5th Test (The Oval) - 31st July to 4th August

[Uppercut]

Is there a single fast bowler who played the 4th test that wouldn't be left out of this one in ideal circumstances? Maybe Siraj. Everyone else has fitness/workload questions, quality questions, or both. Such an attritional series.

 

[LangleyburyCCPlayer]

Is there a single fast bowler who played the 4th test that wouldn't be left out of this one in ideal circumstances? Maybe Siraj. Everyone else has fitness/workload questions, quality questions, or both. Such an attritional series.

I am a bit surprised just how much Bumrah, Archer and Carse’s speeds were down at OT after over a week’s rest, now with such a quick turnaround I can’t imagine they’ll be back to 90mph if they do get picked

 

[capt_Luffy]

Is there a single fast bowler who played the 4th test that wouldn't be left out of this one in ideal circumstances? Maybe Siraj. Everyone else has fitness/workload questions, quality questions, or both. Such an attritional series.

The correct answer is Stokes really

 

[Ju7]

Reddy is out of the series, but to be fair, I don’t think he’s much of a miss. Aside from Jurel coming in for Pant, I don’t envisage any changes to your batting, I’d go for a few in the bowling department though

India
Jaiswal
Rahul
Sudharsan
Gill
Jadeja
Jurel
Washington
Kuldeep
Akashdeep
Arshdeep
Bumrah

Might be a bit of a risk to play Bumrah, but if anyone is worth it, he is, and I think Siraj needs a rest

England:
Crawley
Duckett
Pope
Root
Brook
Stokes
Smith
Dawson
Atkinson
Woakes
Tongue

Not completely sold on Tongue, but Archer wasn’t the same as Lord’s and I’d be shocked if he plays 3 in a row (this is where Wood would have come in handy, not that I think many of us really thought he’d be available). Atkinson hardly pulled up any trees against the Somerset second XI, but Carse was toothless and looked as though he needed a rest, all things being equal I wouldn’t pick Woakes but he was possibly our best bowler outside Stokes (not saying much!). I love the Ahmed brothers, I think Rehan could be our next all-rounder once Stokes retires, but I’d be shocked if he gets a go just yet

I'm not sold on Tongue but consistency of selection suggests he should play.

 

[Ju7]

I am a bit surprised just how much Bumrah, Archer and Carse’s speeds were down at OT after over a week’s rest, now with such a quick turnaround I can’t imagine they’ll be back to 90mph if they do get picked

It was quite pronounced how much slower they were and yet Stokes seemed to keep his pace fairly high.

 

[social]

No way that Archer should play unless they want to break him again

Bumrah looks crocked to me and shouldn’t play either

 

[Johan]

Bumrah looks crocked to me and shouldn’t play either

won't be fun if he doesn't play

 

[Shady Slim]

Yeah I've wondered that too, because the new Kookaburra in use in the last few years is by all accounts much harder with a much more prominent seam, but it could well be that it needs a bit pace and life in the pitch to begin with to actually respond, otherwise it just slides on nicely to the bat.

What I do know is that there are some grounds these days in the Shield where 180 is a pretty regularly a decent first innings score, and a lot of players think the ball is the reason for that.

the pitches that we've been rolling out for tests have been consistently excellent on average for a while now too which helps

 

[Spark]

the pitches that we've been rolling out for tests have been consistently excellent on average for a while now too which helps

In the Shield? Nah I wouldn't say that, some of the decks the WACA and SCG have rolled out in recent years have been hugely detrimental to the health of the game because they're just way too bowler friendly, and the MCG isn't far behind.

 

[Shady Slim]

In the Shield? Nah I wouldn't say that, some of the decks the WACA and SCG have rolled out in recent years have been hugely detrimental to the health of the game because they're just way too bowler friendly, and the MCG isn't far behind.

oh nah i mean for tests yeah
(i'm on the record as saying that i'd take a million mambas before i take one Junction Oval though so i note that)

 

[LangleyburyCCPlayer]

The correct answer is Stokes really

Stokes was definitely feeling it, if we’d have won that Test I’d have gone a bit rogue and rested him and put in Rehan Ahmed as the all-rounder (and also gone with Bethell as opener, it would have been cruel to deny Pope a home Test!), but alas both teams will still have to pick from some tired, tired players! Turns out 5 Test series are a test of endurance!

 

[Chin Music]

I am a bit surprised just how much Bumrah, Archer and Carse’s speeds were down at OT after over a week’s rest, now with such a quick turnaround I can’t imagine they’ll be back to 90mph if they do get picked

Broad made a point on comms that the outfield and the run ups were a lot softer at Old Trafford than some other grounds and that it is hard to get the same momentum running in and that means it is harder to get the speed up. It should be remembered that Archer has barely played fc, let alone test cricket in four years so there was always only going to be limited durability for him. Carse is carrying an injury too and that hasn't helped him.

 

[Burgey]

Broad made a point on comms that the outfield and the run ups were a lot softer at Old Trafford than some other grounds and that it is hard to get the same momentum running in and that means it is harder to get the speed up. It should be remembered that Archer has barely played fc, let alone test cricket in four years so there was always only going to be limited durability for him. Carse is carrying an injury too and that hasn't helped him.

This is good intel tbh

 

[govinda indian fan]

Stokes was definitely feeling it, if we’d have won that Test I’d have gone a bit rogue and rested him and put in Rehan Ahmed as the all-rounder (and also gone with Bethell as opener, it would have been cruel to deny Pope a home Test!), but alas both teams will still have to pick from some tired, tired players! Turns out 5 Test series are a test of endurance!

Mate Crawley scored 84 at ot. Would be unfair to drop him

 

[govinda indian fan]

Headingley was the perfect track, never broke up at all

Lords is only decent track this series

 

[Burgey]

Mate Crawley scored 84 at ot. Would be unfair to drop him

He should definitely play the whole Ashes series too

 

[LangleyburyCCPlayer]

Mate Crawley scored 84 at ot. Would be unfair to drop him

Oh I'm not dropping him now, just saying if the series were wrapped up it would have been a great chance to try Bethell out

 

[govinda indian fan]

Oh I'm not dropping him now, just saying if the series were wrapped up it would have been a great chance to try Bethell out

Bethell can be part if pope fails in ashes

 

[govinda indian fan]

He should definitely play the whole Ashes series too

Yes he would end Hazelwood's career

 

[Molehill]

He should definitely play the whole Ashes series too

https://www.espncricinfo.com/records/series/batting-most-runs-career/the-ashes-2023-14990

Just a reminder of 2023.....he's got more chance of topping the run charts again than Khawaja.