The Ashes 2023

MFPM

I agree, England must have some specific insights on weather though they probably feel confident that the Aussies are so demoralised that there won't be much fight and they'll knock them over irrespective of time. Letting Bairstow hit a century and getting 600 will just add to the demoralisation. Cummins looks shattered mentally and physically, this is in part why bowlers aren't captains, too much going on for him.

I hope the Aussies put up some fight, draws due to rain are never great but all teams have benefitted from them at one stage or another. However a draw due to rain with the Aussies really fighting is different than a wash out with the Aussies hanging on at 80/9...The English batting has shown it's entirely possible to build an innings.

MFPM

Bairstow stranded on 99!!

VillaMad

England's gameplan obviously must have been just to build the lead and hope not to have to bat again.

Pitch still looks a belter to me. The new ball looked dangerous for a few overs and then offered little. A bit of variable bounce yesterday but little sign of it today.

Long batting line-up for Australia so if they can apply themselves, they can force a draw with the rain forecast. Whether they are mentally on the floor after the pounding they have taken over the past day is the question.

MFPM

Interesting session ahead. Khawaja has been so good this series he needs to stand up here again, Warner owes his team a score here. I don't think anyone would be surprised if Australia collapse in a heap here and are 6/7 down by close. However if they could get to close with a couple down and with most of tomorrow likely to be written off, they could re group for Sunday but that's very hard to see...

dohboy

Batting for a draw is difficult but the Aussies need to be thinking that they are batting to retain the Ashes.

I still think they are getting beat though and we're heading to the Oval at 2-2. It's been that kinda series, utterly compelling throughout.

Strumms

16 off of Moeen’s first two overs, yikes…. Now Ben Duckett limping off…straight after.

Strumms

Wood gets Khawaja… needed… Broad and Anderson had looked rather inoffensive in their opening spells.

Ali expensive and inconsistent so far….

dohboy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120880403#Comment_120880403

Runs don't matter here tbf, it's not like the Aussies are going to win.

Furze99

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120880150#Comment_120880150

I had to chuckle when I saw that. A mixture of egotism, bazball and Bairstow getting revenge I reckon. But the Aussies had the last laugh, didn't get the ton but used up good time to get there!

Strumms

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120880439#Comment_120880439

No but you want to be putting pressure on the batsmen. He’s being hit for a few handy boundaries. The Aussies won’t win, but England have to enable them to lose. By putting them under pressure and taking wickets.

Dave0301

Unless Australia collapse in this last session, I'm not sure there will be enough play on Sunday. Saturday I don't think there will be any play.

Still, could change quickly over night.

VillaMad

Warner caught in two minds inside edges onto the stumps. Looked horrible on the replay.

dohboy

Jaysus if Root appealed for the catch there it could have been given

Strumms

silly not appealing.

the replay was inconclusive either way. So would have had to stay with the on field decision. Umpire was always going to give it not out when the catcher was so obviously miffed and unsure and actually gesturing as such, stupid by Root. Everyone else went up, bowler was convinced, Joe Root with an expression like he turned up at an airport gate but couldn’t find his boarding pass. It’s the Ashes Joe, your team is behind the 8 ball, if you think you might have caught it… APPEAL ! If that was given out on the field, ok it’s not conclusive but I imagine it’s staying out after DRS… not conclusive enough to overturn. Root probably by trying to be virtuous, lost his team a wicket… it’s Australia Joe, they won’t be returning the favour..👀

paulie21

Smith gone, thats the key wicket

Xander10

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120880965#Comment_120880965

To be honest, he has been brutal all through the 4 test.

MFPM

That shot sums up Smith's decline, he rarely gave his wicket away, he's throwing them away in this series. Apparently he and Labuschagne spurned the opportunity for time off since the third test choosing to work on their game, it clearly hasn't worked.

MFPM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120880749#Comment_120880749

Difficult for him given the spirit of the game nonsense his captain and coach went on about! 🙂

VillaMad

Head done by the short ball from Wood. 4 down Australia.

MFPM

Woeful by Head. Australian's now completely dependent on the weather even if Labuschagne goes big.

Gillespy

Head needs to drop out of the first few pages of the ICC batting rankings after that.

Smith has one hundred and not much else besides. Fair to say he is a shadow of the Smith of 2019.

Hopefully they can get enough overs so it goes to the Oval two all.

dohboy

A BBC meteorologist writes...

https://twitter.com/SimonOKing/status/1682452798091284491

If so, that's a real shame and a bit of a disaster by England. Should have declared first thing this morning like I suggested a few pages back 😅... We'll be in the land of moral victories so by the Oval, it seems.

Gutted as an England fan, been such a brilliant series and can only imagine the drama if it was 2-2 going to the oval.

Personally think the declaration was an hour late but that said they still wouldn’t have had the time to bowl them out.

Frustratingly one session could do it but that looks highly unlikely. Wood and Woakes have been brilliant since coming back, Smith and Cummins look wrecked for the Aussies, all the momentum with England but what can you do!

All 4 tests have been top viewing, can barely think of a poor session, never mind day.

Dave0301

AccuWeather suggesting there might be a let up in rain around lunchtime. All other models showing consistent rain for today.

nice bit of green

The silver lining is I was close to buying a resale ticket for today for £223 plus a day trip flying over for €100. Just couldn’t afford it.

am doing the t20 v NZ at OT in Sept instead. Much more affordable but not quite the same importance.

Strumms

Last time they cut back to OT the rain had let up and they were trying to clear the covers. Sky was very dark however and another heavy downpour didn’t seem that far away.

the uncovered outfield had taken on a good bit of water too. So a significant cleanup but looking at hourly forecasts, it’s doubtful that can be done quickly enough before the next shower….

pity for the series to get more or less decided here by the rain.

frustrating thing for England is they cannot lose the test really. They will stroll to a win if the can play….The only realistic situation in which a draw can come about is through weather. That’s happening unfortunately. Still raining, live pics now, part of outfield waterlogged. More of the same as of now forecasted for tomorrow.

ok an inspection at 2pm , bit more positive

VillaMad

Looking at the Met office forecast, there is a possibility of a little mini-session today if that prediction is true. All down to whether they can clear the outfield.

Strumms

Whenever play resumes Stokes has to go all out attack… has to try and force an innings defeat on the Aussies. The forecast / state of play in the series is absolutely ensuring that is the requirement… can’t rely on enough cricket to win conventionally….

does he have the nouse, the bravery, mentality ? We’ll see.

Dave0301

Play at 2.45 if it doesn't rain again.

Itssoeasy

Players ready to go.