England vs Australia 4th Test, Trent Bridge

First topic message reminder :

As The Ashes thread has gone on a tangent arguing over who is SA's best fast bowler, let's get back on topic with a match thread.

Conditions for the 5 days look generally dry so there will be an almost certain result for either team. Also looking cloudy for large periods, so the loss of Anderson might be huge for England

England: Cook, Lyth, Bell, Root, Bairstow, Stokes, Buttler, Ali, Broad, Wood, Finn

Australia: Rogers, Warner, Smith, S Marsh, Clarke, Voges, Nevill, Johnson, Starc, Hazlewood, Lyon

Sorry wasn't clear. The message above mine which I was responding to was deleted before I pressed send. I was speaking regarding them playing a T20 game because there was only 30 minutes of cricket. Today. Fully in favour of the five test series, and would love it if we had the odd one chucked our way.

I think Maxwell has the potential to be another Smith as a pure batsman
and Faulkner should be picked as a pure bowler that he is IMO

Few would have predicted 3-1 (may be even 4-1) for England. This Ashes victory has prompted thoughts on the most dramatic/best England Ashes series.
1981, for excitement, clearly stands out.
2005 was a daren't-miss-a-ball thriller.
1954/55 was a terrific 3-1 away win by England achieved after a 1st Test hammering.
But I reckon the 2010/11 Strauss tour was the outstanding achievement - a 3-1 victory with each of the wins by an innings.
It's been pointed out just how difficult it is for Test teams to win away from home. Given the shortness of modern tours, with few warm-up matches, it's hardly surprising.

Pretty much endorse Sir Fred's choices above.

1981 was surely tops for dramatic twists ; 2005 stands out as a surprise win , in several quite thrilling contests , for England over a truly great Australian opponent ; and 2010/11 was surely the most comprehensive demolition of Australia on their own turf in modern times. (The 5-1 win by Brearley's team in 1978 tends to be devalued a bit because of the weakened Australian team ; but you can only beat who you are facing , so should rate a mention)
And a word for one series which went the other way : in 1961 the two teams had traded wins at Lord's and Headingley before Australia "stole" the deciding match at Old Trafford due to a remarkable spell of bowling by Richie Benaud , after Ted Dexter had batted England within touching distance of victory.

I wouldnt discard the marshes. Their mistake was bringing in Shaun for his brother and having only 3 seamers! Something clarke was cleary furious about as he was bowling Warner.
S marsh needs to open with Warner and Mitch has to replace Watson. The problem with their batting is the same as before, the swinging ball

Smashing Aus in Australia, a demolition job, is top for me too

GSC wrote:Smashing Aus in Australia, a demolition job, is top for me too

Boxing day at Melbourne in that series probably the peak of that Strauss/flower era. Immaculate performance

Waking up after the first day when I think Siddle took a hat trick, thinking here we go again.

Then Cook, Strauss and Trott batted until Christmas to make a draw.

VTR: in your opening post on this thread, you said: 'Conditions for the 5 days look generally dry so there will be an almost certain result for either team.'

Not sure I agree - it was forecast to be rainy today, day 4 and tomorrow, so whoever would be on top at the end of the third day's play ... Oh, hang on - scrub that. Gratuitous and gloating. I admit, but fun.

SimonofSurrey wrote:VTR: in your opening post on this thread, you said: 'Conditions for the 5 days look generally dry so there will be an almost certain result for either team.'

Not sure I agree - it was forecast to be rainy today, day 4 and tomorrow, so whoever would be on top at the end of the third day's play ... Oh, hang on - scrub that. Gratuitous and gloating. I admit, but fun.

Haha, my bad. What I should have written was: conditions for days 1 to 3 looking dry, so there's little chance of the Aussies taking this to Day 4!