The Ashes (Australia vs England) 5th Test: Jan 4-8, 2018 at Sydney

[Katto]

not one crack in this pitch
Tony Grieg would be spinning in his grave

[Verity]

not one crack in this pitch
Tony Grieg would be spinning in his grave

I don’t get it the things a highway and the shit poms are struggling massively

[Verity]

Cummins was up near 150k last Big Bash now consistently only 135k, where’s the speed gone?

He still has the peak speed, just not the stamina bank.

Watch him in odis and t20s - he will peak again 150ish.

He hasn’t bowled a ball near 150 all series haha

[Katto]

its a bit hard to maintain speed when every second ball is a bouncer

[bolero]

4-0 very much on the cards.

[Katto]

back in 1970 a South African team hailed as great defeated a good but not great touring Aussie team 4-0.

in 2018 when a good but not great England team is defeated 4-0 touring Australia I don't expect the same praise to be awarded this Aussie team (and nor should it)

Its funny how history is remembered though. Home ground advantage is huge between northern and southern hemisphere teams.

[Shambles]

Should be formality tonight, bit like the last day of the Tour de France. Well played Australia, miles better than us over the 5 games. Not sure what England do from here? I have no idea. A tour to NZ will be tough after this, poor scheduling again? India in the summer, theyre as bad away from home as we are. I think the structure of cricket in England needs attention. Too much focus on one day rubbish. Signing off.

[Boycs]

In contrast to the above I don’t think we should over emphasis English weakness at the expense of acknowledging Australia strength. This is an ashes tour down under. It’s supposed to be tough. We’ve won when - 1987 and 2010 over the last 38 years?

In 2010 a collection of grade A players all hitting their strides at the same time came together to beat an Australian team that was in a slight trough. That’s what, in turn, Australia will need to be to beat us at home next time. Australia wont have won in England for 18 years by the time they come back here. Some of their new Sheffield shield youngsters making their F.C. debuts that year may never had seen an Aussie victory in England in their life time.

So let’s not smash up this England team too much. Touring is harder than ever with cricketers given less time to acclimatise and even more formats of this ever-more-multi-discipline spot to try and master. Yes this isn’t a strong England team and there are some obvious weak links that need to be disposed off but there is a core bunch of players coming to fruition within the team. We just need to build a better squad around them.

[baggygreenmania]

England deserve to be verbally "smashed up" Boycs. Or at least does the ECB.

What is it doing to prepare its cricket team for the Aussie Ashes every four years to avoid embarrassment and humiliation? Sweet nothing..thats what. Have they built similar decks to what they will encounter in OZ to train on and play? If not they should.

Yes the climates may be chalk and cheese. But something has to be done. Even if it is playing with the Kookaburra ball leading into the tour.. similar to what we are now doing with the English Dukes in our domestic Shield competition.

The ECB has sat on its collective bum for too long while presiding over belting after belting.

How long will the players put up with it?

[baggygreenmania]

The Baggies should, barring the weather, compelete the humiliation by mid arvo I am figuring. Lyon has the ball turning from the footmarks and our trio of quicks smell blood in the water.

[Verity]

Where to for England? There bowling attack is a one man show and that one man is bound to retire any time now in Anderson, they have no spinner, Broad is a has been and you could face Woakes all day and not feel threatened. Ali’s career is surly over and the Top 6 is fragile, only one impressing me is Malan. Stoneman and Vince are shit and the two senior players have struggled.. KP should have been reinstated 2 years ago when he was keen, absolute no depth in the batting at all.

[baggygreenmania]

Australia's four pronged attack has done what only three other attacks have done in Test crcket.. each taken 20 wickets apiece in a series. Starc 22, Hazlewood 20 (should have been 21 after catch spilt off Cook) Cummins 20 (pick of the bunch this Test) Nathan Lyon 20 and all are counting with 6 wickets still to fall today to record a 4-0 series win. Hats off to the seamers in our squad who have toiled on "non seamer friendly decks"..as James Anderson puts it.

[baggygreenmania]

only one impressing me is Malan.
Me too. He has to be retained..is a handy leggie as well. I like Malan's temperament and he times the ball well. Reckon they threw Vince (Hazlewood's bunny) to the lions batting him at #3. Also Mason Crane who looks out of his depth at this level. Tom Curran needs to find another 8kph to be a threat on most wickets.. but he has potential.

[Shambles]

Root in hospital overnight I am hearing. Severe dehydration & diarrhoea. Won’t be able to resume his innings. Sounds bad. Possibly burn out from the stress of it all. I’m sure everyone wishes him well.

[baggygreenmania]

Root in hospital overnight I am hearing. Severe dehydration & diarrhoea. Won’t be able to resume his innings. Sounds bad. Possibly burn out from the stress of it all. I’m sure everyone wishes him well.

Root has my sympathy. He has had a torrid Aussie Ashes captaincy debut. Copped heaps of flack.. his own form has been patchy on mostly batting friendly decks and his tactics have been a touch radical..

