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.

WUMS are out in force I see.

Monty's actions off the field have contributed to his dropping, but he's hardly been skittling through teams in the county game.

Give the young lads a chance, its a complete dead rubber of a game.

That's 246 wickets for England now, 2 behind Hoggy for 7th if I'm reading cricinfo right?

Swann strikes, Rogers just hasn't worked him out this series. Broad bowling sharply too, would be tempted to bring Anderson on in tandem, attack these two with seam for a bit.

Eng has tighetend their game after lunch...simply by taking the two new-comers out of the play

Watson and Clarke together at the crease. Partnership is crucial for Australia, while England will be on the up if they can get one of these two out in the next 20 minutes.

Swann gets Rogers yet again. Important period now, a quick wicket or two and its back in England's favour. Get Watson out and could give Woakes and Kerrigan another bowl to try and find some rhythm

Want to get Clarke early...if he gets set he'll get 200 on this.

Not that he has started too well ! Broad is all over him at the moment.

Important period of play...

KP_fan wrote:

Duty281 wrote:     Monty will never be as good as Swann.

who knows ?

when they played together in UAE and India...Monty was better,
thereafter he wasn't played...Swann just assumed better

Panesar played in NZ and was poor. Like he often is when the pitch isn't a raging turner. He's better than Swann on big turners (although it is close) because of the pace he bowls and spins it at. On flat or moderate turning pitches, it isn't even close.

This is the biggie. Get one of these two out now and we can salvage this day's play.

JDizzle wrote:

KP_fan wrote:

Duty281 wrote:     Monty will never be as good as Swann.

who knows ?

when they played together in UAE and India...Monty was better,
thereafter he wasn't played...Swann just assumed better

Panesar played in NZ and was poor. Like he often is when the pitch isn't a raging turner. He's better than Swann on big turners (although it is close) because of the pace he bowls and spins it at. On flat or moderate turning pitches, it isn't even close.

Indeed, Monty averaged 70 on the NZ tour.

Jesus. Ouch. Great bouncer from Broad, but you never want to see someone hurt like that. Ow.

Watson gets floored by Broad. My, what a bouncer! Hope Watson's ok though.

You don't want to see someone hit like that, but he's decided to play on so make sure the next one is around his ears too!

Ouch! nasty, vicious, bouncer from Broad, and he nails Watson somewhere behind the ear. Looks like he's going to carry on though.

Surprised he's carrying on in truth. Getting hit behind the ear often screws up your balance.

Duty281 wrote:

JDizzle wrote:

KP_fan wrote:

Duty281 wrote:     Monty will never be as good as Swann.

who knows ?

when they played together in UAE and India...Monty was better,
thereafter he wasn't played...Swann just assumed better

Panesar played in NZ and was poor. Like he often is when the pitch isn't a raging turner. He's better than Swann on big turners (although it is close) because of the pace he bowls and spins it at. On flat or moderate turning pitches, it isn't even close.

Indeed, Monty averaged 70 on the NZ tour.

how much did Swann average in that series ?

KP_fan wrote:

Duty281 wrote:

JDizzle wrote:

KP_fan wrote:

Duty281 wrote:     Monty will never be as good as Swann.

who knows ?

when they played together in UAE and India...Monty was better,
thereafter he wasn't played...Swann just assumed better

Panesar played in NZ and was poor. Like he often is when the pitch isn't a raging turner. He's better than Swann on big turners (although it is close) because of the pace he bowls and spins it at. On flat or moderate turning pitches, it isn't even close.

Indeed, Monty averaged 70 on the NZ tour.

how much did Swann average in that series ?

0. Injured.

Watson may be scared of ghosts , but he is tough enough on the field.

Carrying on despite that nasty blow. gutsy stuff.

JDizzle wrote:

KP_fan wrote:

Duty281 wrote:

JDizzle wrote:

KP_fan wrote:

Duty281 wrote:     Monty will never be as good as Swann.

who knows ?

when they played together in UAE and India...Monty was better,
thereafter he wasn't played...Swann just assumed better

Panesar played in NZ and was poor. Like he often is when the pitch isn't a raging turner. He's better than Swann on big turners (although it is close) because of the pace he bowls and spins it at. On flat or moderate turning pitches, it isn't even close.

Indeed, Monty averaged 70 on the NZ tour.

how much did Swann average in that series ?

0. Injured.

Before coming back and averaging 15 in the home series.

JDizzle wrote:

KP_fan wrote:

Duty281 wrote:

JDizzle wrote:

KP_fan wrote:

Duty281 wrote:     Monty will never be as good as Swann.

who knows ?

when they played together in UAE and India...Monty was better,
thereafter he wasn't played...Swann just assumed better

Panesar played in NZ and was poor. Like he often is when the pitch isn't a raging turner. He's better than Swann on big turners (although it is close) because of the pace he bowls and spins it at. On flat or moderate turning pitches, it isn't even close.

