Test The Ashes Fourth Test December 26-30 1000hrs @ The MCG

[Around the Wicket]

As much as I hated all the draws in the eighties, it did mean that a victory was really earnt and deserved, not given by default to the team that was the least shit.

that is one way to look at it.

 

[sr36]

Yep, England didn't necessarily prove that they were better than Australia other than just winning the toss, but I suppose that was true for Australia and Adelaide, with these two tests being a wash in that regard.

England very much lost the Ashes with their boneheaded approach in the first two tests though. Why their plan upon winning the toss and batting in the Brisbane test being "well, we know that we'll get 2 day sessions if we simply bat 100 overs here and force Australia's next 2 innings to more likely be in the challenging evening and night conditions" I'll never know.

For all the criticism of their batting - I don't think we bat better - but our bowling is a mile above theirs.

 

[western royboy]

At least he would have put a price on his wicket. Unlike the current lot.

Of that you can be guaranteed - he’d bat ugly and get plenty

 

[Around the Wicket]

As much as I hated all the draws in the eighties, it did mean that a victory was really earnt and deserved, not given by default to the team that was the least shit.

some of these games you could argue the coin toss decided them.

 

[010203]

MCC CEO Stuart Fox and curator Matt Page will front a press conference tomorrow to speak about pitch related issues from this Test.

 

[Lunchtime]

Son Of Australia Ashes And World Cup Winner Quits Test Dream To Play County Cricket Under UK Passport | Cricket News Today https://share.google/r945HMkxSyLsC6HYX

 

[icyflakes]

So your saying if the sides grinded and found a way the first couple of days it would have got easier to bat on?

Obviously it's all ifs and buts and what the hell do I know.

But the curator said he wanted to replicate the pitch from last year, that led to an absolute classic day 5 third session finish. Bit challenging given last year had some ridiculously hot weather to start last year, rather than the cool-to-hot run that these days were going to give us.

Some pundits (Dizzy comes to mind, but I heard a few people saying it in discourse) were saying they were expecting day 3 to be the easiest to bat as of this morning.

I'm not saying the teams could have grinded to day 3, because I think both sides' batting is truly awful, but I can recall several wickets both sides pissed away without even going to refresh my memory with a replay.

 

[peternorth]

There's lots of Australians these days who have their decendents completly nothing to do with the British Isles. Its not still 1850.

Not recent, but historically ancestory.

 

[MisterMarcus]

Some of the talk about the pitch is getting very silly.

Yes it was a bowler's deck, no question. But the idea that this was some minefield that nobody could bat on is ridiculous. It's not like the ball was bouncing head-high off a full length, or grubbing along the ground on Day 1. There was movement and a bit of inconsistency, but a serious Test batsman who applies themselves should be able to at least compete on it. And we don't want dead flat roads every game.

Plus how many dismissals were due to over-aggressive shots or poor decision making? There was some absolute dumb-arse-ery out there with the willow from both sides. Can't blame the deck when you're getting run out, slashing at wide ones, or being strangled down leg side....

 

[JimmyBC]

A Steve Waugh type gets you the extra 60 to 80 runs you need on that sort of garbage pitch.

 

[sr36]

some of these games you could argue the coin toss decided them.

The issue is that they haven't got drop in pitches right yet. They don't break up, so they get easier to bat on as the game goes on. To get a result, they make them spicy and sometimes too spicy.

 

[kickazz]

MCC CEO Stuart Fox and Matt Page will front a press conference tomorrow to speak about pitch related issues from this Test.

Are the batsmen going to do the same?

I mean Ben Duckett, come on......

 

[Burtonsgottago]

3-1 up with only 2 batsmen and a keeper scoring runs is a pretty good return

 

[threenewpadlocks]

Some of the talk about the pitch is getting very silly.

Yes it was a bowler's deck, no question. But the idea that this was some minefield that nobody could bat on is ridiculous. It's not like the ball was bouncing head-high off a full length, or grubbing along the ground on Day 1. There was movement and a bit of inconsistency, but a serious Test batsman who applies themselves should be able to at least compete on it. And we don't want dead flat roads every game.

Plus how many dismissals were due to over-aggressive shots or poor decision making? There was some absolute dumb-arse-ery out there with the willow from both sides. Can't blame the deck when you're getting run out, slashing at wide ones, or being strangled down leg side....

Which is especially true on day 2 as well. It was challenging to bat on yesterday, but not 20 wickets challenging

It was far less challenging to bat on today (especially in the last session as England proved), but not 16 wickets lost challenging.

