4th Ashes Test England v Australia July 19-23 1930hrs @ Old Trafford

[Cuzz09]

There are some benefits either way:
1) If England win, 2-2 going into the final test sets up an amazing finale
2) Rains for 2 days, we retain the Ashes and given the current position of this test, will be one of the great lols.

no1 is not a good result

If it's 2-2 how can we possibly enter the 5th with any confidence?

Reckon the 5th test is a demolition job.

We'd be shot mentally if not already



On SM-S908E using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[Silly Mid On]

Looking at the forecast there is a real prospect that this could be the last day's play.

Looking at the weather maps - Saturday and Sunday could be total wash-outs.

 

[Westend]

Well we have 2nd innings to get better

Aussies held the reins for two Tests so cut out the doom and gloom. Early wickets tomorrow then a big second dig by remembering we still play traditional Test cricket by using a good technique and not tossing away our wickets, then again the match may go down to the wire.

Well said BGman the team can still escape with a draw our 2nd innings is our most important one of the series IMO

 

[Woody15]

no1 is not a good result

If it's 2-2 how can we possibly enter the 5th with any confidence?

Reckon the 5th test is a demolition job.

We'd be shot mentally if not already



On SM-S908E using BigFooty.com mobile app

I don't mind tense deciders. Particularly given a win here by Australia is out of the question. Just looking for positives if it goes to 5th. Call me disturbed, but from an entertainments perspective, I thoroughly enjoy a decider.

 

[The Tilt]

I don't mind tense deciders. Particularly given a win here by Australia is out of the question. Just looking for positives if it goes to 5th. Call me disturbed, but from an entertainments perspective, I thoroughly enjoy a decider.

I very much mind them. This series is wreaking havoc with my sleep patterns. Not even joking.

 

[aabp1978]

Looking at the forecast there is a real prospect that this could be the last day's play.

Looking at the weather maps - Saturday and Sunday could be total wash-outs.

I have been looking at the Met Office and BBC forecasts. All depends on the accuracy of the "chance of rain" figures. Saturday is going to be washed out, but Friday and Sunday look like there will be long enough periods of play (at least IMO). They realistically only need 20-25 over to get 250 ahead (they will play it like a one day game). So that is what, one session? Then we have to survive at least a day and a bit in batting. Just cant see it happening, but hope wrong..I hate the Poms with a passion (their smugness after coming back from 0-2 down will be unbearable).

 

[Harrison Bergeron]

It'll be the last two tests of '85 all over again - Woakes is Richard Ellison.

 

[Woody15]

no1 is not a good result

If it's 2-2 how can we possibly enter the 5th with any confidence?

Reckon the 5th test is a demolition job.

We'd be shot mentally if not already



On SM-S908E using BigFooty.com mobile app

If it does go to a 5th decider and your prediction of a demolition is correct, you can just see the press and comments from the English now. The turning point was Bairstow's stumping at Lords. Galvanised the team to claw their way back from a 2-0 deficit.

Nothing more certain.

 

[NoWuckingFurries]

We can't play two all-rounders.
Green is not good enough will the ball or the bat to justify his position in this series.
He might make it, he may have talent. But at the moment not good enough.
Marsh is the in-form all-rounder. Play him.

Play a flipping spinner, and pick a real opener who isn't a spud and back our batting (even if it doesn't seem like we have any confidence to build an innings)

If we're not good enough fair be it, enough of the cowardice.

 

[RookiePick]

Is it time to play Morris and Jye Richardson in the summer … team needs something …. I’m not sure what batsmen are coming through in Sheffield cricket … when the ball is doing something we always seem to find a way to get out … Smith and Marnus enough of the eccentric s**t and just concentrate on putting value on your wicket

Englands shorter quicks have definitely seemed more effective in these conditions. Skiddier actions that keep LBW in play much better than our taller quicks. Jhye could be effective in that mould.

 

[RookiePick]

If it does go to a 5th decider and your prediction of a demolition is correct, you can just see the press and comments from the English now. The turning point was Bairstow's stumping at Lords. Galvanised the team to claw their way back from a 2-0 deficit.

Nothing more certain.

England played that mental game to perfection. Carey has been awful with the bat since.

 

[juss]

Beating us? Innovating? Bazball destroying us? England's run rate this series before yesterday was similar to Australia and England are 2-1 DOWN! I don't want our style to change, I want us to be consistent with the style that has us number 1 and leading this series.

It's gonna be 2-2 with all the momentum their way will it not?

Have to think this is the way it will pan out.

