***Official*** 4th Test @ The Oval, London - 2nd-6th September

[Burgey]

They're home and hosed.

 

[honestbharani]

They're home and hosed.

Who's they though?

 

[Adders]

Gonna be an interesting first session. As per my previous post an England win pretty much rests on Roots shoulders plus a few cameos. If Root scores a ton he'll do so quick enough that the run rate won't be too much of a factor.

So with that in mind I think we need him at the crease by lunchtime or very early in the second session. The top 3 should go out there and play some shots and get us off to a quickish start......i won't be disappointed if we lose 2/80 in the first session.

 

[sunilz]

Please post your Day 5 prediction .

Mine : Draw match

 

[Starfighter]

India

 

[Burgey]

Who's they though?

India. I exclusively predicted they were morals to win this before a ball was bowled on day one. Nothing in the meantime has given me any reason to alter my views.

 

[OverratedSanity]

Looked like there was some help for Jadeja towards the end of the day and he definitely seemed to get into more of a rhythm. Lot depends on him today because there's really ****all there for the seamers.

 

[sunilz]

Even if he doesn't take any wickets , his role would be crucial for
1. Slowing down England's scoring rate
2. Keeping pace bowlers fresh.

 

[Shri]

Looked like there was some help for Jadeja towards the end of the day and he definitely seemed to get into more of a rhythm. Lot depends on him today because there's really ****all there for the seamers.

expect jaddu to come into play only after lunch since the roller will be used again

if there's no help for anyone in the first session there's no shame in bowling dry and taking a eng win off the table by making the required run rate shoot up

think eng's morale will sink if there are clouds around and anything happens off the pitch for the pacers

 

[honestbharani]

Have faith in The Lord, you Heathens.

 

[artvandalay]

expect jaddu to come into play only after lunch since the roller will be used again

if there's no help for anyone in the first session there's no shame in bowling dry and taking a eng win off the table by making the required run rate shoot up

think eng's morale will sink if there are clouds around and anything happens off the pitch for the pacers

just plug that third man area, it will save us plenty of runs.

 

[Shri]

last 10 games going from recent to further back:

2019 vs aus target 399. 4th innings 263 all out

2018 vs ind target 464. 345 ao

2017 vs sa target 492. 252 ao

2016 vs pak target 40. 42/0

2015 vs aus innings win for aus.

2014 vs ind innings win for eng

2013 vs aus target 227. drawn aus 206/5

2012 vs as innings win for sa

2011 vs ind innings win for eng

2010 vs pak target 148 win for pak 148/6

 

[Window]

Please post your Day 5 prediction .

Mine : Draw match

England win.

 

[sunilz]

India last won at Oval in 1971. That was our 1st series win in Eng.

 

[karan_fromthestands]

England has a very good chance here if they keep things simple, the pitch has gotten really flat and a lot of Indian batsmen got overconfident and just gifted their wickets away, there was an opportunity to score even more runs. Will be tough for India to get 10 wickets in these conditions.

Also, no Ashwin thanks to Kohli's ego. India still has a slim chance of winning, will be interesting.

 

[Burgey]

India still has a slim chance of winning, will be interesting.

Lol, terrible Gambhiring. "Slim chance." The opposition has one batsman ffs. India are strong favourites here. The idea anyone chases down 350 odd in the final innings in a canter, no matter where it is, is fanciful. There's a reason why chases like that stand out like dogs balls. They're really hard to do.

 

[Burgey]

Also, you've got a five man attack here that shouldn't be overly fatigued, and a spinner who can tie up an end by bowling long spells.

Though tbf if I were playing him I would simply treat him like the slow medium pacer he actually is, put one foot down the track and repeatedly bop him back over his head for boundaries.

 

[wpdavid]

Looked like there was some help for Jadeja towards the end of the day and he definitely seemed to get into more of a rhythm. Lot depends on him today because there's really ****all there for the seamers.

Admittedly I only saw the highlights, but there were times when he found a lot of turn against the left-hander, so it won't be easy for Burns, Malan and Ali against him. Theoretically the right-handers should have an easier time against him.

 

[honestbharani]

put one foot down the track and repeatedly bop him back over his head for boundaries.

Yes, but the Lord plays for our side. Mere mortals can't.

 

[wpdavid]

Gonna be an interesting first session. As per my previous post an England win pretty much rests on Roots shoulders plus a few cameos. If Root scores a ton he'll do so quick enough that the run rate won't be too much of a factor.

So with that in mind I think we need him at the crease by lunchtime or very early in the second session. The top 3 should go out there and play some shots and get us off to a quickish start......i won't be disappointed if we lose 2/80 in the first session.

I think Malan will score quickly enough if he stays in. I suppose our openers could get bogged down, but it's stretching credulity to imagine them still there at lunch time. If nothing else, Burns will cop a brute from Jadeja at some point.