5th Test at The Oval, London

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My view on this series

Both batting lineups suck

And I mean really suck

2-2 will be a fairish result

Chances of England winning them back in Oz is something approximating zero

 

[Spark]

Nah it's not zero-sum. It goes: winning>>>>>>drawing>>>losing. Neither Australia nor England would have taken a draw going into 05.

Maybe not going in but that's purely because of (well-founded) arrogance imo. By the time OT rolls around, Aus are absolutely taking a draw in that series imo.

 

[Spark]

I think when you are 2-1 down and win the last test in the current circumstances, you'd feel you'd had a major let off as an English fan regardless of who's holding the ashes. You'd feel that you've preserved that 'they'd not beat us at home' cycle intact.

The human capacity for self-delusion is almost unbounded so perhaps this is true, but given that "they've not beaten us at home cycle" was actually a thing until people started pretending it was thing in the last three days, I have my doubts.

 

[GIMH]

The human capacity for self-delusion is almost unbounded so perhaps this is true, but given that "they've not beaten us at home cycle" was actually a thing until people started pretending it was thing in the last three days, I have my doubts.

Eh?

 

[mr_mister]

Hmmmm, you want the serious answer? Sunday sippers in full flow so cbf tbh.........I'll just say the records will say Eng' s names on the WC trophy, the records will (possibly) show this was a drawn test series.

The history will show us retaining the urn too

 

[Adders]

I think when you are 2-1 down and win the last test in the current circumstances, you'd feel you'd had a major let off as an English fan regardless of who's holding the ashes. You'd feel that you've preserved that 'they'd not beat us at home' cycle intact.

100%, sucks that they drew here but at least the ****s didn't win. And it keeps 10/11 up there for bragging rights.

 

[Adders]

Eh?

Yeah, really not sure where spark is going with that?

 

[morgieb]

100%, sucks that they drew here but at least the ****s didn't win. And it keeps 10/11 up there for bragging rights.

Yeah 10/11 existing probably sugars the pill somewhat.

 

[Spark]

Yeah, really not sure where spark is going with that?

Mostly that prior to this series, there was no talk about England not having been beaten in a home Ashes series since 2001, it was England not having lost the Ashes at home since 2001. 2-2 would not have been an acceptable result for England prior to this series but an absolutely acceptable result for Aus.

Which goes back to the original point: the average England and Australian fan, prior to the series, would prioritise the Ashes themselves over the numerical scoreline.

 

[aussie tragic]

I've found it really hard to get into this match since I heard Siddle was in ahead of Starc and Pattinson, even though his bowling twin Marsh was playing. Then Paine won the toss and bowled....

I barely watched any of Australia bowling and if it wasn't for Smith maybe reaching the 2nd most runs in a series ever, I don't think I would have watched any of it at all.

Can only hope that England are out with a 400 lead max and the top 6 bat out of their skin.

 

[GIMH]

Mostly that prior to this series, there was no talk about England not having been beaten in a home Ashes series since 2001, it was England not having lost the Ashes at home since 2001. 2-2 would not have been an acceptable result for England prior to this series but an absolutely acceptable result for Aus.

Which goes back to the original point: the average England and Australian fan, prior to the series, would prioritise the Ashes themselves over the numerical scoreline.

Nah. It's always been 'Oz haven't won over here since 01'

Primary goal is retention/regaining the urn, fully agree. But not winning over here was the duck to break.

Similar was being said going into Sydney in 2010 but of course England put that to bed. There's a big difference between how that side will be remembered versus this Australian one, assuming England do indeed win this Test

 

[Spark]

Nah. It's always been 'Oz haven't won over here since 01'

Primary goal is retention/regaining the urn, fully agree. But not winning over here was the duck to break.

Similar was being said going into Sydney in 2010 but of course England put that to bed. There's a big difference between how that side will be remembered versus this Australian one, assuming England do indeed win this Test

I would hope so tbh, even without any series result taken into account that was a much much more consistent and solid all around team than this one

 

[mr_mister]

Nah. It's always been 'Oz haven't won over here since 01'

Primary goal is retention/regaining the urn, fully agree. But not winning over here was the duck to break.

Similar was being said going into Sydney in 2010 but of course England put that to bed. There's a big difference between how that side will be remembered versus this Australian one, assuming England do indeed win this Test

Fully agree.

It might help you see how the world views your WC victory

 

[Adders]

I would hope so tbh, even without any series result taken into account that was a much much more consistent and solid all around team than this one

FTR, I'm not attempting to diminish the Aussie achievement of retaining the Ashes. They've done something that's not been done in a long time. All I'm saying is that going into this test 2-1 up they will be very disappointed to not have finished the job (assuming that they don't from here)

 

[Adders]

Fully agree.

It might help you see how the world views your WC victory

Gtfo, that is not anywhere near the same you labotimised sheep.

 

[Flem274*]

*umpire assisted wc tie

 

[Spark]

FTR, I'm not attempting to diminish the Aussie achievement of retaining the Ashes. They've done something that's not been done in a long time. All I'm saying is that going into this test 2-1 up they will be very disappointed to not have finished the job (assuming that they don't from here)

Oh yeah for sure, but one would think that with the Ashes on the line they would have showed up rather more than they have. They've been pretty bad from ball zip, even taking into account the toss.

 

[GoodAreasShane]

Well that was more out than the Warner dismissal

 

[zaremba]

Good start for Paine!

 

[Spark]

Well we're bound to win now - if Paine is successfully referring decisions then truly the impossible has become possible and vice versa