[baggygreenmania]

UPDATE: England skipper Joe Root has been released from hospital and is "likely to bat at some point" on the final day despite suffering from severe dehydration.

[Yorkshire]

Wish you better health, Great man,i am dying to see his 37th 50 on last day of Ashes.

[baggygreenmania]

Will the ICC step in and change the playing conditions concerning extreme heat, as witnessed at the SCG yesterday? It was 57C in the centre of the iconic ground in the early afternoon before a cool change hit Sydney. Joe Root has been hospitalized with severe dehydration.. wonder there were not more..specially from England who endured the worst of the sweltering conditions.

[baggygreenmania]

A tough Yorkshireman.. he will bat.

[baggygreenmania]

Something Mason Crane will not want to be reading.

[Yorkshire]

Yes yes here it is
Joe Root back

[baggygreenmania]

Gutsy effort Joe. Brings up his 50 too.

[baggygreenmania]

Our quicks are struggling to make inroads here on this flat last day track.

[baggygreenmania]

That famed Brit bulldog spirit takes Root and Bairstow to lunch undefeated and still a sniff to save the match.

[baggygreenmania]

Cummins has two with the old ball. Only his pace is able to extract anything from this deck. Should be over shortly.

[Yorkshire]

8 down but where is Root ?

[Verity]

8 down but where is Root ?

the sooks gone oft crook, weak as piss, shouldnt be England captain

[baggygreenmania]

Where is the yorker to the tail?

[bolero]

Cummins impressive.

[bolero]

Root played well no support from others

[MikeR68]

Congratulations to Australia on the 4-0 win. Definitely a strong performance by Australia's batting line up for the first time in a while.

Cummins the pick of the bowlers with 23 wickets at 24, and contributed 166 with the bat.

Starc though he only played 4 tests taking 22 wickets at 23 and contributing 44 with the bat but was down on his performance by his own admission.

Lyon though not as dominant after his recent away performances taking 63 wickets last year managed 21 wickets at 29.

Josh Hazlewood some say has bowled the best of his career taking 21 wickets at 27...WTF... ONLY 21 Wickets????? Bowled the best of his career??? That's average return at best. Cummins and Starc who both bowled poorly by their high standards and with illness still out played him. Must be Josh's recent away performances...4 tests for 9 wickets at 33. Maybe his batting helped, no nothing there either. Maybe his fielding? He dropped a catch didn't he in this test. How is he still in the side, Can't bat, Can't field, and big questions on his bowling effectiveness.

But well done to Steve Smith and the other batsmen who found good form leading into the South Africa tour, they'll need all those runs to overcome South Africa's bowling attack, but the good news is Steyn may be injured again and out.

And for those who think the flat wickets are to blame.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HLrvJngq_xE&t=15s

That's how to bowl on flat wickets.

[Katto]

http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/records/bowling/most_wickets_career.html?id=11645;type=series

Cummins number 1 in 5 Test but Starc too good in 4 tests only


Cong.Australian supporters for Ashes win by 4/0, so far 12 century were recorded in 2017-18 Ashes


http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/r ... ype=series

Starc couldnt last 5 tests

Cummins #1

not bad for a poor man's Pattinson

+ Player of the match

[Paddles]

http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/records/bowling/most_wickets_career.html?id=11645;type=series

Cummins number 1 in 5 Test but Starc too good in 4 tests only


Cong.Australian supporters for Ashes win by 4/0, so far 12 century were recorded in 2017-18 Ashes


http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/r ... ype=series

Starc couldnt last 5 tests

Cummins #1

not bad for a poor man's Pattinson

+ Player of the match

He has transitioned himself from Poor Man's Pattinson to a Poor Man's Wagner now. I'm not surprised he went alright bowling that short stuff to the English, particularly the tail at the MCG and SCG. Are you still surprised he bowled so many bumpers Katto?

[bolero]

Although I am a great fan of Cummins, did feel Hazelwood picked up wickets at crunch moments that won Aus the Ashes.

[Leo]

Congratulations Australia

[baggygreenmania]

Haze finishes things. Brilliant Baggies 4-0. In charge of the little urn once again.

Steve Smith incomparable.. Haze, Cummo, Starc and Lyno superb.. the Marsh boys have been reborn and the best feel good story of the Ashes was Tim Paine. Now for some revenge against the Saffers boys.

[raja]

Congrats to all Aussie supporters.
Fantastic feeling.
5-0 would've been even better, but not complaining at all.

Excellent team effort. Even Khawaja delivered in the last Test.
(Am willing to ignore Bancroft's poor series - don't want to be too picky. )

[baggygreenmania]

Although I am a great fan of Cummins, did feel Hazelwood picked up wickets at crunch moments that won Aus the Ashes.

Tell that to Mike bolero. He is still bagging him. Agree about Cummo.. improved as the series went on. He is almost back to express pace and he once again looks like our enforcer. Great last Test performance on a fairly lifeless pitch... Bring on the Saffers now with this outstanding attack of ours..

