5th Test at The Oval, London

[Spark]

Yes, he is good but if he is there only to do a holding job, Labuschagne can do that as well. The pitches or conditions are not conducive for him to take wickets, Australia is one up and just needs a draw. So, why not play Mitch Marsh instead of him and #batdeep.

because he has 350 test wickets often in conditions that are not conducive?

 

[Second Spitter]

Yes, he is good but if he is there only to do a holding job, Labuschagne can do that as well. The pitches or conditions are not conducive for him to take wickets, Australia is one up and just needs a draw. So, why not play Mitch Marsh instead of him and #batdeep.

A “holding job” implies bowling a large amount of overs at a respectable Econ rate. I serious doubt Labu is capable of that.

MMarsh has shown zero evidence that he can consistently bat anywhere close to Test standard ,less so in conditions where the ball is doing a bit against a decent attack.

There aren’t enough decent batsmen in the squad (or even back in Australia) to #batdeep

 

[SteveNZ]

It depends on what his issues are, though. If it's general fatigue, then see how he comes up by tomorrow morning and if he's right within himself (he most likely will be) then play him. But if they've done tests and he's getting into that danger area for stress fractures, then he absolutely shouldn't play. An injury like that would rule him out for basically the whole of the home summer. And while I know that's only Pakistan and NZ, you still want him fit for those games rather than out because he played in this one.

This is essentially it. People seem to think it's 'oh they're not playing a Test for X weeks/months, he'll have plenty of time to recover'. It's not that, it's that if his body is fatigued after all this workload over the past months, he becomes much more susceptible to injury. He has form in that area, right? And by ****ing christ you'd be disappointed if you lost Pat Cummins for the summer when you'd already won the Ashes.

I'm not saying they should rest him because I don't know how he's feeling. But if there's doubts, you'd have to err on the side of caution. They don't have to play him as others have said.

 

[aussie tragic]

While we are waiting I looked at the last Ashes test at the Oval in 2015.
https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...st-australia-tour-of-england-and-ireland-2015

Interesting that Mitch Marsh as 5th bowler sent down more overs in the match than Johnson and Starc

 

[Spark]

While we are waiting I looked at the last Ashes test at the Oval in 2015.
https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...st-australia-tour-of-england-and-ireland-2015

Interesting that Mitch Marsh as 5th bowler sent down more overs in the match than Johnson and Starc

He was far more suited to those conditions than they were. Full medium paced outswing was pretty effective on that deck

 

[Second Spitter]

While we are waiting I looked at the last Ashes test at the Oval in 2015.
https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...st-australia-tour-of-england-and-ireland-2015

Interesting that Mitch Marsh as 5th bowler sent down more overs in the match than Johnson and Starc

Amazing how that Australian batting was light years ahead of the current one.

 

[aussie tragic]

Amazing how that Australian batting was light years ahead of the current one.

Well 3 of that top 6 are in the current squad...but what we'd give for the other 3 as well right now (Rojers, Clarke and Voges)

 

[stephen]

If Cummins is fit he plays, if not Patto gets a game. Marnus Labuschagne a sufficient option as a fifth bowler imo. No MMarsh please

This.

I advocate for Pattinson over Marsh only. I advocate for a batsman above both.

 

[stephen]

Yes, he is good but if he is there only to do a holding job, Labuschagne can do that as well. The pitches or conditions are not conducive for him to take wickets, Australia is one up and just needs a draw. So, why not play Mitch Marsh instead of him and #batdeep.

You always pick your best spinner if they're fit.

 

[Spikey]

He was far more suited to those conditions than they were. Full medium paced outswing was pretty effective on that deck

plus Clarke used the Mitch's, particularly MJ, in very short spells, unless they were on fire

 

[Second Spitter]

Well 3 of that top 6 are in the current squad...but what we'd give for the other 3 as well right now (Rojers, Clarke and Voges)

Of course, Warner didn’t look snakebitten every time he strode to the wicket.

Looking at that card, makes me think that Siddle will be strongly considered for the 5th Test.

 

[Spark]

Amazing how that Australian batting was light years ahead of the current one.

Is that a surprise? Amongst other things, Rogers, Clarke and Voges were highly experienced batsmen at the end of their careers. They're always going to look more impressive on paper than a bunch of newbies.

 

[Second Spitter]

Is that a surprise? Amongst other things, Rogers, Clarke and Voges were highly experienced batsmen at the end of their careers. They're always going to look more impressive on paper than a bunch of newbies.

Not really. Apart from the fact they were outplayed for the majority of the series.

 

[Cabinet96]

Roy and Overton have been dropped for Curran and Woakes. Stokes not fit to bowl.

 

[Groundking]

Hopefully we see Curran in the top 6.

 

[Dan]

I feel for COverton there. Didn't do much wrong, but a weird selection in the first place.

Head out for MMarsh also fairly surprising imo.

 

[Dan]

This feels a bit 2013 Fifth Test where both teams get a bit funky and it risks backfiring on both of 'em.

 

[aussie tragic]

One change for Aus, Head has been dropped for Marsh in the XII so no Pattinson.Siddke may play over ?

 

[Cabinet96]

I think if Cummins isn't going to be rested playing MMarsh is the right call. I was wincing at times during his final spells on Sunday when the commentators were hyping up the durability of a bloke who suffered multiple stress fractures before he turned 25.

 

[Spark]

Wow I did not expect Head to be dropped