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.

That could be a pivotal drop

More drops.

Shoddy.

God Strauss sucks as a commentator

bad drop by Cook Smith lamps Swann over long-off for 6, nice shot.

Azzy Mahmood wrote: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.

Perhaps because Anderson and Broad didn't take wickets at their home grounds  

Finn had to go after TB

The question is when is Cook going to bite the bullet and bring Woakes/Kerrigan back into the attack? He can't hide them for long, and all the Aussie batsmen from here on in (Watson, Smith, Haddin, Faulkner, even Harris/Starc) are going to get after them. Give them some backing.

Interesting period of play. 158/3 looks good , but get Watson and another and it would be a different story...and of course they should have got Watson then.

Want a wicket before they need to turn back to the second stringers...

I think 158-3 is about par here TBH, looks a good pitch, ball hasn't done anything since the first 8-10 overs or so, though it will turn as the game goes on. England have done well since lunch.

Add on 2 wickets, and England are in control. Add on 40 runs, and Australia are doing well. I think it's about level so far.

Kerrigan 2 overs
Swann 20 overs.

without speaking a word Cook is telling Kerrigan...I don't trust you.
I wish we had MP

here is Woakes...

KP_fan wrote:Kerrigan 2 overs
Swann 20 overs.

without speaking a word Cook is telling Kerrigan...I don't trust you.
I wish we had MP

KP_fan's in love  

KP_fan wrote:Kerrigan 2 overs
Swann 20 overs.

without speaking a word Cook is telling Kerrigan...I don't trust you.
I wish we had MP

Captain in not trusting a youngster on debut as much as his premier spinner SHOCKER

Olly wrote:

KP_fan wrote:Kerrigan 2 overs
Swann 20 overs.

without speaking a word Cook is telling Kerrigan...I don't trust you.
I wish we had MP

Captain in not trusting a youngster on debut as much as his premier spinner SHOCKER

not "as much as"...is fair
trusting 10 times less.......is indeed a SHOCKER

KP_fan wrote:Kerrigan 2 overs
Swann 20 overs.

without speaking a word Cook is telling Kerrigan...I don't trust you.
I wish we had MP

 

GSC wrote:God Strauss sucks as a commentator

Hopeless, I can't watch when he's on.  Nothing of value to say and an excrutiating voice to say it with.

Galted wrote:

GSC wrote:God Strauss sucks as a commentator

Hopeless, I can't watch when he's on.  Nothing of value to say and an excrutiating voice to say it with.

I AGREE on Strauss.....he is always so "apologetic"

He just doesn't sound comfortable. Sounds like he's trying too hard to be interesting rather than himself

Nearly a first wicket for Woakes...just bounces short of slip.

Come on lad , keep at them ...two decent overs .

more than half a day gone....no DRS drama yet  

This is better from Woakes, more consistent and nearly a wicket of Smith.

Might be worth bringing Kerrigan back soon

Kerrigan warming up . Couple before tea ?

He's still very floaty is Woakes. He's still easy his way in though.

Hopefully Kerrigan gets a few overs. He won't get over his nerves by not bowling.

Kerrigan gets away with 2 very short ones

Better that from Kerrigan. Better.

Two dragged down badly...got away with just singles.

Going to have to conquer these nerves soon...

Better, from Kerrigan that time. Still two bad balls thrown in though. Chin up Kerrigan!

To be fair to him, bowling spin on a flat pitch on day 1 on a test is a big ask for any spinner

Jason Roy on as a sub, wearing a three lions cap. Only a minor thing, but subs shouldn't wear them. Should only be for capped players. It should be a honour. A little pet hate of mine.  

God the level of negativity on the bbc feed the second it doesn't go perfectly on a flat wicket with some experimental bowling is pathetic.

I take the urine but these guys are meant to be serious.

absolute joke.   i'll be ignoring it from now, it does my head in.

we need Duty to on there to cheer them the flip up.

Also tough for Woakes but I really don't see how he's going to threaten at test level

nah must admit I would rather see a real bowler out there.

he hasn't looked good at any level for England this year.

We've already taken more wickets than we did in the entire Oval Test this time last year vs SA. Positives.

Kerrigan with a high full toss slapped to the boundary.

Don't think well be seeing him again today

Feeling a bit sorry for Kerrigan, his dream is turning into a nightmare. Head-high full toss - whatever next?

Poor chap is really struggling. What he needs is a batsman to make a daft mistake and present him with a wicket...

Where is Phil Hughes when you need him ?

Rest of the over was pretty good. He'll get another few overs today.

Cook's drop looking more and more crucial. 183-4 and it is pretty even. Aus on top as it is though.

Tea. Australia in charge at the moment, England won't feel too far out of it though

Much better session England. If Cook had held that catch they'd have been very happy...

Hard work looms after tea. And it appears the three experienced bowlers will be doing most of it.

4/0/38/0.

Poor lad.

183/3. Australia probably just in front at this point, but England will feel that one good session will put them right back in the mix. It is a flat pitch after all.

poor Kerrigan, looks really overcome with nerves, though he finished that over well. Tea, and the game quite intriguingly poised. England with the better of that session, but Australia still on top. A couple of quick wickets could really change things though.

Woakes isn't gonna threaten on pitches like these, but on a wicket with some nibble I think he'd be threatening. To be fair he has beaten the edge a few times and had one drop short.

Kerrigan just needs to become a man, not a mouse out there.

thought Woakes bowled a much better spell there too, a couple of loose balls which Watson cashes in on but other than that 4 good tight overs. On a pitch where it's not doing anything for him he's doing OK. Here's hoping Kerrigan manages to get those nerves out of his system.

Poor old Kerrigan. He really is a lot better than this. He's bowling like an off-spinning version of Bryce McGain so far!

Woakes just looks like a worse version of Big Bres to me. Thought he was picked more because he can bat and Finn an Tremlett dont really

Woakes hasn't been awful. Just rather too many four balls...the same criticism often leveled at Finn.
Difference is Finn tends to take wickets...

But Woakes can bat. So he may yet justify his presence , if he can tighten up a bit with the ball , and do what they hope as a number six/seven bat.

No stopping Watson today , it seems ...

On the plus side , it means he will be a guaranteed starter for Australia for the next couple of years  

This is Old Trafford redux. Its not even helping to pass the time at work now, its like watching paint dry from an England perspective.

Righto, I may have called for 240-3 at tea, but no matter. Australia are looking comfortable here. They might bat for two days then bowl us out twice in three?