Ashes 2013

[Corky]

We really don't look that bothered, in all honesty,

[Simmo86]

Was there really any point in Kerrigan playing?

[RowlattsFox]

I know Kerrigan was bad yesterday but surely not using him at all today is not going to help his confidence.

[Captain...]

I know Kerrigan was bad yesterday but surely not using him at all today is not going to help his confidence.

 

Swann didn't bowl much today either, the pitch wasn't turning, no point in playing an inexperienced spinner on a non turning track when the batsman are looking to score quickly and heavily.

 

If Swann had been twirling away all day then it would be different, I think if we had got Smith he would have risked Kerrigan, but Smith is a very aggressive player and would have gone after him. Hopefully we will see some serious turn by day 4 and he will get a chance to show why a lot of people rate him highly.

[Guest MattP]

I know Kerrigan was bad yesterday but surely not using him at all today is not going to help his confidence.

 

He might have said he didn't fancy it. I've heard it happen. Only they knew what his reaction was in the dressing room last night.

 

Feel for Cook, ccant be slated for bowling him yesterday too much and slated for not bowling him at all today.

[RowlattsFox]

Yeah fair play, surely not a good sign if he doesn't fancy it though. You'd like to think he will be eager to give a better account of himself.

Good point on pitch, makes the decision to play him and swann even more strange.

[Matt]

England into bat.

 

C'mon England need a big score here, not only to win this test, but to win the series 4-0 and to give us that bit more encouragement and confidence towards the next series, because taking nothing away from England we've won the series 3-1 or 4-0, they can't do much more and despite maybe sounding pessimistic, negative, e.t.c (Which i'm trying not to be, I am trying to simply put forward statement in which I feel is a fair assessment), I think we need to play alot better in Australia. (As do Australia - Big time, but I feel they will be better in Australia, alot better, which is why we need to be better)

 

I know i've made a positive sound like a negative, I know people's perceptions of me but i'm not being negative, atleast trying not to be.

[Guest MattP]

Yeah fair play, surely not a good sign if he doesn't fancy it though. You'd like to think he will be eager to give a better account of himself.

Good point on pitch, makes the decision to play him and swann even more strange.

 

Really strange.

 

Forecast suggested seamers needed and we haven't done this at home since 2009 and it was a disaster then at Cardiff.

 

Plus Root as shown more than enough this series to be a second spinner.

[purpleronnie]

here's an idea if it rains until 2pm have something to eat in the meantime and fook stoping for tea.

[davieG]

How long are they playing till?

[Guest MattP]

How long are they playing till?

 

Can go until 7.30 when Overs have been lost.

[davieG]

Can go until 7.30 when Overs have been lost.

Thanks just seen it finish.

[Corky]

Was there really any point in Kerrigan playing?

 

Woakes is the more surprising choice. They were going to go with two spinners, and with Monty's career and life in turmoil Kerrigan was the next best option.

 

Woakes hasn't really done a lot in the ODI's he's played, and looks out of his depth so far.

[Voll Blau]

I think they're using Woakes to try and prove someone favoured within the setup can make the step from ODI to Test but like you say, he's hardly proved himself in ODIs as it is. I guess it's fair enough giving Kerrigan a go but I'm a bit disappointed we haven't gone all out to play our best XI and try and give the Aussies a proper battering.

 

Tremlett got a fivefer today too...

[SOCCERROO FOX]

Aussies must hate the rain - always seems to come when they are on top.

 

Yes we do!

[Mack]

This pitch must have been created in case we needed a draw in the last match to retain the Ashes.

Because even without the rain delays getting 20 wickets on that is less likely than me finding Kelly Brook in my bed later tonight with her legs at 10 past 10.

[marko]

This pitch must have been created in case we needed a draw in the last match to retain the Ashes.

Because even without the rain delays getting 20 wickets on that is less likely than me finding Kelly Brook in my bed later tonight with her legs at 10 past 10.

 

It really hasn't.

 

The Oval pitch is always fairly flat these days and there's been some big first innings scores in recent years.

[Guest MattP]

This pitch must have been created in case we needed a draw in the last match to retain the Ashes.

Because even without the rain delays getting 20 wickets on that is less likely than me finding Kelly Brook in my bed later tonight with her legs at 10 past 10.

 

The Oval is always like this. You don't prepare a pitch like this from 2 months ago

 

You not remember 2009 when we baked the fcuker to death to get a result on 6 days notice? Could have done that again had we wanted.

[marko]

Frustrating to lose Cook when we were looking pretty comfortable.

 

Hopefully he's saving his runs for Down Under.

[Captain...]

I think they're using Woakes to try and prove someone favoured within the setup can make the step from ODI to Test but like you say, he's hardly proved himself in ODIs as it is. I guess it's fair enough giving Kerrigan a go but I'm a bit disappointed we haven't gone all out to play our best XI and try and give the Aussies a proper battering.

 

Tremlett got a fivefer today too...

 

I don't agree, we had one forced change to make with Bresnan to out, they could have replaced him with Tremlett or Finn, and that would have been the safer thing to do, but if the pitch was flat and soft then it could have been similar to Finn at Trent Bridge who was pretty much useless after the ball went soft. 

 

They thought it was going to turn early, it didn't, but took the experimental option of 2 spinners, which they probably wouldn't have done if it was a crucial match and probably would have been accused of playing safe. Also with Bresnan we have lost some batting, and replacing him with a spinner puts a lot of the work load on Broad and Anderson so they went with an all-rounder at the expense of Bairstow, who has done ok.

 

I don't know if there are any other genuinebowling all rounders out there, Bopara doesn't seem to be trusted to bowl much, Wright could have been another option, but I would say Woakes is the better bowler, certainly faster.

 

In some ways it is a more attacking line-up 5 bowling options, but it just wasn't turning, if turns in the second innings and Kerrigan finds some rhythm then it will look a better decision. I applaud them trying things, and it is ultimately a dead rubber, lets judge at the end of the match.

[marko]

Another soft, soft dismissal when Root looked nailed on to make a big score.

[Guest MattP]

Annoying, that was a real chance for Root to make another century.

 

In comes the ego.

[Bert]

Frustrating to lose Cook when we were looking pretty comfortable.

Hopefully he's saving his runs for Down Under.

Was coming on to say this. He's been poor with the bat thus far.

[leicsmac]

Annoying, that was a real chance for Root to make another century.

 

In comes the ego.

 

This is the kind of situation where he normally does quite well. 

 

But watch him score a quickfire 30 and get out now I've said that.

[Captain...]

This is the kind of situation where he normally does quite well. 

 

But watch him score a quickfire 30 and get out now I've said that.

 

We need a decent partnership here to take the pressure off, it's been a solid start, but a couple of wickets and people start talking about the follow on.