World Cup and Test Cricket 2019

[agingjb]

Two thoughts. Does England use an effectively dead series to experiment - Eoin Morgan captaining ten newcomers? I don't think
so (two tweaks bringing back Moeen Ali and Sam Curran, at most).

And, popular support for Cricket in England depends so much, in the absence of free to air television, on the excellence of Test Match Special on radio - and how long will that be allowed to continue (it is already no longer there for some overseas test matches).

[AmpH]

Now isn't the time to indulge in knee-jerk selections when the series isn't dead as it can still be drawn and there are important World Test Championship points at stake. The next series against New Zealand, which curiously doesn't could towards the WTC, will present more appropriate opportunities to introduce others such as Sibley or Crawley perhaps.

Selection for the final Test is likely to revolve around the fitness of Stokes to bowl or whether he plays as a specialist batsmen. If it is the latter, he will likely bat at no 4 and one of the ( supposed ) batters, probably Roy, will make way for a bowler - Curran / Woakes ?

Personally I would play Sam Curran anyway and I wouldn't go anywhere near Moeen Ali again in Tests.

[DracoM]

And they dropped Woakes for this last Test? Erm...............??? Clever selecting?

[muzzer]

I think they’ve announced they’re keeping the same squad for the Oval.

Will be interesting to see how Root standing down is achieved. He’s a phenomenal bat obviously, but not up to the captaincy. Can’t really see who they give it to though, who isn’t in bad form at the moment. No way should Stokes be captain. Kiss of death.

[AmpH]

And they dropped Woakes for this last Test? Erm...............??? Clever selecting?

I might take issue with a number of the selections in this series. It would certainly look rather strange if Woakes was reinstated having been dropped for the last test ...... but stranger things have happened, like thinking that Roy was a Test opener when even his own County doesn't open with him in domestic red ball cricket.

[LMcD]

I might take issue with a number of the selections in this series. It would certainly look rather strange if Woakes was reinstated having been dropped for the last test ...... but stranger things have happened, like thinking that Roy was a Test opener when even his own County doesn't open with him in domestic red ball cricket.

I think Roy has been included in the hope that he might end the series with a batting average in double figures.

[Belgrove]

The experiment with Roy might have been worth a punt had the assessment of Australia's bowling attack been more accurate. It is magnificent and Roy has neither the technique nor temperament to survive it. He should have a chat with Jack Leech! One has to look to the future and Roy probably does not have one in Test cricket at the moment. Give Curran a go on his home ground. How do you solve a problem like Smith? One of the commentators made the interesting observation that he does not like the batsman at the other end in his line of sight - so place a fielder a straightish short-mid on. It's unorthodox, but he's an unorthodox batsman, albeit one that is a bag of nervous ticks and fidgets whose exploitation must be worth exploring.

[eighthobstruction]

The experiment with Roy might have been worth a punt had the assessment of Australia's bowling attack been more accurate. It is magnificent and Roy has neither the technique nor temperament to survive it. He should have a chat with Jack Leech! One has to look to the future and Roy probably does not have one in Test cricket at the moment. Give Curran a go on his home ground. How do you solve a problem like Smith? One of the commentators made the interesting observation that he does not like the batsman at the other end in his line of sight - so place a fielder a straightish short-mid on. It's unorthodox, but he's an unorthodox batsman, albeit one that is a bag of nervous ticks and fidgets whose exploitation must be worth exploring.

....Yes I noted that too....Root needs more guile....

[Historian]

England on better form so far in the Fifth and final Test at the Oval. Even managed a fifty opening partnership in the second innngs in what has been a very mixed Ashes series for batting. Archer back on form and speed and Sam Curran making a good contribution (as usual). I realise that the Ashes will remain Australia's, but 2-2 in the series would be a reasonable achievement.

[Historian]

So, a comfortable victory for England in the Fifth Test and a drawn series. Australia retain the Ahses which will be satisfying for them as in recent years it has proved very hard for either side towin overseas. However, England may well end the series happier as a draw seemed unlikely not that long ago.

It may be we've all moved on as we move into autumn (Last Night of the Proms, end of the cricket season, trees turning etc.) but I would be interested to hear what people thought about the series as a whole.

[teamsaint]

So, a comfortable victory for England in the Fifth Test and a drawn series. Australia retain the Ahses which will be satisfying for them as in recent years it has proved very hard for either side towin overseas. However, England may well end the series happier as a draw seemed unlikely not that long ago.

It may be we've all moved on as we move into autumn (Last Night of the Proms, end of the cricket season, trees turning etc.) but I would be interested to hear what people thought about the series as a whole.

I haven't watched much cricket over the last ten years or so, and am pretty out of touch, ( I used to watch a lot, and played for a long time).
but saw a decent amount of this series.

Impressive quick bowling from both sides, and poor shot selection from the Batsmen on both sides. All of which, alongside an extraordinary series from Smith, and some other good individual performances made for an entertaining series. I can't see how test match batting standards will rise under the current fixture regime and financial climate, but I think the return of some three day county cricket and a slightly greater commitment to first class matches on tour from the ECB might help.

England were just about worthy of their series draw, but the other big lesson must surely be how to convert winning positions into actual wins.

[cloughie]

England were just about worthy of their series draw, but the other big lesson must surely be how to convert winning positions into actual wins.

ts, had this been the round ball thread you could almost have been talking about the Saints or the Owls!
Back to the cricket, the difference between the two sides was Smith, and our inability to remove him.

[gradus]

Small bonus - we were spared the 'Kia' Oval by the TMS team, Chelsea Flower Show and other presenters please note when their turn comes.

[johncorrigan]

Back to the cricket, the difference between the two sides was Smith, and our inability to remove him.

True, cloughie, but without Stokes' amazing batting performance in the third test you could argue that the result of the series would have been 4-0 to the Australians.

[DracoM]

And Root's skill as captain /strategist simply has to be questioned. Some of the field-placings at crucial moments were ...erm....well...........?