The Ashes & Hampshire Cricket Summer Thread - II

Because we are playing for a draw ?

Not that I'm happy about it , but With rain forecast and it being day 3 , I can understand it .

 

Given the weather situation, it's very unlikely that we will win the match. In those circumstances, the most important thing is to make sure you don't lose.

 

What went on between KP and the Worm ( AKA MC ) ?

I heard the umpires intervened .

 

Woakes is a much better batsman than Broad and Bresnan. He isn't a bowler. He's a genuine all-rounder.

 

Yeah. No chance of us winning. We just need to keep batting sensibly.

 

Certainly at county level (and more specifically, at first class county level). Whether or not he ever turns out to be a genuine all-rounder at test level, only time will tell. I really hope he does, but I have my doubts. Right now I would suggest that Stokes is the more likely candidate to succeed.

 

It looks like the weather is going to ensure a draw.
I'll still be more comfortable once England's total reaches 293 though

 

A draw is the obvious result now, so it looks like it will be a 3-0 win for England. Regardless of accusations about negative tactics yesterday and at other times during the series, 3-0 is a bit of hammering. We've dug in when we have needed to and there is nothing wrong with that.

I think Oz will be very much down after this series, not just with the three matches we one but also the two that look like going to a draw. In a dominant position in both of these Tests they haven't been able to get the win and that will play on their minds. In the last three series against the top three teams in the last 12 months or so, they haven't won a single match. I think we can get a similar result down under.

 

Day 4 washout if people didn't know. No play today at all. Draw certain.

 

Some people now saying England should declare to make the game more exciting.

Morons.

 

Good chance for Prior to bat himself back into form.

 

They should declare. Nothing to lose.

 

Except the match. Why give them a chance?

 

To make things interesting. Plus I need a win for England here for my bet.

 

I like seeing us bowl, so would enjoy a declaration. This will be a draw whatever we do.

 

We just need to keep batting.

 

Agnew said we should declare when we avoided the Follow on .

Boycott said no , just bat and enjoy yourselves .

I am with Boycott and Vaughan on this .

 

I'm with Aggers.

 

The point in a declaration is to put yourself in a position to win the game. I usually like aggressive declarations rather than being negative but England have nothing to gain by declaring. They won't be able to win the game as Australia aren't going to risk going 4-0 down and giving England even more momentum for the next series. If England declared Australia would have a quick slog, make sure they bat England out the game then declare and give England a period of play they need survive. There is no point in declaring.

 

You would be