5th Ashes test Eng v Aust at The Oval, London

[Pup]

Broad is running out. Katich is the key.

[purch]

Michael Clarke is going to be our next captain isn't he? Tell me it isn't true. Just when I wanted him to show us he was mature enough to man the crease and score some runs he plays that shot

[daysofourlives]

Ashes are gone!!
How ironic we lost 05 because they wouldnt bring hussey into the side and now we lose because they wont get rid of him.

[smithy]

Despite MALS call that selectors have once again got it right, I'd say that they've got it badly wrong.
WATTO is not an opener, everyone except MAL knows this.
He's done OK but it's a crappy stop gap decision.
If they thought opening was our weakest link, why not bring a back up ?
If no back up why not give long term aussie opener PHil Hughes a longer run in the side after his exploits in South Africa.
Hussey is obviously struggling big time and has done for over a year now.
Out with him and in with WATTO.
Stuart Clark should've played the 3rd test, everyone knew that.
Hauritz IS NOT TEST STANDARD, FFS just cause a person who claims to spin the ball moves to NSW doesn't mean they can lay claim to a test spot......he was hopeless when playing for QLD too.
The only thing the selectors have got right is not playing Brett Lee.
I'm a big fan of his but he's been carted around for a while now and his record in England isn't good IIRC.

[wycbloods]

Michael Clarke is going to be our next captain isn't he? Tell me it isn't true. Just when I wanted him to show us he was mature enough to man the crease and score some runs he plays that shot

Bit rough Purch it wasn't a great shot but he has been great this series and was going to fail at some point.

[wycbloods]

4/103 now.

We desperately need a partnership here we can't afford to be behind on the first innings.

[mighty_tiger_79]

Ravi Bopara, im a fan of his

currently 188* in county cricket

[purch]

Michael Clarke is going to be our next captain isn't he? Tell me it isn't true. Just when I wanted him to show us he was mature enough to man the crease and score some runs he plays that shot

Bit rough Purch it wasn't a great shot but he has been great this series and was going to fail at some point.

True, wyc, he has been very good this series. I guess all I'm saying is that if he's going to be 'world class' like his predecessors then he has to learn to stick it out under difficult circumstances, just like they did...and not just score runs when the going's relatively easy. This test match was a huge opportunity for him to show us exactly that...and it might still be yet. It was an awful shot - the shot of a new batsman at the crease who's a tad to anxious or overconfident, at a time when a level head is needed.

[wycbloods]

Ravi Bopara, im a fan of his

currently 188* in county cricket

Yep that is the level he should stay at. Pity he didn't do it in the game before this test match he would have got picked again.

[wycbloods]

Michael Clarke is going to be our next captain isn't he? Tell me it isn't true. Just when I wanted him to show us he was mature enough to man the crease and score some runs he plays that shot

Bit rough Purch it wasn't a great shot but he has been great this series and was going to fail at some point.

True, wyc, he has been very good this series. I guess all I'm saying is that if he's going to be 'world class' like his predecessors then he has to learn to stick it out under difficult circumstances, just like they did...and not just score runs when the going's relatively easy. This test match was a huge opportunity for him to show us exactly that...and it might still be yet. It was an awful shot - the shot of a new batsman at the crease who's a tad to anxious or overconfident, at a time when a level head is needed.

It was a shot of a bloke in great form and not being patient enough to see what the pitch was playing like. He has proved himself in this series as a bloke who can score runs in tough situations, it is unfair to think he will do it every time though.

[smithy]

Ravi Bopara, im a fan of his

currently 188* in county cricket

Yep that is the level he should stay at. Pity he didn't do it in the game before this test match he would have got picked again.

Is he related to Graeme Hick ?

[wycbloods]

That was a shocker of a decision by Rauf .

North lbw off the bat to Swann. This game has just about left us as well as the urn .

[smithy]

The URN is gone and besides bizarre selections, the australians can blame the inability to bowl out England in the 1st test as a major reason.

[wycbloods]

The URN is gone and besides bizarre selections, the australians can blame the inability to bowl out England in the 1st test as a major reason.

Those 69 balls will be remembered for what we were unable to do with them.

[mal]

Despite MALS call that selectors have once again got it right, I'd say that they've got it badly wrong.
WATTO is not an opener, everyone except MAL knows this.
He's done OK but it's a crappy stop gap decision.
If they thought opening was our weakest link, why not bring a back up ?
If no back up why not give long term aussie opener PHil Hughes a longer run in the side after his exploits in South Africa.
Hussey is obviously struggling big time and has done for over a year now.
Out with him and in with WATTO.
Stuart Clark should've played the 3rd test, everyone knew that.
Hauritz IS NOT TEST STANDARD, FFS just cause a person who claims to spin the ball moves to NSW doesn't mean they can lay claim to a test spot......he was hopeless when playing for QLD too.
The only thing the selectors have got right is not playing Brett Lee.
I'm a big fan of his but he's been carted around for a while now and his record in England isn't good IIRC.

Beg your pardon Smithy ?
As I said I was astounded Hughes was replaced by Watson as the opener
But Watto has done well as a stop gap opener
So no probs the selectors have got that right with Watto make 3 half tons and a 34

Where we will agree is that Hussey should not be playing when Hughes is watching

Should be

Hughes opener
Watto middle order
Mr Cricket spectating


North BBW [bat b4 wicket] 8 a disgusting descision
5/108

[wycbloods]

That decision by Rauf is one of those that really hurt, it takes away any chance those two had of turning the momentum around. Surely there was some doubt in his mind FFS.

[NFC]

The fantastic standard of umpiring continues.

[wycbloods]

Katich gone now caught at bat pad off Swann.

[wycbloods]

This is getting ugly. The game was all over when we lost the toss.

This is a stinker of a test match wicket.

[RoosterMarty]

Now we are ******.