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

[GotSpin]

Batting looks quite comfortable right now. Just need Starc to calm down with those huge drives of his

 

[loterry1994]

I don't think it's a logical assumption at all to say that Aus would be better off if they hadn't gone super slow that first session. There's every chance they could have been rolled for 150 if they hadn't.

However it clearly hasn't been a great success and it was not great to watch at all. Who knows could still pay off if it puts the miles in England's quicks' legs and has them knackered for the 4th innings. In that case 200 off 85 overs is more valuable than 200 off 55 overs.

lol you gotta stop thinking that first session was perfect by Australia. It’s the main reason why they’re under crazy pressure now. You score 30-40 more that session it’s looking better. You had two of their main batters get out without making a big score and didn’t tick the run board. Now we gotta rely on the lower order that haven’t done much all series

It’s crazy because marnus came off that hundred at a good rate at old Trafford then he tosses this up today

 

[Ashes81]

Yeah the tempo Smith has batted at is the sweet spot. Nothing extravagant, just rotating the strike constantly and waiting for the (admittedly exceedingly rare) bad ball.

We have bowled well today and it obviously wasn't easy for Labuschagne and Khawaja - but there was a lack of intent to score.

There were very few quick singles and Labuschagne in particular left alone balls he could have scored off. He seemed to get obsessed with occupying the crease.

 

[91Jmay]

That's 4 I think, shouldn't be allowed 2 sub fielders on this close to tea though.

 

[TheJediBrah]

lol you gotta stop thinking that first session was perfect by Australia.

literally no one said that

I was having cracks at Marnus at the time in this very thread

lol you gotta stop thinking that first session was perfect by Australia. It’s the main reason why they’re under crazy pressure now. You score 30-40 more that session it’s looking better. You had two of their main batters get out without making a big score and didn’t tick the run board. Now we gotta rely on the lower order that haven’t done much all series

It’s crazy because marnus came off that hundred at a good rate at old Trafford then he tosses this up today

And again, this is not a fair assumption. They could have been bowled out for 150 if they were more aggressive.

 

[social]

I really feel like he'd built his entire gameplan against spin around the reverse sweep and once that didn't work - no surprise against Ashwin and Jadeja - he doesn't really know what else to do. That attempted paddle a few overs before that got reviewed was an awful shot as well.

The 6 was an awful heave when a couple of steps down the pitch and it was a half volley

Carey has the appearance of a classical batsman but reality is that he plays a lot of shitty unorthodox shots which are counter productive

 

[Gob]

I don't think it's a logical assumption at all to say that Aus would be better off if they hadn't gone super slow that first session. There's every chance they could have been rolled for 150 if they hadn't.

However it clearly hasn't been a great success and it was not great to watch at all. Who knows could still pay off if it puts the miles in England's quicks' legs and has them knackered for the 4th innings. In that case 200 off 85 overs is more valuable than 200 off 55 overs.

Their approach was probably to see off the first session so they can pile it on when the sun comes out which they did. Yeah 50 runs in a session is not great but still a not terrible when you only lose a single wicket

They lost the plot when the conditions were easiest through poor batting and some good England bowling

 

[KungFu_Kallis]

Gatting will rock you

 

[Heboric]

Has it happened before where the same player has broken down unable to bowl on two different occassions in the same series.

Although it seems is not making any difference as it seems any random bowler seems to be taking Australian wickets

 

[TheJediBrah]

Their approach was probably to see off the first session so they can pile it on when the sun comes out which they did. Yeah 50 runs in a session is not great but still a not terrible when you only lose a single wicket

They lost the plot when the conditions were easiest through poor batting and some good England bowling

Yes a few of us pointed this out at the time. You can argue back and forth about whether it was the right tactics or not (I think it was excessively defensive) but saying "I dOn'T kNoW wHy tHeY dId iT" is plain ignorant

 

[loterry1994]

literally no one said that

I was having cracks at Marnus at the time in this very thread

And again, this is not a fair assumption. They could have been bowled out for 150 if they were more aggressive.

Well we’ve already seen what’s happened after that slow as first session we’ll never know if they went more aggressive now . I mean there’s batting slow but when your batting under 2 runs an over then what is your plan then?

It just gave all their bowlers confidence to bowl wherever they wanted and not get hit anywhere. Everyone could see it coming if a few wickets fell after that it would be more pressure for the other batters who came in after

 

[KungFu_Kallis]

I get World Cup nightmare flashbacks every time there's an accidental throw in deflection. Literally a game changer.

 

[Alex0paul]

Jesus Christ

 

[WICFan]

Starc got tucked up there and gone.

 

[Spark]

Someone mind sticking around with, oh I don't know, the second best batsman Australia has ever produced on 40* and batting well?

 

[Burgey]

Neither teams approach has been right for me.

We've been too over attacking with the bat and the Aussies have been too defensive.

You need to play positively but not wrecklessly. The class batsmen on either side - Smith and Root, usually play at the right tempo.

I haven’t seen any of the play today but I get the impression from some of the posts earlier today Labushagne just lost all rhythm against some tight bowling rather than it being some sort of ploy by him to just bat time?

 

[RightArmMystery]

Been a pretty ordinary spell from Wood, but memes a wicket anyway

 

[Viscount Tom]

Smith just needs someone to stay with him and the Aussies will get a decent lead.

 

[KungFu_Kallis]

You dirty hooker

 

[TheJediBrah]

I haven’t seen any of the play today but I get the impression from some of the posts earlier today Labushagne just lost all rhythm rather than it being some sort of ploy by him to just bat time?

No he was genuinely leaving short and wide long hops and blocking half volleys. It was like he'd decided not to even try and score for a while until things got easier