Third Test, Day 2 - Adelaide Oval More Snicko controversy

I met my Perth friends here in Adelaide, having spent time with them in Perth previously (ssee my blog from the Perth Test

With Margaret and Tom from Perth in Adelaide


The temperature was intense today, and the St John's Ambulance guys were very busy treating folks. I was lucky to get my foot seen to, but my troubles weren't as serious as heatstroke

For the cricketing point of view it was great that Jofra Archer picked up the last two overnight wickets to get his 5-fer. It was well deserved after Brisbane where dropped catches denied him better figures.

More Snicko issues today, both involving Jamie Smith, who was earlier in the series given out controversially in Perth when he clearly hadn't hit the ball (I blogged about that on here at the time on that at the time (see my post of November 22). This time for the first Smith incident it seemed clear to me that the ball hadn't carried (I think To Khawaja?), so it didn't matter what the ball hit (gloves or helmet seemed to be the discussed candidates), and then in the second incident unbelievably, the umpires weren't sure if Carey had taken a clean catch, which was, in Alison Mitchell's words just a regulation catch. Both reviews were umpire reviews suggesting to me that the umpires in this Test have lost the plot somewhat and are reluctant to make a decision in case they get it wrong, and invite a player review (isn't that what the player reviews are for?). Smith survived the first review but not the second. I here that hotspot may make an appearance in Melbourne, so no vaseline allowed in the changing rooms!

To be honest I spent much of the day talking to Aussie supporters while our batters were failing, and getting out to careless shots (Root, Pope, Smith, Brook). Surely, Pope has to be dropped? Its probably too late now, but I would have dropped him for this Test put Stokes in at 3, and Bethell in at 6

I continued to fraternise with the locals, and Ruby stopped by for a chat

Selfie with Ruby, from Adelaide (posted with consent)

I think we know how this Test is going. Australia will knock over our two remaining wickets in about 3 overs max, bat for the rest of the day and set us a target of 500+ and bowl us out for 150 on Day 4


Comments

  1. Ian Dutton18 December 2025 at 07:32

    Oh Ye of Little Faith! Jofra will get a 50, Stokes a rapid 150 and we’ll bowl them out for 120. Archer 5 and Stokes 5 wickets each! And boy! I’ve discovered Singapore Slings 🤪🤪🤪

    ReplyDelete
  2. Stephen McNab18 December 2025 at 08:32

    It’s the hope that kills us…..

    ReplyDelete

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