5th Test - Oval, Weds 21st August

First topic message reminder :

With England having won the series, I wonder what changes we will see to the teams.

England
The batting, barring Ian Bell, is misfiring. Too many times batsmen are getting in, but getting out for cameo scores. Prior is struggling a little with bat and gloves, but as the new boy and without a big innings, Jonny Bairstow is most at risk.
The wickets have been shared amongst the bowlers. Onions was unlucky to miss out at Chester-le-Street, but having now broken a finger is ruled out for two weeks. Monty's well publicised indiscretion will not endear him to the management and Steven Finn will probably be left to regain form and confidence with Middlesex. On his own ground, Chris Tremlett may get a run out, especially if they feel that Anderson or Broad need a rest.

all in all I suspect that changes are unlikely.


Australia
The good news is that they may have found an opening pair. The bad news is that the middle order is desperately fragile unless skipper Clarke scores runs. Khawaja and Smith are both batting at least two positions too high and unless he is able to bowl, Shane Watson looks a waste of a spot. Possible chances of recalls for Hughes or Cowan at 3 - and consideration has to be given to Faulkner lower down as an all-rounder.
Bowling has stood up well, but in another horses for course selection we may well see Starc replace Bird. Australia will be desperate for Harris to stay fit.




England have not played very well so far, especially the batters, yet are 3-0 up. Australia have shown they can compete but seem unable to win, even against a faltering team. If England can actually play well we could see a real thumping, but the money men at Ca will hope their team can sneak a win to create interest for the return series.

How tough this is shows it was a bat first and win pitch for sure.

Aussies still looking to score. Holding thinks Clarke will be happy with a 200 run lead.
I think he's dreaming.

So Clarke hasn't declared and yet england are negative?

Just saw a fantastic keeper's catch by Sarah Taylor in the women's match.

Standing up , dived and caught a reverse sweep that came clear off the bat  

Prior would have been proud of that.

Smithy!

I can't get over how much he looks like a funny faced version of my nephew.

Come on smithy , you can't fail!

Now Warne is praising Clarke for bravely risking defeat in the pursuit of an unlikely win.

Well ...maybe. He hasn't actually risked anything yet. Let us see when ...and if...he declares.

Bravely losing wickets.

Warne has lost it.

Gosh, I wished England batted like this in their first innings. Not.

The punditry this series has been massive Anti-English. Cringe-worthy stuff.

Sadly it has duty.

And it will continue down under as they won't be so ready to slag off their own side.

I've lost all faith in our lot after this summer.

Ah the fat lad singing in the jungle is there. Legend

Warne is having a 'mare

"Shot !" he declares as Smith hits out...and holes out to deep mid on  

warne could put a positive spin on a nuclear war. He makes duty seem pessimistic about England

Smithy gone.

So what was the point of this change of order?

I suppose their best batsman come and restore order now?

Come on Clarke. Declare and prove you're the entertainer.

Great wicket. Harris gone.

Why on earth did Harris come in?

What is Clark doing?

Still. Looks a mare to bat so Aussie must be odds on to win now?

Harris gone. They will be bowled out , I think.

But probably too late to tempt England into a wild assault...

200 on , four to go , just about tea. But Rogers is yet to bat.

feick aus may have just baited england into beating them .

they could have settled for a draw and just wummed england about being negative!!

So rogers will come in and open now?

God Clarke is so negative. What's wrong with Australia? /aggers

Oh dear, I've fallen about laughing. Warne says "shot" as the ball goes straight to Graeme Swann.  

I'll be glad to see the back of Australia, in truth.

If they gave England 200 off 50 overs to win, I reckon they could be tempted to go for it.

Giving them only 40 overs for any target, they won't go for it really

trebellbobaggins wrote:Why on earth did Harris come in?

What is Clark doing?

Still.  Looks a mare to bat so Aussie must be odds on to win now?

Well they are still trying to score...but I would have expected to see Starc before Harris.

Odd.

Duty281 wrote:Oh dear, I've fallen about laughing. Warne says "shot" as the ball goes straight to Graeme Swann.  

I'll be glad to see the back of Australia, in truth.

Me too. They seem to have a free ticket in the media whilst the media just slate England for everything even when they have dominated.

If you're Chris Rogers, just how humiliated are you?

Indeed. You will soon be retired and they don't trust you at all even when you've been their best man here.

Even if Australia did declare now, England wouldn't win.

Australia would bowl really far outside off-stump and, as England tried in vain to score, the press would pan England for negativity.

Warne has actually gone mad.

I do agree with some of some of his sentiment. But he has repeated himself 100 times in 5 minutes.

England don't risk losing to win. But they still win anyway. So please shut the Frak up Shane.

Okay - what on earth is going on with the Aussie batting order?

Missed a bit through watching the F1 and its half-time in my football team's match. Reading the text commentary it looks like Clarke is drawing his batting order out of a hat.

To their credit at least they are trying to post a score to defend in one almighty hurry...doesn't seem to be working to well though.

Currently 85-6 - that's a lead of around 200. Should be enough for them to declare any time soon.

Warne still banging on "Are England prepared to lose to win ?"

I know what he means. But although he claims Taylor , Waugh etc were in their day , I don't believe I can recall too huge risks being taken against England...let's face it , they didn't usually need to  

About the only "crazy brave" declaration I can recall was Gilchrist when he was in charge 3-0 in front and Waugh got injured. He set England 310 or something and Butcher went nuts and gained England a consolation win. And Gilchrist was a bit different...

Clarke is such a Negative captain. Why is he still out there?

Seriously though, the media are saying nothing now.

Thats the point isn't it. I have made warnes point so many times about england when a win is actually beneficial!!.

Any team is going to be prepared to lose to win after such a bad run..

They wouldn't be preparing to lose to win this game if there were 3-0 up.

He needs to think a bit more..

Excuse me Shane, is Clarke a negative captain for not declaring?

Thought not.

Isn't this moving toward a draw if Clarke doesn't declare now?

Surely he needs the win so is being very very negative.

Ok if they declare now. fine they have given us a carrot . Blame england if we don't go for the win.

if they bat another ten there is no chance we can go for a win because its almost impossible to get there.

If they don't declare , they will have been the ultimate negative influence on the game.

starc hit 93mph today and is a tremendous striker of the ball.
This is the upside of he presents that we saw in India......bit too late for this series.....but there are 5 more tests to go

So , even swinging away brightly , Australia still haven't got the run rate up to five per over. And they have lost six wickets.

So if they end up setting England 38 overs to score 255 , will Cook and co be pilloried for shutting up shop ?

alfie wrote:So , even swinging away brightly , Australia still haven't got the run rate up to five per over. And they have lost six wickets.

So if they end up setting England 38 overs to score 255 , will Cook and co be pilloried for shutting up shop ?

yes even though its aus that have created the situation.

Yes and some numpties will call England lucky even after this bowling.

Same numpties will ignore the luck Aussie had in winning the toss in the first place.

Aus has made something out of nothing.
Moment of Truth for Eng
Rubber meets the road

if they fail to get close....i.e within 30 runs of winning..then they are as many believe simply lucky and going down the hill.

If they even for once think they will get bowled out in 40 odd overs......then it's already a moral defeat.

So I wonder if Clarke will declare at tea ? 44 overs for England to make 227 ?

Just gettable , I suppose. They might have a little dart at it , perhaps , but if they lost a couple of quick wickets it would be Tavare Time...

If the Aussies bat on I think it will be shake hands at 5.30 or whatever they are allowed these days.

Aggers calls that generous.

Right.

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