*Official* World Test Championship Final at The Oval – June 7–11, 2023

[Burgey]

ChatSPD

Howe with a couple of quality early forays here today

 

[Ashes81]

Pretty even 1st session - India needed that 2nd wicket.

Good knock from Warner, and you always feel a bit unlucky when you get out down the leg side.

India bowled well early on and as you'd expect it was tough going for the batters.

The pitch didn't hold any real demons and there should be runs in the last 2 sessions is the Aussies play well.

 

[Burgey]

He got 4 fifties or something that tour didnt he? Good return for a foreign opener in England tbh. He's never come close to replicating that again.

he’s only toured there once since hasn’t he? But can’t see him doing it this time either. If he does it’ll go a long way to setting Aus up

 

[RossTaylorsBox]

A 23 over session ..Absolute disgrace

WTC points should be docked.

 

[Prince EWS]

He got 4 fifties or something that tour didnt he? Good return for a foreign opener in England tbh. He's never come close to replicating that again.

I remember him throwing it away trying to hit Moeen Ali back over his head for 6 a couple of times.

 

[trundler]

I remember him throwing it away trying to hit Moeen Ali back over his head for 6 a couple of times.

Thakur is basically the pace version of an off spinner. Should be hit over his head way more often than he is and gets wickets with the most rancid pies.

 

[GoodAreasShane]

He got 4 fifties or something that tour didnt he? Good return for a foreign opener in England tbh. He's never come close to replicating that again.

Yeah. Mostly in the second innings though from memory, did get some good starts though in the first. Wasn't a terrible tour for him by any means, although the lack of a century means it does get overlooked somewhat.

I would take it all day everyday if he can do something like that this Ashes tbqh. Not exactly brimming with optimism but this was better than nothing

 

[Prince EWS]

Yeah. Mostly in the second innings though from memory, did get some good starts though in the first. Wasn't a terrible tour for him by any means, although the lack of a century means it does get overlooked somewhat.

I would take it all day everyday if he can do something like that this Ashes tbqh. Not exactly brimming with optimism but this was better than nothing

Unlike your posts.

 

[ankitj]

The illusion of depth exposed yet again today. India's bowling attack is totally different Bumrah in it and Ishant was slyly the glue holding it all together with his control. The quality of these 2 hasn't been easy to replace despite all the options India have. Australia will suffer the same fate in the Ashes if Haze doesn't play.

Don't forget Gabba though.

 

[Starfighter]

Thakur is basically the pace version of an off spinner. Should be hit over his head way more often than he is and gets wickets with the most rancid pies.

There are bowlers out there, in all levels of cricket from schoolyard to tests, who bowl crap deliveries and not only get away with them but pick up a good lot of wickets.

Sadly, I was never one of them.

 

[GoodAreasShane]

Unlike your posts.

Face is worse though

 

[Howe_zat]

I remember him throwing it away trying to hit Moeen Ali back over his head for 6 a couple of times.

I remember Haddin doing that in the 2015 series because of this awesome @grecian call out

I wouldn't mind a bit of the beard now, you could see these two doing something stupid trying to be positive.

shortly after Mo's first ball of the spell

Another change from Cook, Moeen Ali back on

Moeen Ali to Haddin, OUT
Tossed up, Haddin launches the ball over... No! He's caught it, Cook taking the ball at short midwicket at the second attempt! Moeen strikes immediately, he's doing his Swanny impression again, but he has some brilliant reactions from his captain to thank. Cook sprang up to his right to palm the ball in the air, which had been hit with some force, then he managed to stay composed and hold on to it on the way down, even as he landed on his back. Brilliant from Cook and England are closing in
Brad Haddin c Cook b Ali 7 (20b 1x4 0x6 24m) SR: 35

 

[Prince EWS]

Face is worse though

Goes without saying.

 

[Prince EWS]

Don't forget Gabba though.

Should have picked Natarajan and Draini obvs.

 

[Burgey]

There are bowlers out there, in all levels of cricket from schoolyard to tests, who bowl crap deliveries and not only get away with them but pick up a good lot of wickets.

See also Botham, Ian

 

[trundler]

The whole Ashwin situation is so bizarre. Not only is he probably the best spinner in the world in almost all conditions including these, his replacement makes it into the side as a batsman alone thus meaning he has virtually no direct competition for the spinner's spot. Oh, and he's a gun #8 and is much better than Jadeja with the ball in England. Then he gets dropped for ****ing Nostrils/Thakur.

 

[cnerd123]

Selecting Thakur over Ashwin in any game of cricket under any circumstances doesn't make sense to me.

Honors even after the 1st session? From what little I was able to watch we were bowling a bit too short

 

[SillyCowCorner1]

Justice for Ashwin...

Come play for us bro.

 

[centurymaker]

The whole Ashwin situation is so bizarre. Not only is he probably the best spinner in the world in almost all conditions including these, his replacement makes it into the side as a batsman alone thus meaning he has virtually no direct competition for the spinner's spot. Oh, and he's a gun #8 and is much better than Jadeja with the ball in England. Then he gets dropped for ****ing Nostrils/Thakur.

I understand your position, but if Ashwin was playing India would have considered batting first in order to bowl in 4th innings, also because of having just 3 seamers. I don't think India would have survived that 1st session batting on this pitch.

And even if they had bowled first with Ashwin in the side, there's no way he would have had any impact on the game in this 1st session. He would NOT have been brought on until couple of overs before Lunch. So till now Ashwin wouldn't have been a factor. Of course if Australia barely lose wickets by tea as well as end of day, then you can bring up the exclusion of Ashwin. But at lunch, it's too soon.

 

[Burgey]

Selecting Thakur over Ashwin in any game of cricket under any circumstances doesn't make sense to me.

Honors even after the 1st session? From what little I was able to watch we were bowling a bit too short

First hour and a bit the deck did a lot. India would have wanted another couple of wickets having decided to bowl first.