It's just not cricket

djewesbury · Post by **djewesbury** » 12:42 Thu 20 Aug 2015

DRT wrote:
djewesbury wrote:47-0!! A disaster! Unprecedented! Sack Cook!
No quite.

The commentary before and for a while after the first ball included multiple optimistic references to "15 for 8". The last comment I heard was "if you win the toss and choose to bowl you don't want to end up at 200 for 2" in the afternoon.

Just saying.

Everyone's a Cassandra, but very few people predict the correct Lottery numbers. Let's wait until after the first session to start guessing the outcome.

Post by **DRT** » 12:50 Thu 20 Aug 2015

I'm not guessing the outcome - I am simply pointing out that the early gains that Cook presumably hoped to make by bowling first have not materialised.

My third cousin Paddy appears to agree: England 13/5, Australia 11/10, Draw 15/8.

djewesbury · Post by **djewesbury** » 12:53 Thu 20 Aug 2015

Finn and Ali are bowling with some sense of threat. Let's wait and see, Alec Stewart.

Post by **DRT** » 13:02 Thu 20 Aug 2015

djewesbury wrote:Finn and Ali are bowling with some sense of threat. Let's wait and see, Alec Stewart.

Meanwhile, in a galaxy far, far away from where Daniel is listening, Australia are 82 without anything close to a lost wicket and Warner has a half century.

Lunch, anyone?

LGTrotter · Post by **LGTrotter** » 02:22 Fri 21 Aug 2015

They had better pull their fingers out if they are going to win this. Quite a sedentary sort of day. More of the same please, but a bit less Australia.

Post by **DRT** » 13:29 Fri 21 Aug 2015

Has anyone seen Daniel?

Post by **DRT** » 17:18 Fri 21 Aug 2015

Out for 10 (including a 4) from 42 balls - care to guess who?

Post by **DRT** » 17:56 Fri 21 Aug 2015

Yesterday morning I was bemused to hear a BBC Sport journalist saying "Will they prove themselves to be the greatest England team of all time by winning the Fifth Test?"

To their credit, they are making a very good job of answering that stupid question.

djewesbury · Post by **djewesbury** » 20:40 Fri 21 Aug 2015

Hmm. This had better still be going on Sunday. Or I have a refund and a day to fill.

LGTrotter · Post by **LGTrotter** » 21:15 Fri 21 Aug 2015

The batting on both sides, with a few notable exceptions has been awful in this series. It has blunted my enjoyment of the win. And England seem no nearer to answering the top order conundrum. Someone was suggesting that Moeen open, which seems as sensible as any of the other ideas. Lyth has had his go and should be dropped forthwith. Hales is the other suggestion, I am not convinced by this. But then again I thought Buttler would be good and he has looked a bundle of nerves.

And I think Daniel will be going to church on Sunday because I doubt there will be any cricket.

Post by **DRT** » 21:26 Fri 21 Aug 2015

djewesbury wrote:Hmm. This had better still be going on Sunday. Or I have a refund and a day to fill.

Yippee! Does that mean I get a refund too?

djewesbury · Post by **djewesbury** » 21:26 Fri 21 Aug 2015

Hales made a double century today didn't he? Always the way.

djewesbury · Post by **djewesbury** » 21:28 Fri 21 Aug 2015

DRT wrote:
djewesbury wrote:Hmm. This had better still be going on Sunday. Or I have a refund and a day to fill.
Yippee! Does that mean I get a refund too?

Yes. To spend on claret, with me. Them's the breaks.

benread · Post by **benread** » 21:29 Fri 21 Aug 2015

djewesbury wrote:Hmm. This had better still be going on Sunday. Or I have a refund and a day to fill.

You and me (plus a child) both! Got two tickets for pavilion balcony. Only possible upside is that Jonnie is desperate to go but wouldn't last a full day. A couple of hours before watching England presented with the Ashes would mean both boys had seen England win the Ashes at the Oval!