If it was something like 14 and 10, we'd be seeing Australia merely 4 down in the 3rd innings batting on very good day 3 batting conditions and looking to build upon their (say) 100 run lead hoping to extend it to around 350 before getting bowled out, and hoping that's enough on a day 4 pitch that's still good but on its way down as a wicket.

 

[Pistol Night]

MCC CEO Stuart Fox and Matt Page will front a press conference tomorrow to speak about pitch related issues from this Test.

“We’ve got no ****n idea what the dumb campaigner was doing. Apparently the mower ran out of fuel and he reckons the servo was shut Xmas Day and he got too pissed to mow it later that day so we just winged it”

 

[western royboy]

Some of the talk about the pitch is getting very silly.

Yes it was a bowler's deck, no question. But the idea that this was some minefield that nobody could bat on is ridiculous. It's not like the ball was bouncing head-high off a full length, or grubbing along the ground on Day 1. There was movement and a bit of inconsistency, but a serious Test batsman who applies themselves should be able to at least compete on it. And we don't want dead flat roads every game.

Plus how many dismissals were due to over-aggressive shots or poor decision making? There was some absolute dumb-arse-ery out there with the willow from both sides. Can't blame the deck when you're getting run out, slashing at wide ones, or being strangled down leg side....

Very few serious old school Test Batsman about…anywhere

 

[Peter Bixley]

Aus holds the urn. No matter what.

eddiesmith

Only two outcomes in the Ashes - retain or regain. The rest is a footnote.

 

[Around the Wicket]

The issue is that they haven't got drop in pitches right yet. They don't break up, so they get easier to bat on as the game goes on. To get a result, they make them spicy and sometimes too spicy.

Does explain it.. I remember as a kid every captain wanted to win the toss and put 500+ on the board... now the team batting first is almost bowling by the end of the first day every time lol

 

[Moonwatcher]

Boland got a golden duck and still scored more than Duckett, Bethell and Root combined.

Nek minut

 

[Pistol Night]

Only two outcomes in the Ashes - retain or regain. The rest is a footnote.

Apart from the 06/07 whitewash I couldn’t tell you many more series scorelines to be honest. The last 2 English tours obviously 2-all and we retained them but that’s all that matters

 

[Pure_Ownage]

It would be an absolute disgrace if Sean Abbott ever plays a Test match

It would be a very CA thing to do if he was fit.

 

[Black Diamond]

I’m happy to put a line through Weatherald. He is approaching Bancroft/Harris territory and there is no value in him playing at the SCG.

Khawaja should be dropped too. There is no point him going on. If we’re ruthless enough to do it before Sydney I’ll be surprised. He should be told to retire no matter what.

Green needs a spell. I have been willing to defend him but no more.

I would retain Neser, Boland and Starc. Richardson or Murphy, will depend on the pitch.

I would not let Cummins play. Too bad, keep at the rehab.

 

[Peter Bixley]

Apart from the 06/07 whitewash I couldn’t tell you many more series scorelines to be honest. The last 2 English tours obviously 2-all and we retained them but that’s all that matters

I remember them all since 1993, but I'm a geek. Nevertheless, the point stands. Winning 5-0 is nice and everything, but it's rare that this happens and doesn't change too much. Having the Ashes in your possession is all that matters, when you're on that podium after the fifth test and the champagne is flowing. I'd be a bit disappointed if this one finishes 3-2 but it'll be short-lived disappointment. I'm already looking at 2027. I'd rather lose in Sydney next week but invest in the future. Khawaja, Green, Labs and Weatherald aren't winning it for us in 2027, so let's look at one or two who might.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

yea smart ass curator thought it was a wise call to leave 10mm of grass on a pitch when both sides batting is sub par to say the least... absolutely frustrating.

Maybe both sides should actually learn to bat.

 

[Bedi]

Look good luck to young Bethel . He stepped up but is he really like David Gower. Technique , poise , discipline and bravery. Off course not yet. Wish we had a pup like him though.

Along with Root, Stokes, Brook and Archer, Bethell was one player pre series i thought had the ability/ X factor to sway the series. Turns out that wasn't the case, but we did see him emerge today on the big stage to help England get a famous win.

Selectors were right to stick with with Pope, but now Bethell is back in the side he will be hard to dislodge

People dismiss him for a lack of technique but reckon his defence seems pretty solid, and among more wreckless T20 shots we saw some majestic strokeplay.

Hate England but some reason love Bethell and the way he goes about it.