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ASHES 2013: FIFTH TEST - THE OVAL

• ASHES 2013: FIFTH TEST - THE OVAL

• RE: ASHES 2013: FIFTH TEST - THE OVAL

  RussyRover > 23/08/2013, 08:55

  CLOSE OF PLAY DAY 2 - AUSTRALIA 492-5 Dec & ENGLAND 32-0
  
  So play eventually started at 2.30, and it was another difficult day for the English bowlers as Steve Smith became the second centurion of the innings, ending with a test best of 138 not out.
  There was some comical scenes towards the end of the day as England were going super slow as they knew Australia wanted to get to 500 to declare, so decide to clean the ball robustly (ok it might have been a little damp, but come on!!!), complain about it every 2 seconds to the umpire and just go slow... but as Ryan Harris fell (to a great lunging c&b by Anderson) and Steve Smith couldn't get a couple of boundaries (as England pushed everyone back to save the 4's), Michael Clarke decided to declare at 492 for 9, giving them 20 overs or so to bowl at England before close of play.
  
  Cook and Root had to endure 17.3 overs before the umpires again comically brought them off for bad light with about 3 minutes play left in the day, and ended at 32-0.
  
  
  It is supposed to be a glorious day at the Oval today for Day 3, so a full day's play should be the order of things, and for Australia it is simple, they need to bowl England out for less than 293, enforce the follow on, then bowl them out again!!!!

• RE: ASHES 2013: FIFTH TEST - THE OVAL

  RussyRover > 23/08/2013, 10:24

  So Australia coach Darren Lehmann has been fined 20% of his match fee for calling England bowler Stuart Broad a "cheat", after pleading guilty to a charge of publicly criticising and making inappropriate comments, although the radio station that he was talking to at the time has said they will pay it for him... awww there's nice isn't it!!!
  
  Also talk this morning that if Steve Smith could make a century then our boys should easily be able to do the same, although it didn't seems too comfortable for them yesterday evening, especially for Joe Root. Peter Siddle seemed to be causing them problems and he has to finish his interrupted over first thing this morning.
  And still more criticism over the selection of Woakes and Kerrigan... although with the series won, I doubt England care very much about this, they'd rather try them out in preparation for the decisions on who to take down under.
  
  All in all it should be a stunning days play, let's hope our boys don't commit Hari Kari...

• RE: ASHES 2013: FIFTH TEST - THE OVAL

  StrumSolo > 23/08/2013, 10:46

  Didn't see much yesterday but I imagine it would have been a frustrating watch.
  
  Looks like selecting Woakes and Kerrigan has backfired. I can understand why they did it but it's still the Ashes isn't it?
  
  Can't believe Smith reached that kind of score. Gives me hope that our batsmen will have a similarly happy time of it.
  
  Should be a good day! (Or at least better than the last 2. Hopefully)

• RE: ASHES 2013: FIFTH TEST - THE OVAL

  RussyRover > 23/08/2013, 11:03

  Frustrating it was Scotty, the last thing England want to do is allow Australia some sort of momentum leading into their series, and feel over confident about themselves.
  One thing I've seen here, and one that they need to change down under, is their lack of killer instinct, it's always hard in Australia, so they need to be ruthless in their play, and their decision making.
  I think everyone has to admit that England have not been on top form, and luck has gone their way... if I was marking them, B-, need to do better.
  Even though the series is won, and pretty emphatically so, it is against a weak Aussie side...
  
  Anyway, play is about to start, Siddle to Root....

• RE: ASHES 2013: FIFTH TEST - THE OVAL

  StrumSolo > 23/08/2013, 12:13

  And we have our first wicket of the day...
  
  It's another poor innings for Cook as he nudges the ball to Haddin on 25. Bowled by Ryan Harris.
  
  Was hoping we might last out til lunch, but it wasn't to be.
  
  England 68-1

• RE: ASHES 2013: FIFTH TEST - THE OVAL

  StrumSolo > 23/08/2013, 13:07

  And that's lunch. England are currently 97-1 and it's been relatively straightforward other than Cook's dismissal. Root reaches his 50 just before the interval and will resume on 52. Trott is there with him on 9.
  
  Could maybe do with upping the rate a little though, they've scored just 65 runs in the morning session.

• RE: ASHES 2013: FIFTH TEST - THE OVAL

  RussyRover > 23/08/2013, 13:27

  It's been paint dry slow this morning lol... With the forecast looking bleak for tomorrow it looks like England are resorting to plan B, just bat out the overs and go for the draw, after all the series score will read better at 3-0 than 3-1.
  Trotts 9 from 29 balls is about average for him to start with but Joe Root looks to be there for the innings with his 52 from 149 balls.
  Australia has bowled well though, keeping the pressure up, but as long as England are resorting to playing for the draw, they shouldn't really feel that much pressure, apart from not throwing their wickets away.

• RE: ASHES 2013: FIFTH TEST - THE OVAL

  StrumSolo > 23/08/2013, 14:35

  Root's gone. Caught at short fine leg by Shane Watson on 68. Bowled by Siddle.
  
  He was looking good for the century as well.
  
  Pietersen's up. England 119-2

• RE: ASHES 2013: FIFTH TEST - THE OVAL

  StrumSolo > 23/08/2013, 16:14

  He appeals, but it's in vain, and Jonathan Trott is out for 40, lbw by Starc,
  
  Ian Bell joins Kevin Pietersen at the crease with England 176-3.

• RE: ASHES 2013: FIFTH TEST - THE OVAL

  StrumSolo > 23/08/2013, 18:11

  Pietersen reaches his 50 but is out immediately afterwards as he's caught by Watson. Bowled by Starc.
  
  England are now 225-4 but seem to be making a decent fist of slowing things down and playing for the draw.
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