Indeed, Monty averaged 70 on the NZ tour.

how much did Swann average in that series ?

0. Injured.

Hmm...so you can assume that he would have averaged better than Monty.

assumption is a very convenient tool...allows you to prove whatever you like  

Some fierce stuff from Broad. Hope he doesn't get too carried away with the short stuff , need to mix it with some full balls.

But very watchable right now. Cook attacking Clarke as he must.

I wouldn't have let Watson back on tbh.

Broad's great to watch when bowling like this

Making Clarke look like Suresh Raina

KP_fan wrote:

JDizzle wrote:

KP_fan wrote:

Duty281 wrote:

JDizzle wrote:

KP_fan wrote:

Duty281 wrote:     Monty will never be as good as Swann.

who knows ?

when they played together in UAE and India...Monty was better,
thereafter he wasn't played...Swann just assumed better

Panesar played in NZ and was poor. Like he often is when the pitch isn't a raging turner. He's better than Swann on big turners (although it is close) because of the pace he bowls and spins it at. On flat or moderate turning pitches, it isn't even close.

Indeed, Monty averaged 70 on the NZ tour.

how much did Swann average in that series ?

0. Injured.

Hmm...so you can assume that he would have averaged better than Monty.

assumption is a very convenient tool...allows you to prove whatever you like  

I haven't assumed anything. Stating facts. Swann has only averaged 50+ in one series in his entire international career and that was against a very good SA side last year.

Broad bowling a lot of no-balls at the moment, trying to hard? Nearly cost him there though.

Eng went with 5 bowlers but are effectively down to 3...when the aussies counterattacked.
 
how long can they continue with 3 bowlers....is what Aus should have in their mind

Clarke running out Watson would be hilarious

KP_fan wrote:Eng went with 5 bowlers but are effectively down to 3...when the aussies counterattacked.
 
how long can they continue with 3 bowlers....is what Aus should have in their mind

Give them a bloody chance. They only have three because of one spell?

Nonsense.

Nobody would ever debut if you were the bloody coach.

trebellbobaggins wrote:

KP_fan wrote:Eng went with 5 bowlers but are effectively down to 3...when the aussies counterattacked.
 
how long can they continue with 3 bowlers....is what Aus should have in their mind

Give them a bloody chance.  They only have three because of one spell?

Nonsense.

Nobody would ever debut if you were the bloody coach.

Ha Ha...I have banished them to 3rd man and long leg after 2 overs each.

anderson getting a bit of reverse.

now Aus's tail has to wag

Clarke chops onto pads then off stump

England just probing away

That's some really good bowling from Broad, Swann and Anderson. Tied down a quality player, put the pressure on him and eventually got the breakthrough. That's how to bowl on flat pitches. Great stuff.

well done Jimmy up to n°2 (on his own) on the list of all-time England wicket-takers . Oddly scratchy innings from Clarke, think Broad deserves a lot of credit for roughing him up like that, didn't allow him to settle.

Never looked comfortable Clarke.

Oh Watson is the main man and Clarke struggling, that will help their team harmony no end.

Well played 100 for Watson. Can he play the big innings though?

well played Watson

Right lads, let's get Smith and Faulkner done. Congrats to Anderson on becoming England's second-highest Test wicket taker

Could this series end with Watson the match winner and man of the match? Could do.

Amazing that someone who's last hundred came in Oct 2010 is still in the side

So Watson gets his hundred  

Half of them off poor Kerrigan and Woakes , but vital runs for Australia , with Clarke's failure. Broad roughed him up nicely , and Jimmy finished him off...

England will think one more now and we are on top ! Longish tail , although they can mostly bat pretty handily.

Olly wrote:Amazing that someone who's last hundred came in Oct 2010 is still in the side

48 innings. Imagine if Trott or KP went 48 innings without a century. The media and online heroes would be biting their arms off.

Vaughn slagging the selection of woakes.

Should have been Finn or tremmers he says.

Cook drops Watson

Dropped him!

Sorry Cook but that's a poor drop

anderson is in the midst of his reversing spell

trebellbobaggins wrote:Vaughn slagging the selection of woakes.

Should have been Finn or tremmers he says.

Wasn't it under his captaincy that we picked Pattinson? #justsaying

If you're playing 5 bowlers, Woakes has to play. Broad is no number 7.

Agreed, poor drop from Cook. Got to take that.

Tbf, if you're giving Kerrigan a debut, then you should be picking Finn or Tremlett.

Three times in this series England have neglected to select the bowler on his home turf:

Tremlett here
Onions at Durham
Finn at Lords

I think it's a valid question to ask why the selectors are ignoring bowlers who know the pitch like the back of their hand.

Oh dear !

Cook drops Watson...not too difficult a chance ...

That would have been handy   

Anderson bowling well here . Especially for a chap who many people were claiming needed a rest.