5th Test: England vs Australia at the Brit Oval

[angryangy]

Yeah but by Australian standards thats not good enough. His wickets haven't been anything spectacular, just gimme ones. You cannot say that he actually bowled well... He just puts the ball there and somehow gets wickets now and again. Lee, Clark, Bollinger, even McDonald>Hauritz.

But by which country's standards are you judging his replacement? Fair enough you pick the extra seamer for a seaming pitch, but overall he hasn't done better.

 

[aussie1st]

Watson mindset has been affected by this pitch, don't know why he was ducking he has a good pull shot.

 

[irottev]

Hope Watson has his lotto ticket. The amount of luck he seems to be getting.

 

[angryangy]

Early spin change, a stark contrast from Headingley.

 

[King Pietersen]

I'm not backing Swann to have a good game tbh. Whenever we've expected Swann to perform, he hasn't. From his early Test career it seems that the pressure gets to him. He bowled poorly at Cardiff and did nothing when we really needed him in India when they were chasing over 400. Get our real trump card, Broad on I reckon

 

[aussie1st]

Watson is looking better now, starting to put some shots away to the boundary. Test number 2 comes in the form of Swann on a turning wicket.

 

[barmyarmy]

Wait a minute, a spinner came on and the batsman didn't take 20 runs off the over. Have I been playing AC09 too much?
This is our match winning pair on now btw.

 

[evertonfan]

Oh dear.

 

[aussie1st]

Not the usual Harmy but I think he'll rather bowl a Harmy than the ball he just dissed up.

 

[barmyarmy]

Here's a paradox. Why is it easy for the 3rd umpire to check boundaries but not wickets? Do we think awarding 3 runs instead of 4 is more important than missing edges?

 

[evertonfan]

I hate that boundary rule anyway. I don't think it should matter if you touch the rope as long as you stop the ball from doing so.

 

[The_gas]

I wish Australia would go into slog mode, and run themselves out more. Bloody unrealistic cricket this.

 

[angryangy]

If they keep it around the yellow zone, they might get some catches at short cover and point

 

[barmyarmy]

I wish Australia would go into slog mode, and run themselves out more. Bloody unrealistic cricket this.

With England bowling these dark green lengths I'm suprised both batsmen haven't hit 100s already.

 

[aussie1st]

Here's a paradox. Why is it easy for the 3rd umpire to check boundaries but not wickets? Do we think awarding 3 runs instead of 4 is more important than missing edges?

Its one of the few things the umpires can get 100% right so the ICC needs to keep that in place so that they get something right!