*Official* Fifth Test (The Oval, London) 27-31 July

[Anil]

Another attempt to get a ball change... but umpire Wilson's handcuffs are taking no prisoners

Was just reading that on cricinfo...

 

[Anil]

That's a decent total for England considering their big 3 (Root, Bairstow, Stokes) all failed...

 

[Saket1209]

That's a decent total for England considering their big 3 (Root, Bairstow, Stokes) all failed...

Consider Harry Brook in those.

 

[Anil]

Who do you want to kick out of that group to fit Brook in there?

 

[Saket1209]

Who do you want to kick out of that group to fit Brook in there?

Bairstow

 

[Third_Man]

Would have been more than happy to have bowled out a side for 283 and be 61/1 at close of play of the first day of a 4 day County Championship game. Australia's day by a long way. CC games are 96 overs per day.

 

[Silver Silva]

Worst Ashes bowling averages in a single series (Minimum 700 balls bowled ) :

1.Moeen Ali 2017/2018 Ashes in Australia
5 wickets @ 115.00

2.Andy Caddick 1993 Ashes in England
4 wickets @ 97.60

3.Len Braund 1907/8 Ashes in Australia
5 wickets @ 92.40

4.James Anderson 2023 Ashes in England
4 wickets @ 82.00*

5.Graeme Swann 2013/14 Ashes in Australia
7 wickets @ 80.00

 

[Coronis]

Worst Ashes bowling averages in a single series (Minimum 700 balls bowled ) :

1.Moeen Ali 2017/2018 Ashes in Australia
5 wickets @ 115.00

2.Andy Caddick 1993 Ashes in England
4 wickets @ 97.60

3.Len Braund 1907/8 Ashes in Australia
5 wickets @ 92.40

4.James Anderson 2023 Ashes in England
4 wickets @ 82.00*

5.Graeme Swann 2013/14 Ashes in Australia
7 wickets @ 80.00

*For English players

Don’t exclude the crap Aussies too.

 

[Son Of Coco]

We bowled short at the tail again didn't we...

 

[Gob]

We bowled short at the tail again didn't we...

Nope. They actually bowled much better to the tail. Also used spin well

Woakes and Wood batted well

 

[Son Of Coco]

Nope. They actually bowled much better to the tail. Also used spin well

Woakes and Wood batted well

That's good to hear. I'm glad we learned something by test no.5. Not so glad to hear Wood and Woakes batted well, but good on them.

 

[Coronis]

Nope , these are the top 5 , English or Australian

George Tribe (AUS) 1946/47 Ashes
2 wickets @ 165.00

Keith Stackpole (AUS) 1970/71 Ashes
2 wickets @ 131.50

Ted a’Beckett (AUS) 1928/29 Ashes
2 wickets @ 108.00

Bill Howell (AUS) 1901/02 Ashes
3 wickets @ 83.66

Simon O’Donnell (AUS) 1985 Ashes
6 wickets @ 81.16

 

[Silver Silva]

George Tribe (AUS) 1946/47 Ashes
2 wickets @ 165.00

Keith Stackpole (AUS) 1970/71 Ashes
2 wickets @ 131.50

Ted a’Beckett (AUS) 1928/29 Ashes
2 wickets @ 108.00

Bill Howell (AUS) 1901/02 Ashes
3 wickets @ 83.66

Simon O’Donnell (AUS) 1985 Ashes
6 wickets @ 81.16

Yeah my mistake I listed Australia only as opposition

 

[RIcho]

Good to see the ‘Bazball sux’ brigade remembered their passwords again having lost them somewhere around lunch on day 2 at Headingley

We're still basking in the warm afterglow of the idiotic declaration on day 1 of the series.

 

[RIcho]

when will Aussie selectors have the courage to get rid of that hasbeen?

Apparently it's not up to them

 

[Burgey]

Anyone who’s followed this series would know it’s unlikely that Oz will run away with it tomorrow, but you’d certainly rather be in their position than ours tonight.

Labuschagne feels like the key wicket to me now he’s back in form. Suppose you can never write Steve ‘fewer runs in the series than Harry the Hack Brook’ Smith off either.

Quoted for when Smith peels off a double tomorrow and you look like the imbo you really are

 

[GIMH]

Quoted for when Smith peels off a double tomorrow and you look like the imbo you really are

I always look like an imbecile, but at least I’ve the good grace to not use horrendous abbreviations like ‘imbo’. Jesus

 

[Burgey]

George Tribe (AUS) 1946/47 Ashes
2 wickets @ 165.00

Keith Stackpole (AUS) 1970/71 Ashes
2 wickets @ 131.50

Ted a’Beckett (AUS) 1928/29 Ashes
2 wickets @ 108.00

Bill Howell (AUS) 1901/02 Ashes
3 wickets @ 83.66

Simon O’Donnell (AUS) 1985 Ashes
6 wickets @ 81.16

Either way, Anderson will make it by the end of this test.

 

[Starfighter]

Could've been worse. Would've been a lot better if we'd held our catches. That Brook innings was a killer.

 

[Son Of Coco]

Nah, just the rank stupidity of the Stokes/ McCullum rhetoric which has been so blindly bought into needs calling out

I was listening to The Grade Cricketer podcast yesterday, and they mentioned something along the lines of how England have been 'relentlessly impressed' with themselves this series. It's been all about their 'journey' as a team, and they have a cult-like aversion to criticism or mentioning anything outside the team's circle.

I, of course, think sager words have never been spoken. Some of the narrative that the Poms have attempted to carve out during this series has been far more entertaining than the cricket at times.