I'm fully expecting another arse-kicking at the Oval...smith will bat through again and make 250

comment by Tablighi Jamaat (U15973)
posted 54 seconds ago
England batsmen have been getting out the same way, do none of them work on their weaknesses?

Apart from Burns who struggled outside the off stump vs Ireland worked on his game and has looked the most accomplished player. Aus have troubled him with the short ball but you can see he is at least making adjustments to counter it.
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Jonny Bairstow certainly doesn't. Ridiculously prone to bowled/lbw but he's been that way for years. If anything he's only got worse since moving to open in ODIs. Like I say - arrogant prat. Can't stand him.

Can I ask why Pope is being chosen?? weird eh?

As a Surrey fan I'm none too disappointed to see Pope is still around to play on Thursday and Friday. Only batsman who seemed able to hold his bat the right way round yesterday

comment by Amanda Hugginkiss (U11574)
posted 1 hour, 4 minutes ago
comment by Sheriff JW Pepper (U1007)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by Amanda Hugginkiss (U11574)
posted 2 minutes ago
Presumably then

1. Burns
2. Denly
3. Root/Stokes
4. Stokes/Root
5. Bairstow
6. Buttler
7. Curran
8. Woakes
9. Archer
10. Broad
11. Leach

What a truly woeful top 6. Bairstow and Buttler on horrible form? Move them up the order! Stokes finally looking like he's found the right batting position? Move him up the order! Roy not scoring any runs? Drop him and bring in a bowler in his place!

If the above is the order, then the only two bats who (a) should be playing and (b) are batting where they should be are Burns and Root (if he's at 4). If Root is at 3, then that means one - ONE - of our specialist bats is in his best position.

The mind boggles, truly it does
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One of two things will happen

Either these two fail with the bat...and everyone says why did we retain them....or they both make big scores and everyone says...yeah they're fine when the ashes pressure is off

Either way we are not learning anything new - are we
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Exactly. It ought to have been no changes (on the premise that it's Bayliss' last test in charge and the new coach will want a fresh start rather than blooding a youngster who might be dropped again straight away)... or it should have been wholesale changes to try something new.

Bairstow and Buttler appear to be absolutely bulletproof with the selectors. Don't get me wrong, I love Jos Buttler (not Bairstow, arrogant prat) but he shouldn't be in the side.


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Agree on Buttler, I'd love to sit in a room with the selectors and grill them on some of the decisions they make. If Root's in there with them then in even better.

England must win this final test.

Root saying the job of building towards the Ashes in 2021 starts now, with the final test, and that he knows what he wants the team to look like...

... Well that doesn't bode well considering the team that's been picked

Seriously need a strong hand as our next coach

Anyone else at the oval tomorrow?

Not as excited as I was about a week ago

comment by Amanda Hugginkiss (U11574)
posted 5 hours, 3 minutes ago
comment by Tablighi Jamaat (U15973)
posted 54 seconds ago
England batsmen have been getting out the same way, do none of them work on their weaknesses?

Apart from Burns who struggled outside the off stump vs Ireland worked on his game and has looked the most accomplished player. Aus have troubled him with the short ball but you can see he is at least making adjustments to counter it.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Jonny Bairstow certainly doesn't. Ridiculously prone to bowled/lbw but he's been that way for years. If anything he's only got worse since moving to open in ODIs. Like I say - arrogant prat. Can't stand him.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
That’s harsh. He backed himself up in the WC.

I mean he's got worse as a test bat since his ODI role was increased. And his form is absolutely shocking, has been since 2017. More than 20 scores below 20 in his past 40-odd innings.

Would like to see Foakes given a chance. Would still have Bairstow in the ODIs

I'd give the gloves to Foakes, drop Roy and Buttler, keep Bairstow as a batsman and bring in Pope. No doubt England won't make any changes.

comment by Neo-Super European Champions (U9135)
posted 1 hour, 21 minutes ago
Anyone else at the oval tomorrow?

Not as excited as I was about a week ago
----------------------------------------------------------------------

You off to it Neo?

My brother is going. I couldn’t get a ticket but not sure I care now

comment by Bennyville (U8058)
posted 2 hours, 46 minutes ago
Would like to see Foakes given a chance. Would still have Bairstow in the ODIs
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Absolutely. I'm talking purely about the test side, as I think is everyone else in here since it's the Ashes thread

Comment deleted by Site Moderator

comment by Amanda Hugginkiss (U11574)
posted 1 hour, 8 minutes ago
comment by Bennyville (U8058)
posted 2 hours, 46 minutes ago
Would like to see Foakes given a chance. Would still have Bairstow in the ODIs
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Absolutely. I'm talking purely about the test side, as I think is everyone else in here since it's the Ashes thread
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Ashes will be over soon my friend, don’t feel you need to just talk ashes because that’s the name of the thread. Expand your mind

comment by Neo-Super European Champions (U9135)
posted about 11 hours ago
Anyone else at the oval tomorrow?

Not as excited as I was about a week ago
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I am going. It is definitely disappointing there is nothing on the line, it could have been very special if it were 1-1.

However, imo it's still a big game and there is a big difference between 3-1 and 2-2.

I am still looking forward to it. I have a couple of days off, cricket today, spurs on Saturday, doesn't get much better than that!

Have a good one mate

comment by Everywhere you go always take Lamela with you. Mopo's #1 fan. (U7905)
posted 2 hours, 12 minutes ago
comment by Neo-Super European Champions (U9135)
posted about 11 hours ago
Anyone else at the oval tomorrow?

Not as excited as I was about a week ago
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I am going. It is definitely disappointing there is nothing on the line, it could have been very special if it were 1-1.

However, imo it's still a big game and there is a big difference between 3-1 and 2-2.

I am still looking forward to it. I have a couple of days off, cricket today, spurs on Saturday, doesn't get much better than that!

Have a good one mate
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Forecast is good today

comment by Bennyville (U8058)
posted 9 hours, 4 minutes ago
comment by Amanda Hugginkiss (U11574)
posted 1 hour, 8 minutes ago
comment by Bennyville (U8058)
posted 2 hours, 46 minutes ago
Would like to see Foakes given a chance. Would still have Bairstow in the ODIs
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Absolutely. I'm talking purely about the test side, as I think is everyone else in here since it's the Ashes thread
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Ashes will be over soon my friend, don’t feel you need to just talk ashes because that’s the name of the thread. Expand your mind
----------------------------------------------------------------------


Wish I were at the Oval today. Regardless of circumstances a day at the cricket is always a good thing.

Enjoy Everywhere, and to those watching on tv. I’ll be shouting Need a Wicket from the lower tier, doing everything I can.

comment by Neo-Super European Champions (U9135)
posted 14 minutes ago
Enjoy Everywhere, and to those watching on tv. I’ll be shouting Need a Wicket from the lower tier, doing everything I can.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Siddle back in for Starc. They really don't like Starc do they... then again I was surprised at how largely not-fearsome he was at Old Trafford.

England lose the toll and put in to bat first... hmm

Aus bowling first, they wanna get this test over and done with

Strange decision. Looks a batting pitch if you can see off the first hour and their bowlers had 90 overs in the field just 3 days ago.

Hoping we can take advantage.

Think they’ve decided to take the pitch out of the equation and go at our fragile middle order and long tail.