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

[The Waugh Twins]

Perhaps we are all just getting use to a substandard test batsman.

[The Waugh Twins]

Perhaps we are all just getting use to a substandard test batsman.

Problem is what does that say about the bowlers?

[yuppie]

Australian bats playing with soft hands? So edges not carrying, something they might have finally learnt from the English bats?

[The Waugh Twins]

Not had a look at any highlights yet.

Was the intensity there from England?

Has Australia learnt how to leave the ball?

Im guessing the ball is not swinging much as Smith has lasted. Amazing to see that Warner has made 5 50's this series, but no 100's.

I started watching about half an hour after lunch until the end of the day and contrary to many others I thought Australia batted woefully with a lot of luck.

Had Cook put a Gully in place Oz may have well been all out. Also a number of edges fell just short of the slips which was odd because LBW was virtually impossible to get as the balls were grabbing on the surface and going well over the bails.

Smith's technique has got to be exposed eventually, I just can't figure out how he's getting all these runs. His pull shot should be censored especially for the children.

Voges technique is not much better. Where are these blokes learning to bat?

[The Waugh Twins]

Yep Voges backlift is so far outside the off stump that when he clips one off his legs it's almost an on drive.

[The Waugh Twins]

Australian bats playing with soft hands? So edges not carrying, something they might have finally learnt from the English bats?

I would like to think that, but I honestly think a lot of it has been in their heads and their technique. If you're a great batsman you should be able to score runs everywhere.
For sure there are adjustments to make and every player will have their favs.

Lets be honest the England bats haven't done that great either apart from Root.

[The Waugh Twins]

Yep Voges backlift is so far outside the off stump that when he clips one off his legs it's almost an on drive.

I believe Voges and Smith had two 4's through the slips.

[The Waugh Twins]

Australian bats playing with soft hands? So edges not carrying, something they might have finally learnt from the English bats?

I would like to think that, but I honestly think a lot of it has been in their heads and their technique. If you're a great batsman you should be able to score runs everywhere.
For sure there are adjustments to make and every player will have their favs.

Lets be honest the England bats haven't done that great either apart from Root.

Yep, but what about Rogers? He's play in England a bunch and is use to these conditions and has 480 runs.

[The Waugh Twins]

Smith isn't use to these conditions and has 443 runs not out, and an awful technique.

[Arthur Crabtree]

I think you can get away with quite a lot of technical eccentricity, the real killer is playing defensively to balls that can be left, but there's some art in that from the bowler at times. If you then play these defensive shots with an open bat, you double the jeopardy.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Smith isn't use to these conditions and has 443 runs not out, and an awful technique. :dunno

Think he's played in England before, in the Ashes and the tour against Pakistan here. Is Smith's technique any worse than Graeme Smith's, who did well in England.

[The Waugh Twins]

Smith isn't use to these conditions and has 443 runs not out, and an awful technique.

Think he's played in England before, in the Ashes and the tour against Pakistan here. Is Smith's technique any worse than Graeme Smith's, who did well in England.

I can't remember Smiths technique. I haven't watch much cricket in the past 10 years. This series is about the most I've watched in ages.

There have been a lot of great players with flawed techniques.

[The Waugh Twins]

Just watching highlights of his 259 versus England and it looks pretty solid. Of course they are only showing positive strokes mostly for four and no blocking shots so not that easy to tell. Also no slow motion shots.

[The Waugh Twins]

Just watching highlights of his 259 versus England and it looks pretty solid. Of course they are only showing positive strokes mostly for four and no blocking shots so not that easy to tell. Also no slow motion shots.

Wow double centuries in consecutive test matches for Smith.

[The Waugh Twins]

Big gap between bat and pad though is what I'm seeing now. Didn't notice it at the beginning of his innings.