5th Ashes Test England v Australia July 27-31 1930hrs @ The Oval

[frankrizzo]

England still favs we see lot of decent starts in these run chases that ultimately end up well short of total but nice we at least have a shot also big chance for smith as well for such an amazing batsman his 4th innings record is woeful this be perfect time to turn it around.

 

[Coasters7]

Well luckily, we literally have two openers at the crease who are used to dealing with a new ball. It's the start of the day, we should just approach it as though we're 0/0 chasing 250.

Yeah I’d be disappointed if this isn’t the mentality in the dressing room. With the start of a new day plus the rain yesterday it’s basically the start of a new innings from ball 1 today.

250 with 10 wickets sounds far less daunting considering we just put on 135 for the opening stand. Even half of that again and we’re well on our way.

 

[frankrizzo]

The replacement ball they got looked to be 6 overs old

Yep could be big factor if its cloudy early that replacement ball looked almost brand new.

 

[getthefooty]

Absolutely no need to chase the game in the first session, if we get to lunch none or 1 down then we have to be favourites to at minimum hold on for the draw and win the series. Ussie and Dave just have to dig in and force England to get them out. Can always have a dash in the last session if the game is safe.

 

[Southerntakeover]

The change of ball nonsense that's been going on all series needs to be investigated.

This isn't the first time they've been gifted a significantly newer ball.

 

[Southerntakeover]

Absolutely no need to chase the game in the first session, if we get to lunch none or 1 down then we have to be favourites to at minimum hold on for the draw and win the series. Ussie and Dave just have to dig in and force England to get them out. Can always have a dash in the last session if the game is safe.

Isn't that what we did day 2 that led to collapse?

Scoring from here will put the pressure of defeat on them. One hundred in the session, and suddenly it's only 150 to win. Bowlers will get nervy.

Nothing reckless, but set the tone.

 

[RookiePick]

Surely the Aussies would be making enquiries with the match referee about the ball selection process?

I find it hard to believe they could have picked 2 more dissimilar balls. The game ball was munted and the lacquer was shot all over. The replacement ball was a well looked after peach of a thing with clear shiny (legible markings FFS) and scuffed sides.

The original ball did not lose all the lacquer off one side from hitting Usman's helmet once.

Same old Poms...

 

[frankrizzo]

The change of ball nonsense that's been going on all series needs to be investigated.

This isn't the first time they've been gifted a significantly newer ball.

And cant really blame england for looking to get it changed every over if the umps reward them like this with much newer ball its a potentially game changing advantage on flatter decks.

 

[Carn The Berries]

Surely the Aussies would be making enquiries with the match referee about the ball selection process?

I find it hard to believe they could have picked 2 more dissimilar balls. The game ball was munted and the lacquer was shot all over. The replacement ball was a well looked after peach of a thing with clear shiny (legible markings FFS) and scuffed sides.

The original ball did not lose all the lacquer off one side from hitting Usman's helmet once.

Same old Poms...

And yet the Poms thought their outrage was justified when Marnus dared to ask for a look at a replacement ball! That one last night had fair dinkum just come out of the box!

I was drifting in and out of the coverage (I'm not sure if it even was shown). Did the umpires actually put the old ball through the rings?

 

[madmug]

At least Aust can view the challenge as chasing 249 from scratch now..instead of the monumental challenge of 384 from scratch.

It's a pity rain intervened yesterday, prevented another 50-80 runs getting knocked off the chase. Perfect opportunity for both Warner and Uzzie to sign off their UK adventures with a ton each. All the rest just need to do is provide support.

Yes & no. The openers at least will get a good nights rest b4 tomorrow. They may well have gotten tired & out b4 stumps.
Again, at least they will start fresh at 11am. The rest will be buoyed by Warney & Uzzie. We now need Smith & Marnus to find something. We can't leave it to Marsh & Cummins, or the weather.

 

[CrowBloke]

Really good post:

England's best ever fast bowler has looked like a net trundler in this series because the wickets have offered him absolutely nothing.

Interesting, wasn't it, that he described the first wicket as Kryptonite?
The subliminal brag in there is "I'm the Superman of Cricket".

I believe the thing they have weakened was their greatest strength from the previous series, a seam attack that could make our top order look all at sea on a regular basis.

Agree totally. Bazball is all about Batting and ego, which sums up Stokes and MCullum pretty well.
Their bowlers can exhaust themselves while their batsmen look like legends.

People are getting caught in the neon lights of fast scoring, aggressive batting, and choosing to totally ignore the adverse outcome this has for bowlers.

T20-style batting on a Test scale is very seductive to Pommie fans who've suffered under the yoke of grim English Test Cricket negativity and losses for decades.
The 2 years before Stokes/McCullum/Bazball were dire.
Bazball and the bragging, positive spin regardless-of-result, and doublespeak/doublethink rationalising are an energizing breath of fresh air to spirit-crushed Pommie supporters.

