps - Day 1 (3rd Test)

West Indies 207/6 (75.0 ov)

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Play will begin 30 minutes early, that is at 10am.

Australia run rate with Lyon bowling yesterday was well above minimum required, they might well have got through 100+ overs if not for rain shortened hours of play.

They did get through 75 rather than the 90 minimum required for a day's play.

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You snuck this in on me after I read first part.

Then Lyon came along and took the "sexy" out ...

I was thinking Day 2 was starting. Was watching darts on Skysports 1. Realized 10:00AM Aus time not NZ .. y'all should be on same time, imo.

See you in a bit ...

Dan Brettig, who is at the SCG, reports that the start time on the second day has been revised to 10:15am

The forecast for the rest of the day, however, does not look promising.

10:25am: Phew, the rain is back again in Sydney. The covers are being laid again. I'm afraid it is going to be that kind of a day.

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light