5th test - The Challenges

1-1 going into the last test at The Oval ( it will always be called this )

Australia needing to only draw the game to retain The Ashes.

Listening to commentators like Botham, Atherton, Holding and Warne it seems they all share the view that the current English side is in need of some changes.

IMO those changes are knee jerk to the situation, if players werent good enough to be selected in the first 2 tests, then all you are doing is replacing failed players with ones that werent good enough to start off with.

Mark R has said he is delighted to be considered, once again, at 39 years of age. What benefit is recalling him, tried and dropped etc.....

The English batmen need to focus on not getting out to poor strokes , and their bowlers to stop bowling short to guys like Ponting, Clarke and North,

Australia will pick their 12 based on a desire to win the test and win the series, NOT to just go in and drzaw it, negative play will mean different approaches by batsmen and bowlers , mistakes easier to make etc and the game can be lost easliy.

For the game to be won by England, they may need to make some declarations to bring on a win, or will they just plug along and settle for a 1-1 series if the game looks like being a draw after say day 3 , saying its better than 5-0 last time and what a great improvment we have had.

Will they select Freddie who is injured to inspire them, and give him his final swan song ???

For me, Australia might make 1 change, a spinner, Breet Lee wont get in, the bowlers won the game last time, Johnson struck it finally, Siddle and Clarke make them play each ball.

Bratwurst bowled very well and might be the unlucky one

I think Bopara definitely has to go....105 runs in 7 innings at an average of 15 is pretty dismal and the last test he scored 1 and 0 so his confidence has gone.
I'd play either Stephen Moores or Rob Key instead of him.Flintoff looks like being fit so the last bowling place is between Harmison and Onions,I'd say.
Ramprakash was no great shakes at Test level when he was young never mind 39 !
So just two changes for England from the last Test.....no need to panic.
And,Wazza,didnt the Aussies drop Hughes when he had a better average than Bopara now has ?

Flintoff in for Harmison.
Key in for Bopara. This wont happen though. Key plays for Kent who are not flavour of the year with the idiots on the selection committee.

Zidane

yes they did, the no 6 spot for the Aussies is always the trial position , has been over the years been a successful strategy. Probably the biggest flop for this was Greg Blewitt years ago.

North with 6 tests and 3 tons, has cemented himself in the side for sure.

Agree on Bopara, no form at all. Ok he got an inside edge for his lbw, well it looked that way, but......

Flintoff for sure, even if 90% fit, will inspire the team, the crowd and a great send off to a fantastic player over the years.

Im sure the first 2.5 days will sort this game out, somebody has to roll the other , like in the 4th test.

Bob

Agree on the summary of the 2 sides.

There isnt an explosive pace bowler amongst them, nor a spinner capable of routing a side.

Im betting a 60/40 game to the Ozzies and that means a Chern Chim Breakfast for me.

At lunch on the first day.....England 108-1 Strauss 50* Bell 41* (26 overs)
Cook out for 10 with the score on 12.

At tea England 180-3 Bell 72* Trott 3* (53 overs)
Collingwood out for 24 at 176-3
Just 72 runs in 27 overs.....I think this next session is going to be very important for both teams.
Johnson 0-46 in 9 overs....a big disappointment for the Aussies.

My sentiments Bob. It leaves 4 days left for Eng to win. Can't see it where I'm staying at Krabi. Trip to the pub tomorrow night.

181-4 Bell b Siddle 72.....not looking good....England surely need a score of 350 plus then the Aussies bat on a dodgy wicket !