Cricket

[Whistler40145]

Will England enforce any changes for the final test match?

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Will England enforce any changes for the final test match?

It won't really matter "Ashes-wise" as that will be the 5th and final Test Match in this series.

 

[Whistler40145]

It won't really matter "Ashes-wise" as that will be the 5th and final Test Match in this series.

Indeed and probably the final appearance of James Anderson

 

[Harvester]

Will England enforce any changes for the final test match?

England will want to square the series so it won’t be a ‘dead’ Test. Josh Tongue back for either Anderson or Broad is all I envision.

 

[MotCO]

Play abandoned 20 minutes ago, without a ball being bowled during the day!

In certain circumstances, such as in this Test Match where England looked certain victors had it not been for the rain, should the Umpires pronounce a result?

 

[Busaholic]

With regards to your earlier posting concerning Tongue, would it not have been better if he had been selected for this particular Test Match which England had to win, rather than the fifth Test Match. Whose shoulders should carry the weight of that decision making?

No, not necessarily. Wood and Woakes were automatic choices after Headingley if fit and Robinson needed replacing. Broad would have been justifiably complaining if he'd been relinquished, and the myth of Stokes being the fifth seam bowler had to be perpetuated. So it was Anderson or Tongue essentially, and for all sorts of reasons Anderson got the nod. Sentimentality? Yes, a bit of that plus the numerous voices, here and elsewhere, that Anderson had been 'let down' by the pitches provided at Edgbaston and Lord's. There was some truth in the case of Edgbaston, but not Lord's, and his refusal to admit this imo showed he no longer had the required self-criticism necessary of an elite cricketer, so it was no surprise to me that he failed to produce the goods in Manchester, and his long and illustrious test career should end there.

England in recent times have regarded the Oval as the ground for the potentially fastest bowling, so Wood and Tongue must play. Woakes has a poor record bowling there, and in any case may be injured. I hope Matty Potts is brought into the equation, he's taken plenty of wickets for Durham at a low average and scored a 50 in their most recent match.

Drawing the series is almost as important as winning it. I've predicted 2-2 all along, with one ruined by rain, and I see no reason to revise that now, especially with Australia lacking a capable spinner.

In certain circumstances, such as in this Test Match where England looked certain victors had it not been for the rain, should the Umpires pronounce a result?

Yes. a DRAW.

 

[birchesgreen]

I wonder if folks would be so eager to change the rules/result if England had been 2-1 up in the series.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

The match bowling returns of the "old brigade" might be worth noting, as this looks to be the last opportunity to do so for the elder of the two.....

Broad........26 - 2 - 115 - 2

Anderson...37 - 9 - 81 - 1

 

[Busaholic]

The match bowling returns of the "old brigade" might be worth noting, as this looks to be the last opportunity to do so for the elder of the two.....

Broad........26 - 2 - 115 - 2

Anderson...37 - 9 - 81 - 1

And the last of a remarkable partnership, two very different characters, just like Trueman and Statham. Brian Stetham was my bowling hero growing up, along with Dougie Wright, the last of the England leggies for some while.

 

[Bald Rick]

England will want to square the series so it won’t be a ‘dead’ Test. Josh Tongue back for either Anderson or Broad is all I envision.

Jimmy will play.

Suspect Woakes won’t - he’s carrying an injury. Tongue would replace him.

Then it’s a choice for Broad vs Robinson. my guess is Robinson will get the nod.

 

[Lost property]

And the last of a remarkable partnership, two very different characters, just like Trueman and Statham. Brian Stetham was my bowling hero growing up, along with Dougie Wright, the last of the England leggies for some while.

An inevitable comparison really.

My late father, bless him, who saw a lot more of Statham than I did always said, that, whilst Truman was quicker, not forgetting Fred's modesty, he could also be erratic. Statham, on the other hand, was noted for consistent line and length hence after being tied down by him, batsmen would try and compensate by scoring off Fred...and hence wickets for Fred.

 

[DarloRich]

Sad to see the test finish as it did as it was building to an exciting conclusion - such is life though

 

[cjmillsnun]

In certain circumstances, such as in this Test Match where England looked certain victors had it not been for the rain, should the Umpires pronounce a result?

There is no Duckworth Lewis for test matches thankfully and whilst I’m sad because Australia retain the ashes, the correct result was a draw.

 

[Falcon1200]

It is a pity there is no spare day for Test matches; It looks like today is going to be almost entirely rain-free in Manchester!

 

[Mikey C]

Drawing the series is almost as important as winning it. I've predicted 2-2 all along, with one ruined by rain, and I see no reason to revise that now, especially with Australia lacking a capable spinner.

That was my forecast as well.

