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

[sunilz]

Did you chuckle when n00bs did this for fun to Sachin?

How are you sure that he is a Sachin fan ?
Many people in India dislike Kohli because of our very poor record in knockout matches
and Kohli being captain in most of them.

 

[Noumenon]

Did you chuckle when n00bs did this for fun to Sachin?

What next? Did I chuckle when rookie bowlers touched Nehra ji in all the tender places?

 

[honestbharani]

What next? Did I chuckle when rookie bowlers touched Nehra ji in all the tender places?

Nope. Just what I asked.

 

[Kirkut]

I admire bowling talent from England, but there is one major difference I have always seen between English and Aussie bowlers:

On a flat pitch with the old ball, the English bowlers would play the waiting game until the new ball is available. The Aussies on the other hand would crank up their pace and start bowling short stuff.

 

[Kirkut]

so are we expecting another flat wicket at old trafford?

I would like to see the same pitch on which we were 8/4.

 

[Red_Ink_Squid]

On a flat pitch with the old ball, the English bowlers would play the waiting game until the new ball is available. The Aussies on the other hand would crank up their pace and start bowling short stuff.

Stokes can fill this role well for England when available. As you say, not many of our other current guys are good at it though (Wood has the pace and willingness but it doesn't usually result in wickets).

 

[Kirkut]

Bumrah's yorker to Bairstow was the closest thing to Akhtar in recent times. That hyperextended arm getting the ball to dip in late at 90 mph and boom! stumps clattered!

 

[Kirkut]

Stokes can fill this role well for England when available. As you say, not many of our other current guys are good at it though (Wood has the pace and willingness but it doesn't usually result in wickets).

Jofra Archer is a big miss that you cannot ignore. He was looking lively on slow Indian wickets earlier this year, English pitches would have suited him more.

 

[Blenkinsop]

Do those who watch lots of CC think that there are other bowlers there with great figures and potentially Test-class traits?

Not really.

Ben Sanderson has weirdly similar career stats to Robinson but is a yard or two slower and less tall, so won't ever get a chance at Test level. Lots of others in the same boat: Luke Fletcher, most of Somerset's seamers, Jamie Porter, Sam Cook, Ben Coad, Ryan Higgins, Chris Rushworth, etc. All fine bowlers with great stats. All deadly on pitches where there's a bit of lateral movement. All cannon fodder at the WACA.

Not so many genuine quicks unfortunately. Stone is the best of them but can't stay fit. Mahmood is sharp and skilled but has just crocked himself too. Garton has the pace but not the control, same with JOverton and Zak Chappell. Not sure if Brad Wheal is England qualified. Brydon Carse is and would probably be suited to Aus conditions.

 

[kevinw]

Porter has been in squads, but if Spoons isn't picking him when the first choice bowlers are injured, I doubt he'll ever get picked. During the Broad/Anderson era, am I right in thinking Woakes has probably played most Tests as a 'third' seamer? Unless it's Finn - I forget how many Tests he played. It's been tough for anyone else to break through - hopefully Robinson maintains his form, but as another 80mph bowler (admittedly with many other fine attributes), it's hard to see anyone coming in if they're of similar speed. But the genuine quicks are leakier than a bucket with a hole in. I'm often dubious about this obsession with raw pace in Australia. Give me 85mph with immaculate line and length over a Saj Mahmood type.

 

[silentstriker]

So I decided to watch the replay of the final two sessions instead of going to the usual pornographic websites, and this is how you know that Jimmy Anderson is a true number eleven:



His eyes were closed as the ball was going past his bat!

 

[Uppercut]

They'll have to roll the dice, prepare a green top and hope for the best. I can't see them backing themselves on anything remotely flat.

Also, OT used to turn quite a lot going back over the years. Is that still the case, or is it now considered a seam bowlers' deck?

The studio guys last night were saying it's a deck for quicks. Whether that means no turn, I don't know but if it has some bounce Jaddz has something to sink his teeth into

Had a quick check and spinners have averaged 42 at OT since 2011. I think that's the worst in England. Every spinner has bombed except Mo Ali.

Quicks average 27 in that time, so it's as pace-friendly as anywhere. It's really not obviously a place to be bringing in another spinner.

 

[Bahnz]

A green pitch won’t save England, they’ll really need some fortuitous weather (i.e. heavily overcast while India are batting and blue skies for England) to level the series.