England’s chances of squaring the Ashes series to record yet another moral victory are still alive but rain is again threatening their chances of finishing off the Aussies.
After day four belonged to Australia at The Oval with the final England wicket falling quickly and David Warner and Usman Khawaja producing an unbeaten century partnership, there are plenty of nerves among the host nation.
Ben Stokes held Mark Wood out of the attack for the majority of the play before the rain came and he only got three overs in before the wet weather intervened.
Former England captain Geoff Boycott in the UK Telegraph said “it was ominous that England could make no headway” on the fourth day.
“I bet England are ruing, even cross with themselves, for the late-order batsmen the day before who got themselves out – Woakes, Ali and Wood for giving their wickets away.
“There have been collapses and there always will be when you’re chasing totals but from what we witnessed today, England didn’t look like getting a wicket.
“They are clutching at straws. Something dramatic has to happen to get England over the line.”
Nick Hoult at the UK Telegraph thought Stokes had erred with his choices on day four.
“For some reason England held back Mark Wood until the 31st over, raising fears of an injury, but more likely they were waiting for reverse swing. The wet weather has probably taken that out of the equation now.”
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But assistant coach Marcus Trescothick insisted injury fears were not a factor, and claimed the decision to hold Wood back was simply tactical.
“He’s fit to bowl,” Trescothick said.
“I think pretty much like everybody, there’s little aches and pains that are going off the back of a big five-Test series.
“Both teams will be travelling in the same way at the moment. But, yeah, everyone is fit to bowl. It was a tactical decision.”
Hoult sensed the home side is looking more fatigued than the Aussies, particularly the ageing pace attack.
“Australia will claim their methods have been vindicated if they get home on Monday, flogging jaded Englishmen. The contrasting approaches to batting have had the biggest effect on the bowlers,” he wrote.
“England’s attack has bowled 196 overs more, and counting, than the Australians, and all apart from Anderson, who turned 41 on Sunday, are playing at least their third match in a row.
“In Wellington last February, England’s attack ran out of legs in a tight finish after New Zealand followed on and scored 483. The cumulative effect of the batsmen giving them so little rest could yet be a decisive factor in this Test.”
Much of the day was taken up with plaudits for the retiring Stuart Broad and his father, match referee and former England batter Chris Broad, said his 37-year-old son was making “a brave decision”.
“Because we had already talked about it, it wasn’t that emotional for me. I just thought it was sensible,” he said in the Daily Mail.
“When you think about it, it is absolutely the right thing. That is easy for me to say, but for him as well, he just feels that he is doing the right thing at the right time.
“It’s a brave decision when you are still fit enough to play. But he has got to feel in his gut what the right thing to do is, and he has made that decision and I think it is the brave and correct one.
“He loves the occasion and there is no bigger occasion than an Ashes match in England for him to be able to say goodbye. It is brilliant.”
Veteran columnist Scyld Berry in the Telegraph said that when it came down to comparing Broad and James Anderson over the course of their record-breaking careers, it was a case of horses for courses.
“Anderson would have to be chosen for most Tests abroad, as he has eventually conquered every frontier, and maybe for most matches in England too.
“But for a Test against Australia, home or away, it has to be Broad, as he has never been subdued by the oldest enemy: even when he was booed by the whole of Brisbane, Broad took a five-fer.”
London Panther
Roar Rookie
When the games have been there to win, the English bowlers have been poor. In the first test, then on Days four in both Manchester and at the Oval, they have frozen when faced with the big moments.
Geo
Roar Rookie
It would be a very unlikely victory for us, but I didn’t see any hope of a century opening stand either. It’ll be soooo satisfying if we beat them.
anchorman
Roar Rookie
Could the Poms be rueing the decision to ask their curators to prepare flat tracks all summer? Still a lot to play out in the game, but the old brigade of legs could stumble. Close to 200 extra overs is tiring for them. India has done this to the Aussies before.Make them bowl and bowl. Will the Poms accept a beating if Australia win, or even draw the game. Either of those results is a win for Australia ..A win is a 3/1 to Australia. A draw is a 2/1 to Australia. Maybe the knives will be being sharpened as BAzz Ball departs . An interesting night ahead.
Brett305
Roar Rookie
English press making early excuses, ploughing the ground for an attack on bazball? You wouldn’t want any these guys in the trenches with you…grubs
Pumping Dougie
Roar Guru
Anderson hasn't conquered Australia. His career Test bowling average of 35.8 vs Australia is very ordinary in England (38.31) and Australia (34.01), so the facts say his record against Australia is poor. He has always been a surly, petulant personality, but Anderson is respected by Australians despite his modest record against us - phenomenal overall career record. I know this Aussie team is determined to continually show good sportsmanship - and they are doing a superb job of that - but a guard of honour for a complete flog like Stuart Broad made me feel like vomiting. Yes, he has been an excellent bowler over his career - respect for that. But he has been a complete flog across his career too - I understand why the English would love him, but he's no ambassador of the sport. If he was Australian, we'd probably feel the same way about him as we do about Warner - recognition of a good career but a bit embarrassed he's one of ours.
Panthers
Roar Rookie
Looking at the pitch in the videos . It still has a little tinge of green. Doesn’t look like it’s cracked much, if at all. No real breaking up. We will see?
Dunning Kruger
Roar Rookie
Tests generally get more difficult to bat in the 4th innings due to pitch deterioration. However, this pitch was made to order for an England 4th innings chase. It is an absolute road now. How sweet it would be to see their made to order pitch come back to bite them.
Panthers
Roar Rookie
The tactics can never be questioned with Stokes & England. Haven’t you heard that they know better than anyone else.
Ben Pobjie
Expert
If it was a tactical decision to hold Wood back that long, then it seems like…pretty bad tactics?
Panthers
Roar Rookie
Given how test matches often go in the last innings. England are probably still the favourites to win. However, if Australia managed to pull off a victory. Cummins should absolutely give it to the English media & crowds in the after game comments. They’ve been the poorest of sports in every respect during this tour . Giving them all a real lambasting , would be a pleasure!
Tempo
Roar Rookie
Scyld Berry normally writes a load of nonsense in his articles, but he's bang on about Broad and Anderson. Stuart Broad has been Mr Ashes for the past 14 years, especially in England, whilst Anderson has a very mediocre record against Australia, even over there. Over the years I've come to appreciate Broad more and more. Obviously huge respect for his performances on the field and ability to conjure a match-turning spell, but even all of his gamesmanship has grown on me over time. There's never been any real malice there on his part. He'll be missed on the field, but I have a feeling we'll be hearing a lot of him in the commentary box in Ashes series to come.
BigGordon
Roar Rookie
I read another comment from an English critic that the pitch is as good a batting surface as there's been in the entire series. If that's the case, it's going to be seriously hard work for the bowlers, BUT the batsmen still need to do the basics, ie get in, get set and keep the scoreboard ticking over. It'll also be interesting to see how Stokes handles the pressure as captain. This is one time where he needs to take wickets and I doubt greatly bowling entire overs of bouncers will get it done.