Batsman Joe Root says England must show they are "up for the fight", even if they fall to the expected heavy defeat on the final day of the second Test.
They ended day four on 247-6, 284 runs away from an improbable victory target.
"Everyone watching and playing knew we were in a battle. But we're not going to lie down - we're going to show some fight and courage," said Root.
Root, who downplayed the latest verbal exchanges between the sides, hit a disciplined 87 and Kevin Pietersen made 53 but the other batsmen once again disappointed as Australia moved towards a 2-0 series lead by removing all of England's top six.
"If there's a bit of weather about it might help, but we're up against it," said Root, 22.
[color=rgb(51, 51, 51)][/color][left][color=rgb(51, 51, 51)][size=14px]Australia lead series 2-0. Just as in 2006-07 England has arrived firm favourite but failed to get out of the starting gate.Bad signs[/size][/color][/left]
[quote author=The Chairman link=topic=85883.msg537362#msg537362 date=1386552076]
[color=rgb(51, 51, 51)][/color][left][color=rgb(51, 51, 51)][size=14px]Australia lead series 2-0. Just as in 2006-07 England has arrived firm favourite but failed to get out of the starting gate.Bad signs[/size][/color][/left]
[/quote]
Idk, I think 06-07, England arriving as "firm favorites" is an exaggeration. This is the first time in AGES (in Oz) England has been deemed as firm favorites prior to the Ashes series.
England is getting it quite wrong but they need not panic.
Joe should have gone on and the team management moved him to 6 so he develops and then chucks him back at 3. Makes no sense whatsoever.
During the 3-0 home series victory, England never really dominated and for a few reasons the shoreline seems a comprehensive series victory, but it was not.
Their top order failed miserably and continues to do so. A lot of England's victories were based on solid knocks from Cook and Trott. Now they are failing, England becomes exposed.
Pietersen is a concern as he really lacks consistency.
I simply cannot see England coming back from this, especially when Perth favours the Aussies.
[quote author=easyrider link=topic=85883.msg537622#msg537622 date=1386692231]
England is getting it quite wrong but they need not panic.
Joe should have gone on and the team management moved him to 6 so he develops and then chucks him back at 3. Makes no sense whatsoever.
During the 3-0 home series victory, England never really dominated and for a few reasons the shoreline seems a comprehensive series victory, but it was not.
Their top order failed miserably and continues to do so. A lot of England's victories were based on solid knocks from Cook and Trott. Now they are failing, England becomes exposed.
Pietersen is a concern as he really lacks consistency.
I simply cannot see England coming back from this, especially when Perth favours the Aussies.
[/quote]
Agreed. And they really escaped from a lose narrowly in the first test too. Also I'd add Bell to the mix. I doubt if they're heavily reliant on Trott though, he's done squat for a while. I think KP, despite being inconsistent, has done much more than Trott in contributing to their wins (Ton vs Lanka and India, esp. the India one was one of his best knocks on a rank turner).
I would say it's more of Mitch's top form coinciding with their lack of form. You can't expect Root, Carberry et al to walk in and starat scoring against quality pace like that.
