England vs India (fourth test) The Oval

[Jack Torrance]

The Oval is always a good batting wicket man. You need to pick a bowling attack with variation and set traps for the opposition batsmen, not just pick a load of RFM wobble seamers then cry when it doesn't seam.

We’ve bowled fine and taken 20 wickets on a road. If we could catch we would probably have won this test easily

 

[The Rat]

I agree, I think if we keep up the current run rate for the first session with no wickets lost, then we might as well up the ante after lunch. Huge if though.

pretty unlikely that mind, they will chip away

it’s how we react

draw still the aim

We’ve bowled fine and taken 20 wickets on a road. If we could catch we would probably have won this test easily

aye agreed

he described it as utter trash or someit which was very harsh, was only at the end they got away from us

that run out by Ali swung it

could have been chased 285 or someit

 

[Sea to Shining Sea]

pretty unlikely that mind, they will chip away

it’s how we react

draw still the aim


aye agreed

he described it as utter trash or someit which was very harsh, was only at the end they got away from us

that run out by Ali swung it

could have been chased 285 or someit

I’m baffled here. We’d have won easily if we’d held on to catches yet this pitch is terrible and isn’t suited to us?

 

[The Rat]

I’m baffled here. We’d have won easily if we’d held on to catches yet this pitch is terrible and isn’t suited to us?

you’re baffled quite a lot, wouldn’t worry about it.

 

[Sea to Shining Sea]

you’re baffled quite a lot, wouldn’t worry about it.

Just to clarify:

The Oval provide pitches that are counterproductive to England despite England having won the last three tests we’ve played there and this test pitch isn’t suited to us but we’d have won easily had we held on to our catches. We need to produce more seam friendly pitches like Headingly where we scored 430+ in the first innings and less batting friendly ones like this one where we scored 250 first innings.

Isaac Newton would be banging his head against the apple tree working that logic out

 

[chunkyshanhawk53]

I complained massively about the NZ effort. But, and I haven’t watched it but listened to last hour, they’ve handled this right so far. They’ve accumulated. Which gives you the option to have a go if it’s on

 

[Jack Torrance]

Just to clarify:

The Oval provide pitches that are counterproductive to England despite England having won the last three tests we’ve played there and this test pitch isn’t suited to us but we’d have won easily had we held on to our catches. We need to produce more seam friendly pitches like Headingly where we scored 430+ in the first innings and less batting friendly ones like this one where we scored 250 first innings.

Isaac Newton would be banging his head against the apple tree working that logic out

I don’t think there’s much wrong with the pitch, it’s lasted 5 days which is what they’re meant to do. I think his argument was we should have prepared more bowler friendly pitches given what India served up in the winter

 

[Steak Pie]

Going into the last day with the prospect of a full day's play and all 3 results on the table. Beautiful.

 

[chunkyshanhawk53]

Going into the last day with the prospect of a full day's play and all 3 results on the table. Beautiful.

4

 

[Steak Pie]

4

3.

A tie is just a posh draw.

 

[The Rat]

I don’t think there’s much wrong with the pitch, it’s lasted 5 days which is what they’re meant to do. I think his argument was we should have prepared more bowler friendly pitches given what India served up in the winter

This

India lads cant play the moving ball at all. We struggle, but we always get enough runs to win.

TBF I was just making the point that we dont doctor pitches, the Indians do, even sacked their groundsman.

 

[Jack Torrance]

This

India lads cant play the moving ball at all. We struggle, but we always get enough runs to win.

TBF I was just making the point that we dont doctor pitches, the Indians do, even sacked their groundsman.

It’s a fair point as well. I know Jimmy came out and criticised the pitches after the ashes a couple of years ago.

These pitches would be great if we had Swann, the spinner issue does need to be addressed

 

[The Rat]

It’s a fair point as well. I know Jimmy came out and criticised the pitches after the ashes a couple of years ago.

These pitches would be great if we had Swann, the spinner issue does need to be addressed

Aye, Ali is class as a number 8 in proper English conditions, just not on flat pitches as he goes for runs, although he does take wickets, 3rd most ever.

