Australia were given a demoralising lesson in Test match batting by Joe Root and England at Lord’s on day three of the second Test.
It was death by a 1000 cuts for the Australians and another disgraceful third umpiring decision added insult to injury.
England were slow and boring for much of the day, diligently grinding Australia into the dirt to be 5-333 at stumps.
But how Australia’s batsmen wish they could spend enough time in the middle to be considered slow and boring.
Root scored a magnificent 178no to anchor England’s second innings, which started day three at 3-31.
Only four teams in the history of Test cricket have successfully chased targets greater than 400 and already the mark for Australia stands at 566 heading into day four.
If Australia lose this Test, which seems inevitable, it will extend their losing streak to six, just one more defeat away from their worst-ever run.
Australia’s bowlers battled hard, after being put in an impossible position by the batting collapse on Friday.
But the white flag was raised late in the day when Australia refused to take the new ball on offer and seemed content at going through the motions as Root started hitting for the fences.
Spinners Steve Smith (1-65) and Ashton Agar (0-89) bowled every over of the final hour.
There are few excuses for Australia’s dire position but from the opening two Tests, the tourists have copped the worst two decisions.
Ian Bell was given a ridiculous reprieve when he was clearly caught by Smith at gully off Ryan Harris in the 69th over.
England were 4-140 at the time and the in-form batsman of the series on just three.
Smith claimed the low catch immediately and, when umpire Marais Erasmus went upstairs, replays showed the fieldsman’s fingers were between ball and grass.
However, third umpire Tony Hill inexplicably ruled not out, bringing Smith’s integrity into question.
Stuart Broad whacked a ball to first slip at Trent Bridge and wasn’t given and now Bell defied the evidence of replays.
He went on to make 74, before he threw his wicket away to ironically gift Smith his fourth wicket of the match in the 99th over.
Root and Bell put on a punishing 153-run stand.
Once the partnership reached 50, the pair smashed their next 100 from just 94 balls.
England hammered 162 in the final session, but still no declaration.
The 23-year-old had earlier combined for a patient 99-run stand with nightwatchman Tim Bresnan (38) and finished with an unbeaten 51-run stand with Jonny Bairstow (11no).
Australia were left to rue a botched wicketkeeping effort from Brad Haddin on Friday that gave Root a life when he was on eight.
Tezza
Guest
I'm rolling on the floor laughing at some of the above comments and I am an Australian. Any team that wins a test match by almost 350 runs in four days are not lightweights, nor lucky or a pack of duds.. It gets down to how professionally polished they are and also the quality of their opposition. Also more damming for Australia is the fact that Peterson has yet to fire up and Cook has not had a big one yet. Then you must consider that when in test cricket (1st test) when a number 11 player (a teenager with no test experience) has the sides best innings with the bat, there certainly are major problems. The wheel has turned and England is a far more professional outfit than Australia as we speak and also over the last couple of years. At least the Aussies have a comedian in the side (Peter Siddle) who prior to the start of the commencement of the 4th days play commented to the media that he thought Australia could still win the test.considering they needed over 560 to do so. Wow what is "he on". Maybe the Essendon Football Club should direct their current investigations to Mr Siddle.
Bearfax
Guest
Ah James you are looking at an Oz team in the process of becoming. Look at what Joe Root did for England. I would suggest he is no more talented than Khawaja, Hughes or Smith, or for that matter Maddison, Silk and Burns all young batsmen with first class averages little different from Joe. He's just got his confidence up in a class side where he's being well nurtured. Khawaja has already scored a double century at first class level, Hughes a 196. They are being expected to take on roles normally reserved for experienced batsmen. They're shell shocked at present after a number of heavy duty series where their flaws were exposed, just a Root will be exposed at some stage. But these kids have the skill....the facts are in their first class performances. They are now learning how to convert that skill into test arena standards...and they will. Australia will improve over the next 8 tests. I dont think England will.
Damngoodoval
Guest
Oz were all out for 120 and are chasing 583. I'm not sure that these facts support your assertions to be honest.
