5th Test: England vs Australia at the Brit Oval

[Hooper]

I think my pessimism is completely justified on this one so allow me to say one thing and one thing only;

Goodbye urn.

You never had it.

It was gone when the XI was announced on the morning of the 4th test mate, shocking.

 

[Owzat]

You never had it.

It was gone when the XI was announced on the morning of the 4th test mate, shocking.

Two top order batsmen averaging under 30, a lower five in the order with no hundreds to their names and frankly not much wicket-taking. Broad may have taken six wickets and scored a fifty, but four of those wickets and all those runs after the aussies had gotten 250 odd in front and the game was gone. Swann took four in one innings and has done nothing with the ball otherwise, and Harmison took a quick wicket but his impact was more a dull thud than big bang with 2/98.

But we didn't make the bad selection of Ramprakash, a man who could claim "experience" over Trott but at over seven years ago what good would it be? I also would like to point out other saffers that have represented England - Lamb, Smith and PIETERSEN and those three weren't too shabby (unlike Ramps) I'd hope that England go one step further and put Trott in the tour party, if only as first reserve batsman. Cook, Bell, Broad, Swann, Harmison and Onions should all be forewarned they will be playing for their places, whichever if not all of them should play. They, as all the England players that go out at the Oval, have a golden opportunity to win the Ashes for England. What has gone before won't matter if Cook or Bell scores a match-winning hundred, or if Broad, Swann, Harmison or Onions take the 4-5 wickets that win back the Ashes.

BTW, 27 Tests for Broad so far, two 5wis taken and both in innings defeats. To my recollection he's not produced a match-winning performance with bat or ball, some handy runs here and there and one or two supporting cast wickets, but he needs to take more wickets to justify his place. His runs might be handy, but England haven't beaten major opposition in a series since 2006 and England have lost 4 of the 8 series he's played in so far, winning only against windies at home, kiwis home and away

 

[angryangy]

Don't know why Monty is being considered. Had an awful season.

I think the worst thing about this is that they'll kill his career by picking him like this. They're not prepared to admit that he can't do it and that he needs to work on it. Instead they go through this process of picking him and dropping him. The way they work, when he's really, properly dropped, he'll never have another chance. At his age, that would be a monumental disappointment, because he still has plenty of time to grow his game.

 

[Owzat]

England pick sides as much on theory as form and other considerations. Are/were Broad and Swann really doing enough to justify retention based on their bowling? Bopara must have been retained on a theory about continuity, not many would be retained averaging low 20s and now 15. Harmison was picked on what he theoretically brings to the side and what he theoretically can do, 2/98 was the reality of his selection.

Cook : 10, 6, 95, 32, 0, DNB, 30, 30 (ave 29.00)
Bopara : 35, 1, 18, 27, 23, DNB, 1, 0 (ave 15.00)
Bell : 53, DNB, 8, 3 (ave 21.33)


Broad : 1/129, 2/78, 1/49, 0/51, 2/38, 6/91 (ave 36.33)
Swann : 0/131, 0/4, 4/87, 1/4, 1/119, 0/64 (ave 68.17)
Flintoff : 1/128, 1/27, 5/92, 0/58, 0/35 (ave 48.57)

What odds 3 or 4 of those play in the final and decisive Test? Broad's may look the pick of the performers but four of his wickets in the 6/91 were taken when the aussies were 393/6 and already 291 runs ahead on 1st innings. I'll be gobsmacked if he wins the Oval Test with the ball. Collingwood has tailed off in the series, started off with three fifties in 208 runs at 52.00 and last two Tests he's scored a meagre 17 runs @ 5.67 . Still England owe more to being 1-0 up to Collingwood than most of the above. OK he failed at Headingley, how many didn't, but we'd be 2-1 down but for his batting at Cardiff and he helped set a match-winning total at Lords.

 

[Left_Hander]

What ever happened to "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" mentality from the Australian selectors? Hauritz has done a good job in the games that he has been picked for in this series, taking 9 wickets but surely Clark has to play at The Oval. I don't picture Hauritz being a match winner on Day 5, assuming if it came down to that. I've read in the papers recently that even though The Oval is expected to take some turn that in county cricket this year, seamers have dominated spinners. Spinners having averaged around 60.

Thoughts on this selection matter?

 

[aussie1st]

We haven't kept to the stick with the winning team formula for a while now. Bollinger was part of the winning side against SA in Sydney, then he gets dropped for the 1st Test in SA. McDonald also part of the successful side in SA then gets the axe in England.

On the spinner issue, I can see the reason for wanting one since the Oval is flat and having a spinner is good for the variation. If he was coming in I would prefer it be for Siddle. But I would stick with the 4 man pace attack as it gives each of our bowlers a good team to work with i.e Siddle, Hilfy - Clark, Johnson. Whereas with Hauritz in the side, you wouldn't expect him to come on before the 30th over so Hilfy would be forced to bowl a longer opening spell.

 

[Zaibatsu22]

The weather looks like its going to gift the Ashes to Australia anyway

 

[Sureshot]

There is a forecasted band of rain for Thursday afternoon. However, that is 48 hours away. A lot can change in 48 hours.

 

[Skater]

The weather looks like its going to gift the Ashes to Australia anyway

Why does everyone say that the weather will ruin the match, before EVERY single match played in England?

 

[Biggy]

Why does everyone say that the weather will ruin the match, before EVERY single match played in England?

It should just be assumed by now right?


Watson
Katich
Ponting
Clarke
North
Hussey
Haddin
Johnson
Lee
Hauritz
Hilfenhaus


?

 

[Hooper]

Watson
Katich
Ponting
Clarke
North
Hussey
Haddin
Johnson
Lee
Hauritz
Hilfenhaus


?

Katich
Ponting
Clarke
North
Hussey
Haddin
Johnson
Lee
Clark
Hilfenhaus

 

[King Pietersen]

I know we're bad, but going in with 10 players is still a little silly.

 

[Hooper]

We don't need Watson, he is a joke of a cricketer. The mighty all rounder who shall not bowl in ye test matche.

 

[King Pietersen]

Who needs him to bowl when he's batting as well as he is? Like Flintoff and his batting. He's looked like he's been batting with the wrong end over the past couple of years, but his bowling is so good that he gets away with it. Mix Watson's batting with Flintoff's bowling and you've got a heck of a cricketer, a massively injury prone one, but when fit, they'd be dynamite.

 

[Hooper]

So your suggesting a Wattoff superbaby?

Gross...


Australia's biggest queer with Engand's biggest bogan...


It would have to be bionic, it would be way to injury prone otherwise.