5th Ashes test

[Dark Cloud]

England batting helter skelter could easily backfire. It wasn't essential to bat that way and a slightly more judicious approach could well have produced an unassailable lead (445?) with still a day and a half to get the Aussies out. As it is they've got loads of time to achieve a reachable target and I'm extremely surprised the "swingometer" seemed to give them so little chance last night. IMO, they've every chance unfortunately.

[RVclaret]

Pitch doing nothing and zero movement through the air. 385 over 2 days with this batting line up shouldn’t be dismissed.

[Robbie_painter]

Pitch doing nothing and zero movement through the air. 385 over 2 days with this batting line up shouldn’t be dismissed.

Hmmm starting to think I may have called this wrong.Long way to go yet though.

[kentonclaret]

Very overcast and thick cloud cover in London and expected to remain so for the rest of today. Some delay(s) for rain this afternoon seem very likely with bad light becoming an issue later in the day.
Would need a monumental effort from the Australia batters to score these runs given the overhead conditions. IMHO.

[FCBurnley]

Hmmm starting to think I may have called this wrong.Long way to go yet though.

Nobody seemed to factor in that Australia had 2 full days to score basically 200 a day on a good pitch which was the point I was making yesterday No saying we will lose and it is still in our favor but not as much as some posters seemed to think
Next session is huge for both teams especially England. Will the rain save us ? lol

[TheFamilyCat]

Nobody seemed to factor in that Australia had 2 full days to score basically 200 a day on a good pitch which was the point I was making yesterday No saying we will lose and it is still in our favor but not as much as some posters seemed to think
Next session is huge for both teams especially England. Will the rain save us ? lol

The number of days left wasn't really that relevant. The history of test cricket tells you that 384 is a near-impossible chase. If the Aussies do chase these down they will have played very, very well.

[taio]

The number of days left wasn't really that relevant. The history of test cricket tells you that 384 is a near-impossible chase. If the Aussies do chase these down they will have played very, very well.

I'd have thought it is relevant because the wicket hasn't deteriorated like it often has on the fifth day. The wicket hasn't done anything for our bowlers so far.

[TheFamilyCat]

I'd have thought it is relevant because the wicket hasn't deteriorated like it often has on the fifth day. The wicket hasn't done anything for our bowlers so far.

The post I was replying to was focusing on the run rate required rather than the state of the pitch.

[RVclaret]

Why isn’t Mark Wood bowling yet? Is he injured?

[Spijed]

Why isn’t Mark Wood bowling yet? Is he injured?

Apparently the BBC press box have said people keep asking the same question.

They think they might be waiting until there is reverse swing. But it does seem as well that he can't bowl too many overs at once.

[FCBurnley]

The number of days left wasn't really that relevant. The history of test cricket tells you that 384 is a near-impossible chase. If the Aussies do chase these down they will have played very, very well.

Sorry but it is relevant for a few reasons
A day 4 pitch is way better than day 5. The time available means the batters don’t have to take risks to get the runs. England are a bowler short ( 2 if you count Stokes). Australia have 4 of the top batters in the World. I am not seeing what will change to make things easier for England. 104-0 as I type

[CoolClaret]

Desperately need a wicket

[Dark Cloud]

The number of days left wasn't really that relevant. The history of test cricket tells you that 384 is a near-impossible chase. If the Aussies do chase these down they will have played very, very well.

You're right in part, but what we have to realise is that the nature of test cricket has changed dramatically over recent years and is continuing to change. Scoring rates are unbelievable compared to what they were just a few years ago with 4s and 6s becoming extremely common. Draws without serious wether intervention are virtually unheard of whereas at one time 9 out of every 10 tests was a bore draw. Chasing that score down was always going to be doable in the current climate. England just have to bowl better.

[Clive 1960]

As much as bazball Is entertainment when comes off the Australian team are playing proper test cricket and looking likely to win the series 3-1 unless we can get the ball to reverse swing and Root to chip in with a few wickets as Ali is struggling.

