The Ashes: Australia in England 16th Jun - 31 July

[sussexpob]

Rumours that Stokes will bowl spin.

Back in the day when Jimmy Ormond played at Surrey, he used to do that a lot. I guess in the late 90s/early 2000s the Oval wickets used to be good for spin on day 4-5, and would really dust up, so he'd usually take the new ball then after bowl some off breaks.

Although he did it in the 2001 test, and returned horror figures... Australia made something like 650/3....

https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/aus ... -scorecard

Ramps made 133.... so I guess that was some road

[Arthur Crabtree]

Ball is doing *modded* all.

Don't think the new ball has been a wicket taker throughout the game.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Average for the first wicket is 63 in 15 overs.

[sussexpob]

Jimmy turned 41 today.....

5 wickets @ plus 75 each this series...

If he serves up another below average performance here, I think Rob Key, Stokes and McCullum have a very tough decision to make going forward. Anderson wants to play on, but at 41 year old sudden and large drops in form like this dont tend to be correctable.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Might be a tough retirement for Anderson. He'll go from being a professional athlete, to being middle aged, in a day.

[sussexpob]

Australia have a start. Going quickly too... England need inroads after drinks

[Arthur Crabtree]

Well, Mo is bowling. And going for a few.

[sussexpob]

Well, Mo is bowling. And going for a few.

Had one that last over that took off mind. Beat everything

[Arthur Crabtree]

Average for the first wicket is 63 in 15 overs.

Well, they got the 63.

[bigfluffylemon]

This is going badly.

[Arthur Crabtree]

So, will England lose the moral Ashes, as well as the Ashes?

[Arthur Crabtree]

Well, that's a good day for the Aussies.

[alfie]

Fine (abbreviated) day for Australia - assuming they don't get back on. And a pretty grim one for England who look a bit tired (understandably) and are finding nothing in the day four pitch to help them.

I did think some of the confidence that 380 was plenty as a target , given the expected conditions , was a bit overdone. But was expecting at least one or two wickets by now : bit surprised by how comfortable batting has looked for Warner and Khawaja. This excellent opening stand has really given Australia a huge chance of pulling off a record chase tomorrow ... with the caution that these large chases sometimes start well and go downhill fast once a wicket falls.

Lots for Stokes and his lads to think about overnight. Maybe a fresh day will see another swing of the pendulum ...

[Durhamfootman]

if it rains tomorrow the English media will claim that it saved the Aussies again

[GarlicJam]

if it rains tomorrow the English media will claim that it saved the Aussies again

Don't worry - we're getting our "bloody rain saved England from a 3-1 drubbing" all ready.