Ashes 5th and Deciding Test

jaydubs · At Stud Joined: 09 Mar 2008 Posts: 4460

Why does Monty Panesar get picked in the squad again ???

He has done nothing for 3 years .. He has hardly got a wicket in the 2nd div of county cricket all year and is a liability in the field.
They drop Bopara on form (rightly so) but leave Panesar in ..What a joke !!

avlfcdev · Triple Crown Winner Joined: 31 Mar 2009 Posts: 1746

Couldn't agree more jaydubs although I don't see him playing - very disappointing overall - Bell, Trott and Collingwood at 3,4 & 5 is an invitation to the Aussies to roll us over.

The Oval is well known for big scores of late but don't see us continuing the run.
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FORMERLY JOHN MAC

jaydubs · At Stud Joined: 09 Mar 2008 Posts: 4460

It just gets to me that we need to win the game which means 20 wickets so if they are going to add a spinner to the squad in case the pitch (unlikely) is going to be a turner then why don't they add someone who is getting wickets (and can get runs and is ok in the field) not someone who is not in form and hasn't been for a while.
Northants felt obliged to play him in the 20/20 and it was blatant that Boje didn't want to bowl him. They should have kept faith with Willey who had loads of wickets and some runs too.

John the mid order looks like very fragile. If we lose a wicket early we could be 5 down by lunch again. We have to bat first and survive the opening hour and then take advantage of the good strip setting a big enough target to put pressure on and bowl them out twice. Looking at what we have got that looks highly unlikely.

avlfcdev · Triple Crown Winner Joined: 31 Mar 2009 Posts: 1746

Well, Strauss wins the toss and of course bats, even though I think the batting line up is Englands weakness this was still the only way we can win this test IMO.

I feel it is all about the opening pair now, Strauss and Cook MUST be positive but must also still be there at lunch. If a wicket goes down in the first hour I believe we will be 4 down by lunch an struggling to even make a game of it. WE DO NOT WANT THE AUSSIES BATTING ON THIS WICKET BEFORE LUNCH ON THE 2ND DAY.

I fear for our chances but here's hoping I've got it wrong Fingers Crossed

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FORMERLY JOHN MAC

josh24 · Classic Winner Joined: 08 Sep 2007 Posts: 935

Well cook done well Laughing

Hopefully Bell and Strauss can continue as they are and get an impressive partnership going. Strauss is looking comfortable whereas Bell is really struggling against Johnson so needs to calm down and take his time so he can get in and get the runs up, doesn't matter if we bat for 2+ days as long as we get the runs so hopefully they won't rush too much and will look after there wickets.

jaydubs · At Stud Joined: 09 Mar 2008 Posts: 4460

Ha ..Went for the draw on the Oval batting friendly pitch...

Looks like Mr ECB had a word with the ground staff to prepare a result pitch.....

Come on Broady my 2-1 bet is looking good now !!

josh24 · Classic Winner Joined: 08 Sep 2007 Posts: 935

Stunning after lunch session! Wickets are falling for fun and its starting to look good and maybe now it is believeable we can get it back.

How many runs they neeed to avoid the follow on?

Dammo Qwirky · Stallion Joined: 28 Oct 2004 Posts: 7974

theyve been avoided but they wouldnt enforce them on this pitch anyway.
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josh24 · Classic Winner Joined: 08 Sep 2007 Posts: 935

Yeah just read, well when we get them out i think we need to get a few hundred if possible on this pitch and then leave them somthing like 400 to get in like a day and a half/2 days. Really feeling confident on this now Fingers Crossed

jaydubs · At Stud Joined: 09 Mar 2008 Posts: 4460

Well that has got to be one of the best days of English cricket ever.

Hopefully get 150+ in our innings and leave them at least 300 to get on a pitch that looks as though it may explode at anytime ....

Anyone for an MBE ?

josh24 · Classic Winner Joined: 08 Sep 2007 Posts: 935

Another good day, Trott done really well which was good to see. Shame they are 80-0 but i can't really see them getting that target and if they did i just have to say fairplay!

golden14 · 2yo Joined: 19 Jan 2009 Posts: 3 Location: cowes

I am so mad, went out for half an hour when we only had 6 wickets, couldn't believe it when I came back and they were just starting to hand out trophies. Thank god for sky + (and the fact that I got 7-1 on England to win this test midway through the last one!)