Ashes decider

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England off to a decent start. 2 for 121.

What matters is how Australia bat. The Oval's a ground where 'draw' tends to be the default result - always has been.

[mrdependable]

Looks as if the toss was vital. The Aussies might be praying for rain already i reckon.

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Looks as if the toss was vital. The Aussies might be praying for rain already i reckon.

They've pegged England back quite well.

Now it all depends on how cheaply they take the last 2 wickets, and how well they bat in their own first innings.

[GhostofBolivar]

Good day for Australia.

England will have been quite happy with 300 up, but the loss of 8 wickets is poor. What's worse is that it seems to be a continuation of the same slack technique as they displayed at Headingley.

Strauss pushed forward when he didn't need to. Collingwood wafted outside off once too often. Prior's dismissal was terrible. Flintoff's a joke. What he was trying to do is beyond my ken. The worst of all was Bell. How many chances are the selectors going to give him? He's already perfected his 'Well I've scored 70. That's my job done. Time to get out' act.

Trott did alright until he got out - but then, he's South African.

The fragility of the England batting order is ridiculous. If the Australians put up 450-500 in their first innings, then the Ashes stay in the visitor's dressing room.

[Hibs Class]

Big push by England just now - 4 wickets for Broad in the space of 45 minutes. With the weather forecast for Sat/ Sun good, hopefully there will be a result rather than a rain-influenced draw.

[TheEastTerrace]

108-5 now. Definitely a result weather permitting. England's total not looking too shabby at the moment. Imagine if their batsman hadn't gifted some of their wickets.

[TheEastTerrace]

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108-5 now. Definitely a result weather permitting. England's total not looking too shabby at the moment. Imagine if their batsman hadn't gifted some of their wickets.

6 down now.

[Hibs Class]

111 for 7 - must be a chance of achieving the follow on, although tea is probably coming at just the wrong time. Fantastic session, though.

[Mibbes Aye]

Congratulations to Stuart Broad. Fine performance so far. Bit of a collapse from Australia, for sure.

They should avoid the follow-on.
Can they still draw? - definitely.
Can they win? - remote but not impossible.
Can England win? - they're a confidence team and they have the momentum at the moment.....

Great finish to a five-match card. This is what a full series is about

[JimBHibees]

Incredible turnaround. Hope England horse them.

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Incredible turnaround. Hope England horse them.

Hope NOT - but it looks very like it now.

[PC Stamp]

Oval chief exec said it was a result pitch. He wasn't joking!
Strauss winning the toss could turn out to be the deciding factor because batting last is gonna be some chore!

[TheEastTerrace]

England currently 440 ahead in their 2nd innings. Subject to weather and the possibility of some horrendous England bowling, I just cannot see the Aussies batting two days on that pitch.

[Hibs Class]

Well played by Trott - should be a comfortable win for England; hopefully an entertaining couple of hours coming up now.

[Houchy]

I take it that the only way it can be a drawn series now is if it hoses down for most of tomorrow or Monday or the Aussies bat defensively for 2 days?

[Hibs Class]

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I take it that the only way it can be a drawn series now is if it hoses down for most of tomorrow or Monday or the Aussies bat defensively for 2 days?

Correct, but given tonight's last session the Aussies didn't look too defensively minded. To bat for two days would be a tall order, and unprecedented, but if they can hold out through tomorrow then the weather forecast for Monday is more uncertain. It is still very much there for England to win tomorrow though. Plus, of course, a draw in this test and thus the series means the Aussies retain the ashes.

[Mibbes Aye]

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Correct, but given tonight's last session the Aussies didn't look too defensively minded. To bat for two days would be a tall order, and unprecedented, but if they can hold out through tomorrow then the weather forecast for Monday is more uncertain. It is still very much there for England to win tomorrow though. Plus, of course, a draw in this test and thus the series means the Aussies retain the ashes.

It looks to be a decent batting pitch still. England had a few shouts in the last session but there was plenty of give for the batsmen. Ponting has potentially a huge innings in him I feel (and will not want to repeat 05) and I think Hussey's got to find some form at the very death of the series if he isn't to risk losng his place.

Watson's conversion to an opener wasn't anticipated, nor was it necessarily expected to be a great success but it's worked and it's thrown the cat amongst the pigeons with regard to the batting order selection after the Ashes. Thing is, Hughes is almost certainly too good to stay out the team so something's got to give. Can't see how it can be Katich and North has done more than enough to keep his place. Not sure what order, mind

Point being that Hussey needs an innings. Being Australian there's every likelihood he'll produce one. And Ponting and Clarke are both capable of putting together big innings. North, Haddin and Johnson can all get runs too.

I agree Australia probably need the weather. Cracking finale whichever way it works out.

[Toaods]

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I agree Australia probably need the weather. Cracking finale whichever way it works out.

1/2 hour in - they certainly do now and probably not.

[HH81]

I still think Aus can win this from here....Oh maybe im just mad

[Toaods]

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I still think Aus can win this from here....Oh maybe im just mad

i don't htink the traget was unreachable after last nights start to the innings, but sadly so did the bookies as they were only 11/4 ish, which is terrible considering what was required.

