11 July 2015

ASHES 2015: No Chance Of Victory For Australia

Australia do not have a "cat in hell's chance" of winning the first Ashes Test, says former England batsman Geoffrey Boycott. The tourists require 412 runs to win with two days remaining after England dominated the third day in Cardiff.

"There is no way they are going to get it," Boycott told Test Match Special. "Their batting is OK but not special."


But Australia's Nathan Lyon says they are "still in it" and can record the third highest chase in Test history.

Australia scored 308 in their first innings, which was ended by a ruthless spell of English bowling in Friday's morning session, which saw five wickets fall for 44 runs. This was 122 runs behind England, representing their first three-figure, first-innings lead in the first Test of an Ashes series in 10 years.

Lyon, who scored six during his side's first-innings total, told BBC 5 live sports extra: "If we bat two days we will win this game. There are plenty of positive players in our changing room and there is no reason why we can't get over 400 on that wicket.

"We've got to learn from our first innings with the bat and be more patient."

England were also the superior side with the bat on Friday, scoring 289 in their second innings.
Ian Bell returned to form with 60, a score matched by Joe Root, with Ben Stokes (42) and Mark Wood (32 not out) helping to hammer home the advantage.

"We are in a good position," said Bell, who had scored 56 runs in his last nine knocks prior to his second innings at Cardiff. "I'd rather have the 400 on the board.
"But my experience on pitches like this in England is that it will stay good and we will have to work very hard.

"Australia will come out with the confidence and belief that they will knock it off so we will have to bowl well. We had to work hard for 10 wickets in the first innings and we will have to do the same in the second."

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