The Ashes

[deptfordmarmoset]

Poor old (young) Kerrigan. His action looks good enough to me, I'm sure he hasn't bowled that badly for years, but nerves, nerves, nerves....

Watson's 176 could well be the highest score in the match. I don't think this is either a typical fast Oval pitch or a particularly good one. The Oval used to be the fastest of all the test pitches.

I've not seen it mentioned here, but has anybody noticed that the Aussies appear to have sporting bra straps on the back of their shirts? It really doesn't fit the Aussie macho male image.

 

[DooDah]

Poor old (young) Kerrigan. His action looks good enough to me, I'm sure he hasn't bowled that badly for years, but nerves, nerves, nerves....

Watson's 176 could well be the highest score in the match. I don't think this is either a typical fast Oval pitch or a particularly good one. The Oval used to be the fastest of all the test pitches.

I've not seen it mentioned here, but has anybody noticed that the Aussies appear to have sporting bra straps on the back of their shirts? It really doesn't fit the Aussie macho male image.

The make-up they always wear does not help either

 

[swee'pea99]

Cheating is 'the hand of God' - deliberately putting the ball in with your hand. A player who fails to alert the ref to the fact that the ball actually came off his hand in that goal mouth melee may not be a gentleman, but he's not a cheat. Ultimately, you play to the umpires decision, just as in football you play to the whistle. That's how it works. As any number of Aussies have illustrated - and capitalised on - over the years.

Lehmann's comments would be reprehensible from anyone in 'a position to be noticed', but given his actual position, they're a disgrace. Inciting some of the least sportsmanlike supporters on the planet to violence, in all but name? Is the man deranged? The sourest of grapes. And as others have said, a once & for all corrective to any notion that the poms hold any singular talent - let alone monopoly - when it comes to whingeing.

 

[Dayvo]

[QUOTE 2613428, member: 1314"]Keeping your eye on the ball:]

Yeah, like what Fat Gatt did facing Malcolm Marshall.

[/quote]

 

[Dayvo]

An exciting finsih in prospect, thanks to a sporting declaration from Michael Clarke and, surprisingly, a willingness from the England batsmen to play attacking cricket.

Seems like this Test has morphed into a kind of T20 game.

 

[accountantpete]

14 off the last over - could be a 4 - 0 after all.

 

[Dayvo]

With Pietersen in this mood it could be all over very quickly.

Now that I've just written this, England will probably have to hold out for a draw, 9 wickets down.

 

[thom]

An exciting finsih in prospect, thanks to a sporting declaration from Michael Clarke and, surprisingly, a willingness from the England batsmen to play attacking cricket.

Seems like this Test has morphed into a kind of T20 game.

You know I think this scenario was well on the cards on Friday when England batted so slowly (at least within the England dressing room) - it is totally to Clarke's credit to try to get Australia to play this way and will serve these players well I think, but Flower must have understood this type of scenario could play out when it was clear that yesterday's play would be rained off.

 

[Dayvo]

It does seem a bit contrived, IMO. I doubt if Clarke genuinely thought Australia had a realisitic chance of winning this Test with his generous declaration. But both teams are providing entertainment on the last day of a very strange Test series.

 

[thom]

It does seem a bit contrived, IMO. I doubt if Clarke genuinely thought Australia had a realisitic chance of winning this Test with his generous declaration. But both teams are providing entertainment on the last day of a very strange Test series.

I'm sure he knew it was heavily biased against them. I just wouldn't be surprised if England in concert with the rain, had knowingly taken so much time out of the game that Clarke's best option would be something like this. The way the top 4 are batting now, this 2nd innings almost suggests they were rope-a-doping the Aussies in the first innings ;-)

 

[Dayvo]

Interesting: 10 overs left and just over six an over to get. And there are a few big sloggers hitters to come in.

 

[DooDah]

I think a draw is probably favourite from here, with an England win a close second and an Aussie victory very doubtful

 

[Dayvo]

Money on a tie?

 

[DooDah]

Money on a tie?

 

[Dayvo]

Two quick wickets and two new batsman together.
It'll be difficult to keep the score going at 6-7 an over.