I had a dream last night. Scott Muller was giving batting and bowling coaching to the Australian Test side. I don’t know what it meant. But I woke up scared. Shivering from a cold sweat I foresaw the next 24 hours. The scorecard from Day 2 at Adelaide read, at stumps, England 1-323. I think I am going mad. Help me.

Crikey senior cricket correspndent and the second best wicket keeper batsman in the Crikey editorial team will be here shortly to write a proper piece on today’s forthcoming play.

I’m off to play cricket.

Enjoy the day.

Leigh.

P.S. The good news is that we are still a little off (but not by much) of having Australian Test bowlers of this pathetic quality…

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0o8by05rtMY[/youtube]

Thanks for the build-up there Leigh, it’s going to be an excellent day of cricket today. Well, anything will be better than the debacle that was yesterday. Australia, who were 3/2 in the fourth over of the day, managed to make it  to 243. A score that is at least 100 below par when batting first at the Adelaide Oval. Hussey again proved a saviour, scoring a well-made 93, while Hadding racked up 50 to make the total at least semi-respectable.

Marcus North, save for some kind of miracle innings in the second dig, is toast. As someone commented yesterday, it doesn’t matter how many of the selector’s family memebrs he may or may not have locked in his basement, you can’t continue to fail on the big stage. Khawaja, Ferguson and White should all be looking to put their hand up.

Today will be interesting, the were some gremlins in the pitch yesterday or at least it looked like it. The English were swinging and seaming the Kookaburra ball every which way, even under a cloudless sky. The pitch should get better for batting over the next couple of days, so it is vital that the Australian attack gets into this middle order quickly.

Crikey predictions:

Leigh Josey: Marcus North is going to get seven wickets today including a double hat trick which will make it impossible for the selectors to drop him. Fuck. And I am off to play cricket today for my club, but Cowie isn’t. That’s what happens when you play on turf Tow Cow. Enjoy the cricket today people. Remember it could be worse; you could be Marcus North.

Tom Cowie: Thanks for rubbing it in there Leigh. Yes the Parkville Third XI won’t be getting on today because a pitch wasn’t prepared. This Melbourne weather is wreaking havoc with the groundsmen.

Anyway to the cricket, look it’s worrying. The pitch should flatten out today. We need early wickets otherwise this could get out of hand very early. The first session is vital. I think England will still be batting at stumps, which bodes badly for the Australians.

Our man at the ground:

We are happy to welcome back Chris Chapman as Crikey’s man at the Adelaide Oval. He will be communicating, via text, what’s going on in the outer and in the middle. Good to have you on board Chappy.

The best writing around the place:

The Crikey Sports Ashes archive:

  • Adelaide Day 1
  • Brisbane (days 1,2,3,4,5)