5th Test: England v Australia at The Oval Aug 21-25, 2013

[MUFC1987]

Wasn't one of the reasons given for Compton being dropped that he was going nowhere and slowly? Yet the top three all seem to be doing that now.

 

[Excommunicado]

I just simply hate rain, it was raining heavily in parts of the UK. Here where I live, Leeds. It was chucking it man, then in Headingley then in Milton Keynes and Lndon. Come on. rain, rain, rain.

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Wasn't one of the reasons given for Compton being dropped that he was going nowhere and slowly? Yet the top three all seem to be doing that now.

He'd be better playing in Friends Life t20.

 

[Rayr27]

Whilst I'm no fan of Englands negativity, I think the scoring rate this series has also been down to the dry pithces tactic blowing up in our faces and the Aussies pinching our 'bowl dry' tactics from 10/11.

I can only assume the pitch decision was somehow related to Aus losing badly in India after we won there but it's been an absolute shocker. Stifling our top 3, who like the ball coming on, and our seamers which is ridiculous really. Some credit to Aus bowlers though. They've shown a lot of discipline in frustrating the England batsmen and it will be interesting to see if the same thing still works on the faster, bouncier pitches down under.

 

[Dutch]

"The Australian fast bowlers have bowled exceptionally in the last two or three Tests and they've really put our top order under pressure," Gooch said. "Credit to them. Ryan Harris and Peter Siddle in particular have been exceptional. We'd have liked to be in a slightly different position, a more advanced position, but it didn't happen. It's not the end of the world. We're not frustrated, because we're the ones with three Test wins, they're the ones with nil Test wins.

You tell em Goochy, you tell em.......

And as for Mr "One test Match " Faulkner saying fans should be given a refund for Englands play yesterday I would remind him that half the balls he bowled most definitely were not in his work contract and he should be deducted half his pay........

 

[midgetwars]

The only reason Australia can be frustrated is the fact that everytime Clarke won the toss, it rained. Australia everytime in good position to win, it rains.

 

[barmyarmy]

I agree with you about Old Trafford but even without the rain I'm not sure either side could have taken 20 wickets on this Oval pitch.

Maybe the captains should agree on a 1 innings match and England try to chase 250 in 2 sessions

 

[barmyarmy]

This just had to be shared:

 

[Spickery]

James Faulkner gets his first Test wicket! Good catch by Brad Haddin to remove Ian Bell.

 

[Owzat]

I agree with you about Old Trafford but even without the rain I'm not sure either side could have taken 20 wickets on this Oval pitch.

Maybe the captains should agree on a 1 innings match and England try to chase 250 in 2 sessions

How can you have a 1 innings match unless England chase the aussie 490 or whatever it was!?!?

Talk on cricinfor is England declaring and seeing if Clarke will forfeit the 2nd innings, unless that was first thing this morning that doesn't seem wise either, even if batting isn't easy England might expect to score 240-250 in a day more often than not on this pitch.

As for 20 wickets on this pitch, if England had played for the win instead of talking about it then maybe wickets could fall. England are one batsman light, Prior, Trott and Cook in no great form with Root an unestablished opener doing ok.

I'd fancy 7-10 wickets a day from that lot batting normally, a bit of a grind maybe but no one says you have to bowl sides out in two sessions. That's a shame, the interval in the 1st Test probably saved England from being embarrassed, and the weather in the two Tests the aussies were/are on top in spoiling an interesting situation in both.

But if England had ground on at this pace the aussies would have struggled to win, even at 299/6 with Bell gone and both ends exposed it would be hard work even if it were day 4, near 200 run lead and the aussies having to bat again. Quick 150 by a bit after tea and England set 333 say to win off just under four sessions.

It'll be interesting to see now the game is all but drawn if Broad and Swann don't put the pace of the innings in perspective, surely they won't want to grind on when there's little chance of a positive result now............?!?!? Prior with 25 off 27 balls is already part way there to exposing the truth behind the run rate, there's two whoppers from the England camp now being exposed ("can still win" from Saker and Root excusing the run rate saying it was "not viable" to score quickly)

 

[Owzat]

103 runs of 21 overs, what Root really meant was England were scared of losing wickets so continued where they left off in the field playing anti-cricket.

 

[midgetwars]

So when will Clarke declare? Will it be runs or overs?

 

[barmyarmy]

To be honest seeing as England won't go for any target he sets it may as well be a 10/20 over slog.

 

[Umair7]

Watson and Warner opening hmm T20 time maybe

 

[whiteninness]

Good to see Australia trying to inject some life into a game that England has almost completely sucked it out of.

It's a dead-rubber and zero attempt form England to win the gam, both on the field and at the selection table. Not good cricket at all.

 

[cricket_icon]

broad's having one of those explosive spells and warne is being a whingy git lol he should shut up, his country has lost 3-0, he wants england to throw away wickets? his team has only looked like winning once, in almost 5 tests, what an idiot.

I remember Australia shutting up shop a million times, wish Botham was in there with him, he'd get a right dressing down.