*Official* Fifth Test at The Oval

[Uppercut]

I've been pretty impressed actually. Good bowler. I suspect he and Broad have been a little underrated because their teammates let them down in the games when they bowled well.

 

[Stapel]

How facts can differ form one's gut feeling.......

The stats simply say Onions is England's top bowler, with Broad coming next.

As said earlier, bringing in Harmison would not be the best choice, but might be the best gamble.



Whatever England's line up will be, I sense a great match coming up. So far, we have seen two teams that are not at their best. Whoever gets things right, wins this series.

 

[Matt79]

Nothing to do with bottle, he's a rather large bullseye for fast bowlers (when he bats) but he still cops it, stays in line and pulls and hooks.

Takes one kind of bottle to bravely take physical pain in a circumstance no-one expects you to achieve anything, and another not to freak out and let your country down in a role that everyone is expecting great things of you.

Although, to be fair, I've always understood Harmlessson's problems to be more related to being a big sooky mummy's boy who gets upset when he has to sleep in a hotel than any generalised lack of bottle.

 

[Matt79]

Would hope they drop Onions for Paneser, or failing that Harmison. The only chance of an Aussie attack comes when opponents bowl disciplined lines, with a little bit of assistance from pitch or in the air, and the Aussies get caught between playing disciplined cricket vs. being overly aggressive and implode. Harmison bowls some brutish deliveries, but he also reliably bowls some poor lines and lengths, and fails to apply that pressure. Onions won't cause much damage UNLESS the ball nips around a bit, but he could do plenty if it does, and otherwise will at least maintain pressure.

 

[Ikki]

Onions has been really good IMO. Strauss hasn't given the ball to him near enough.

 

[Scaly piscine]

Onions is probably more capable of a match-winning performance than any other bowler in England's lineup - despite this stuff about him being 'steady'.

He's a very attacking bowler who can bowl for long periods and very much takes wickets in bunches. If Strauss had actually used him properly (he should take the new ball most of the time) and not given the impression that Onions is his 4th seamer then he would have more wickets in this series.

 

[sledger]

Onions is probably more capable of a match-winning performance than any other bowler in England's lineup - despite this stuff about him being 'steady'.

He's a very attacking bowler who can bowl for long periods and very much takes wickets in bunches. If Strauss had actually used him properly (he should take the new ball most of the time) and not given the impression that Onions is his 4th seamer then he would have more wickets in this series.

Well, to be honest, he is the most "steady" in England's line up imo. And in being so, no way discredits his wicket taking abilities for mine.

 

[Uppercut]

Well, to be honest, he is the most "steady" in England's line up imo. And in being so, no way discredits his wicket taking abilities for mine.

The thing about him is, the fact that he makes the batsman play so often gives him a poor economy rate. That doesn't matter IMO, it's always better to take your wickets quickly than take them slowly and all he's really doing is cutting down the "nothing balls" that will neither go for runs nor take a wicket (generally on a length outside off stump). Still, a test economy rate of 4.04 and S/R of 36 isn't what most would describe as a "steady" bowler. Scaly's right- he's been miscast in the popular eye pretty badly.

 

[Ikki]

The thing about him is, the fact that he makes the batsman play so often gives him a poor economy rate. That doesn't matter IMO, it's always better to take your wickets quickly than take them slowly and all he's really doing is cutting down the "nothing balls" that will neither go for runs nor take a wicket (generally on a length outside off stump). Still, a test economy rate of 4.04 and S/R of 36 isn't what most would describe as a "steady" bowler. Scaly's right- he's been miscast in the popular eye pretty badly.

Not sure that the ER really reflects his bowling. He had a few spells where he was getting tonked - when everyone else was too - or spells where he was very tidy.

 

[howardj]

I awake to news from my spies that SClark will play in a four-pronged pace battery.

But for the keeper, the team is to be unchanged from Headingley.

 

[GIMH]

Manou back in?

 

[howardj]

Manou back in?

Sorry Haddin in.

Didn't Manou play in the last Test?

Early in the morning here...

 

[GIMH]

Nah, Haddin was back in for the last, it was the third he missed

 

[The Baconator]

Hope so, not only because Haddin'd score more runs, but because it means Bumble might do his little song again.

EDIT: Obviously not going to be the case though.

 

[howardj]

Yeah, Haddin to play.

 

[tooextracool]

The thing about him is, the fact that he makes the batsman play so often gives him a poor economy rate. That doesn't matter IMO, it's always better to take your wickets quickly than take them slowly and all he's really doing is cutting down the "nothing balls" that will neither go for runs nor take a wicket (generally on a length outside off stump). Still, a test economy rate of 4.04 and S/R of 36 isn't what most would describe as a "steady" bowler. Scaly's right- he's been miscast in the popular eye pretty badly.

Dont think that is entirely true. I rate Onions a fair bit, however it's been fairly obvious in some spells that he's been completely atrocious and sprayed the ball around a fair bit. At Headingley he was shocking in his first spell (although not even close to the standard of Harmison) and he improved as the game went on. Like Anderson, it may well have to do with the position of his head at delivery point which is facing the ground, but nonetheless I like his style of bowling and when he does get it right, he is very very frustrating given his tendency to bowl at the stumps. In his later spells at Headingley, he admirably pitch the ball up consistently and its only a pity that Strauss didn't bowl him enough and that he didn't do it early enough in the game to give England any chance.

 

[tooextracool]

So surprised at the lacks of respex for Onions. Only English bowler to hold his head up imo.

It's a shame he doesn't do that when he delivers the ball tbh.

 

[tooextracool]

From the Telegraph: Graeme Onions, Monty Panesar, Steve Harmison and Ryan Sidebottom are in contention for the final bowling spot. Panesar's lack of anything approaching decent form this summer will almost certainly rule him out, while Harmison's record at the south London ground may just see him get the nod.

I wouldn't dare to say Harmison should be picked, but is it really a worse choice than any of the alternatives?
Onions hasn't impressed me, apart form one spell, I think
Panesar, as the Telegraph states, isn't in form. And why consider two spinners, if the Aussies consider to uses none at all? Makes no sense to me........
Sidebottom might not be assisted by the Oval pitch.

Maybe Harmison is the right gamble, rather than choice, for this must-win test?

Harmison was downright disgraceful at Headingley and I would be very very surprised if he played given that he's not held with in very high regard by the coach and several in the management.

Personally, I'd pick Onions in a heartbeat, though I expect with the selectors, unfortunately, its between Onions and Panesar.

 

[Matt79]

Feeling good about this match. Johnson to take 10 wickets in the match, Ponting to ton up.

 

[howardj]

THe weather is set fair for what should be a thrilling denouement to the series.