The final of 5 tests in the series is already underway... Sydney (SCG)

Day 2 (of 5) of the 5th test today.

England are facing a five-nil whitewash Austrailia would LOVE to achieve that

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

Smith, Haddin dash English hopes
UPDATED 03 January, 2014 6:57PM AEST | by Andrew Ramsey, Senior Writer

Tourists ring the changes, but outcome remains the same

The bold new era of English cricket has kicked off in hauntingly similar fashion to the way the dark chapter closed last week – with tales of hopes raised, opportunities missed and careers in limbo.

The dawning of a fresh year and its accompanying breath of untried talent gave the tourists’ line-up a changed outward appearance at least, with three Test debutants installed to try and prevent a five-nil whitewash in the final Commonwealth Bank Ashes Test in Sydney.

And for a while, it brought with it a change of fortunes.

Australia’s top order was once again rendered uncertain and ineffectual against the moving ball, and slumped to 5-97 shortly after lunch before Steve Smith (115) and Brad Haddin (75) mounted another by-now familiar middle-order counter attack.

The fact that Australia were bowled out just minutes before the scheduled time for stumps was due largely to the efforts of one of those comparatively new faces - allrounder Ben Stokes - who finished with 6-99 in just his fourth Test match.

The fact that the home team posted a total of 326 at a rate of more than four an over on a pitch that experts muttered pre-game would grudgingly give up an innings tally of 250 was due to some wasteful bowling from England and some enterprising batting either side of a tumble of wickets.

...more at link
http://www.cricket.com.au/news-list/201 ... -pink-test

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

I will be watching the Cricket for the next 4 days (if it lasts that long)

If anybody is interested in the progress...

LIVE SCORES

Cricket day is typically 10:30AM to 6:00PM (local time) (Oz time)

So.... 6:30PM to 2:00AM EST (USA time)

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

There will be LIVE STREAMING for sure... but I can not test links at the moment to find one that works...

IF you are interested... try the links at this site when the game is underway... otherwise google

Ashes 5th Test Where to Watch Live: Australia vs England Live Streaming Information
http://www.ibtimes.co.in/articles/53265 ... s-test.htm

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

Position at the end of day 2 (of 5)

I won’t try and explain the complexity of Test Cricket.

What it boils down to is that after two days this game has advanced quickly, and with 3 days remaining (if needed) there will be a result.
(It is sometimes the case that a game ends in a draw because they simply run out of time, even after 5 days.)

At the close of play today, Australia are still batting and have a lead of 311 runs… and can add to that tomorrow… whatever that lead is finally, England have to bat and score that many runs (for a tie), or that many runs plus one run, to win. THAT is a tough ask (just 311 is far more than has ever been done in the history of cricket at the SCG and Australia will likely end with a much bigger lead than that), and so England are likely to fail in that run chase, and to have all players dismissed (out). Australia poised to WIN!

That will mean a Series result for Australia of 5 wins to nil… a “Whitewash”

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

No idea about the "sticky wicket" you are refeing to? TV show?

The phrase, like many phrases etc from cricket is woven into the English language.... A "sticky wicket" being a tricky situation etc.

"It's not cricket"... means bad (unethical) behaviour etc

I dont think the basic rules of Cricket are that hard to grasp... but it is much, much more than that.

Just one aspect is Statistics. The whole enterprise is a Statistician's wet dream... stats for individuals, teams, pairings of teams against each other, country, State, province, city stats... stats for each cricket ground, stats about the weather,,, etc etc etc.. and all going back over 100 years.

It also involves personality traits.. honour, loyalty, ethics and all that.

There is a lot of strategy... mental chess, especially in the "pure form" of Test Match Cricket.. each game played over 5 days (that is what I am watching today)

You could get an overview from Wikepedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cricket

I guess one of the reasons there is so much side discussion and related discussion is that with a single game stretching over 5 days.... you have to find SOMETHING to talk about... especially during the slow bits...

