The Ashes 2009

Royale with Cheese

Beasty wrote: »

Harmison is much better suited to the Oval than Headingley, although he is very unlikely to play if Freddie is in the team, as Anderson has also been declared fit

Harmison hasn't been a decent bowler in about 5 years. He keeps getting recalled, not playing great, getting dropped, and then getting recalled again for some reason. It's about time they dropped him for good.

JacksonHeightsOwn

there`s a few murmours about Trescothick now, that for me, would be, by far and away, the best option possible, he`s the top scoring player in county cricket, so picking him for a home game, is a complete no brainer really

Beasty

Royale with Cheese wrote: »

Harmison hasn't been a decent bowler in about 5 years. He keeps getting recalled, not playing great, getting dropped, and then getting recalled again for some reason. It's about time they dropped him for good.

You need pace (and probably spin) at the Oval (check out the 1984 Oval test, when Devon Malcolm, a much inferior bowler to Harmison, destroyed South Africa in the second innings with 9-57). Harmison is England's best pace option.

I am not a particular fan of Harmison, and am firmly of the view England made a big mistake picking him ahead of Sidebottom for the Headingley test. However for a one-off must-win match at the Oval, Harmison provides England's best chance, if Freddie is not 100%.

Beasty

chrisbonnie wrote: »

there`s a few murmours about Trescothick now, that for me, would be, by far and away, the best option possible, he`s the top scoring player in county cricket, so picking him for a home game, is a complete no brainer really

Agreed - I would pick him, for this match only, if he makes himself available for selection, dropping Strauss down to No 3. I do not, however, think the England selectors will have the guts to pursue this one.

DJ Dodgy

purple_hatstand wrote: »

Conversely, Australia's bowlers (Clarke and Siddell in particular) were relentlessly on-target and were rewarded accordingly.


Thoughts?

I agree and I think that the reason that the tail wagged so well on the last day for England was because the Aussie bowlers lost their discipline.

Do people think that this might give England some consolation to build a bit of momentum on going into the last test?

purple_hatstand

DJ Dodgy wrote: »

I agree and I think that the reason that the tail wagged so well on the last day for England was because the Aussie bowlers lost their discipline.

Do people think that this might give England some consolation to build a bit of momentum on going into the last test?

The momentum going into the final Test is definitely with Australia. If they took their foot off the gas a bit at the end, it was only because the result was, by then, a sure thing.

England need to step it up a few gears in terms of competitiveness and psychology. They need to 'play smart'. I think England need to bowl first and knock a couple of them over before lunch on the first day in order to feel the swing of any momentum. Flintoff will be immense (he'll definitely want to go out on a high) and it's a good idea bringing Trescothick back even if it's only for this one game.

Beasty

Ramprakash said on Sky Sports today he is available for selection, but the selectors have not approached him.

Given his record in high pressure situations, I would certainly be against his selection (although the fact it is his home ground would count for him)

Chairman of selectors, Geoff Miller, has stated they will consider him:

http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/Mark-Ramprakash-England-Cricket-Selectors-Geoff-Miller-Australia-Ashes-Fifth-Test-The-Oval/Article/200908215359651

Beasty

Bopara has been left out, meaning Trott should get a start. Flintoff is in the squad, and Monty has been recalled to the 14 man squad:

Strauss
Anderson
Bell
Broad
Collingwood
Cook
Flintoff
Harmison
Onions
Panesar
Prior
Sidebottom
Swann
Trott

DM_7

as Trott played before?

Tough Debut if he hasn't

Beasty

DM-ICE wrote: »

as Trott played before?

Tough Debut if he hasn't

No he has not. He says he is ready for it. I think he will bat at 4 or 5, with Bell moving up to 3. If Trott approaches it right, he could make it into a no lose situation - no-one will criticise if he does not get many runs, but he could be a hero with a match-winning century.

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Andrew Strauss (capt), Alastair Cook, Ian Bell, Paul Collingwood, Jonathan Trott, Matt Prior (wk), Andrew Flintoff, Stuart Broad, Graeme Swann, Steve Harmison, James Anderson

Onions loses out to Harmison.

1 Shane Watson, 2 Simon Katich, 3 Ricky Ponting (capt), 4 Michael Clarke, 5 Mike Hussey, 6 Marcus North, 7 Brad Haddin (wk), 8 Mitchell Johnson, 9 Peter Siddle, 10 Stuart Clark, 11 Ben Hilfenhaus

No Hauritz

England win the toss and are batting

DJ Dodgy

1120 - WICKET - Cook c Ponting b Siddle 10 - Eng 12-1 (5.3 overs)

Advantage Aussies me thinks. Although England have increased run rate by over 8 28-1.