The lack of faith in Leach is strange, I am not convinced he would have played much even with a fit Stokes though, they just dont seem to rate him, for whatever reason, which is sad.

 

[Voice of fair play]

Its possible but much more difficult than many realise to score almost 300 on the final day. Spinner bowling int the rough makes it diffcult to score runs, defensive field settings, slowing the game down and if we take risks and lose a couple we know how fragile we can be. For me they should try to bat for the first session without necessarily thinking of the win and if they knock off 75 or so losing no more than a wicket then they can look at pushing on from there. I think the most likely way India win is if we try to hard to go for the win.

I don’t necessarily think that way, personally I think the positive way to look at it especially with all wickets in hand is try to rotate the strike and look for singles ( especially if they set defensive fields) to look to win the game, then if couple of wickets fall reassess and then decide to look for win or draw.

I think a cricket team chasing a score with all wickets in hand, first thought should be win, second thought draw not the other way round.

Of course agree chasing 300 on a final day is very hard, but like I say if things don’t go to plan, we can then change

 

[Jack Torrance]

Aye, Ali is class as a number 8 in proper English conditions, just not on flat pitches as he goes for runs, although he does take wickets, 3rd most ever.

The lack of faith in Leach is strange, I am not convinced he would have played much even with a fit Stokes though, they just dont seem to rate him, for whatever reason, which is sad.

Ali can’t play in Australia though so no idea who will bowl there unless it’s Root himself

 

[smoker]

Aye, Ali is class as a number 8 in proper English conditions, just not on flat pitches as he goes for runs, although he does take wickets, 3rd most ever.

The lack of faith in Leach is strange, I am not convinced he would have played much even with a fit Stokes though, they just dont seem to rate him, for whatever reason, which is sad.

With power of hindsight I'd have picked Leach. He can generally hold down an end on a flat wicket whereas Ali can't. The main argument for picking Ali is his batting but we have no shortage of batsmen who can slog 20-30 runs. Leach actually has a decent defensive game and stick-ability as seen in the Ireland match and the third Ashes test in 2019.

 

[rentaghost]

The Oval is always a good batting wicket man. You need to pick a bowling attack with variation and set traps for the opposition batsmen, not just pick a load of RFM wobble seamers then cry when it doesn't seam.

You know your stuff but I wish you would enjoy it more! It’s England v India. India on the back of beating Australia in there own back yard without their best player. England with a host of world class bowlers unavailable and we are witnessing an unbelievably good series. Under the circumstances mentioned we have just thrashed them out if site in the last test and go into the last 6 days of the series with all to play for. Yet you seem ready to jump off the bridge. Just enjoy it man.

 

[dixonsafc]

I don’t necessarily think that way, personally I think the positive way to look at it especially with all wickets in hand is try to rotate the strike and look for singles ( especially if they set defensive fields) to look to win the game, then if couple of wickets fall reassess and then decide to look for win or draw.

I think a cricket team chasing a score with all wickets in hand, first thought should be win, second thought draw not the other way round.

Of course agree chasing 300 on a final day is very hard, but like I say if things don’t go to plan, we can then change

Agree with this. It's easier to rein it in than accelerate as well. No need to go gung ho, it's just over 3 an over. So like you've said, go for 1's and 2's and rotate the strike. We've already got past the new ball. Then if we start to lose wickets we reassess.

 

[The Rat]

With power of hindsight I'd have picked Leach. He can generally hold down an end on a flat wicket whereas Ali can't. The main argument for picking Ali is his batting but we have no shortage of batsmen who can slog 20-30 runs. Leach actually has a decent defensive game and stick-ability as seen in the Ireland match and the third Ashes test in 2019.

aye I really lke Leach, I have some sympathy as Ali does balance the side a bit

For example evn 1st innings he did bat for a long time, albeit didnt score enough

 

[seaham ftm]

Day 5 sold out and on a Monday Anyone know the last time that happened over here ( especially on the day before?) What a day tomorrow is going to be