TOPIC:

Ti Em wrote:

Archie Duda Goal Machine wrote:

I have the same fears that the Australian batsmen might be battling to see out the day, Mike.
I really hope that I'm wrong and that we can take the game into Day 5, and perhaps a spirited but unlikely victory.
Stuart Broad's overnight retirement announcement is strategically very clever as, whatever he does for the rest of the match, he'll have the vocal home crowd in a frenzy.

We should take this into day 5. Rain looking like a factor today. Sessions 2 and 3 looking like they may be disrupted.

Yes, the predictable English summer downpour may yet save us, Ti Em.
If rain is looming tonight, conditions may well be tailor-made for swing bowling and Broad et al. could do some serious damage in the first session.
However, I hope the Aussie batsmen can show some long-overdo resolve while also managing to keep the scoreboard ticking over.
 

How about let's see a bit of Daveball from Warner. That's how he came into the spotlight from obscurity. That's his natural game. Rather see him get out doing that than fending meekly outside off stump or playing on with a nothing shot. Elevate Marsh to 4 and Smith at 3 and drop Marnus to 5.

Unequivocally the most tactically inept performance by an Australian team in a test series since time began. Don’t make fast bowlers captains, please.

A positive start by Warner and Khawaja, posting our first 50 in the 14th over.
I hope we haven't lost a wicket by the time I stop typing.

Just heard an amazing statistic,on Sen Radio.
In the history of test Cricket there has been 2515 tests played.
This last innings total has only been chased down 7 times.

As Ti em said earlier there is a threat of significant weather disruption on day 4 so if that eventuates Australia may be able to reset their focus to try and bat through for a draw. Khawaja and Warner have started well but have been assisted somewhat by some strange tactics by England. They are 24 overs into the innings and they have not bowled Wood yet, instead preferring Root and a half fit Moeen Ali. The risk is that with the weather closing in, it might be deemed too dark for him to bowl if they wait much longer.
 

Well it all comes down to this......Grandad batting line up chasing  249 to win....against a Grandad bowling line up seeking 10 wickets to win. Which set of Grandad's will blink first?....or will the Grandmother of all, save one set of Grandad's from defeat through rain? 

I know which set of Grandad's I am supporting......not so sure about others on here though.

 

the deteriorating light definitely helped Australia - Stokes couldn't unleash pace anything short would have seen bad light taken
there are some balls spinning sharply now
250 is still a bloody long way away but still having all 10 in the shed is a pretty handy item

I said Friday this wicket will be best to bat on during days 4 and 5. We need 10 partnerships of 25 - nothing more complicated than that.

If we don't lose a wicket in the first hour, then if i was skipper id send Head in with a license to tee off. It could then end the test as far as the poms chances very quickly if it comes off, and if it doesn't there are still enough batters in the shed to work a result either way.

possible afternoon rain will be interesting, after they carried on at the end of the 4th test what do you think England media and players will say if rain saves them this test

The cricket gods are so good at evening up things over time

As of stumps on day four, England had bowled 5,049 balls in the series compared to Australia’s 3,893. That’s a difference of nearly 193 overs — more than two full days of bowling.Scarier still is the fact that England could be forced to bowl for another entire day with an attack whose wheels are falling off.Ben Stokes cannot bowl, Mark Wood was on restricted duties on day four, while spinner Moeen Ali has been battling a right groin strain.Meanwhile, 169.4 overs have gone through the legs of Broad — more than any other bowler this Ashes — while Anderson has bowled the third-most in the series at 150.Adding to the brutality is that all but one Test has reached day five, and the five-match series has been played in the super-tight time frame of six-and-a-half weeks.

This slow plan from earlier in the week, while very boring could have a long term positive effect on the final game of the series, especially if we are going late into day 5