The 5th Test

[nimbusj15]

Letters of invitation have been sent to the following:

M Brearley
C Cowdrey
G Boycott
D Steele
D Randall
D Knott
J Agnew
V Marks
J Snow
D Underwood
R Willis

[Propwash]

I can't help thinking that it is a very good job that my father's generation weren't given to panic after one setback at a place called Dunkirk.

PW

[TheKentishFledgling]

I can't help thinking that it is a very good job that my father's generation weren't given to panic after one setback at a place called Dunkirk.

PW

Ok PW, what changes would you like to see? Or stick with the same? (Fred dependant, obviously).

tKF

[Propwash]

I see no reason to panic. Bopara is out of form (saw him get 1 at Lord's on Wednesday, identical sort of dismissal , Cook not much better, but playing OK today and he hasn't been out of form), so drop Bopara, put Bell (126 today) at 3, Trott (121 yesterday) at 4, and leave the rest well alone. If Flintoff plays (as looks likely) then I would leave out Onions, because the Oval bounce should suit Harmison more. Broad and Swann showed that, with the right attitude, the Aussie bowlers are not unplayable.

Given the way the series has gone so far, pretty even overall, the media seem to be doing the Aussie's job for them with all the whinging. It's all about mind games, at which the Aussies seem to excel. (It helps to cover up their own defficiencies ) No reason for us to help them too.

PW

[rustle]

Broad and Swann showed that, with the right attitude, the Aussie bowlers are not unplayable.

PW

I agree they certainly entertained the crowd for an hour or so [and my God they needed some entertainement], but the attitude of "nothing to lose" isn't likely to recur until at least half way through day one, by which time we'll be bowling to the bowlers again

[Propwash]

Resigned yourself to losing the toss again already, rustle?

If you bat first though, I wonder how your batsmen will feel about facing a fresh Freddie Flintoff determined to do well in his last test match? I wonder if the scars from Lord's have healed yet?

PW

[Propwash]

The latest announcement on the ECB website says that Trott is in the squad, Bopara is out and Bell will bat at number 3. Where have you read this before?

Maybe there has been an outbreak of commonsense in the selector's meeting room.

PW

[rustle]

Maybe there has been an outbreak of commonsense in the selector's meeting room.

PW

Dunno about that Prop, but can you smell a burning smell coming from the [far] south?

[nimbusj15]

Will yearly on the vigil feast his neighbours,
And say 'To-morrow is Saint Crispian.'
Then will he strip his sleeve and show his scars,
And say 'These wounds I had on Crispian's day.'
Old men forget; yet all shall be forgot,
But he'll remember, with advantages,
What feats he did that day. Then shall our names,
Familiar in his mouth as household words-
Freddy the King Harmisson and Anderson, Strauss and Onions-
Be in their flowing cups freshly rememb'red.
This story shall the good man teach his son;
And Crispin Crispian shall ne'er go by,
From this day to the ending of the world,
But we in it shall be remembered-
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother; be he ne'er so vile,
This day shall gentle his condition;
And gentlemen in England now-a-bed
Shall think themselves accurs'd they were not here,
And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
That fought with us upon Saint Crispin's day.

[rustle]

So this is it then, chaps...

I predict Australia to win, but maybe not the thrashing they dished out in Leeds...

[nimbusj15]

Anyone seen the lunch menu?

[Propwash]

Having seen the scores racked up at the Oval this season a win for either side looks difficult. Any weather interuptions will only make matters worse for them, but I don't expect major disruption in terms of overs lost.

Either side can win this. It may come down to lose a session, lose the match for either. Pressure on both sides is the same: England need a win to grab the Ashes, Australia need a win to stay at number one in the rankings.

I predict something special from Freddie and an England win.

PW

[nimbusj15]

Well good morning everyone, England are batting, Struass and Cook at crease 7 - 0

[nimbusj15]

Well, bit of a wobbly morning but into 3 figures for loss of the one wicket by lunch must be viewed as an achievement.

[rustle]

...and didn't "Freddie" do well...