Beoz

Oh dear. Oh complicated. Oh no idea. Step down big boy. Out of your league.

Beoz

Really. But I've always been right on this thread. Go figure

scrubbedexpat098

Course you have, that bastard wicket changed to a bowlers wicket the instant Cookie walked out, not very nice was it?

If you can't adapt to different conditions, you can't consider yourself a world class cricketer, how's that for simple and to the point?

OzTennis

Tis you who is out of your league. It's very noticeable if anyone puts up a decent argument backed up with facts that you resort to the belittling tactic and can't argue back. Your league incidentally is clearly one of English village cricket.

The irony of this series is how incredibly the momentum has shifted. Again evidence that the modern test cricketer has lost the ability to fight back. Whoever wins the first couple of sessions in this series stays on top. Cardiff to Lords; Lords to Edgbaston (momentum stayed at Trent Bridge but one session and no fightback from Australia); Trent Bridge to the Oval. This has been unique. Why? Wickets of course (I'm extracting the urine). I reckon again it is the influence of the pyjama cricket at play.

The further irony is that England have batted worst on the wickets which have done the least - Lords and the Oval. It's not surprising they have bowled the worst on these wickets. The other irony is that Siddle and Mitch Marsh, who both should have been in for Edgbaston and Trent Bridge instead of Hazlewood who has been very disappointing (got some wickets but every astute observer noted he was bowling fairly at best) have shown the English bowlers that there is some movement to be extracted at the Oval. In many ways the Oval pitch has been the fairest for both bat and ball in this series.

Series over I know but England were absolutely desperate to do what they've not done before and win 4 at home.

Broad Shoulders

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0455538

OzTennis

Confucius say "you can't lose a 'friend' if they are not a friend in the first place".

Meanwhile, England are following on and 130 odd is the first target to avoid an innings defeat.

scrubbedexpat098

I wonder if Shane Warne would be so free with his criticism of Australian captains, and selectors if he'd ever been either? All too easy to criticise, but I think he'd shrink like the plastic twat he seems to have become if he was given responsibility.

scrubbedexpat098

Can Shaun Marsh please question Lyths inclusion in the side? Just to give him the opportunity to say at least I'm the best cricketer in my family!!! What's he doing there??? Honestly

OzTennis

Lyth made a century against NZ in May so they thought Cook and Lyth was their Ashes opening pair. They've become a bit pig headed about their selection as he's failed twice per test in 5 tests. Ballance made more runs but was dropped sooner. I heard Hussain and Atherton argue that they should try Moeen Ali as an opener with Cook in the next test series.

I agree about Warne - he's carped and carped about captains since he was passed over. The only exception really has been Michael Clarke, his mate, who he is reluctant to criticise. It was one series too far for Clarke and the writing was on the wall when Smith did a great job standing in for him when he was injured. That's the nature of most sportsmen though, they invariably bow out too late.

Joe Root didn't handle the world number one mantle well this test - less than 20 for 2 digs while Steve Smith drops from 1 to 3 makes 145 and outscores Root in the series at a better average. Root is Johnson's bunny. It's a funny old game and it's when you get your runs as well.

OzTennis

330 odd!!

OzTennis

Funny you should say that. This test is not likely to last well into the 4th day (impending rain notwithstanding); like Lords a decent wicket, not a minefield, and yet the tests aren't lasting into the 5th day. How do you figure that out? You'll need to revert to theory B for an explanation. Cook was the only English batsmen prepared and able to grind it out for a long time.

How about the 5 tests get played in London next time?

scrubbedexpat098

Well I think that after a bit of an up and down series, we've seen some great bowling, some great batting, some good if unexpected partnerships, afew wagging tails , afew collapses, and out of it all the real winner is cricket, oh and the mighty mighty England!!!! Eat ball and chain convicts !!!!

OzTennis

Well played England (offer of bait declined). As Cook said, very much unexpected and the most topsy turvy series there has been - certainly in my memory. I thought Broad would receive the man of the series award as his 1st session at Trent Bridge was the defining moment in the series. (Root actually scored fewer runs and had a lower average than both Rogers and Smith but I guess the man of the series had to go to a player on the winning team - I thought Broad fwiw).

For Australia many if's and but's and things to ponder. If Haddin had caught Root early on in Cardiff who knows which way the series would have gone but he didn't and that's sport. Australia made a mistake in not playing Mitch Marsh at Trent Bridge and in retrospect Siddle was a much better option than Hazlewood for the steady bowler/movement off the seam role. The captain should be a selector - I'm sure Clarke would have preferred Mitch to Shaun on the moving wicket. Well done Clarke and Rogers, enjoy your retirement.

I see Root thinks England can be the number one test nation soon but there are quite a few things to address despite the series win. Lyth and Bell had poor series, particularly the former. I see Pieterson and Vaughan are having a slanging match about Moeen Ali being tried as opener with Cook - KP against, MV open to a trial. Buttler only had one semi-decent innings, his last and threw his wicket away - more runs needed from him; otherwise give Bairstow the gloves and get another specialist batsman in. I've never been convinced about Finn, even though he was apparently the quickest England bowler to 100 wickets - too expensive and gets a good haul then nothing much for a few innings. Anderson hasn't got a long time to go.

Nothing at all from my adopted Aussie 'friend' who went off to Spain confident England would win 4-1 after winning the toss.

carolinephillips

Congrats to the Aussie women's cricket team who beat England to win the equivalent of the Ashes.

Alfresco

Yep, well done to them.