The Ashes; Fourth Test, Trent Bridge, Aug 6-10

[The Waugh Twins]

As I thought series over before I've had my first cup of tea.

Not surprised in the least Oz lost the series, just surprised the won the second test in the fashion they did.

Congrats to the one or two English fans on here, not that you did anything.

[The Waugh Twins]

As I thought series over before I've had my first cup of tea.

Not surprised in the least Oz lost the series, just surprised the won the second test in the fashion they did.

Congrats to the one or two English fans on here, not that you did anything.

Pretty sporting though over all.

[The Waugh Twins]

As I thought series over before I've had my first cup of tea.

Not surprised in the least Oz lost the series, just surprised the won the second test in the fashion they did.

Congrats to the one or two English fans on here, not that you did anything.

Pretty sporting though over all.

Thought they were Steve.

[alfie]

I wonder if there has ever been such a bipolar series in the history of the game. There has been no middle ground, England dominated three tests and were hammered in the other.

I hope this isn't the way Test cricket is going.

Well not too different from 2010/11 in Australia , really. England with three innings wins but a thumping win by Australia in Perth. Guess it seems a bit different because all that was preceded by the draw in Brisbane in which the advantage did swing one way then the other .

[The Waugh Twins]

Oddly I'm not even disappointed, but more feeling robbed of test cricket.

Is that it?

Well at least I'm getting the Man U match.

[alfie]

Oddly I'm not even disappointed, but more feeling robbed of test cricket.

Is that it?

Well at least I'm getting the Man U match.

Quite thoughtful of them to finish the Test in time for that , eh ? Decent start for Man U

[The Waugh Twins]

Oddly I'm not even disappointed, but more feeling robbed of test cricket.

Is that it?

Well at least I'm getting the Man U match.

Quite thoughtful of them to finish the Test in time for that , eh ? Decent start for Man U

Haha, can't believe I didn't set my alarm to see the whole match. The Man U match that is.

[Arthur Crabtree]

I assume Australia won't inflict the unnecessary ignominy on Clarke of dropping him. But it would make the Oval more interesting.

England have ended the eras of Punta and Pup now. A bit like Graeme Smith ending England captaincies.

[The Waugh Twins]

I thought the Oz second innings would be similar to their second innings in the 3rd test and it was pretty damn close, just a few different players showed up to the party.

[The Waugh Twins]

I thought the Oz second innings would be similar to their second innings in the 3rd test and it was pretty damn close, just a few different players showed up to the party.

Party? what party Mark?

[The Waugh Twins]

I thought the Oz second innings would be similar to their second innings in the 3rd test and it was pretty damn close, just a few different players showed up to the party.

Party? what party Mark?

Speaking of parties I need to get cracking on my daughter's 9th today which starts in just over 3 hours. Harry Potter theme.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Junior junior.

[The Waugh Twins]

I assume Australia won't inflict the unnecessary ignominy on Clarke of dropping him. But it would make the Oval more interesting.

England have ended the eras of Punta and Pup now. A bit like Graeme Smith ending England captaincies.

Always hard to follow Waugh's woe,woe,woe,woe, what is he good for, footsteps but never my favourite picks for captain. Great cricketers, but always took things to personally.

[alfie]

obviously can never say what would have happened but I really cant even consider the sort of selections we have seen, the approach to playing and especially the way the team turned things around after lords happening if moores had still be in charge

No question that this couldn't have happened under Moores : he was not the man to take England back to ...well not the top , at least yet ; but Ashes redemption etc.
Nevertheless I think he gets a bit of an unfair press. I liken him to a politician who gets saddled with leadership of his party immediately after a crushing election defeat : no one expects him to win the next election - or perhaps even last to it ; he is just there to soak up all the recriminations ! Clear out the dead wood , and enable someone else to start clean a little further on...
Moores was twice handed the poisoned chalice of England chief after an Ashes whitewash. And twice sacked after doing a bit of spadework but not achieving serious success. As Cook's remarks after today's victory showed , the players appreciate the work he did in introducing new blood and helping them take their first steps at this level. Worth noting that he brought Swan , Prior , Broad , into the team last time around (and successfully reintroduced Anderson) : and recently did the same with Buttler and Ali , and effectively Ballance as well. And put Root back in his right spot.
I think we too should give him a little credit for that.

[Arthur Crabtree]

As is sometimes said, maybe he should have been a selector, but not a coach. Moores' absence in 2009, and this year, in Tests and ODIs, have led to sudden upswings in performance.