England vs Australia: 5th Ashes Test, Day 4 live scores

marsh isn't a lock in Australia despite looking great here . head still averaging 35 abroad still hasn't proven himself for touring yet maybe today will help but smith was the only real choice when Cummins was appointed .

No not Smith. Yes there were few options when Cummins was appointed. But things have moved on now. I'd go Head. Or even Marsh possibly. Let the bowlers bowl - and then rest between spells - when Australia is in the field.

Its a lot for a bowler and of course he lost his mother during the India series but that’s why I’ve always said make smith captain . you weren’t so keen on restoring him so Cummins was only choice really . I think he captained well second test with short ball and defensive fielders lulling england in to catches . unrthodox bit it worked and lead to us retaining ashes when normalcy wasn’t working he pivoted and it worked and lyon was out second innings a bowler down it was good captaincy there . Manchester was a road too

Agreed and it's not just the bowlers/field placements. The batsmen have at times also gotten out too early - though at times there has also been v good England bowling. Also yes the catching has been disappointing, though England equally (more) so. There's no doubt we need an improvement in the batting application, but for mine, the bowling execution/field strategy has been more culpable. Cummins just isn't cutting it on the field as a captain. It hasn't just been this series; it's been an ongoing issues across most of our series in the last 2 years. Of course, we can get away with it if we are winning, but that's not really an excuse. The true test is coming out on top in sessions/periods where the side is really challenged by the opposition.

Some valid comments but poor fielding has cost us a few times dropping multiple catches too which would have arguably made this test and headingly turn in our favor . not to mention that batsmen have continually been short or in a few key innings gave away their wickets easily . its indicated by poor averages smith head labs all averaging 35 before this innings and warner 25 green 20. on these Baz ball pitches that’s all underperforming accross five tests. it was arguably way more batting friendly than bowling friendly although batsmen had some crappy conditions at times but same could be said for bowlers who got england in the sun alot . on balance the bowlers faced tougher pitches for bazball really and batsmen have let the team down arguably more

At times we have bowled well, but those periods of good bowling for me have been not only been outweighed by poor bowling execution and even poorer field placements/strategy, but have also (mostly) come after having already handed the initial momentum to England early on. We come out in the field and seem "surprised" at the way England is approaching it, then we seem to be scrambling to try and work out hoe to respond, so in the meantime we go defensive. The Australian brainstrust had months to analyse the England "bazball" approach and bee ready to implements both plans A and B. Yet, they haven't seemed prepared at all.

no doubt it wasn't Australias best bowling and captaincy . their worst day of ashes but think it was a 450 pitch par so maybe 100 runs over or so by poor bowling and tactics . not as bad as all have made out in the context of a pretty good series given aussies faced poor conditions and lost toss so much

But Australia coming out on day 3 this Test with fours slips then bowling legside for the first hour allowing England to turn the ball for easy ones and twos, then in the second hour bowling far too wide on off putting no wicket -taking pressure on England and allowing to the smack the odd ball through off to the boundary, isn't impact of Bazball. It's just bad bowling.

except england did make just under 600 odd at Manchester. jink Aussie bowling not as bad as many have made out given the Baz ball roads and success in first two tests .

yeah correction, its dire if we keep wickets in hand and if we collapse its promising :silly:

All 4 results actually

better to go via uk met office site. ot AccuWeather . met office had rain all afternoon and was most accurate

England favourites? The draw or Aus win seem the only likely outcomes.

Well thats rubbish. I hate finding something that looks interesting then its just a pile of mouth sand. What was wrong with it? Id suggest BBC podcast series but they arent everyones cup of heated nutella

Explain HOW England are favourites.

I'm watching a replay of Freo's game against Geelong yesterday

"dire" can be such a subjective term.

No idea, site said you replied to me, but couldn’t find it.

A washout benefiting each team once each. A shame, Aussies were looking awesome

AccuWeather has weird raindrop thingys with %s of mm expected. Still seems some chance of play today. Plus extra half hour.