 

[BGman]

Just watched the last session, first question is what has happened to the swinging, seaming Dukes ball that usually eats up wickets. Our bowlers are busting their balls on the most docile decks I have seen in England, more like home. So hope for the Aussies yet in this match if we keep our heads and remember we are world champs.

 

[PhatBoy]

Beating us? Innovating? Bazball destroying us? England's run rate this series before yesterday was similar to Australia and England are 2-1 DOWN! I don't want our style to change, I want us to be consistent with the style that has us number 1 and leading this series.

Before this test England’s run rate was 4.47 an over.
Australia’s was 3.43

Whatever their respective approaches, Australia’s was effective enough but there has still been a marked difference in that approach

 

[One Dimensional]

Looking at the forecast there is a real prospect that this could be the last day's play.

Looking at the weather maps - Saturday and Sunday could be total wash-outs.

Where did you see Sunday could be a total wash-out?

From the Metoffice website:
Saturday should be a washout, today and Sunday likely just be a few interruptions.

 

[Woody15]

Where did you see Sunday could be a total wash-out?

From the Metoffice website:
Saturday should be a washout, today and Sunday likely just be a few interruptions.

View attachment 1746118

Draw pretty unlikely looking at that IMO

 

[Adelaide Hawk]

Australia's problem right now is for the past 2 or 3 years, we've relied upon Labuschagne and Smith to make big 100s and give our bowlers large targets to bowl at. That well has dried up, at least for the time being, and it's made life difficult for the rest of the team.

We are at the crossroads right now. We need to make a decision as to whether we want to develop future Test cricketers, or just sit back and wait for the $$$ to roll in from 20/20 cricket. I don't see the batting depth in Sheffield Shield cricket to indicate a bright future in the Test arena.

We are also in dire need of a Test captain.

 

[Moonwatcher]

I remember the days when we used to laugh at English supporters praying for rain.

TBF we are praying for rain after everything that could go England's way has.

 

[BACCS]

You seem to have no recall ability.

You called our only two wins lucky, it's not that hard to decipher your post.

 

[FRUMPY]

didn't knock them over and couldn't keep them quiet. have to fix this and put them in the position where they either bat too long to get the lead they want, or declare because they feel they're going too slow and would rather bowl and their lead is smaller.

needs to start from the position of stopping singles early before moving to boundary covering. batsmen still have to get their eye in.

i can understand the tactics to bowl short, sometimes you gotta do it. what is criminal is having no-one near the bat to stop singles or catch what pops up. removes way too many modes of dismissal.

Yeah, its just waiting for a top edge from a pull or hook - sure they'll eventually do it but for how many runs? Need someone under their nose for the one off the splice.

 

[Sun Ra]

I very much mind them. This series is wreaking havoc with my sleep patterns. Not even joking.

Just pretend you're doing shift work.

 

[JackOutback]

Almost glad I got a headache and had to go to bed early, that would have been a frustrating watch. Did Crawley's innings get any better because that was one of the streakiest 100s I've ever witnessed. That said, you take them how you get them.

 

[BACCS]

Draw pretty unlikely looking at that IMO

Why? Probably 2 sessions today, none tomorrow, maybe 2 on Sunday. You can't discount that heavy rain on Saturday will obviously cause issues with a wet outfield, especially if it continues to drizzle on Sunday for periods. Umpires are very reluctant to get back on in Tests unless the outfield is basically bone dry and there will be no issues with bowler runups.

 

[BACCS]

Almost glad I got a headache and had to go to bed early, that would have been a frustrating watch. Did Crawley's innings get any better because that was one of the streakiest 100s I've ever witnessed. That said, you take them how you get them.

Definitely got better as he got closer to his 100 and then pretty flawless after that

 

[BACCS]

I have been looking at the Met Office and BBC forecasts. All depends on the accuracy of the "chance of rain" figures. Saturday is going to be washed out, but Friday and Sunday look like there will be long enough periods of play (at least IMO). They realistically only need 20-25 over to get 250 ahead (they will play it like a one day game). So that is what, one session? Then we have to survive at least a day and a bit in batting. Just cant see it happening, but hope wrong..I hate the Poms with a passion (their smugness after coming back from 0-2 down will be unbearable).

Everyone kept saying England would play the last session yesterday like a one day game, but in reality they slowed back to under 5 rpo. They need a fair bit more than 20-25 overs to get another 180 odd, especially if the pitch starts playing up like last night. It's also likely they don't get on until the 2nd session today, so it could be an early declaration to bowl at us while overcast and dewy.