A very frustrating series, as England have actually been marginally better than Australia, but threw away at least one Test (Edgbaston) due to sloppiness.

 

[GS250]

I think overall England can hold their heads up. Look at where we were this time about 16 months ago. Rudderless, clueless and a general shambles all round.

Yet we've matched the Aussies in general and can consider ourselves unlucky not to have gone into the last with all to play for.

Poor preparation for the first test, the keeping situation are the two aspects that were avoidable though.

 

[Busaholic]

I think overall England can hold their heads up. Look at where we were this time about 16 months ago. Rudderless, clueless and a general shambles all round.

Yet we've matched the Aussies in general and can consider ourselves unlucky not to have gone into the last with all to play for.

Poor preparation for the first test, the keeping situation are the two aspects that were avoidable though.

I agree with most of that. I'd add though that, up until yesterday, England had had most of the good fortune going - all four tosses won, and with that and the weather the best fast bowling conditions. Lyon's injury too, much more impactful than Leach's which was pre-series. Something that hasn't much been featured was England's appalling over rate on Saturday afternoon, as though play then was an unexpected extra to add to a guaranteed session or two on Sunday. England might have had six or seven Aussie wickets down if they'd had more gumption. By the way, if there had been some play yesterday I don't think an England victory was by any means certain. Marsh. Green. Carey. Starc and Cummins might well have added enough runs to set, say, 126 in 14 overs, and after 7 of those overs with England 63-5, with Stokes and Bairstow, both raised in the order, out. What might then have happened? We shall never know!

 

[Howardh]

I agree with most of that. I'd add though that, up until yesterday, England had had most of the good fortune going - all four tosses won, and with that and the weather the best fast bowling conditions. Lyon's injury too, much more impactful than Leach's which was pre-series. Something that hasn't much been featured was England's appalling over rate on Saturday afternoon, as though play then was an unexpected extra to add to a guaranteed session or two on Sunday. England might have had six or seven Aussie wickets down if they'd had more gumption. By the way, if there had been some play yesterday I don't think an England victory was by any means certain. Marsh. Green. Carey. Starc and Cummins might well have added enough runs to set, say, 126 in 14 overs, and after 7 of those overs with England 63-5, with Stokes and Bairstow, both raised in the order, out. What might then have happened? We shall never know!

Just like the abandoned day in the "Free George Davis" Test (Headingley - '77(??)! However, that would have been ruined by rain too.

 

[JD2168]

Shame that it ended on such a damp note, would have made for such a dramatic & enthralling final test. The best thing now would be to end the series as a 2-2 draw.

 

[Howardh]

Lancs v Northants on that same Test wicket, and a spinner (Morley) already has one (stumped) for Lancs.

 

[75A]

Shame that it ended on such a damp note, would have made for such a dramatic & enthralling final test. The best thing now would be to end the series as a 2-2 draw.

It would, but they've picked Bairstow again.

 

[Lost property]

It would, but they've picked Bairstow again.

Nothing wrong with his selection...unfortunately, they've also picked Broad.

 

[DarloRich]

I sat opposite Glenn McGrath on the train into Euston yesterday. What a nice man. He is also MASSIVLEY tall.

Nothing wrong with his selection...unfortunately, they've also picked Broad.

Still the top wicket taker in the series..................................

It would, but they've picked Bairstow again.

and you cant see from the last game why they are picking him?

 

[Pakenhamtrain]

So... has English cricket finished thier tantrum?
Or should the colony send thier finest tissues?

 

[Lost property]

So... has English cricket finished thier tantrum?
Or should the colony send thier finest tissues?

Actually, it's more the English media, well certain publications that is, that had the tantrum...not the team or indeed those of us who are pragmatic about the result and love cricket.

 

[SteveM70]

Actually, it's more the English media, well certain publications that is, that had the tantrum...not the team or indeed those of us who are pragmatic about the result and love cricket.

Really?

Joe Root saying we should play till 10pm and moaning that the umpires had made England bat in worse conditions at edgbaston?

England have drawn many tests over the years because they were saved by the weather. What goes around comes around

 

[Harvester]

It’s an unchanged team for tomorrow, so no place for Josh Tongue with Woakes fit to play!

 

[Bald Rick]

I sat opposite Glenn McGrath on the train into Euston yesterday. What a nice man. He is also MASSIVLEY tall.

Hoped you asked how us ankle is, and left a tennis ball under the seat.

 

[DarloRich]

Hoped you asked how us ankle is, and left a tennis ball under the seat.

That was a moment!

 

[Mikey C]

I sat opposite Glenn McGrath on the train into Euston yesterday. What a nice man. He is also MASSIVLEY tall.

Which reminds me of this recent photo on Isa Guha's Instagram