[baggygreenmania]

England will be feeling a little like this.

[Verity]

Josh Hazlewood some say has bowled the best of his career taking 21 wickets at 27...WTF... ONLY 21 Wickets????? Bowled the best of his career??? That's average return at best. Cummins and Starc who both bowled poorly by their high standards and with illness still out played him. Must be Josh's recent away performances...4 tests for 9 wickets at 33. Maybe his batting helped, no nothing there either. Maybe his fielding? He dropped a catch didn't he in this test. How is he still in the side, Can't bat, Can't field, and big questions on his bowling effectiveness. 

did he bang your wife or something?

[Boycs]

Haha poor root, he feels sick at the thought of converting a fifty into a hundred

[bolero]

Root is a good person, a good bat, but somehow dont feel he is captaincy material. He has a David Gower / Rahul Dravid like 'nice guy' image.

[bolero]

I am not saying one has to behave like a prick like Kohli does. But a certain degree of ruthlessness required as a captain. Take tough decisions and take the onus.

[Paddles]

Root is a good person, a good bat, but somehow dont feel he is captaincy material. He has a David Gower / Rahul Dravid like 'nice guy' image.

NZC under BMac got a patent on nice guy cricket. And in KW, the captain is even nicer.

But noone is telling Wagner to pitch it up more often.

We even play nice cricket with Safrica and India.

Still gets heated when we play Straya, but its fairly one sided bar Grant Elliot asking Mitch Marsh if the game was being played under a catches rule when he was swearing off.

[bolero]

Root is a good person, a good bat, but somehow dont feel he is captaincy material. He has a David Gower / Rahul Dravid like 'nice guy' image.

NZC under BMac got a patent on nice guy cricket. And in KW, the captain is even nicer.

But noone is telling Wagner to pitch it up more often.

Yup, both are nice guys. Kane is a gem. He got a standing ovation from Kochi crowd in India when he spoke. MS Dhoni was also exemplary in his character as a captain. His attributes were keeping cool under pressure.

In Root, I am not seeing any attributes as a captain.

[Katto]

nice guys finish last

[baggygreenmania]

Haha poor root, he feels sick at the thought of converting a fifty into a hundred

What do you think of my ideas on bettering English cricket (earlier post)

[Paddles]

NZC under BMac got a patent on nice guy cricket. And in KW, the captain is even nicer.

But noone is telling Wagner to pitch it up more often.

Yup, both are nice guys. Kane is a gem. He got a standing ovation from Kochi crowd in India when he spoke. MS Dhoni was also exemplary in his character as a captain. His attributes were keeping cool under pressure.

In Root, I am not seeing any attributes as a captain.

Kane seems to be a simple and straightforward guy.

BMac celebratory 'mankadded' Murali I believe when he went to celebrate a century maker after placing his bat. And the Jesse Ryder and him saga is not over yet. He also suggested his retirement was to stay at home more, and has since played in every t20 league possible while selling the McCullum brand.

NZC bounced back under BMac, and we played much better cricket.

Is he a 'nice guy'? Or polite and ruthless while maximising and cashing in popularity?

[bolero]

Yup, both are nice guys. Kane is a gem. He got a standing ovation from Kochi crowd in India when he spoke. MS Dhoni was also exemplary in his character as a captain. His attributes were keeping cool under pressure.

In Root, I am not seeing any attributes as a captain.

Kane seems to be a simple and straightforward guy.

BMac celebratory 'mankadded' Murali I believe when he went to celebrate a century maker after placing his bat. And the Jesse Ryder and him saga is not over yet. He also suggested his retirement was to stay at home more, and has since played in every t20 league possible while selling the McCullum brand.

NZC bounced back under BMac, and we played much better cricket.

Is he a 'nice guy'? Or polite and ruthless while maximising and cashing in popularity?

As a captain, one factor most boards decide while appointing is that the captain's place should not be under threat. If the place in the side is vulnerable, then that person is not captain. By that logic, Root is fine. But we see end result as captain, how many wins under that person.

BMAC's place was never under threat. But I didnt know the history between him and Jesse Ryder.

Again there is a contrarian logic, that success hides the individual's failure to perform. Prime example is Ganguly whose batting went from average to worst as a captain, but he led the side well.

In case of Azharuddin, he was a failure both as a captain and individually, however he was on cozy terms with the Board (Match fixing angle, perhaps ?). One more angle in Azhar's case was BCCI wanted one Muslim in the team (quota) and nothing better than captain as he wont be dropped. Tendulkar never got along with Azhar , to the world they were good team mates, but they didnt like each other. It was an open secret.

[Verity]

My ratings

Warner - 7
Bancroft - 2
Khawaja - 6
Smith - 10
S Marsh - 9
M Marsh - 9
Paine - 7.5
Starc - 8
Cummins - 8.5
Hazlewood - 8
Lyon - 10

Handscomb - 1