That is until the 2023 Aussies, whose 2-0 start to the series defied their script written well before the series started and sent them into 'how-dare-they?' outrage.

To all Pommies in here, out there and in Pommieland, we dare because we're Aussies.
Choke on that.

 

[madmug]

I'm getting 2021 AFL GF nerves now.

We have the Ashes, whats the worry, Just enjoy the game. Its Poms who've failed at home.

 

[Carn The Berries]

Really good post:

Interesting, wasn't it, that he described the first wicket as Kryptonite?
The subliminal brag in there is "I'm the Superman of Cricket".

Agree totally. Bazball is all about Batting and ego, which sums up Stokes and MCullum pretty well.
Their bowlers can exhaust themselves while their batsmen look like legends.

T20-style batting on a Test scale is very seductive to Pommie fans who've suffered under the yoke of grim English Test Cricket negativity and losses for decades.
The 2 years before Stokes/McCullum/Bazball were dire.
Bazball and the bragging, positive spin regardless-of-result, and doublespeak/doublethink rationalising are an energizing breath of fresh air to spirit-crushed Pommie supporters.

That is until the 2023 Aussies, whose 2-0 start to the series defied their script written well before the series started and sent them into 'how-dare-they?' outrage.

To all Pommies in here, out there and in Pommieland, we dare because we're Aussies.
Choke on that.

Yep - The icing on the cake was Stokes blabbering on about wanting to be remembered for leaving a legacy, not for the results of the team. Could you imagine an Aussie trying to run with that absolute tripe?

 

[Alfonz]

The change of ball nonsense that's been going on all series needs to be investigated.

This isn't the first time they've been gifted a significantly newer ball.

Read a story a month or two ago about how bad the more recent batch of Dukes balls are. In the WTC final it went out of shape within 5 overs for both sides. Apparently the pandemic and Brexit has caused issues with the tannery/leather quality and also sourcing chemicals (which came from Germany and British ones are inferior) used to treat the leather.

That's one thing, but giving the Poms a better ball is a joke. I would like to know what years the box of replacement balls comes from. If it spans several years, then they could be choosing balls from circa 2019 that are better for bowling even if they are the same age in overs. It's no wonder they are always asking to change the ball.

 

[Altum Volantes]

Need to start the day in a 0/0 state of mind and get to work on a 250 run chase.

Will be a really interesting day - will say a bit about both sides.

I’m predicting….

Another mid order collapse and a respectable but nowhere near enough total of around 270 all out half way through the last session.

 

[Neese]

I was pretty annoyed when it rained last night but super proud of Ussie and Dave.

I just want to win 3-1 and totally demoralise the POMs. Such whinging bad sports.

 

[hirdylloydy1]

Need to start the day in a 0/0 state of mind and get to work on a 250 run chase.

Will be a really interesting day - will say a bit about both sides.

I’m predicting….

Another mid order collapse and a respectable but nowhere near enough total of around 270 all out half way through the last session.

There is nothing surer than an aussie collapse

 

[NoWuckingFurries]

I'm reading there's rain in the afternoon at the oval?

 

[Jeremy Jordan]

And cant really blame england for looking to get it changed every over if the umps reward them like this with much newer ball its a potentially game changing advantage on flatter decks.

I can nearly guarantee that if the captain of the spirit of cricket got the replacement ball in his hand, and he recognised that it was in ALOT better nick than the ball that was replaced, he would of refused to accept it.

Sure, the rules are that the umpire makes the call on if the ball should be replaced and what ball the replaced should be, but I won’t sit here and listen to people say that Stokesy would of accepted the umpires decision on the new ball, if it looked like England would be advantaged by it. They wouldn’t do that.

 

[RookiePick]

Need to start the day in a 0/0 state of mind and get to work on a 250 run chase.

Will be a really interesting day - will say a bit about both sides.

I’m predicting….

Another mid order collapse and a respectable but nowhere near enough total of around 270 all out half way through the last session.

History is on your side but let's enjoy the possibility while it remains!

 

[sthmelb_dimmies]

Four whole fried chickens and a Coke

and some dry toast

 

[sthmelb_dimmies]

Yep - The icing on the cake was Stokes blabbering on about wanting to be remembered for leaving a legacy, not for the results of the team. Could you imagine an Aussie trying to run with that absolute tripe?

We need to win specifically for that press conference

 

[FromTheBoundaryLine]

Regarding the ball change. I think it may actually favour us. Other than a couple of balls that turned out of the footmarks the most dangerous seemed to be ones that kept low or slowed up. The harder ball will negate this somewhat and Uzzie and Warner are used to the pace of the ball coming off the pitch. Constantly asking for ball changes may just come back to bite England.

 

[bh90210fan]

Should take about half an hour if we get through without losing a wicket before Root starts getting stroppy. Go a whole hour before the bottom lip starts quivering.

 

[Neese]

I love cranky Root