*Official* Fifth Test at The Oval

[GIMH]

I'm trusting dermo

 

[Spikey]

there's always sunshine where Steve Smith is

 

[GIMH]

Steve Smith in not turning up to the ground yesterday shocker. A regular David Gower.

 

[Captain_Cook]

It's really not any harder at all.

Edit: Just read other posts related to Cook and playing square of the wicket. Last time he was out here he got a lot of short stuff on leg, and a lot of short stuff outside off. Whether that was due to the pressure he put on the bowlers by batting so well, or whether it was due to our bowlers being seemingly clueless as to where a bowler should normally bowl to any batsman is debatable.

Am reasonably confident that if our bowlers manage to keep a good line just outside off then we'll be ok.

I reckon it's much harder to keep batsmen quiet all day on a pitch like we saw on the 2nd day of the 3rd Test than it is to stir things up on a deck with more bounce and movement.

I take your point. I've only seen highlights of the 2010/11 Ashes series so I missed any in depth analysis of the Australian bowling. I'm not suggesting Cook will average 120+ in Australia but I can see him getting 2-3 centuries in Australia.

Fun fact: Cook has never scored a century against Australia in England. The Australians are the only test team (along with Zimbabwe) that Cook hasn't scored a century against in England. That is evidence of the consistent Australian bowling or Cook being terribly out of knick.

 

[Spikey]

Steve Smith in not turning up to the ground yesterday shocker. A regular David Gower.

Cricket Australia ‏@CricketAus 21h
.@stevesmith49 continuing to work during the rain delay #Ashes

 

[Cabinet96]

This is the most frustrating thing about cricket.

 

[GIMH]

What?

 

[Cabinet96]

Having to delay the start by ages because it rained loads yesterday, not because it's raining today.

 

[MW1304]

I thought drainage was good now.

 

[Spikey]

i just remembered faulkner wasnt even picked in that aus a game where we picked as many all-rounders as possible

The Home of CricketArchive

 

[Cabinet96]

That game brought about the selection of Quiney and Hastings didn't it? Think Faulkner would've been better in both instances.

 

[Maximas]

Doolan or Hughes should've been picked instead of Quiney, and Bird instead of Hastings, Shane Warne's voice obviously wasn't loud enough at that point

 

[GIMH]

You tell them Strauss!!

 

[Cabinet96]

You tell them Strauss!!

Loved that. Enjoying this piece.

 

[NUFAN]

A double declaration now would be the absolute best thing for this match.

 

[Burgey]

How great was AB putting he kibosh on the Faulkner press conference yesterday? Brilliant out down.

 

[CarlsbergXpress]

I thought drainage was good now.

30 min delay is pretty amazing tbf, it bucketted down all day and overnight here. What chance of them setting up a game here. Personally think it's unlikely but it would be great.

 

[GIMH]

How great was AB putting he kibosh on the Faulkner press conference yesterday? Brilliant out down.

What did he say?

 

[Jarquis]

"the onus is on us to bowl them out. James, go take some wickets"

 

[fredfertang]

30 min delay is pretty amazing tbf, it bucketted down all day and overnight here. What chance of them setting up a game here. Personally think it's unlikely but it would be great.

I think Cheatin' Hansie put paid to any prospect of that happening again, unless you see Cook in the dressing room in a naff leather jacket I suppose