5th Test: England vs Australia at the Brit Oval

[MasterBlaster76]

Our tail end is excellent now - a far cry from when I was growing up. The middle order has been massively strengthened by Trott as well; I think the only really problematic positions are who is going to open with Strauss and No.3.

 

[nikhil_99]

Congratulations England, they really played well from the start (of this test match),so they win back to back Ashes in England(05,09),while Aus have lost 2 back to back in Eng they could not take revenge of Ashes 05, will Aus keep Ponting as captain from here on? Because i remember last time when Aus lost in 05, Warne had got 40 wickets in that edition, there were talks in Aus that remove Ponting as captain and Warne should replace him,so now after loosing to Aus, Ashes will selectors remove him?

 

[woodzy]

Congratulations England, they really played well from the start (of this test match),so they win back to back Ashes in England(05,09),while Aus have lost 2 back to back in Eng they could not take revenge of Ashes 05, will Aus keep Ponting as captain from here on? Because i remember last time when Aus lost in 05, Warne had got 40 wickets in that edition, there were talks in Aus that remove Ponting as captain and Warne should replace him,so now after loosing to Aus, Ashes will selectors remove him?

I think it would be extremely harsh if Ponting as captain is made as a scapegoat for the Ashes loss. Australia lost, not because of Ponting's captaincy, but because they lost key sessions. Moreover, when we were bad, we were horrendous. I think it is hard to pin-point singular individuals throughout the series who were dreadful. The key word for me is consistency. I think given that Australia is a young side, especially in the bowling department, our bowlers werent bowling consistently in every innings. Johnson and Siddle were on and off throughout the series and that was a big problem.

 

[aussie1st]

Well played England, once again our poor 1st innings batting cost us a match. We've gone from consistently making 400 scores to bearly making 200. Bowling was far too inconsistent, had its good days and it had its bad days.

 

[Leicester Fox]

I would like to see the stats minus the first test, in fact I would like to see English players stats minus every first test they've played, serious problems that need to be sorted.

 

[MasterBlaster76]

I think it would be extremely harsh if Ponting as captain is made as a scapegoat for the Ashes loss. Australia lost, not because of Ponting's captaincy, but because they lost key sessions. Moreover, when we were bad, we were horrendous. I think it is hard to pin-point singular individuals throughout the series who were dreadful. The key word for me is consistency. I think given that Australia is a young side, especially in the bowling department, our bowlers werent bowling consistently in every innings. Johnson and Siddle were on and off throughout the series and that was a big problem.

Why is it that Ponting always gets it in the neck? He leaves it all out there on the pitch: he took a cricket ball right in the mouth and carried on playing after some brief treatment.

Well played England, once again our poor 1st innings batting cost us a match. We've gone from consistently making 400 scores to bearly making 200. Bowling was far too inconsistent, had its good days and it had its bad days.

It was the bowling that lost it for you; although some of the first innings batting wasn't up to it.

 

[nikhil_99]

Yes,Aus lost because of their poor batting and some really good bowling by Eng specially Broad in 1st inngs, while the 2 run-outs in 2nd one,looking forward to ODI and T20 matches now...

 

[aussie1st]

Its always a bit of both but there aren't many teams that will make 160 and win a Test match. We knew our bowling would struggle to take 20 wickets although some how we had the leading wicket takers for the series but it was the batting that we had been expected to fall back on when Warne and McGrath retired. Our lineup isn't one that should be making so many sub par scores.

 

[Leicester Fox]

Ponting is a hero on the pitch. If I was an Aussie he would be by a country mile my favourite player. It's silly. The same crap as last time.

Ask questions of Watson who got out after a start every time in the exact same way. Katich who had soo many starts. Ask questions of Hussey who didn't turn up when the team needed him he turned up when he had to for his own sake and the series was almost gone. Or North who might score runs every time but when the chips are really down. What about Johnson who just wasn't there?

Nah lets just blame the man who lead from the front and would get in any side in the world.

 

[MasterBlaster76]

Its always a bit of both but there aren't many teams that will make 160 and win a Test match. We knew our bowling would struggle to take 20 wickets although some how we had the leading wicket takers for the series but it was the batting that we had been expected to fall back on when Warne and McGrath retired. Our lineup isn't one that should be making so many sub par scores.

Yet the stats show that your batsmen scored the most runs! Ah crap, I can't be dealing with this now, it's too late at night!

 

[aussie1st]

Alot was inflated by the 1st Test and then the 4th where the bowlers released the pressure. Its the usual story for our batters, look good on the flat tracks but when the ball starts moving around they can't apply themselves.

Here are our stats where we have lost after poor 1st innings display by the batters:
Lords 215, here 160, Newlands 209, Mohali 269 and you could even add Birmingham where we were 263 and many people saying we were saved by rain.

 

[Therbs]

Two innings lost Ausralia the Ashes, The english 2nd Innings in the First Test and the Australian 1st Innings in the 5th Test. The only question marks over the team will be one opening batsman and Hussey. The bowling group is good and has enough depth.

Word from England is that Ponting won't be playing in the limited overs matches and will be flying home soon.

 

[Hooper]

Well, England have defeated us.

Great... Well done you geezers.

Questions have to be asked about our team after winning against SA but not being able to back it up in England.

Swing did it again for the Poms this time around (well for the 2nd and 3rd test anyways). The dustbowl at The Oval was a good ploy from the groundsman because they knew we wouldn't bring in a specialist spinner - but ah well, thats cricket. We do it, India does it, England are allowed to do it.

Ponting would be gutted and I feel for him, Mike Hussey, your a tosser, used to love you but your past it mate and those run outs really cost us. If Huss got a hundred on that pitch imagine what Ponting/Clarke could of done? :sarcasm

I hate watching England celebrate but maybe the loss is a good thing for this new team and hopefully kickstarts another hardcore attack on every nation like last time we lost the Ashes.

We'll be back.

 

[Howsie]

Your not blaming Hussey for those run-outs are you?

 

[Hooper]

No, I'm just saying hes a tosser because of his poor series and then giving us all false hope by scoring a hundred in the final innings.

Anyways... Pyjama time kiddos!