The Ashes 2013 Thread

[noharmdone]

That's why they should have enforced the follow on. They'd have won today if they did.

I don't get why the follow on isn't enforced as much nowadays..

 

[Walken]

I dont want to repeat myself, but when you win the toss and bat first, it is because you want to bowl last, why change that unless time is a factor? I'd rather bowl at the aussies needing either 550 or to bat out for two days, both impossible tasks, than bowl again and risk the aussies scrambling a decent total on a newish pitch and our own fragile batting chasing 150. On top of that we only have a four man attack, keep them as fresh as possible, I'm not a huge fan of cooks captaincy but this was the right decision

 

[bluejock]

I dont want to repeat myself, but when you win the toss and bat first, it is because you want to bowl last, why change that unless time is a factor? I'd rather bowl at the aussies needing either 550 or to bat out for two days, both impossible tasks, than bowl again and risk the aussies scrambling a decent total on a newish pitch and our own fragile batting chasing 150. On top of that we only have a four man attack, keep them as fresh as possible, I'm not a huge fan of cooks captaincy but this was the right decision

If England had bowled again, they'd have won by an innings

 

[IRO1977]

I don't get why the follow on isn't enforced as much nowadays..

I think i do, not in general but in this instance. England had a relatively stress free batting innings where even a total of 150 in the second innings would have resulted in a near impossible total of 400 for the Aussies on a pitch that was only gonna get worse as the match went on, whereas i believe that even a lead of a 150 had the Aussies followed on and done well would have put ernormous pressure on England in the second innings on a quickly worsening wicket. I think

 

[noharmdone]

I think i do, not in general but in this instance. England had a relatively stress free batting innings where even a total of 150 in the second innings would have resulted in a near impossible total of 400 for the Aussies on a pitch that was only gonna get worse as the match went on, whereas i believe that even a lead of a 150 had the Aussies followed on and done well would have put ernormous pressure on England in the second innings on a quickly worsening wicket. I think

Swann was right on it.. He could have bowled at one end for most of the day.. Only my opinion xx

 

[Elong]

That's why they should have enforced the follow on. They'd have won today if they did.

England wanted to bowl last, as per the toss, so they'd be changing their plan half way through the match.

I know what you mean though, Aussie are absolutely gash, but there's more than one way to skin a cat, or something.

Personally, I'd have captained the same way, but hey, that's why cricket's such a great game, so many different outcomes and opportunities for players.

 

[Elong]

Reckon it's easier to bowl a team out over a day or two than it is to chase even 100, that's the way I'd look at it, 100 sounds like nothing, but nerves etc, I absolutely hate having to chase a small total when I play, as silly as it sounds.

 

[IRO1977]

Yeah that's why it's great, there's never a right or wrong and in this instance in particular i don't think Cook could lose really. It's easy to look like a tactical genius when your team's on top. Not to say that he isn't at all...

 

[IRO1977]

I really wouldn't like to chase anything close to 150 in the last innings on this. Especially with both teams' batting looking brittle at times in this series

 

[Walken]

Reckon it's easier to bowl a team out over a day or two than it is to chase even 100, that's the way I'd look at it, 100 sounds like nothing, but nerves etc, I absolutely hate having to chase a small total when I play, as silly as it sounds.

and there is no team worse chasing small totals than us, like others have said, it invites unneccesary pressure

 

[toffeejack]

looks like we're going to continue to bat this morning? there's cloud cover as well, it's taking it too far now. if australia bat out 1 and 3/4 days and end with 9 wickets down but about 300 away from the target people have to question this captaincy. i know we'll probably still win, but still, every over we bat is an extra 2 away from 2-0

 

[BigBlueConk]

I do think the England batsmen need the practice. Except for one or two individual performances, it hasn't been all that good and we only do well because the Ossies are worse.

 

[Elong]

looks like we're going to continue to bat this morning? there's cloud cover as well, it's taking it too far now. if australia bat out 1 and 3/4 days and end with 9 wickets down but about 300 away from the target people have to question this captaincy. i know we'll probably still win, but still, every over we bat is an extra 2 away from 2-0

Joe deserves 200, then they declare you reckon? Batsmen get themselves back in for 5 overs, then go nuts for 30 mins (if that), then declare. Nice short session at them, then start again after lunch.

 

[BigBlueConk]

Joe deserves 200, then they declare you reckon? Batsmen get themselves back in for 5 overs, then go nuts for 30 mins (if that), then declare. Nice short session at them, then start again after lunch.

I was thinking they might see if Root can get 200, then declare. If he is out sooner, they might do it then.

 

[toffeejack]

I was thinking they might see if Root can get 200, then declare. If he is out sooner, they might do it then.

surely the only reason for that decision. lead is massive - not enough time left to get it - pitch has been worn out, loads of rough patches with another day and a half to get rougher.

i think they could have avoided this conundrum by declaring when he got to 150 which is what i thought they were doing. good to see australia not wasting a nice shinny new cricket ball though. they know the best chance of them getting out at 1-0 is to keep england out there for as long as poss hence not trying to bowl them out.