*Official* Fifth Test at The Oval

[91Jmay]

James Taylor is better than half the batters you have playing in this Test, and Root is a good number 6 as well.

 

[benchmark00]

lol

 

[LegionOfBrad]

I am starting to feel a few glimmers of hope about the Ashes in Australia and most of it revolves around England's apparent lack of depth

Bresnan - might be gone

Tremlett - cant be fit if they continue to omit him

No number 6

Root as opener - jury out

Backup batsmen being mentioned include Ravi and Morgan - sorry but they make Maddinson and others look like Bradman

Woakes - I will be generous and say that he is equal to Faulkner and, at best, he will bat 7 and be our 4th seamer

Monty - should be gone

Kerrigan - worse action than Doherty and no work on the ball (and that's assuming he can control his nerves)

Couple of injuries and they are completely screwed

Monty will tour. They're not stupid enough to leave him on the naughty step all winter.

 

[CarlsbergXpress]

I am starting to feel a few glimmers of hope about the Ashes in Australia and most of it revolves around England's apparent lack of depth

Couple of injuries and they are completely screwed

ICC test rankings taken from the Guardian.

"England stand a good chance of leapfrogging India to number two position in the list. A draw or a win at the Oval will ensure that they move to number two position in the ICC Test rankings topped by South Africa.

Australia, on the other hand, face the embarrassment of dropping to fifth position, their lowest in the ICC Test Rankings since August 2011 irrespective of the result of the final Test match of the ongoing Ashes series."

I have no concerns with the current England side thanks.

 

[benchmark00]

Well that settles it.

 

[91Jmay]

Early lunch at 12:30. Got a bad feeling about today.

 

[CarlsbergXpress]

Well that settles it.

Not a good indication of where a side is then??

 

[Spark]

ICC test rankings taken from the Guardian.

"England stand a good chance of leapfrogging India to number two position in the list. A draw or a win at the Oval will ensure that they move to number two position in the ICC Test rankings topped by South Africa.

Australia, on the other hand, face the embarrassment of dropping to fifth position, their lowest in the ICC Test Rankings since August 2011 irrespective of the result of the final Test match of the ongoing Ashes series."

I have no concerns with the current England side thanks.

This is a pretty terrible argument, given how many #1 and #2 ranked sides have been hammered in recent years.

 

[91Jmay]

If England get loads of injuries they will be rubbish is also a completely **** argument though.

 

[benchmark00]

Not a good indication of where a side is then??

Rankings aren't a very good indication at all, no.

Spark mentions why. Just take India for example. Last Summer Australia were a match away from being #1 in the world. Look how that turned out.

Besides, socials argument (one with not much starch about it, it must be said) was that England don't have depth. It wasn't a slight on the current line up as such (couple of players aside) but a comment on England's second string, something the rankings don't comment on at all unless the second string is exposed often enough.

 

[CarlsbergXpress]

This is a pretty terrible argument, given how many #1 and #2 ranked sides have been hammered in recent years.

On the contrary, you need strength in depth to have success over the 30 odd games that these rankings are worked out on. It's not the be all and end all, just a good indication. Yeah teams get beat badly every now and then, that's sport.

 

[benchmark00]

And as for the mention of Taylor. God, spare me.

 

[CarlsbergXpress]

And as for the mention of Taylor. God, spare me.

Got to agree with you there tbh

 

[Burgey]

Fleming is a joker so it gets overlooked, but he has one of the finest cricket brains out of all commentators in world cricket. Really knows his stuff, love his work.

Did you know Shane Warne dropped a catch off his bowling once which would have given him his second test hat trick?

 

[benchmark00]

Did you know Shane Warne dropped a catch off his bowling once which would have given him his second test hat trick?

Was the same innings as Deanos 200 in Madras iirc.

 

[LegionOfBrad]

Early lunch at 12:30. Got a bad feeling about today.

Its bright and sunny on the other side of the country. Once they get on they'll play all day. Prob around 2pm.

 

[Cooky Monster]

I am starting to feel a few glimmers of hope about the Ashes in Australia and most of it revolves around England's apparent lack of depth

Bresnan - might be gone

Tremlett - cant be fit if they continue to omit him

No number 6

Root as opener - jury out

Backup batsmen being mentioned include Ravi and Morgan - sorry but they make Maddinson and others look like Bradman

Woakes - I will be generous and say that he is equal to Faulkner and, at best, he will bat 7 and be our 4th seamer

Monty - should be gone

Kerrigan - worse action than Doherty and no work on the ball (and that's assuming he can control his nerves)

Couple of injuries and they are completely screwed

Doesn't look good for Bresnan, shame.

Tremlett will be on the plane.

There are new batsmen to come in at 6, Taylor and Ballance for a start, Bairstow has had his go, thats that with him hopefully.

Jury is out on Root as opener, he should really be batting 6, should never of been moved up in the first place.

Ravi and Morgan? can't see that at all.

Woakes and Kerrigan wont even be on the tour, Monty most definately will be though.

Completely screwed if we have a couple of injuries is well ott, obviously if Swann or Anderson got injured it would be a big blow, Batsmen im quite comfortable with if one of the big 4 got injured, back up options are there.

 

[benchmark00]

This rain delay has forced me into watching 'my crazy obsession'.

Holy **** what are these capybara things?!

 

[CarlsbergXpress]

Doesn't look good for Bresnan, shame.

Jury is out on Root as opener, he should really be batting 6, should never of been moved up in the first place.

Compton back then?

 

[CarlsbergXpress]

Haha!