5th Test: England vs Australia at the Brit Oval

[aussie1st]

Good start by the openers just 466 runs to go, keep scoring 100 runs in a session and we can pull this miracle off.

 

[Dutch]

We'll be even more reliable once we remove the dead wood from the team. I feel sorry for Onions, how he can be left out for a man who hasn't done anything for England in 2 years, when he has been the most reliable bowler in the series for us.

You know, in all the hype I actually forgot about poor Onions. What were the reasons for putting Harm(lessl)y in instead of him?? Being in NZ I didn't quite follow that story. (We have to wait until the ships arrive to get the latest news!)

dutchad added 1 Minutes and 38 Seconds later...

Good start by the openers just 466 runs to go, keep scoring 100 runs in a session and we can pull this miracle off.

Ah yes, the joys of Aussie confidence! Well if they do do it, and I don't think they will, we will just have to say fair play! (And call for the sacking of anybody and everybody as we like to do in these situations. Probably blame it on Gordon Brown, Al Quaeda, the youth of today......)

 

[aussie1st]

Ah yes, the joys of Aussie confidence! Well if they do do it, and I don't think they will, we will just have to say fair play!

I never feel safe with big chases especially when we are the ones in your situation. SA chased down 414, then we set an even bigger total in SA and I thought they could chase that down. Its just the way I think with big chases even though I know it will be a massive ask I still give the team chasing a chance.

 

[Dutch]

I never feel safe with big chases especially when we are the ones in your situation. SA chased down 414, then we set an even bigger total in SA and I thought they could chase that down. Its just the way I think with big chases even though I know it will be a massive ask I still give the team chasing a chance.

And why not believe. that record is going to get beaten at some point. You guys have proven that you can bat a long time (Cardiff, last day Edgbaston), score centuries and have the grit to want it more than anything. There has to be a niggling doubt though whether enough players can hold it together to make it happen. But unless England get some kind assistance from the pitch and atmospherics it's still game on. If it starts to move and turn again it's all over by tomorrow shortly after tea!

 

[Leverocks]

Would be amazing if Australia pulled off a win here, Watson and Katich have got off to a good start.

They certainly have enough time to chase down the total but chasing down a total of 500+ on a pitch like this is highly unlikely.

 

[Covvy]

Big innings for some players though.

 

[aussie1st]

And why not believe. that record is going to get beaten at some point. You guys have proven that you can bat a long time (Cardiff, last day Edgbaston), score centuries and have the grit to want it more than anything. There has to be a niggling doubt though whether enough players can hold it together to make it happen. But unless England get some kind assistance from the pitch and atmospherics it's still game on. If it starts to move and turn again it's all over by tomorrow shortly after tea!

Oh definitely the amount of times our batters throw their wicket away is way too high for my liking. If we are to pull this off we can't throw any wickets away, and only a great ball should be getting us out.

 

[barmyarmy]

The point about record run chases is that 3 of the top 5 have been achieved in the past 6 years. That said this is too big and the pitch isn't good enough.

 

[Cricketdude]

The openers need to bat on tomorrow to give the team even a little bit of a chance.

 

[Dutch]

The point about record run chases is that 3 of the top 5 have been achieved in the past 6 years. That said this is too big and the pitch isn't good enough.

I agree but the pitch either looked very harmless suddenly in that final session, or England weren't able to exploit it enough. What is everyone expecting the pitch to do? (Apart from just lie there being run on, obviously!)

 

[Covvy]

Yeah, I think we can't be more than 2 or even 3 wickets down going into the last day to draw/win.

 

[IloveGilly]

If Australia pull this off, it will be one of the best chases ever.

Going to be a big mental battle for all the players. If anyones going to be there at the end of the day, you'd say Katich, Clarke or North.

 

[Cricketdude]

If Australia pull this off, it will be the best chase ever.

Fixed.

Seriously, chasing the highest score ever done before and in the 5th ashes match at 1-1. I say that would be the best ever chase.

 

[barmyarmy]

I agree but the pitch either looked very harmless suddenly in that final session, or England weren't able to exploit it enough. What is everyone expecting the pitch to do? (Apart from just lie there being run on, obviously!)

Ther's more than enough in it. There is lateral movement, variable bounce and sharp turn.

 

[Cricketdude]

Harmison = crap
Broad = crap(don't care about the first innings)
Flintoff = if he had another leg he would do something.
Swann = is alright but not a real wicket taker.
Anderson = only good in swinging conditions

This all adds up to an australian win.