*Official* Fifth Test at the Oval

[FBU]

Rashid isn't that far off Moeen as a bat, but he also isn't that much better as a bowler. Both are pretty weird players. Probably number 7s with the bat and 5th bowlers which is not what we need with really.

I'd have been pretty ****ing angry if Jimmy played. Would have been a senior player running roughshod over the selectors for me, as clearly Anderson is the only person who thinks he should be playing. Edgbaston likely to be his last home Ashes test then.

It's up to the bowling coach and Bayliss if he played. Not anyone else. Not his being friends with the captain. Nothing to do with the selectors as they only pick the squad and not the team. He does what he is told as with the rest of the team. He was only 60-70% fit so why would he want to be playing?

 

[Tangles]

Was thinking of going home for lunch to catch the last session but it will probably be over by then.

 

[Crazy Sam]

Australia having a cry about pitches is nothing new. Thought this was the best part:

Pretty sure that quote was from the 2014 SCG test v Sri Lanka.

 

[OverratedSanity]

Darren Lehmann one year ago:

Boof's pitch to England curators | cricket.com.au

Australia coach Darren Lehmann has challenged England to produce the same green, seaming pitches they used to beat India when Australia visit next year. Lehmann was a keen observer of the lush pitches prepared during England's 3-1 series win over India, and is hoping his Mitchell Johnson and Ryan Harris lead bowling attack will be greeted by more of the same "sporting" decks next winter. “The wickets were quite sporting over there in the last couple of Test matches,” said Lehmann. “The Oval … I can’t remember that sort of wicket being produced for an Australian Test match in the last 50 or 60 years, so that’s interesting in itself. “From my point of view, I am looking for those sort of wickets next year.

...

 

[Howe_zat]

Stunned to discover Lehmann talking like one of their worst fans as usual

It's like having Hooksey as the coach

 

[hazsa19]

Hang on. In one breath you say that Rashid is just as good a bat as Moeen and then in the next you say that if they both play you want Moeen at 5 and Rashid stays at 8?

Rashid is definitely benefitting from the not being in the team overrating thing at the moment.

Poorly worded on my part. I think Rashid would be just as effective down the order, but Ali has the potential to play proper test match innings up the order.

And I'm not saying Rashid will be a world beater, but better than what we have (not hard tbf).

 

[Flem274*]

so this is finally starting? feels like months

 

[GIMH]

In 2005 & 2009 it was such a painful wait. Selection dilemmas both times filled the gap, but boy it was awful.

You get used to back to back tests these days as well so when you have the ten day period (elongated by the three day tests to twelve) it seems like FOREVER. Same after Lord's

 

[Daemon]

Retiring opener Chris Rogers suggested what England is doing is against the spirit of fair competition.

He did nothing of the sort

“It’s difficult. You only have to look at the past two Ashes series and the complete difference in the England wickets that have been prepared — and that is their prerogative,” said Rogers, who knows English conditions as well as anyone.

“England can do whatever they want and we can do whatever we want, but that’s the way it’s going to go.

“You’re going to tailor the conditions to help your side. It’s up to the other sides to adapt and get better.”

Shameful, shameful reporting.

 

[social]

Clarke giving the impression that he's already checked out

Cant see this test ending well forus

 

[social]

There seems to be an inexplicably genuine belief among some Australians that their pitches are the only ones in the world that are not 'doctored'. As though hard, flat wickets just occur naturally like trees

Take a ****-load of soil from a river bed, roll it, add baking sun and voila - hard, flat deck

 

[Spark]

Peter Lalor
@plalor
Word is they are playing Siddle. Low cloud green pitch bat second wicket. 60 might be a good score today.

hmmm...........

 

[social]

Peter Lalor
@plalor
Word is they are playing Siddle. Low cloud green pitch bat second wicket. 60 might be a good score today.

hmmm...........

Cummins/Starc/MJ could've been a shocker tbh

 

[Spark]

Yeah it's more the pitch news that I'm interested in.

 

[GIMH]

Clarke giving the impression that he's already checked out

Cant see this test ending well forus

One thing I am surprised didn't get more attention was Clarke's reaction to losing the toss at TB. Not just his terse comments to Athers, but his whole body language and reaction when Cook put them in. At that point you knew Australia were going to struggle to make a decent score because the captain had no faith in them doing so first up.

I like Clarke so I'm not trying to be overly picky. But I think it was symptomatic of things coming to their natural cycle.

 

[social]

Yeah it's more the pitch news that I'm interested in.

No surprise that they have left the grass on #whychangeawinningformula?

Big difference here might be that the Oval is traditionally very hard and a green top with pace would be worse for England

 

[Compton]

One thing I am surprised didn't get more attention was Clarke's reaction to losing the toss at TB. Not just his terse comments to Athers, but his whole body language and reaction when Cook put them in. At that point you knew Australia were going to struggle to make a decent score because the captain had no faith in them doing so first up.

I like Clarke so I'm not trying to be overly picky. But I think it was symptomatic of things coming to their natural cycle.

Yeah I thought this as well. You hardly got the impression he was going to huddle the boys in and inspire them to bat through the day.

 

[OverratedSanity]

He did nothing of the sort



Shameful, shameful reporting.

Yeah that pissed me off.

 

[social]

One thing I am surprised didn't get more attention was Clarke's reaction to losing the toss at TB. Not just his terse comments to Athers, but his whole body language and reaction when Cook put them in. At that point you knew Australia were going to struggle to make a decent score because the captain had no faith in them doing so first up.

I like Clarke so I'm not trying to be overly picky. But I think it was symptomatic of things coming to their natural cycle.

Australians can handle a loss but a big reason for the massive criticism of the team & Clarke has been the perception that the white flag was hoisted before a ball was bowled

Attitude seems to have been carried over to Northants and the lead up to this game

Seriously, wtf would an Australian captain come out and say that he was looking forward to retirement?

If that is what he is truly thinking then he should have flown home last week

 

[Compton]

Sky's updated 'We Didn't Start The Fire' was class