One's own history of watching the games is important too. Always references to recent past and perhaps past decades. So you build up your own personal memories and points of reference. One of the reasons I follow AUSTRALIAN cricket is that the commentators are excellent... all past players themselves. I guess they are an acquired taste (arrogant Australians) but if you get past that, then their analysis and insights are great. I guess the same applies to commentators from other countries too? I am just a biased Ozzie when it comes to cricket.etc

During a day's play at the ground there is always sort of "social" activity... past players and other celebrities etc.
It is all part of the "Cricket experience"

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

England jobs on the line
UPDATED 04 January, 2014 10:56PM AEST

But Graham Gooch won't be drawn on his own future

England batting coach Graham Gooch savaged his side's miserable batting performance this Ashes tour after witnessing another meek collapse on Saturday.

Resuming at 1-8 on day two, England lost four for 15 to remove any doubt that Australia were on track for a historic whitewash.

It was a familiar story, one which has haunted England throughout a disastrous tour.

And it is one which Gooch finds completely unacceptable.

England's leading Test runscorer slammed his players for throwing their wickets away rather than digging in and fighting for each Test and said they needed to face up to the criticism they will now receive.

"We have one 100 in four and a bit Tests. That's not going to win you anything," he said.

"Everyone has to look at themselves. That's the coaches, the players.

"We all have to take (the criticism) on the chin.

"If you play the way we play the brutal truth is it's not been good enough."

Gooch envisaged a rebuilding process in the near future, presumably one which will be built around impressive 21-year-old allrounder Ben Stokes who top scored with a gritty 47 as England were rolled for 155.

...more at link
http://www.cricket.com.au/news-list/201 ... or-england

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

Day 3 should be fun..... starts in Sydney 10:30AM... in about 3 hours.

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

Unfortunately... a power cut has kept me from first 3 and half hours of cricket.

But as I got to it... Australia were all out... having increased their lead to 447 runs... so England get a turn to bat. They need 448 to win. Australia need to bowl 10 of them out to win...

It is "possible" the match could be a draw... if England fail to score the runs... but survive and are not all bowled out (10 players)
In the past, some lesser sides have purposely played for the draw.... not really trying to score runs at all.... paying safe so as to not get out. Not likely in this case with 2 and a half days to survive.

In fact... England captain Alistair Cook... just got out... so 1 down..... 9 to go

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

UPDATE

Another English player OUT!!!

That makes it 8/139

(8 English players out... team has scored only 139 runs)

A WHITEWASH in a 5 match Ashes series is an achievement in itself... I think it has only happened once before?

Australia 5 v England 0 The Ashes (England in Australia), 1920/21

I just heard it has happened 3 times in the history of the game?

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

'NOTHER UPDATE

Another wicket falls (a player is out)

England 9/166

Game is OVER once 10 "wickets" fall.... there are 11 player per side... but you need two batsmen... so once 10 are out the last player remains not out... but no partner.

EDIT
Before I could post this... the 10th wicket fell.... GAME OVER


AUSTRALIA WIN!!

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

The Australian Team treated the SCG crowd to the "Team Song"... rarely sung in public..... F word and all

Under the Southern Cross I Stand
A sprig of wattle in my hand,
A native of my native land,
Australia you f..ing beauty.

Apparently they also did it after game 3... when they officially won the series with three wins... they repeated it today after the "whitewash"

Australia's cricket heroes offer rare public glimpse of team victory song
Peter Lalor, The Australian
December 18, 2013 4:06PM

RARELY seen in public and rarely heard, this is the victorious and uproarious Australian cricket team singing the team song in the middle of the WACA last night.

Usually performed in the secrecy of the dressing rooms, although there have been times when it is taken up mountains or into the middle of empty sporting stadiums, the Australians wandered out into the middle of the ground at around 6pm Perth time with a few people still around.

They didn't pee on the pitch, but they did launch into one of the loudest versions of the team song ever heard.

The famous tune has these words:

Under the Southern Cross I Stand

A sprig of wattle in my hand,

A native of my native land,

Australia you f..ing beauty.

When the English side retained the urn during the year players walked out and urinated on The Oval pitch, an act that drew some criticism.

Clarke's men had won the trophy back after winning in Perth and taking a 3-0 lead in the series.

....more at link (Video of song)
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/c ... 6785715853

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