5th Test: England vs Australia at the Brit Oval

[IloveGilly]

15 wickets in a day. Probably one of the worst matches to lose all 10 wickets in a matter of hours (or hour).

 

[Will_NA]

15 wickets in a day? Far too many, though it makes for enjoyable cricket so that isn't my complaint.

My issue is with massive footholes on day 1, not good enough really. I wouldn't be too surprised if the ICC get involved and investigate, because the pitch is very close to being rated "poor."

450+ runs in 2 innings. It's hardly endagered the health of the batsmen. It's fine.

 

[pcfan123]

450+ runs in 2 innings. It's hardly endagered the health of the batsmen. It's fine.

Do damaged Australian egos count as health concerns?

 

[nikhil_99]

Eng in full control of this match,still 3 days to go and they lead by 230 runs,they would certainly like to get around 450-500,but a very poor performance by Aus bastman,specially Hussey he was a total failure in this edition of Ashes...

 

[Raj_Aryan]

Eng is in a position from where they are sensing victory here, good bowling by Broad,specially the wicket of Haddin and Hussey, Swann also bowled well...

 

[Will_NA]

Do damaged Australian egos count as health concerns?

Nah, that's just bonus.

 

[Covvy]

C'mon the English Weather show us what you got!

 

[leftarmlegspin]

450+ runs in 2 innings. It's hardly endagered the health of the batsmen. It's fine.

Well of course you're going to say that.

 

[Will_NA]

Ask the Australians then...

 

[blake]

Let's be realistic here, England aren't off to the best of starts in their innings teetering at 3/58. This is effectively 3/230 if you take their lead into consideration. However, if the Australian fast bowlers come out blazing tomorrow then we could be in a far better position. We all saw how Broad ripped apart the Aussies - what if Mitch Johnson or Siddle has a devastating spell and claims a few quick wickets? If England lost two wickets quickly in the morning, they could fall to about 5/70, and from there they would probably recover to approximately 120. So, if we can manage to bowl England out for 120 - by taking some early wickets (Strauss is a key one) then we will have a far more respectable chase of 293 for victory.

This pitch is tough, but if we stand up when we need to we still have a hope. The Aussies will need to fight hard though, and that must start with bowling England out cheaply tomorrow. Anything over 350 will be impossible to chase, but under 300 and we have a chance. Early wickets are the key though, and then we need somebody to stand up to the pressure - preferably Ricky Ponting or Michael Clarke.

England do have an advantage but we can fight back if we are good enough.

 

[Dutch]

That was kinda of a good session that I was talking about. Just need to roll out the 7 other wickets for 60 runs and then somehow get 300 odd runs.

Yeah, thats what I love about you Aussies (no offence I hope); you never, ever give up and we all know that this thing is not done and dusted until that final wicket is taken! I mean, as an Englishman I get used to dreaming of amazing comebacks and hope that we can turn a situation around. Usually to be thoroughly dissapointed. But the Aussies just seem to be able to come back again and again and again, always believing and not seldom pulling it off. I have great respect for that and wish we had a little bit more of your guys "arrogance". Which is an unfair way of putting it inmyopinion. Its about determination and grit. It's going to be a fascinating day tomorrow and am thoroughly looking forward to it and am gearing myself up for an all-nighter. I went to bed at lunch (2:30 in the night my time) thinking nought was going to happen! Oh man, how wrong, how terribly, terribly wrong!

 

[Covvy]

We need to have all batsmen on song, including the tail.

 

[aussie1st]

Yeah, thats what I love about you Aussies (no offence I hope); you never, ever give up and we all know that this thing is not done and dusted until that final wicket is taken! I mean, as an Englishman I get used to dreaming of amazing comebacks and hope that we can turn a situation around. Usually to be thoroughly dissapointed. But the Aussies just seem to be able to come back again and again and again, always believing and not seldom pulling it off. I have great respect for that and wish we had a little bit more of your guys "arrogance". Which is an unfair way of putting it inmyopinion. Its about determination and grit. It's going to be a fascinating day tomorrow and am thoroughly looking forward to it and am gearing myself up for an all-nighter. I went to bed at lunch (2:30 in the night my time) thinking nought was going to happen! Oh man, how wrong, how terribly, terribly wrong!

Probably the only time we really concede is when we are down to the tail with 200 runs to get. Even at Lords I still had hopes of chasing the total right until we got to the tail and even then Johnson started giving me hope that he could pull it off.

I would still hold hope of us chasing 400 even on this pitch but we are one of the worst teams when it comes to chasing 4th innings totals and saving matches lately.

 

[SciD]

Eng in full control of this match,still 3 days to go and they lead by 230 runs,they would certainly like to get around 450-500,but a very poor performance by Aus bastman,specially Hussey he was a total failure in this edition of Ashes...

Eng is in a position from where they are sensing victory here, good bowling by Broad,specially the wicket of Haddin and Hussey, Swann also bowled well...

450 is road too far. I think a chase of 350-400 is on cards.

Also I notice you guys post together. What going on?

 

[Dutch]

Probably the only time we really concede is when we are down to the tail with 200 runs to get. Even at Lords I still had hopes of chasing the total right until we got to the tail and even then Johnson started giving me hope that he could pull it off.

I would still hold hope of us chasing 400 even on this pitch but we are one of the worst teams when it comes to chasing 4th innings totals and saving matches lately.

I think England will need to put another 130-150 on the board to feel confident but oh how much the pressure is back on Australia...and thats sweet, so sweet! Are you going to follow through the night? You're probably 3 or 4 hours behind me? On another point do you think Ponting will want to step down as captain after this tour or has he mad indications that he would like to carry on regardless? Don't get me wrong, I am not one of these "he's got to go" types. Far from it. The mans pretty unique but is it time for a change? Can he do that? Concentrate on batting and leave the captaincy to Clarke? I mean this in total disregard to whatever happens in this series.