The International Cricket Thread

[taylorsworkrate]

I think that once they retained the Ashes they were mentally on the plane home so I expect us to win this test quite comfortably.

Nah, don't buy that at all. Monumental difference in merely retaining the Ashes and Australia actually winning a series in England for the 1st time in 18 years. They would have been well up for this.

[Risso]

One of the few good things about this series has been the fact that Broad can seemingly get Warner out at will.

[Villan For Life]

I think that once they retained the Ashes they were mentally on the plane home so I expect us to win this test quite comfortably.

Nah, don't buy that at all. Monumental difference in merely retaining the Ashes and Australia actually winning a series in England for the 1st time in 18 years. They would have been well up for this.

I think that collectively they’re well down on their standards from the last test.

[hilts_coolerking]

I think that once they retained the Ashes they were mentally on the plane home so I expect us to win this test quite comfortably.

Nah, don't buy that at all. Monumental difference in merely retaining the Ashes and Australia actually winning a series in England for the 1st time in 18 years. They would have been well up for this.

I'm sure that's what they say and most probably believe it but I'd be amazed if they hadn't dropped the intensity a little, subconsciously, with the Ashes safe.  They dropped five catches in the first innings.

[Steve67]

It's all a bit ordinary from Woakes. I vote, get Leach on at the other end and rotate the quicks.  Leach was causing Wade some issues before lunch too.

[Steve67]

Fuck me.  He's out!! 

[Villan For Life]

Great catch from Stokes!

[Steve67]

Ben Stokes is amazing.  Sports Personality of the Year.  Get money on it now.

[taylorsworkrate]

There performance has dropped, but I just cannot have it that it's due to a lack of intensity or because the ashes have been retained. What it may be, is that they did bowl a lot of overs, over the last couple of days at Old Trafford, and then bowled straight away at the Oval, so physical fatigue may have set in a little. We were definitely helped by a poor decision by Paine to bowl first in this match.

Actually winning a series in England, after such a long time would be crucial for them to achieve. Lose this match, and they will be reminded in 2023 that they haven't won a series in England in 22 years.

[Villan For Life]

There performance has dropped, but I just cannot have it that it's due to a lack of intensity or because the ashes have been retained. What it may be, is that they did bowl a lot of overs, over the last couple of days at Old Trafford, and then bowled straight away at the Oval, so physical fatigue may have set in a little. We were definitely helped by a poor decision by Paine to bowl first in this match.

Actually winning a series in England, after such a long time would be crucial for them to achieve. Lose this match, and they will be reminded in 2023 that they haven't won a series in England in 22 years.

They were interviewing an Aussie journalist on TMS at lunchtime, it may have been Gideon Haigh. He was saying that despite retaining the urn, they’re getting some negative press in Australia. Paine in particular is getting some major criticism.

[taylorsworkrate]

He hasn't captained or batted well Paine. Went to pieces during Stokes onslaught at Headingley, used reviews poorly and a poor decision to bowl first in this match.

He's been lucky to have the best batsman in the world in his very best form, and an outstanding set of bowlers at the top of their game too.

[Villan For Life]

Surely part of his boot was touching the line there?

[hilts_coolerking]

Surely part of his boot was touching the line there?

Has to be something behind the line.

[taylorsworkrate]

Nah, something has to be behind the line anyway.

[Villan For Life]

That was Woakes’s first official no ball in test cricket.