The Ashes 5th Test. The Oval. August 20-24.

[Dr Cricket]

Yeah Essex had a chat with Cook and both decided it was best if he didn't play the game.

[Dr Cricket]

Ian Bell is 99% certain to play and will replace Brendon Mccullum in the team.

Buttler and Ali are certain to play as well.

[ianp1970]

Yeah Essex had a chat with Cook and both decided it was best if he didn't play the game.

That's a shame

However, if any of the storms tomorrow are as heavy as predicted there might not be a game at all!

[GarlicJam]

haven't really seen anything of agar since the last ashes here but seems a bit of a risk to be picking him as their frontline spinner

although he did get a Michelle for Aus A against India A this week. For only about 30 runs, too.



his maiden fifer in List A though.

[The Waugh Twins]

It always used to be England that had troubles in Ashes contests.

Now the Aussie camp appears to have been ripped apart. I see some Aussie journos are even blaming the WAGS for this defeat.

I seem to recall this being said by a number of folks after the first test and then by the same number about England after the second test and then by the same number of folks about Australia after the fourth test.

Sounds a bit like a broken Eminem record.

[KipperJohn]

England and Bell might be better served by him practising how to deal with Starc's yorker (not that it's easy to replicate, or even possible).

[braveneutral]

It always used to be England that had troubles in Ashes contests.

Now the Aussie camp appears to have been ripped apart. I see some Aussie journos are even blaming the WAGS for this defeat.

I seem to recall this being said by a number of folks after the first test and then by the same number about England after the second test and then by the same number of folks about Australia after the fourth test.

Sounds a bit like a broken Eminem record.

Jay Z disagrees with the WAG theory. He firmly believes that Australia have 99 problems.

[Aidan11]

http://www.thefulltoss.com/england-cric ... t-because/

[Arthur Crabtree]

Great Orwell quote.

[hopeforthebest]

http://www.thefulltoss.com/england-cricket-blog/despite-not-because/

AC's been moonlighting again.

By the way if someone can explain the rationale behind that Orwell Quotation, I'd be deeply grateful.

[Arthur Crabtree]

I've been warned off.

[yorker_129-7]

Man that "Full Toss" guy has some real, unresolved issues about Alastair Cook. Do you reckon he ran over his cat or something? Almost every blog post is basically a rant about Cook, it's really awkward.

[Aidan11]

Steve Smith has now been confirmed as the next test captain. Warner V-C.

I'm guessing Clarke will still take charge next week.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Man that "Full Toss" guy has some real, unresolved issues about Alastair Cook. Do you reckon he ran over his cat or something? Almost every blog post is basically a rant about Cook, it's really awkward.

Can't say I disagree with it. A lot of people are taking the opportunity to claim this result has proved their support of the ECB/England correct, though they didn't question that view when England were struggling in 2012-just prior to these Ashes. But... I've not heard anyone crazy enough to defend Downton's legacy. Moores' history is going through an Orwellian rewrite though. That should be challenged.

[yorker_129-7]

To say Moores deserves no praise is disingenuous to say the least. He dragged a team at its lowest ebb kicking and screaming through some massive transformations, and the results were there.

Both times Moores has been the England coach, he has promoted players who would go on to have a major impact after he left. In his previous tenure it was Swann, Broad and prior, this time it may well end up beign Ali and Wood, possibly Woakes and Jordan as well.