James
Guest
i love your optimism. i think its insane optimism but thats just cause im on the other side but i totally get it and i love it.
r p
Guest
lyon will definitely come into contention in the next game .But they may consider ahmed .If they wanted a left arm tweaker we could have gone with o keefe
r p
Guest
England are definitely worried and maybe afraid of australia.Especially our faster bowlers.If our batsmen can find some form we can produce some of that old magic.Once lehmann settles into his job aussies can give england a pasting in the return leg of the ashes.Hopefully fawad ahmed will also be confident at that time.Its just a matter of time when hughes , khawaja and smith find some good form.I am waiting for australia to knock england out cold.
mark
Guest
I'll be interested to see what they do with Agar, Lyon for the next match. Will they drop Agar for Lyon, or will there be more calls for Fawad Ahmed? Biggest problem I see with batsmen and bowlers (and to an extend keepers) is that the selectors and the public seem to think that by changing a few players, we'll see a totally different result. Main issue is the way that they're playing- one day shots, no patience, but unfortunately no real star quality either. It's a bit like the politics in Aust at the moment really, with Labor changing to Kevin Rudd, and all of a sudden the public think it's a totally new ball game. Australian cricket just does not have the quality of players it use to, so if it's going to have any success it's going to have to have the 11 or 12 players they stick with show some patience and as Mark Taylor keeps pointing out, "bat time".
Bearfax
Guest
Ask yourselves why the English batsmen are batting so slowly in these tests. Because despite what many are claiming, they are worried by Australia's potential. The first test showed Australia has some very fine talent on the verge of exploding into life. Its stuttering at present but the first test performances of Hughes, Smith, Agar and the fast bowlers had England struggling and they almost lost the test. This test England have battened down, set themselves for siege warfare, attrition. Their performances are not pretty, just dogged. They well know if they let some of these young Australia kids feel they can not only compete but surpass England's efforts, the genie will be out of the box. They are trying their best, using all their guile and experience, to grind Oz into the ground to destroy their confidence. But there are another 8 tests and the genie wont be held indefinitely. I think when each of these kids in the batting line up makes a break away century, the table will then slowly but inexorably turn. Dont be disheartened Australia. Your team will be there fighting hard, and winning some tests by the end of this 10 test series.
Banjo
Guest
If you take the catch cleanly there can be no arguments. That was a 50/50 in my opinion. Umps call.
DMC
Guest
When a kiwi such as myself starts feeling sorry for the Aussie cricket team, things must be really really bad.
Simoc
Guest
That's nonsense Ben. I've fielded beside the fairest guy on the planet who claimed a catch which our whole team reckon he picked up on the half volley, only a metre from my eyes. The umpires and both batsman (from the other team) agreed he caught it. It has to be an umpires decision on those ones. The worst thing I saw was Agar losing the loop in his bowling, and just pushing them through.
Gezza
Guest
I believe the author was making the point that slow and boring is actually good Test cricket, of which the tourists are incapable of.
Internal Fixation
Guest
Benefit of doubt eh? Whinging eh? Sounds like Agar's stumping all over again and there was a lot of bleating about that from certain fans on this site. All ok if it benefits England though.
Darwin Stubbie
Guest
'Stuart Broad whacked a ball to first slip at Trent Bridge....' ... Or edged it off the statue with the large gloves on ... By the end of this series Clarke will have also been standing at 2nd slip ...
swerve
Guest
300 in a day never boring. Pretty impressive final session where England pretty much hammered Australia. Well done Joe Root. Lamenting poor decisons for the next 8 tests is going to get tired Ben and sounds like sour grapes. We all know the poor decisions England WILL get in this series will be largely ignored. "But still no declaration" fantastic decision by Cook too, England will win a huge psychological advantage by making Australia bowl again for the first hour of play on day 4 before sending them in to bat prior to lunch. Let Root get his double hundred at Lords, then ............................ 2-0
Mervuk
Guest
Slow and boring for much of the day.... Sorry we don't get skittled for 120 for your enjoyment
Chris
Guest
Third umpires tend to give those not out all the time. Don't whinge please, it's happened to everyone at different times, and the match situation hardly made it critical. The on field umpires should decide, not send it upstairs. TV doesn't help, and never has done. Probably out, I agree. Should have been given I agree. Nothing new in it though, and it'll carry on till the ICC mandate the on field umpires to decide. They don't because they have a safety net, and if you had umpire led reviews the same would happen on all lbws too.