*Official* Fourth Test (Old Trafford, Manchester) 19-23 July

[social]

I don't understand the treatment Hazelwood is getting considering he's been Australia's best bowler bar Cummins for the last 5/6 years and the next coming of Glenn McGrath himself. I'd hate to play against him even if he wasn't 100%

Rarely fit in last couple of years

He was rested for last test not

DROPPED
R
O
P
P
E
D

 

[Molehill]

It really does make me wonder what all the hangers-on around the dressing room like Vettori are for. You'd think that someone in one of those roles could research this stuff as devotedly as us cricket nerds.

Same for England. It's a well known stat that Khawaja is more likely to nick off when bowling over the wicket to him (see WTC Final), yet so much has been around the wicket because seemingly it works for Warner.

 

[Shady Slim]

I don't understand the treatment Hazelwood is getting considering he's been Australia's best bowler bar Cummins for the last 5/6 years and the next coming of Glenn McGrath himself. I'd hate to play against him even if he wasn't 100%

this statement would have been unequivocally true three years ago but the bloke has barely played in recent times

 

[social]

Same for England. It's a well known stat that Khawaja is more likely to nick off when bowling over the wicket to him (see WTC Final), yet so much has been around the wicket because seemingly it works for Warner.

And forget about tragics like us, the Australians have former test captains at the ground commentating and everyone is saying how dumb our tactics are & same must go for England

 

[Ashes81]

Same for England. It's a well known stat that Khawaja is more likely to nick off when bowling over the wicket to him (see WTC Final), yet so much has been around the wicket because seemingly it works for Warner.

I certainly think we've overdone the around the wicket bowling to Khawaja. Yes Broad can trouble left handers but we should be concentrating on over the wicket to him, particularly early on in his innings.

 

[Molehill]

And forget about tragics like us, the Australians have former test captains at the ground commentating and everyone is saying how dumb our tactics are & same must go for England

And yet, for the most part, it's actually working, mainly because the batsmen are being stupid enough to fall for such tactics.

 

[Spark]

And yet, for the most part, it's actually working, mainly because the batsmen are being stupid enough to fall for such tactics.

I think people here have accepted that defensive tactics are going to be employed and that they're effective. But there are certain ways in which those tactics are being implemented, most notoriously to the tail, but also to England's openers, which just doesn't make sense even in that framework.

 

[Spark]

Good signs - at least as far as his potential to be selected goes - as Neser has gotten a wicket with a bouncer.

 

[TimAngas]

If it's truly going to be wet and stormy like the long range forecast suggests, including Neser for Murphy at eight wouldn't be a terrible shout. Neser can swing the ball and strengthening the batting in a potentially rained shortened match might force England's hand just a bit more. If it's looking clear, I don't think we can risk going in without a spinner... then again the risk is mitigated if we really play both Marsh and Green. Interesting conundrum for Australia.

 

[Starfighter]

Good signs - at least as far as his potential to be selected goes - as Neser has gotten a wicket with a bouncer.

Bowling a bit quicker too, - at least Essex bowling quicker compared to van der Gugten than he was when they previously bowled together, and considering that the CC speed guns under read by a couple of mph.

Is bowling very straight though, pretty much nothing outside off stump. Might be because of pitch being dead after drying out, but it ain't the stuff to nick Crawley off with.

 

[slowfinger]

this statement would have been unequivocally true three years ago but the bloke has barely played in recent times

fair enough, he's still bagged 8/260 this series though , scary to think what he'll be like if he gets fit

 

[Qlder]

fair enough, he's still bagged 8/260 this series though , scary to think what he'll be like if he gets fit

That is an average of 32 50, hardly something to brag about with an Ashes on the line?

 

[Spark]

Bowling a bit quicker too, - at least Essex bowling quicker compared to van der Gugten than he was when they previously bowled together, and considering that the CC speed guns under read by a couple of mph.

Is bowling very straight though, pretty much nothing outside off stump. Might be because of pitch being dead after drying out, but it ain't the stuff to nick Crawley off with.

Yeah I wouldn't read too much into his line in this game. In fact if he's bowling consistently straight -and, crucially, to a field - rather than throwing one or two on leg stump every over then I'm less concerned.

 

[Burgey]

And yet, for the most part, it's actually working, mainly because the batsmen are being stupid enough to fall for such tactics.

They’re just offering the inevitable chances which come from playing the way they do. You can’t throw your hands at five balls an over then be surprised when you miss/ mistime one sooner rather than later.

 

[Gob]

If Haze is fully fit, I'd play the old trio

Prob Warner too

 

[andruid]

Bring back Stuart Clark

 

[slowfinger]

Bring back Stuart Clark

don't say that i'll start getting emotional

still remember his lil commentary stint the last Ashes

 

[Vincent]

Aus to win by an innings.

 

[the big bambino]

That is an average of 32 50, hardly something to brag about with an Ashes on the line?

Depends on the overall match averages. He seems about on the mark.

 

[SteveNZ]

Will just leave this here...I know it's Piers and he's a sub-human parasite, but I still think it's funny.

Carey ‘can’t catch a cold’: Piers Morgan claims Australia will be Ashes victims

The 2023 Ashes is turning out to be “one of the all-time great series” as Australia have been caught celebrating early after being 2-0 up, according to Sky News Australia host Piers Morgan. “Now it looks very different – you’ve got a rattled captain, you’ve got a wicketkeeper who can’t catch a...

www.skynews.com.au

“Now it looks very different – you’ve got a rattled captain, you’ve got a wicketkeeper who can’t catch a cold,” he said.

“Old Trafford will be like a colosseum – we will be the gladiators and you will be our victims.”

A keeper who can't catch a cold Someone ought to point out to him that both teams are in white and the thick-set ginger guy plays for his side, England, not Australia