Ashes to Ashes

[Satchmo Distel]

All done. Australia deservedly retain the Ashes and have been the better side by a significant distance in the series.

[Satchmo Distel]

Earliest bad light finish in the Test so far was 6.42pm IIRC.

[longeared]

There's 83 overs then the final hour with a minimum 15 overs, although light might be an issue. They've already been off for bad light in this match so there is a benchmark reading for the umpires.

[Satchmo Distel]

Stuart Broad seems a decent bloke off the field; twattish on it, certainly, but not as bad as his dad was (Chris Broad was the stroppiest, most entitled fucker I have seen in an England shirt except maybe Boycott).

[Jon]

Broad relegated to eleven so Somerset pair Overton and Leach are currently batting.

[Satchmo Distel]

What time is the cut off?

Six, six-thirty?

Or a.n. other?

7pm is official close but, given this is the last day, I believe they play until the 98 overs are used up unless the light goes sooner (which is likely given we are 8 days into September).

[Jon]

They came off at nearly seven last night, i think. Last day of the test so all remaining overs can be bowled.

[diggedy derek]

I suppose it depends how you read it. I'd say Bairstow has done worse at fulfilling the role of a number six batsman than Buttler has done at fulfilling the more bizarre role of a batting number seven. So yeah, perhaps that makes sense. There's also more obvious technical issues with Bairstow. But the whole Buttler thing has, in general, been a reckless selection, because the batting order makes so little sense now.

[Guy Profumo]

What time is the cut off?

Six, six-thirty?

Or a.n. other?

[E10 Rifle]

Yeah Foakes should come in at the Oval, home ground and that. I'd keep Buttler and rest Bairstow. Buttler was doing Ok there

[diggedy derek]

Yeah, that may have counted against him ever being talked about as a serious captaincy candidate, which his cricket brain deserves. Him and Cummins would make good captains both. It would never happen of course. I can't even think of the last international Test captain who was primarily a bowler.

[ursus arctos]

Hanging grimly on.

Why the dislike of Broad, UA, out of curiosity? Sorry if we've done that before.

He just has a way of embodying privileged twatdom to me. It isn't particularly rational, but this kind of dislike rarely is.

[diggedy derek]

And Archer.

England, wise, they should definitely jettison Roy, and also Bairstow and Buttler. I'd keep Denley in in case he makes a great case for himself at the Oval. So I'd keep Root as captain, partly as there are no other obvious batsmen to do it, but give him a substantially new team.

[diggedy derek]

Buttler goes.

You'd expect them to stick with this Rolls Royce bowling unit for the final Test, they've been great.

[George C.]

Disclaimer.

England et al deserve the right to hang on, despite being outplayed again.

[diggedy derek]

Hanging grimly on.

Why the dislike of Broad, UA, out of curiosity? Sorry if we've done that before.

[Satchmo Distel]

95% now, with only YJB and Buttler protecting the tail.

[Satchmo Distel]

They've removed the only three English batsmen who have shown an ability to stick around, so I think it is 90% probable.

[George C.]

I would put it at more than slightly but less than hugely. The difference between these sides is Smith plus Australia having four good bowlers versus England's three (one of whom can't bowl right now due to a shoulder issue). That's two players difference but both are match-winners (Smith plus any one of the bowlers).

Clearly Australia would have won at Headingley with Smith.

This. Let's hope they do it today.

[Satchmo Distel]

Next England captain maybe, although that didn't work with Botham and Flintoff.

Cummins has been sensational: 4-23 when the other three bowlers have gone wicketless. Add that to his spell that set up the collapse on Friday and he's pushing Smith for MOTM and Hazlewood for bowler of the series.

[Levin]

Does Stokes walking make him nailed on for SPOTY?

[jwdd27]

It's OK, Stokes is in next drop.

[Kevin S]

This is lovely and everything but it demonstrates how hard a task England will have to survive tomorrow.

Or even tonight.

[Satchmo Distel]

England are 0-2

[Satchmo Distel]

Before he became captain, maybe, certainly not during his captaincy.