4th Test England V Australia - Old Trafford

[OxfordBoy]

Really dont want to jinx it but neither Overton or Leach have really been especially threatened the last few overs

 

[yellowbow]

Does ANYBODY in the world want to be in Chris Broads shoes at the moment?

 

[Sarge]

20 overs to go ....light is deteriorating

 

[SteMerritt]

Amazing cricket this evening, really tense stuff. Still a mountain to climb to keep the Ashes alive though.

 

[Scotchegg]

I think we should only play on Sundays!! World Cup final, 2 weeks ago with Stokes and Jack Leach (so far) have been amazing!

 

[Sarge]

Leach's heroic stand has ended.... just Broad to maybe see it throughto cling on to any England hopes in this Ashes series

 

[SteMerritt]

Damn it. Overton should have gone down when hit and taken some time out of the game. He didn't, then out next ball.

Root out. (as captain). Stokes in.

 

[unification]

All over. Spirited as the resistance was, it’s the right result overall. Australia have been better.

The defeat won’t be the kick up the a**e that English Test cricket needs but we all knew that already.

We can at least make sure that Australia don’t win the Ashes and merely retain them with a win at the Oval, mind.

 

[Oufcrealist]

Does ANYBODY in the world want to be in Chris Broads shoes at the moment?

I think he retired years ago!!?

 

[Sarge]

Defiant attempt by the England tail, shame it wasnt quite enough .... Match over, Ashes lost

now watch England absolutely muller the Aussies at the Oval (in three days time)

 

[yellowbow]

Steve Smith getting that bang on the bonce was a significant turning point. It brought Labuschagne into the Australian team and he want on to contribute with bat, ball and in the field.

 

[yellowbow]

I think he retired years ago!!?

Freudian slip. If Stuart batted like his dad we would’ve been fine. ?

 

[Oufcrealist]

All over. Very predictable win for them.
The selectors need to wake up. Big changes needed with yhe batting. And tell Bayliss he can go now.
English coach next please.

 

[unification]

Defiant attempt by the England tail, shame it wasnt quite enough .... Match over, Ashes lost

now watch England absolutely muller the Aussies at the Oval (in three days time)

Not a betting man but I’d go the opposite, Sarge. Innings victory for the Aussies, I reckon.

Australia have been on the wrong end of those close games - Edgbaston 2005, Cardiff 2009, Trent Bridge 2015 - Old Trafford 2005 they held on though. Despite that latter one, they are deserving of coming out on the right end of one of the nailbiters.

Be honest, they’re better than England especially since they have Steve Smith. They’re by no means a classic side or a particularly good one in the current crop of Test sides but they are better than this England side who, unlike the ODI side, lack an identity or a mindset to win against the very best.

A lot of thinking to do.

 

[yellowbow]

All over. Very predictable win for them.
The selectors need to wake up. Big changes needed with yhe batting. And tell Bayliss he can go now.
English coach next please.

Only if an English coach is good enough and actually wants the job. Remember we’ve got Ashley Giles at the top of the tree and I’m not convinced he’s not a major part of the current problems

 

[yellowbow]

Not a betting man but I’d go the opposite, Sarge. Innings victory for the Aussies, I reckon.

Australia have been on the wrong end of those close games - Edgbaston 2005, Cardiff 2009, Trent Bridge 2015 - Old Trafford 2005 they held on though. Despite that latter one, they are deserving of coming out on the right end of one of the nailbiters.

Be honest, they’re better than England especially since they have Steve Smith. They’re by no means a classic side or a particularly good one in the current crop of Test sides but they are better than this England side who, unlike the ODI side, lack an identity or a mindset to win against the very best.

A lot of thinking to do.

Good post

 

[Sarge]

Not a betting man but I’d go the opposite, Sarge. Innings victory for the Aussies, I reckon.

Australia have been on the wrong end of those close games - Edgbaston 2005, Cardiff 2009, Trent Bridge 2015 - Old Trafford 2005 they held on though. Despite that latter one, they are deserving of coming out on the right end of one of the nailbiters.

Be honest, they’re better than England especially since they have Steve Smith. They’re by no means a classic side or a particularly good one in the current crop of Test sides but they are better than this England side who, unlike the ODI side, lack an identity or a mindset to win against the very best.

A lot of thinking to do.

Being an OUFC supporter, Ive become, over the years, accustomed to hoping for the seriously unlikely, in terms of match results .... guess my yellow tinted specs have made that outlook kind of habitual

 

[Foley]

Not a betting man but I’d go the opposite, Sarge. Innings victory for the Aussies, I reckon.
Be honest, they’re better than England especially since they have Steve Smith. They’re by no means a classic side or a particularly good one in the current crop of Test sides

A lot of thinking to do.

I disagree. I think some are underestimating how good Australia are. They have 3 excellent seam bowlers (2 fantastic ones) and probably one of the best 3 off spinners in the world (he hasn't played at his best thank goodness)
Then one of the greatest batsmen of all time and one of the best young up and coming batsmen ( who can bowl a bit if leg spin). Oh and a very good WK.

 

[yellowbow]

Roots post match interview has annoyed me. ‘The team can be proud’.. Of what? Ok, the tail showed some fight but we’ve been totally outplayed in this match. The first day was embarrassing, made all the more worse coming after Stokes had somehow given us a second chance in the previous game. Roots captaincy has been uninspiring to say the least and his words after this game show a culture of accepting inadequacy. He should now show some balls and step down, go back to doing what he does best - scoring runs. There’s no shame in accepting captaincy doesn’t suit you, better players - Botham and Pieterson - have come to the same conclusion. We need the somebody in the England set-up to stand up and say this ashes series has been nowhere near good enough and shake it up, unfortunately I’m not sure the current hierarchy have the gumption to change things. Let’s bring in the likes of Foakes and Pope, find a decent SPECIALIST opening batsmen to partner Burns and somebody to come in at 3 or 4 with the resilience of Trott. Above all let’s at leat come out and say that this has not been good enough. Am I in the minority that thinks this current situation is too high price to pay for winning the sodding ODI World Cup?

I’ll get off the soapbox and shut up now ?

 

[holdsteady]

Steve Smith getting that bang on the bonce was a significant turning point. It brought Labuschagne into the Australian team and he want on to contribute with bat, ball and in the field.

Really? We won the game Smith missed, shame he didn’t get worse concussion, another couple of weeks would of been perfect. Smith was the biggest difference between the two sides.