Hmm....typical English cricket pessimism but it is not inconceivable that England could be all out for a lead of less than 100. The wicket is still doing stuff.
Aussies need a headingley 81 style performance to win this. Bat as long as we can tomorrow to pile on the runs, then declare and the Aussies will have to bat for 3 days.
I seem to recall the majority saying we were going to get thrashed.
I had a sneaky feeling we would win or at least it would be close, but wasn't brave enough to say so, in view of the fact, that I'd have been on my own.
Cant believe how useless Oz have been at batting. Absolute twats - Boycott has had a field-day. Really,really poor - confirmed my pre-series thought that Smith is just a flat-track bully - he's a bigger walking wicket than Lyth. Dare i say it, but England have the makings of a very good team.
Just relived the whole thing via the highlights on channel 5. Although I think the guy is a grade A knob, Geoff Boycotts commentary was hilarious. Incredibly biased but amusing
Comments
The Valley seems to be the backdrop for a lot of things these days...apart from a Sky televised game of course!!
96-3
Cannot be the pitch as we've made a solid start (seeing as Lyth is a walking wicket anyway)
As said, Broad bowled excellently, pitching it on the right spot (pity he's been bowling too short for years).
The fielders took everything as well.
But the batting was very poor, even taking into consideration the swinging conditions.
The big difference was that Rogers & Smith have saved them plenty of times with big innings (and Warner to a lesser degree).
But we got all 3 early & what else do they have ? Clarke ? Voges ? Marsh ? Nevil ?
Root 81no
Bairstow 35 no.
England lead by 124 runs. If England don't win this I'll ...............
230-3
Did anyone predict England to win The Ashes ?
I seem to recall the majority saying we were going to get thrashed.
I had a sneaky feeling we would win or at least it would be close, but wasn't brave enough to say so, in view of the fact, that I'd have been on my own.
269-4
Root 124 no
England lead by 214
Shame Bairstow missed out.
Anyone got day 3 Oval tickets for sale ?!
A bigger waste of money than Francis Jeffers
Dare i say it, but England have the makings of a very good team.
KP who?
I think he's good enough to adapt to these conditions, but not this time around clearly
He's still going to be the number 1 threat (more so than any of the bowlers, Johnson included) when we return there
I have to say, I think that The Oval will be his last Test as captain & probably, last Test full stop.
I'm certain his ongoing disagreements with the selectors and his bad back has done for him.
I think he's been poorly served tbh.
Siddle should have been playing and it was crazy to leave out all rounder Mitchell Marsh for his brother, who can only bat.
Surely Voges should have been dropped ?
Smith to be in charge after the Oval test