Ashes 2023

Oh dear, I agree with TUT again.

No. 2005 was better, because the weather didn’t ruin any of the matches. And the result was in the balance until the very last day of the series.

I have rarely been as tense as I was on the morning of the 5th day at the Oval.

A nod to 1981, too.

 

Yeah but I think the angle of the stump should have been enough to make anyone think “huh how is the bail floating on air?” The stumps were obviously broken from the side on image.

 

Very tough to call and I think the right decision at the time.
Hopefully bat well tomorrow and set up yet another great finish Sunday

 

Yeah, looks like a good day to go.

 

A shout out to 2009 and 2011 too. 2011 not because it was close, but because we absolutely battered them ! That Christmas day test where I woke up, put the telly on saw we were about 100-0, and assumed it had been a rain delayed start for about an hour until they mentioned that the Aussies had already batted, was just perfect !

 

Looks like an hour or so of very heavy rain 8.30 to about 9.30 this morning in Sth london per radar. Hope it doesn’t delay the start.

 

Looks like we’ve gone into ‘throw it away’ mode again. Although to be fair, you can’t blame Crawley for playing a ‘Crawley shot’ and Brook got a very good ball early on. A little bit more elevation on Stokes’ mis-hit and we’d be in clover. Could do with another 100 at the absolute least here.

 

Looking good, but so does the pitch. Presume they won't risk a declaration today and will hope for more gloomy ball swinging conditions tomorrow ?

 

368 in front. Should be enough you would think. 200 more than the biggest ever chase at The Oval. Fingers crossed the rain stays away

 

He’s been brilliant in this series and over his career. Replacing him and Anderson is nigh on impossible

 

Going to miss him - star man

 

I had a great day at the Oval today, would have liked to see Crawley and or Root and or Bairstow get 100 but still a great effort. Fingers crossed it will be enough.

 

Agreed.

I think out of the two Broad will be the bigger loss, especially on occasions such as the Ashes where he really comes to life!

Enjoy your retirement, Broady.

 

Great days cricket to witness. 370+ runs scored and 9 wickets.

 

You just might see the last day of his and Jimmy's test careers tomorrow (yes I know JA hasn't retired...yet) if we bowl well, and if the weather holds off !

 

Weather looks ok for Monday too as we should bypass most of the rain. Pitch looked good yesterday and I’d actually give Jimmy & Stuart the chance to try and score another quick 20 odd before we put them in.

 

No doubt that they will do that, surely? Will be irritating for the Aussies to go out to field and then come in again.

 

Yes hopefully. I’d seen suggestions that with rain scheduled to arrive mid pm they might not want to waste the time batting and changeover for a few extra runs they probably won’t need. Broad will probably pull a hamstring running between the wickets now .

 

You never know with Stokes, but I’d be surprised. Still two days left.

 

Making the Aussies go out to field for 10 minutes or so will mess around with their openers preparation
They will get 10 minutes to put their pads on as well as all the other stuff they have to do , but if they knew that they were batting they could turn up at 10 , net , get in the zone etc . Admittedly they can still net but it can mess with their preparation as openers.

 

100% this. I used to hate it when we bowled the oppo out too quickly and had to rush to get ready, bat for 15 minutes then have to start properly after tea.
Especially as it usually meant the wicket was a tricky one!

 

Not going quite to plan ? 75/0. Just 309 more needed. Pitch still looking good.

 

Playing for the draw. Hosing down here in Brizzel. Can’t even get outside to check on my tomatoes.

 

Looks like we might have needed 450....

 

Really should have got closer to that with the platform we built. Probably allowed them back in to it a bit but was still a great performance yesterday. Unfortunately today has not been the day we hoped for.

 

My theory about messing up the openers preparation appears to be wide of the mark !!

 

My brother Paul once received a detention at Francis Coombe.

The subject was sport.

He wrote 'Rain stops play' and handed it in.

How apt.

 

Like peas in a pod then… and that is meant as a compliment.

 

So have you given up and headed home yet ? Or more likely, to the bar ?

 

He’s obviously still there.

 

Kind!

Michael Atherton " Stuart Broad could start an argument with the Dali Lama!"

Funny!

 

Wow. @Keighley level of argumentativeness then ?