[Steve1956]

I really used to dislike Ricky Ponting with a passion but the piece they have been doing with Atherton McGrath and Ponting has been really great entertainment and he comes across as a really nice guy.

[Gp8419]

As much as bazball Is entertainment when comes off the Australian team are playing proper test cricket and looking likely to win the series 3-1 unless we can get the ball to reverse swing and Root to chip in with a few wickets as Ali is struggling.

bazball isn’t even a thing a journalist made the saying up sure we attack in the right moments,but Ian Botha m did a interview the other day saying it doesn’t even exist bazball

[Spijed]

The next 50 runs will most likely decide this test. If England get 2-3 wickets they can wrap up the game fairly quickly. If Australia need less than 200 with all wickets intact they'll most likely go on to win the series.

[ClaretTony]

I really used to dislike Ricky Ponting with a passion but the piece they have been doing with Atherton McGrath and Ponting has been really great entertainment and he comes across as a really nice guy.

I think Ponting is a superb addition to the Sky team

[Lip]

The next 50 runs will most likely decide this test. If England get 2-3 wickets they can wrap up the game fairly quickly. If Australia need less than 200 with all wickets intact they'll most likely go on to win the series.

Well thought out and Great thinking Spijed,

[Steve1956]

I think Ponting is a superb addition to the Sky team

Me to.

[JR1882]

VERY EASY with hindsight but putting Warner and Khawaja into bat at 6pm last night for 30 mins would have made much more sense than letting Jimmy and Broad have a cameo for old times sake.

Got whacked round the field all day then put into bat under the clouds, I think one would have gone.

Anyhow, it’s easy to say that now. Here’s hoping for a breakthrough tomorrow!

[FCBurnley]

VERY EASY with hindsight but putting Warner and Khawaja into bat at 6pm last night for 30 mins would have made much more sense than letting Jimmy and Broad have a cameo for old times sake.

Got whacked round the field all day then put into bat under the clouds, I think one would have gone.

Anyhow, it’s easy to say that now. Here’s hoping for a breakthrough tomorrow!

Don’t disagree however if we were intending to bat until all out there was no sense in just throwing wickets away and giving the Aussies a glimmer of hope on a flat track with a limited bowling attack

[JR1882]

Agree 100%. We played the last hour like it was some exhibition match.

[kentonclaret]

Don’t disagree however if we were intending to bat until all out there was no sense in just throwing wickets away and giving the Aussies a glimmer of hope on a flat track with a limited bowling attack

The bowling attack is only limited by the injury to Moeen Ali. There was not really any possibility of Stokes playing a major role in the bowling department due to his troublesome knee, hence the decision to include Woakes.

[nil_desperandum]

VERY EASY with hindsight but putting Warner and Khawaja into bat at 6pm last night for 30 mins would have made much more sense than letting Jimmy and Broad have a cameo for old times sake.

Got whacked round the field all day then put into bat under the clouds, I think one would have gone.

Anyhow, it’s easy to say that now. Here’s hoping for a breakthrough tomorrow!

I don't think it was cloudy between 6 and 6.30 at The Oval yesterday. It's more a case of the likes of Bairstow should still have been batting to ensure that the lead was somewhere between 425 and 450.
A couple more points related to 4th innings run chases.
As mentioned it was a very good Day 4 pitch today rather than a deteriorating Day 5 pitch, but it is also the case that pitches tend not to deteriorate so much these days as in the past, in fact there have been a number of occasions on which pitches have simply flattened out.
Also - and I think this is relevant: The Oval is now less than 75% of the size that it used to be. This not only leads to higher scoring, but it reduces the effectiveness of the spinner. Shorter boundaries and better bats have made sixes much more frequent in Test Cricket and batters can clear the field much more easily.
The 384 required is probably nearer to 300 if this game was played a couple of decades ago.
Worth mentioning too that Stokes and many others would have backed England to chase this down.