[Toaods]

just checked the prics on Bet 365

Aussies are 11/1 if it goes out to 20/1 before either of Hussey or Ponting have been ousted , I'll throw a few quid on just because with England you never know and although Aussie don't feature to often on the best ever 4th innings comeback lists - that's only because they don't have to usully chase much to win when they do have to close a game out.

[Houchy]

Right, another question, sorry:

According to Betfair:

England to win are 1/10 favourites (which I understand why)
Australia to win is 11/1 (OK, again I can see that)
Draw is 22/1?

My question is how is the draw more unlikely than an Australia win?

Example: yesterdays match against Falkirk (using hypothetical odds), when we went 2-1 up, the odds were probably 1/2 hibs, 6/4 draw and 2/1 falkirk ie more chance of a draw than a Falkirk win.

At this point it's looking unlikely that Australia can get to 546 (or whatever they need to win) but maybe a chance that they can bat defensively for the remainder of the match and dig out a draw, or even a full days rain tomorrow. Think i'm going to give up trying to get my head around it.

[HH81]

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Right, another question, sorry:

According to Betfair:

England to win are 1/10 favourites (which I understand why)
Australia to win is 11/1 (OK, again I can see that)
Draw is 22/1?

My question is how is the draw more unlikely than an Australia win?

Example: yesterdays match against Falkirk (using hypothetical odds), when we went 2-1 up, the odds were probably 1/2 hibs, 6/4 draw and 2/1 falkirk ie more chance of a draw than a Falkirk win.

At this point it's looking unlikely that Australia can get to 546 (or whatever they need to win) but maybe a chance that they can bat defensively for the remainder of the match and dig out a draw, or even a full days rain tomorrow. Think i'm going to give up trying to get my head around it.

For a draw Aus would have to bat until tomorrow teatime.

The bookies are saying they have more chance of chasing the total down than that happening. I agree.

[Toaods]

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For a draw Aus would have to bat until tomorrow teatime.

The bookies are saying they have more chance of chasing the total down than that happening. I agree.

with a near full set of wickets still intact, they statistically have stronger batsmen and especially Ponting could stay around for the whole stint. Hussey has progressively lost form over the last few years although he's stillmore than capble of toughing it out.

If both get settled right in and then start finding the boundary with more ease England will become more negative with the fear the Aussies would take it.

Still unlikely but in sport the mind is the toughest opponent you'll ever face.

[Hibs Class]

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For a draw Aus would have to bat until tomorrow teatime.

The bookies are saying they have more chance of chasing the total down than that happening. I agree.

or alternatively Australia get through today and then it's rained off tomorrow, preventing a win

[Mibbes Aye]

Well done England

Fascinating series - Australia dominate the batting and bowling averages yet England made the most of their periods on top and thus secured the series.

Strauss has looked convincing as a captain and an opener. Real breakthrough for Stuart Broad in this series too. Jonathan Trott has booked his place for South Africa and Graeme Swann has cemented his position.

For Australia Hilfenhaus and Siddle have emerged with credit and answered any questions about their selection. North has done well enough and Clarke has reinforced his position as Ponting's successor.

Some great cricket during this series and a firm riposte to anyone who doubted the validity of the five-day game

[Sir David Gray]

No doubt that'll be another whole host of MBE's then...

Flintoff will probably be given a knighthood since he already has an MBE and it was also his last Ashes.

[blackpoolhibs]

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No doubt that'll be another whole host of MBE's then...

Flintoff will probably be given a knighthood since he already has an MBE and it was also his last Ashes.

I'm surprised whoever wins the boat race each year, is not honoured in the same way. A bloody 2 team match, and the winner gets a gong, only in england eh.

[marinello59]

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No doubt that'll be another whole host of MBE's then...

Flintoff will probably be given a knighthood since he already has an MBE and it was also his last Ashes.

That's what happens when politicians try to bask in the glow of sporting achievement. They fool nobody.

A great victory for England. Flintoff's smashing of the wicket to get Ponting out was a classic sporting moment.

[TheEastTerrace]

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No doubt that'll be another whole host of MBE's then...

Flintoff will probably be given a knighthood since he already has an MBE and it was also his last Ashes.

Would seriously hope that they learn from 2005 and not stage overblown celebrations, have open top tours and make trips to No.10. Yes, England deserve the plaudits, but their downfall in 2006/07 Ashes whitewash started with all of that nonsense IMO. Too many big egos walking about after 2005.

Strauss has impressed me. Punter acknowledged that Australia topped the stats, but England made the most of their opportunities when it mattered. The First Test draw has even more significance for me. I think England still have a lot to do to beat South Africa away but should be a good winter series.

Last but not least, well done to Freddie. His stats may not remember him amongst the greatest all rounders of all time, but you only have to see how the Aussies have held him in such high regard throughout the series to see how much he has impacted positively on English cricket over the last few years.