Beasty

108-1 at lunch - positive start for England, scoring at over 4 per over, with Strauss getting 10 fours in his 50no. Need to build on this in the afternoon, and ideally get through to tea with no more than 2 down.

Beasty

114-2 Strauss c Haddin, b Hilfenhaus for 55

DJ Dodgy

175-2 off 47 overs. England looking comfortable.

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DJ Dodgy wrote: »

175-2 off 47 overs. England looking comfortable.

Heh, 3rd wicked gone in the 48th over.

Collingwood c Hussey b Siddle 24

176/3

Royale with Cheese

I sense a collapse, will probably finish about 250 all out.

Beasty

Royale with Cheese wrote: »

I sense a collapse, will probably finish about 250 all out.

Well at least we are now past that landmark! - 252-6

Washout

This is not going to be a draw folks.

commentators saying this morning that England should be looking at 500, now 350 looks like a good score.

DJ Dodgy

Washout wrote: »

This is not going to be a draw folks.

commentators saying this morning that England should be looking at 500, now 350 looks like a good score.

When you say 350 looks like a good score do you mean for England with the wickets they have left or that it will be hard for the Aussies to reach 350 off a wicket that is beginning to break up?

f1dan

DJ Dodgy wrote: »

When you say 350 looks like a good score do you mean for England with the wickets they have left or that it will be hard for the Aussies to reach 350 off a wicket that is beginning to break up?

England will do well to get 330 with 2 wickets left. The wicket itself won't break up too much until days 3 and 4 so the Aussies should be looking for about 400 i reckon

Beasty

f1dan wrote: »

England will do well to get 330 with 2 wickets left. The wicket itself won't break up too much until days 3 and 4 so the Aussies should be looking for about 400 i reckon

Bell said he was surprised at how much spin there was today, and the suggestion is Swann could be key. This is almost certainly very good news for England, as it increases the chance of a result, and the Aussies (should:D) have to bat last.

Beasty

A couple of showers forecast for Friday, although it looks better for the rest of the match. England may want to get on with it though

Washout

andersons first duck in test cricket.

good run

Beasty

332 all out, with Broad in the runs again (37) - he's now just short of Flintoff's batting average, and must surely soon be considered for the all-rounder spot.

Beasty

Washout wrote: »

andersons first duck in test cricket.

good run

he failed to get a duck in 54 successive test innings

f1dan

Big wicket for England.

Broad deserved that, good bowling after lunch

85-2

Fratton Fred

f1dan wrote: »

Big wicket for England.

Broad deserved that, good bowling after lunch

85-2

Massive wicket for England that.

f1dan

Hussey gone. Get Clarke now and England should be looking at a first innings lead

Beasty

Beasty wrote: »

332 all out, with Broad in the runs again (37) - he's now just short of Flintoff's batting average, and must surely soon be considered for the all-rounder spot.

having taken the first 3 wickets his bowling average is rapidly approaching Freddie's also

f1dan

Beasty wrote: »

having taken the first 3 wickets his bowling average is rapidly approaching Freddie's also

Make that 4. Great catch by Trott

Washout

I hate the fecker ( aways have not just a reacton to the game)

England have put themselves in a great position

Beasty

93/4 - Clarke out, and a 4th wicket for Broad - getting very interesting

DJ Dodgy

What is the target for the Aussies to avoid the follow on?

Fratton Fred

DJ Dodgy wrote: »

What is the target for the Aussies to avoid the follow on?

133.

Stuart Broad is on the verge of entering English Ashes folklore.....

Stev_o

There's 5

f1dan

Bad call

Stev_o

And 6, momentum really building here.

f1dan

Stev_o wrote: »

And 6, momentum really building here.

I hope you put money on that!

Malari

OK, what's a jaffa? following the live scores on Eurosport online and they keep referring to it. I gather it's a good bowl, but where did it come from??

Fratton Fred

the words "australia", "batting" and "collapse" used in the same sentance. who have thought it

Fifer for Broad

DJ Dodgy

When I heard it was less than 133 to follow on I thought, no way. Now all of a sudden......!

Royale with Cheese

This is getting a bit ridiculous now. 7 in the session.

DJ Dodgy

and 7

f1dan

Malari wrote: »

OK, what's a jaffa? following the live scores on Eurosport online and they keep referring to it. I gather it's a good bowl, but where did it come from??

It's used to describe a delivery that's so good it's almost unplayable.

Dunno where it comes from

Stev_o

f1dan wrote: »

I hope you put money on that!

Now i really wish i did

Malari

Chapeau Broad!

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Lovin' it

Stev_o

Brilliant stuff could see it coming though.

f1dan

Good catch by Prior.

Only rain can save the Aussies now