[LeadBelly]

Why isn’t Mark Wood bowling yet? Is he injured?

I was down there today; I don't listen to any commentaries but I was thinking Wood must be injured myself. When he finally came on he did crack Khawaja on the helmet and caused a few discomforts, I've still no idea why he didn't bowl earlier.

Although the ball didnt do much today (despite overcast conditions) I also though England were a bit flat. I suspect it wasn't a good thing for the Broad announcement yesterday- seemed a bit like "Broady's farewell" became more important today than the state of the match.

Nothing whatsoever against Broad, he's done England proud but think it would've been better timing to wait until the end of this game for the announcement.
Still a decent chance for England to get a win if the ball does a bit more tomorrow and we get 2-3 wickets in the morning. Fair play to Australia if they get a score that high to win.

[Burnley1989]

Is it me or does the duke not seem to be swinging like you’d expect?

[CoolClaret]

Is it me or does the duke not seem to be swinging like you’d expect?

It’s barely done anything throughout the series - even in favourable conditions.

Can’t quite recall a summer where the ball has done as little

[karatekid]

Not much confidence from the commentators that England can do this. They’ve all said Australia will get the win today.

[Conroysleftfoot]

Zero chance of chasing that down.runs per over doesn’t come into it in the last innings.

All the Sky Sports experts seem to be disagreeing with you at the moment.

[FCBurnley]

Let’s also not forget that Australia only need a draw which if we have weather delays is in play

[claretonthecoast1882]

Woakes get Warner 140/1

[ClaretTony]

Finally a wicket - Warner gone caught behind off Woakes

[dandeclaret]

Bowling well this morning....

[nil_desperandum]

Let’s also not forget that Australia only need a draw which if we have weather delays is in play

If we lose a few overs his afternoon and Australia have lost a few wickets then I think the draw might be the favourite. The Australians will not take any risks.

[claretonthecoast1882]

Woakes with another both openers gone 141/2

[ClaretTony]

Khawaja gone - 141/2, Woakes bowling brilliantly and they’ve used up a review too.

[Conroysleftfoot]

This could be a great 5th day if the weather stays fine.

[ClaretTony]

This could be a great 5th day if the weather stays fine.

This series deserves a great final day. Having said that, I’d prefer us to bowl them out before lunch.

[dsr]

That's not what the law quoted earlier (that prompted my question) said: Law 23. With DRS even if the umpire's decision is reversed the ball is considered dead from the moment of the incident which caused the 'dismissal.'

What daveisaclaret said.

If the umpire gives lbw-out, then the ball is dead and leg byes don't count whether there's review or not.

If the umpire gives not out but the bowler reviews and the decision is out, then the ball is dead because there's a wicket.

If the umpire gives not out and the bowler reviews and the decision is still not out, then the review makes no difference - leg byes or any other sort of runs (also run outs) still count.

[Casper2]

Wood has done well to play 3 consecutive tests but his speed is well down on his first appearance

[CoolClaret]

This new ball is swinging more than it’s done all series

[Casper2]

This new ball is swinging more than it’s done all series

Humid and overcast helps

[Casper2]

Good cricket, get in .

[claretonthecoast1882]

169/3 Wood gets Labuscagne

[nil_desperandum]

This new ball is swinging more than it’s done all series

It is when we pitch it up.
Result: Wood gets Labuschagne(as I was posting!)

[CoolClaret]

Humid and overcast helps

It is when we pitch it up.
Result: Wood gets Labuschagne(as I was posting!)

For sure but even so - we’ve been in similar conditions and both teams reverted to the short ball because it was doing naff all through the air.

We’re right back in this now. Brilliant morning

[Conroysleftfoot]

This series deserves a great final day. Having said that, I’d prefer us to bowl them out before lunch.

Totally agree, it has been a superb series with hardly anything between the 2 teams.

[Casper2]

Smith cheating again

[DAVETHEVICAR]

Need another wicket soon
Nasser has said rain on radar between 2 and 4 pm
May therefore be a draw