*Official* Fifth Test at The Oval

[Furball]

I was thinking about this last night, the brand of Cricket that Australia has played throughout the series has been pleasing. Even if I was a neutral I think throughout the series I would say that I've been entertained more by Australia.. End of the day though, I would much rather be clinical and win Test matches so full credit to England who have been so impressive in their ability to always find a way to win/draw.

I agree, their spastic collapses in the 3 Tests they've lost have been most entertaining.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Oz batsmen flat track bullies, IMHO.

All their significant runs have come on the two roads, which distorts the overall figures for the series.

Lovely drive from Root there. Chance for the boy to fill his boots here.

 

[Maximas]

They try to start carefully and accelerate later when the bowlers are into their third and fourth spells. It's usually a pretty good strategy.

not a good look when they play **** shots and get out in the 2nd/3rd spells though is it? The problem with not imposing yourself on the bowling is that they are always in the game and the dot balls tend to help their confidence.

 

[MW1304]

Cook playing the pull shot (when he actually times it) is just about his only attractive shot, certainly his most attractive by a mile.

 

[Furball]

Cook playing the pull shot (when he actually times it) is just about his only attractive shot, certainly his most attractive by a mile.

A regular Ricky Ponting.

 

[dermo]

a regular harmison

 

[flibbertyjibber]

I know we have just started but at current rate it would take until around lunch on Sunday for us to be level with Australia's first innings score.

Zzzzzzz

Do you not watch cricket or know anything about it?

The spell batting last night was not about scoring runs quickly it was about seeing off the new ball and getting to the close unscathed. Job done. Today if they bat 98 overs out at less than 3 an over then by all means criticise them but don't bag them when they are playing themselves in again against the oppositions best 2 bowlers. Todays run rate is good anyway so i have no clue what you are moaning about.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Cook's not an attractive batsmen, tbh.

I mean, he's a handsome man (never confused...), but his batting looks stilted and robotic. Doesn't have the fluidity a lot of the very best batters show.

I suspect if he wasn't scoring runs for the side of righteousness I'd hate watching him.

 

[LegionOfBrad]

Roady road road.

 

[dermo]

benchmark00 furiously fapping to that starc slow mo

 

[Maximas]

Cook's not an attractive batsmen, tbh.

I mean, he's a handsome man (never confused...), but his batting looks stilted and robotic. Doesn't have the fluidity a lot of the very best batters show.

I suspect if he wasn't scoring runs for the side of righteousness I'd hate watching him.

yeah pretty much

 

[Spark]

Not been great today tbh. Need to sharpen up a bit

 

[Maximas]

benchmark00 furiously fapping to that starc slow mo

he let loose when he saw that gentle swing down the legside I bet

 

[dermo]

bird wouldnt be wasting the new ball like this amirite benchmark??

 

[LegionOfBrad]

The Australian quicks don't average significantly less than the English ones. Harris does, but that's offset by the enormous difference in the Swann vs Agar/Lyon stats.

Plus, it's doubly misleading to loom at the batting stats at this moment in time when Australia have had their first innings on a road when England have barely started.

The lack of 5fers for Oz was the telling stat.

Also if England rack them up today all the batting stats will likely go around to them.

England don't tend to lose 7-8 wickets in an hour which is why Oz have been stuffed in this series.

 

[Furball]

Clarke presumably at mid on to avoid listening to Watson drone on about batting at 3.

 

[dermo]

thank god we played 4 seamers + watson on a pitch with so much movement

 

[Spark]

England have had Ian Bell. That's really it, tbh. And Swann, though that sort of balances out with the quicks.

 

[Spikey]

Clarke presumably at mid on to avoid listening to Watson drone on about batting at 3.

"I would have doubled it if you opened with me Pup"

 

[jackbyrne91]

Anyone know if Watson is fit to bowl? Not much mentioned of him going off last Test.