Seems to me that Stokes treats the toss like a 1-day game. Bat last so you know what to chase.
You'd expect a spin bowler to bowl well batting in the fourth innings - by not playing a frontline spinner Australia have potentially weakened themselves at the backend of the match.
Interesting because I’d have given that first day (ever so slightly) to England…
I agree that, at face value, things are very even and we could consider ourselves possibly in front. The market reflects the fact that England will do anything they can to win this game. They have to second guess the weather on day 4 (which looks like a washout) but even more so on day 5 which could mean that they have to set a declaration on day 3 that will end up being something of a simple equation for the Aussies.
Will Jimmy reach 700 wickets? At the start of the summer that would have been seen as a formality, but at his current rate of wicket taking, will he get another 12 wickets in the rest of this game and at The Oval, and if not will he continue?
Seems to me that Stokes treats the toss like a 1-day game. Bat last so you know what to chase.
You'd expect a spin bowler to bowl well batting in the fourth innings - by not playing a frontline spinner Australia have potentially weakened themselves at the backend of the match.
It does depend how much play they've had on it. Effectively, we could see no more than the equivalent of just over three days play with all the adverse weather that is around.
I love Anderson but it's been hard watching him this series.
Probably the last series he will play for England. I just hope he can take a few more wickets before he retires from Test cricket.
I was there today and sitting at like backwards square (from the JA end) it’s not the best vantage point but it looked like he bowled quite well today just didn’t get that slice of luck. It’s sad though, I think this will be the end. England’s best test cricketer of the 2000s for me.
Will Jimmy reach 700 wickets? At the start of the summer that would have been seen as a formality, but at his current rate of wicket taking, will he get another 12 wickets in the rest of this game and at The Oval, and if not will he continue?
He can't be picked for the Oval unless he takes a five-fer second innings. Simply doesn't look like taking any wickets at the moment. I said Tongue should have been picked ahead of him here but I think sentimentality ruled over the correct, hard-nosed approach
I love Anderson but it's been hard watching him this series.
Probably the last series he will play for England. I just hope he can take a few more wickets before he retires from Test cricket.
I was there today and sitting at like backwards square (from the JA end) it’s not the best vantage point but it looked like he bowled quite well today just didn’t get that slice of luck. It’s sad though, I think this will be the end. England’s best test cricketer of the 2000s for me.
1. Anderson 2. Cook 3. Root 4. Broad 5. Pietersen
He bowled well in terms of putting the ball in the right areas but is bowling around the 80MPH mark which means Test class batsmen have just that nano second more to suss out what they have to play at and what they can leave/flag through. Travis Head in particular played him quite well.
He isn't beating the bat as often as he should and therefore not getting the edges or if you prefer he didn't quite create enough luck for himself.
Woakes had a good day but is a tad faster and seemed to get a bit more movement and was getting the sort of wickets that Jimmy used to get.
I love Anderson but it's been hard watching him this series.
Probably the last series he will play for England. I just hope he can take a few more wickets before he retires from Test cricket.
I was there today and sitting at like backwards square (from the JA end) it’s not the best vantage point but it looked like he bowled quite well today just didn’t get that slice of luck. It’s sad though, I think this will be the end. England’s best test cricketer of the 2000s for me.
1. Anderson 2. Cook 3. Root 4. Broad 5. Pietersen
KP was of course a brilliant player, but if forced to pick a top 5 I'd put Swann at 5, as he was a key factor in that England side who won in Australia and reached number 1. The only England spinner since Underwood who managed to be both an attacking threat, and able to tie an end down. Top English spinners are such a rarity.
Will Jimmy reach 700 wickets? At the start of the summer that would have been seen as a formality, but at his current rate of wicket taking, will he get another 12 wickets in the rest of this game and at The Oval, and if not will he continue?
Plan tomorrow has to be try to get the last two wickets for 20-30 runs maximum and use our own first innings to get as many runs as we can in 70 ish overs - even if that means giving the Australians a marginal first innings lead.
If we can get them back in before the end of the day, take a sneaky wicket or two and bowl them out on Friday, that gives us whatever remains of Saturday and Sunday to chase a 300-400 target.
It’ll be tight with the weather, but I back Stokes and McCullum to be thinking proactively about it.
Absolutely no chance of a result in this game if the forecast from tomorrow onwards is correct
And if there's a 0.01% chance of a win, it would be daft handing the Aussies a victory on a plate, by us chasing an impossible win.
Yes we want to win the series and the Ashes, but I'd rather draw the series 2-2 with a win at the Oval and keep our unbeaten home run since 2005 going, than lose the series.
Interesting because I’d have given that first day (ever so slightly) to England…
I agree that, at face value, things are very even and we could consider ourselves possibly in front. The market reflects the fact that England will do anything they can to win this game. They have to second guess the weather on day 4 (which looks like a washout) but even more so on day 5 which could mean that they have to set a declaration on day 3 that will end up being something of a simple equation for the Aussies.
It ended up being a good catch but all his weight was in the wrong place before he caught it ..a Foakes, Russell, Taylor would have made it look easier..
It ended up being a good catch but all his weight was in the wrong place before he caught it ..a Foakes, Russell, Taylor would have made it look easier..
I can't disagree with that. Athleticism and technique has deserted him but he caught the ball in spite of those deficiencies which was an achievement in itself.
wouldn't be surprised to see the aussies batting again come close of play today.
My thoughts exactly. Think we'll try and race to 150/200 then either be all out or declare. Should be an exciting days play. Hopefully we can set ourselves up for a miracle win to even the series.
Comments
You'd expect a spin bowler to bowl well batting in the fourth innings - by not playing a frontline spinner Australia have potentially weakened themselves at the backend of the match.
Probably the last series he will play for England.
I just hope he can take a few more wickets before he retires from Test cricket.
2. Cook
3. Root
4. Broad
5. Pietersen
He isn't beating the bat as often as he should and therefore not getting the edges or if you prefer he didn't quite create enough luck for himself.
Woakes had a good day but is a tad faster and seemed to get a bit more movement and was getting the sort of wickets that Jimmy used to get.
If we can get them back in before the end of the day, take a sneaky wicket or two and bowl them out on Friday, that gives us whatever remains of Saturday and Sunday to chase a 300-400 target.
It’ll be tight with the weather, but I back Stokes and McCullum to be thinking proactively about it.
Yes we want to win the series and the Ashes, but I'd rather draw the series 2-2 with a win at the Oval and keep our unbeaten home run since 2005 going, than lose the series.
Australia 2.88
Draw 3.10
England race to save the follow-on before lunch then declare. Bowl the Aussies out and set about the run chase after Tea...
I can't disagree with that. Athleticism and technique has deserted him but he caught the ball in spite of those deficiencies which was an achievement in itself.