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

[Spark]

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?

Nah it was absolutely a plot by him to bat time. He was playing with a dead straight bat to balls on his hip that he would usually tuck to midwicket for a single, short and wide balls which were there to cut were left alone

 

[social]

Smith playing the bowling with his dick while everyone else gives their wicket away

 

[loterry1994]

Let’s get this down to 50

 

[TheJediBrah]

England have bowled so much better than Australia all series. I really have no faith in Starc, Haze and Cummins to be able to come out and take wickets. Best they can hope for is England go full ****** and gift a bunch of wickets because Bazball

 

[White Ball]

In the past England used to struggle to wrap up the tail and I still feel Straya can score a few but Wood is a concern

 

[Spark]

Bizarre how similar this game is to 2019, from the bowl first decision (though this time a fair one) to the dropped catches to the middle order collapse while Smith bats with a door at the other end

 

[KungFu_Kallis]

Captains knock coming up

 

[91Jmay]

They were knocking it around pretty nicely then, daft shot. Lead of 50 should be the aim here then be 150 ahead by COP would be absolutely ideal

 

[loterry1994]

England have bowled so much better than Australia all series. I really have no faith in Starc, Haze and Cummins to be able to come out and take wickets. Best they can hope for is England go full ****** and gift a bunch of wickets because Bazball

You can’t complain how they bowled yesterday but we could of had England down under 200 like this if we caught better

 

[IcarianStyles]

**** this team. Steve Smith should just statpad and play selfishly for his batting average. Only thing that matters now. The game is done

 

[loterry1994]

Bizarre how similar this game is to 2019, from the bowl first decision (though this time a fair one) to the dropped catches to the middle order collapse while Smith bats with a door at the other end

Did they over celebrate as much after retaining the urn like 2019 as well?

 

[GotSpin]

England have bowled so much better than Australia all series. I really have no faith in Starc, Haze and Cummins to be able to come out and take wickets. Best they can hope for is England go full ****** and gift a bunch of wickets because Bazball

They bowled pretty well yesterday

not their fault carey has huge head noise

 

[KungFu_Kallis]

Smith playing the bowling with his dick while everyone else gives their wicket away

Hide the sandpaper, things could get nasty with that

 

[Shri]

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

if pujara did this he would be called an atvg

 

[Burgey]

Nah it was absolutely a plot by him to bat time. He was playing with a dead straight bat to balls on his hip that he would usually tuck to midwicket for a single, short and wide balls which were there to cut were left alone

I thought better of him

 

[loterry1994]

This the last partnership they can have then go t20 mode after

 

[White Ball]

I fancy a draw for this game

 

[91Jmay]

Woakes accuracy has been ridiculous, just dropped it on the same spot over and over again.

 

[ripper868]

Sun is coming out this afternoon as well, England could well be 200 ahead at stumps tbh.

 

[TheJediBrah]

Would be hilarious if Aus are getting dominated and saved by rain again, and win the series 2-1