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Post by **DRT** » 23:51 Fri 21 Aug 2015

djewesbury wrote:
DRT wrote:
djewesbury wrote:Hmm. This had better still be going on Sunday. Or I have a refund and a day to fill.
Yippee! Does that mean I get a refund too?
Yes. To spend on claret, with me. Them's the breaks.

That works for me

djewesbury · Post by **djewesbury** » 00:31 Sat 22 Aug 2015

benread wrote:
djewesbury wrote:Hmm. This had better still be going on Sunday. Or I have a refund and a day to fill.
You and me (plus a child) both! Got two tickets for pavilion balcony. Only possible upside is that Jonnie is desperate to go but wouldn't last a full day. A couple of hours before watching England presented with the Ashes would mean both boys had seen England win the Ashes at the Oval!

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

If we get a morning's play I'll try and find you for a glass of something

Post by **Alex Bridgeman** » 15:46 Sat 22 Aug 2015

Friday was so depressing that for the first time ever I left a test match before the day's play was over.

At least today there's a bit more application from some of the English batsmen.

My prediction for the UAE tour is that Lyth will keep his place but Bell will be dropped to make space for Ballance and Rasid will play instead of Wood.

djewesbury · Post by **djewesbury** » 16:56 Sat 22 Aug 2015

I think Lyth will be dropped while Bell is allowed a holiday (don't say 'dropped', it's so undignified / honest).

Post by **Alex Bridgeman** » 18:37 Sat 22 Aug 2015

At least you get to see a minimum of four balls of play tomorrow plus the presentation of the urn to the losing side.

djewesbury · Post by **djewesbury** » 22:55 Sat 22 Aug 2015

If England survive to lunch (when the rain is due to start), this will be like 2005 all over again. Rain tomorrow afternoon and all Monday will mean a presentation in an empty Oval when play is finally abandoned some time on Monday, and the match is drawn. If that happens I'll be delighted. If >10 and <25 overs are bowled we get a 50% refund too.

LGTrotter · Post by **LGTrotter** » 00:45 Sun 23 Aug 2015

A chap at work, who I have never spoken to before, sidled up to me today and with an stifled snigger said; "How did Bell get on today?"

Word seems to be getting out on my opinions.

Enjoy the game tomorrow.

benread · Post by **benread** » 06:22 Sun 23 Aug 2015

djewesbury wrote:If England survive to lunch (when the rain is due to start), this will be like 2005 all over again. Rain tomorrow afternoon and all Monday will mean a presentation in an empty Oval when play is finally abandoned some time on Monday, and the match is drawn. If that happens I'll be delighted. If >10 and <25 overs are bowled we get a 50% refund too.

I had a similar discussion with Nuala last night! Going to bring Jonnie (4) today and about 2 hours would be perfect for him! I think wickets or weather mean that is fairly certain!

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Post by **DRT** » 09:21 Sun 23 Aug 2015

This particular game ending in a draw would be a manifestly unfair outcome. Yes, I know, weather and cricket - blah, blah, blah. With the sole exception of Cook's second innings England have been pathetic and in my view have displayed a total lack of respect for their supporters who have paid £100 a day to watch a team that they finally believed were capable of putting on a show. Bring out the scythe.

djewesbury · Post by **djewesbury** » 10:55 Sun 23 Aug 2015

Calm down dear. They played poorly but then again, every team does sometimes. You sound like Fred Trueman about to have an aneurysm. Go and have a lie down. I'll enjoy whatever play there is today.

Post by **DRT** » 11:22 Sun 23 Aug 2015

I think you are missing the point, Daniel. It was only a few days ago that this team were talking of doing something that no other England team have done before and the press were lining them up to be heroes.

What has actually happened is that they have shown themselves to be unprofessional. I have watched most of this test and have been bemused to see the England players laughing and joking around in the pavilion whilst watching their teammates throw away their wickets. Should they not be angry, disappointed and determined to turn the game around rather than shrugging their shoulders and laughing it off like a Sunday afternoon game on the village green? This morning I heard one of them say something along the lines of "it doesn't matter how bad we play in this test we have already won the Ashes". That is disrespectful and unprofessional.

Enjoy your morning.

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