We’d need to bat out 2 1/2 sessions tomorrow which we won’t do so the point is moot, but I don’t think a lead of 200 is even necessary. 150 and i’d actually be semi-confident. As Aussies, we have seen this dance before where a team makes a commanding first innings batting score against us and we roll that team in the second innings for under 100. That is familiar to us.
But yeahnah, this batting group isn’t really going to set us up for that scenario tomorrow.
Bangladesh are always due for a collapse. I’ve seen it happen with them far too many times in the past.
However, this Bangladesh team is different in that regard. They’ve got a good captain in Shanto. Have decent openers and have some very exciting players coming up as well. They’ve beaten Pakistan in tests (both home and away). Pakistan might not be the force that they once were but they happened to have a psychological edge against Bangla. One which was essentially shattered.
And Bangladesh’s most out and out fast bowler (Rana) who terrorised Pakistan isn’t even playing in the Oz series due to injury
Anyway 56 runs the target, Bangladesh should easily get this
What unfortunate scenes! Let the blame game begin.
Ifti right now…
Congratulations iftikhar and koptician
I blame it on Bangladesh being better… In every single session of the match. When they were on top, there were no cocky declarations. They played smart cricket, played the percentages, made the right decisions as a team when they needed to. On top of that, batted and bowled much better than us. Well coached and captained. Nothing else to be said really.
Also funny that Cam Green got (futile) runs - that’s his place in the side cemented for another 20 odd ordinary innings.
Ultimately the Aussie selectors need to move on from several selections that just aren’t deserving of more time. I do think that the era of dominance is permanently over - I don’t see them reproducing the sheer weight of talents that created the extraordinary 30 year dominance of cricket. The current ‘star’ batsmen like Head are pale (inconsistent) facsimilies of previous greats. The quality quicks Starc, Cummins and Hazelwood are creaking, aged and injury prone and Lyon has to go soon, surely. You could easily turn over the entire team in short order yet there just aren’t obvious high quality alternatives.
Great post GK. Fair do’s 
Well, the dominance has been over for 15 years to be fair. The only thing hiding it has been an absolutely once in a millennium bowling attack and a generational batter in Steve Smith.
We haven’t been a force for a while now. The damaging loss to Bangladesh hasn’t actually changed that metric at all.
Yeah , I think the result against India flattered Australia somewhat and gave them false hope that they didn’t need whole scale changes just yet.
Bangladesh right now is probably the most balanced team in Asia atleast (for tests). India obviously get better once they figure out their way forward and kick out the obnoxious cunt gambhir.
But that’s more a reference to how Bangladesh has improved of late. I think they’ll give india a scare once a series between the two countries happens inevitably.
As far as Australia goes. End of the line (or atleast it should be) for Lyon , Starc , labuschagne and probably some others as well. Never ever seen Cameron Green as someone who Australia can rely on. And the same goes for the opener alongside Head and Webster.
Head is a hit and miss , Smith is on the decline (despite being really good) and Australia haven’t made the tough decisions for a good 2-3 years now
I’m sick of this hundred idiocy. A stupid competition purely for money and now the ECB are screwing over the test team and the one day team as well as the T20 team for this stupid former that no one wants to play or watch. I just watched the final because there’s nothing else proper to watch tonight. And half or more than half the stands and Lords are empty. Is this supposed to be their audience?
We all knew what was gonna happen to test cricket once they left terrestrial TV went off Sky TV and lo and behold participation has dropped interest has dropped talent pool is dropped. great job
If it was a prime T20 tournament I could just about accept it as it would support our T20 international team but no it’s a vanity project with lots of money.
Seems a bit of a fad now the constant articles about crowds this summer suggests it’s waining.
It’s like IPL, I don’t have a team and I can’t find any interest in it. T20 for England and Lancashire I at least have an interest.
I guess we will see what a good score is.
Pakistan are really bad.
So are England so it should be an even contest.
Only when they go out drinking…which is probably every night
So…yeah.
Weird to see Pakistan without a single out-and-out express fast bowler
Nah. Pakistan are really in the dumps.
Absolute no quick bowler.
Missing Babar Azam who’s a good steady batsman who somehow falls victim to his own hype.
I do think they’ve got a good swing bowler in Abbas. Assuming the the oldie who’s leading their attack bowling at low 130s is that guy. But nothing that should trouble the England batsman too much. At the worst case , England batsmen can see off his spell.
Leave waqar , Wasim , shoaib , Asif level bowlers , Pakistan produced guys like Junaid Khan , Umar Gul , Mohammed Amir and the current pacers for Pakistan(excluding Abbas) aren’t 10% of those bowlers.
Whatever happened to Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem ?