Test The Ashes Fifth Test January 4-8 1000hrs @ The SCG

[danielnajdek]

So 23 wickets with one session left on day 4. Seems pretty flat.

 

[Doggy]

Dunno about that as Root couldn't get bat to ball against Boland

Potts would concede 150

 

[Jimthegreat]

Bowled rubbish before lunch. Neser and Boland bowled very well after lunch, Starc was all over the place and expensive, feeling a long series, Green just took all the pressure after we had them 3/120 odd. A spinner would be nice.

 

[Dazza the Viking]

Selectors couldn’t make the hard decision to drop Green so we pick another all rounder, instead of picking a specialist spinner, I wonder if the decision would of been the same if it was 2-2 in the series

 

[Jack Lord]

Reckon they'll start to belt the ball after tea. They'll want a couple of sessions to bowl at us tomorrow.

 

[Carn The Berries]

So 23 wickets with one session left on day 4. Seems pretty flat.

I will take that over 36 wickets in 5 and a half sessions every day of the week and twice on Sunday.

There's enough in the wicket, but the Poms have Potts and we have Green as front line fast bowlers.

 

[Ohitsthatguy]

Looking like a draw now

 

[Gethelred]

shame neither side saw fit to bring a proper spinner so we could see that side of the game for basically the first time all series.

It is, but we'll see 40 wickets fall regardless.

 

[Dazza the Viking]

England winning the test is very slim, not with there pop gun bowling attack

 

[sr36]

So 23 wickets with one session left on day 4. Seems pretty flat.

It's been good batting. For all the hysteria about modern batsmen, seems they can bat

 

[sr36]

It is, but we'll see 40 wickets fall regardless.

I hope not. 33 is my call, but these two look bloody good.

 

[Jack Lord]

I will take that over 36 wickets in 5 and a half sessions every day of the week and twice on Sunday.

There's enough in the wicket, but the Poms have Potts and we have Green as front line fast bowlers.

With the warrior hero injured, England's bowling attack will consist of Potts, Bethell, Jacks, Carse and Tongue.

 

[Plugger35]

Curator's got this one spot on. Tricky first session on day 1, good batting days 2 and 3, pitch is still good but a few demons emerging day 4.

Regardless of the result of this match just having a test that looks like it will go into a 5th day makes it a good test pitch.

All results are still possible, an Australian win is much more likely than an England win or a draw but any result is a chance.

 

[Dazza the Viking]

It's been good batting. For all the hysteria about modern batsmen, seems they can bat

England would of made close to 500 if it wasn’t for that dumb shot from Smith

 

[t_94]

This is the most 'throw all the toys out of the cot' forum on BF.

People who have very little idea and watch cricket for 6 weeks of the year posting with absolute conviction.

 

[MC Extra Dollop]

I hope not. 33 is my call, but these two look bloody good.

Break this partnership and they crumble, I reckon.

Feels to me like - at worst from an Australian perspective - we'll be chasing 150-200 with all the time in the world and facing Potts, Carse, Tongue and Jacks.

 

[aabp1978]

Regardless of the result of this match just having a test that looks like it will go into a 5th day makes it a good test pitch.

All results are still possible, an Australian win is much more likely than an England win or a draw but all results are alive.

I am always glass non existent..I reckon if they get a 200 run lead we might wilt..only thing is that will take till lunch I guess tomorrow

 

[aabp1978]

Break this partnership and they crumble, I reckon.

Feels to me like - at worst from an Australian perspective - we'll be chasing 150-200 with all the time in the world and facing Potts, Carse, Tongue and Jacks.

Tongue is pretty good..

 

[Gethelred]

Regardless of the result of this match just having a test that looks like it will go into a 5th day makes it a good test pitch.

All results are still possible, an Australian win is much more likely than an England win or a draw but any result is a chance.

I really wish you'd post like this more often instead of the banter bullshit, Plugger.

 

[TigerCraig]

Looking like a draw now

Depends if they want to have a crack and risk a 1-4 for a chance at 2-3

Bazball says they should

 

[Ohitsthatguy]

Depends if they want to have a crack and risk a 1-4 for a chance at 2-3

Bazball says they should

They don't have the bowlers to bowl us out

 

[Dazza the Viking]

shame neither side saw fit to bring a proper spinner so we could see that side of the game for basically the first time all series.

Without a specialist spinner the test has been a borefest if you ask me
Would of been a lock for a result if there was specialist spinner in both teams

 

[Bedi]

Regardless of the result of this match just having a test that looks like it will go into a 5th day makes it a good test pitch.

All results are still possible, an Australian win is much more likely than an England win or a draw but any result is a chance.

i reckon all results are very possible at this point. Plenty more batting to come for England. If they get a lead of even 150, and Head goes cheaply, than god help us all. Our collective confidence would crumble

 

[Kennedy Parker]

His second fastest test double century in 150 years of the sport’s history. scored away against Kagiso Rabada and Morne Morkel counts for nothing, then.

Interesting take.

Seriously does anyone actually bother anymore?

If anything that strengthens the broader point. Stokes gets spoken about in the media as though he is an all-time great due to a handful of memorable performances.

When those performances are averaged out he is generally on par with most contemporary pace bowling allrounders.

Here are a set of international batting and bowling averages. Which one is Shane Watson / Ben Stokes / Colin De Grandhomme?

Player	Batting Avg - Test	Bowling Avg - Test	Batting Avg - ODI	Bowling Avg - ODI	Batting Avg - T20I	Bowling Avg - T20I
A	38.70	32.95	26.50	41.00	15.78	38.41
B	35.19	33.68	40.54	31.79	29.24	24.72
C	35.19	31.11	41.22	42.39	21.66	32.92

 

[Carn The Berries]

i reckon all results are very possible at this point. Plenty more batting to come for England. If they get a lead of even 150, and Head goes cheaply, than god help us all. Our collective confidence would crumble

These are the perfect conditions (from a game situation perspective). The quicker they score, the more time they have to bowl us out.

Add in the fact that Stokes will be limited, so will likely play shots from ball one.

We really need to grab a couple of quick wickets straight after tea.