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

[the big bambino]

While England were clearly better in this game both sides would have to reflect on their tactics. Australia's bowling was as bad as England's batting was brilliant. I'm not so sure the wickets have been fast - at least at the length we bowled. English pitches are 'quicker" at a different length. When its pitched up and seaming they go at a fair clip. Bashing the middle - not so much.

The weather forecast was always a factor and Stokes batting on seemed in defiance of it. Eventually it gave Marnus the time to save Aus along with the weather. So Stokes appears to have declared too early and too late in this series. Both hard judgments but Aus has benefitted from them.

 

[halba]

Aus need to rethink their strategy. their line and length was totally off. i would like to see fuller lengths be employed for the 5th test. it is much more difficult e.g. to drive on the up and hit big shots off a fuller length. They can even resort to yorkers if they start bazballing- isnt that the T20 antidote?

Full fast- in swing yorkers - not many batters can play it.

that pitch wasnt suitable for bumpers.

Should be fuller and off stump line for test match cricket with off side field protection. Stop bowling short- hittable lengths.

 

[Qlder]

So funny reading that "England were robbed of the Ashes" and "cruel that series decided by rain"

England have not won the Ashes because they lost the first two tests. There's a reason only Don Bradman's team have ever won a series from 0-2 down

 

[OverratedSanity]

Massive shame. 2-2 going into a 5th test is something I've never seen in my time of watching cricket, robbed of a potentially epic finale.

 

[Kraken]

there's been so much chat about the weather and everything else, so won't even go into that. What has been lost in the shuffle a little is the innings Marnus played. I mean it goes without saying we could've used that in the first innings, but that was a really good, under the pump 100. Definitely needed it, as away runs is his biggest issue. Hopefully this kicks him into gear and a massive dig in the 5th

 

[Spofforth]

Agree- poms would be leading 3-0 if they prepared 'fast' and 'green' wickets. The entire plan was an abysmal failure. The two tests that Aus won- they benefited from the flatness in the pitch.

Don't think traditional English pitches would be described as "fast". They are more conducive to some sideways movement though (and keep the ball in better shape for longer). Usually kryptonite for Aussie batsmen. Trying to make them faster and harder/bouncier will always help the Aussies.

After winning 4 tosses in a row and the Aussies always seemingly batting under clouds and bowling in sunshine (first 3 at least) you would normally expect the poms to be well up.

Seems to be a similar ethos to the ODI stint the poms had (not to the same extent though) where the pitches got ridiculous. Prefer the old WSC days where 200+ was a reasonable score and there was a contest between bat and ball.

 

[Spark]

Massive shame. 2-2 going into a 5th test is something I've never seen in my time of watching cricket, robbed of a potentially epic finale.

I do think that had this gone in 2-2 then England would be enormous favourites for later this week; the level of public intensity and hype around that game in England would have been off the charts. Would have been very difficult to contain for Australia.

 

[GIMH]

While England were clearly better in this game both sides would have to reflect on their tactics. Australia's bowling was as bad as England's batting was brilliant. I'm not so sure the wickets have been fast - at least at the length we bowled. English pitches are 'quicker" at a different length. When its pitched up and seaming they go at a fair clip. Bashing the middle - not so much.

The weather forecast was always a factor and Stokes batting on seemed in defiance of it. Eventually it gave Marnus the time to save Aus along with the weather. So Stokes appears to have declared too early and too late in this series. Both hard judgments but Aus has benefitted from them.

I personally think an earlier declaration and this still ends a draw - all speculative though. Knowing now what we do about the weather, we needed to dismiss Oz for 200 first up. As frustrating as the lack of conversions no doubt was for you Aussies, the 40s and 50s first up are what ultimately secured the draw IMO.

 

[the big bambino]

I personally think an earlier declaration and this still ends a draw - all speculative though. Knowing now what we do about the weather, we needed to dismiss Oz for 200 first up. As frustrating as the lack of conversions no doubt was for you Aussies, the 40s and 50s first up are what ultimately secured the draw IMO.

Yes it was always going to be a hard game to win if the forecasts came true. From what I've heard a forecast for rain in Manchester is probably the most trustworthy forecast you could get. England made the game with their batting but I was consoled they went on even though I may have been worrying unnecessarily.

 

[Victor Ian]

Australia lost just 3 Test series in the last 4 years .

Is that all India?

 

[Spofforth]

I personally think an earlier declaration and this still ends a draw - all speculative though. Knowing now what we do about the weather, we needed to dismiss Oz for 200 first up. As frustrating as the lack of conversions no doubt was for you Aussies, the 40s and 50s first up are what ultimately secured the draw IMO.

I thought at the time that putting the foot down and getting the Aussies back in late day 2 chasing 150-180 was the way to go. It might not have worked, but we know that what they did failed to get a result.

Would have been very disappointed in Cummins if he just patiently played out the day and then let the match drift next day because his mate looked like getting a score. At that stage I was hoping Bairstow would get a double ton, every over they used up was always going to help us.

 

[Son Of Coco]

And now the tanties start...

England Ashes stars 'refuse to give interviews' as Australia retain urn

England were left hugely frustrated as rain ended their chances of winning the Ashes back from Australia.

www.express.co.uk

There have been some massive sooks in this series. Reminds me of the typical reaction to 'Bants™', which is it's funny if we say it, but we'll get upset if you do.

If it didn't rain, I would have refused to speak to anyone for a week, but that clearly has nothing to do with this.

 

[tony p]

England lost the Ashes, not through Bazzball, but by failing in the fundamentals.

Taking wickets off no balls, dropping more catches than their opponents (Bairstow's runs negated by his sloppy glovework), and some poor batting at Lords.

Do the fundamentals better, you win more than you lose.

 

[Fuller Pilch]

Aside from Root, Duckett and Broad, none of the English side get into the Aussie best XI.

Stokes? Wood?

 

[Fuller Pilch]

And now the tanties start...

England Ashes stars 'refuse to give interviews' as Australia retain urn

England were left hugely frustrated as rain ended their chances of winning the Ashes back from Australia.

www.express.co.uk

They really need to grow up. NZers still gave interviews after the 2019 CWC.

 

[Victor Ian]

I mean I’m not going through the lineup but imagine thinking Stokes doesn’t walk into that Australia side

nah. surely he hobbles in.

 

[GIMH]

Choice of Duckett is interesting because surely based on the four Tests you’d pick Crawley and Khawaja as the openers

 

[Son Of Coco]

Full fast- in swing yorkers - not many batters can play it.

I too struggle to understand why teams don't just bowl 540 yorkers a day.

 

[halba]

I too struggle to understand why teams don't just bowl 540 yorkers a day.

Maybe to bazball more relevant, actually why they didn't do it from the start, they've known bazball for months now.

Atleast fifth test, the coaches will be hard at drills on fuller length especially starting with Cummins who needs to go back to the basics. He was looking a club bowler.

 

[Spark]

Choice of Duckett is interesting because surely based on the four Tests you’d pick Crawley and Khawaja as the openers

Perhaps we should think of Duckett and Lord's the same way we think about Woakes and home Tests