Thread: Ashes 2013!

Why Didn't Broad Walk? - YouTube

With all the weather around Manchester, and Captain Cook slowing the overs down, why didn't Michael Clarke pull the pin and make us chase 270-280?
You need overs to bowl us out, and there's a big threat of rain! Why bother pushing for enough runs so you can't lose the game? A draw is no good is it?
Is he really that bothered by holding the losing streak record?
Weak captaincy in my opinion.

Originally Posted by elshano

Absolute filth.

Oh, and Broad has -the- most punchable face going around I reckon

This is a bit silly, but makes me laugh...

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Stuar...98313696994652

Originally Posted by Rohan

With all the weather around Manchester, and Captain Cook slowing the overs down, why didn't Michael Clarke pull the pin and make us chase 270-280?
You need overs to bowl us out, and there's a big threat of rain! Why bother pushing for enough runs so you can't lose the game? A draw is no good is it?
Is he really that bothered by holding the losing streak record?
Weak captaincy in my opinion.

Everyone keeps focussing on the "highest ever successful run chase" which is 284 at Old Trafford I believe. However, the highest 4th innings total is 402 set in 1981, so I can understand why Clarke would want a bit more comfort than 270-280, just in case the weather forecast is wrong. I reckon he will declare overnight personally, and weather permitting there may be a bit of a battle on.

Originally Posted by sheerluck

Everyone keeps focussing on the "highest ever successful run chase" which is 284 at Old Trafford I believe. However, the highest 4th innings total is 402 set in 1981, so I can understand why Clarke would want a bit more comfort than 270-280, just in case the weather forecast is wrong. I reckon he will declare overnight personally, and weather permitting there may be a bit of a battle on.

I still go with the theory that they should have been bowling a lot earlier. What are Australia? 170/7? Imagine if they'd declared with 270 on the board and had us 7 down!!!
If we'd chased it? Boo hoo, at least he'd have had a crack.
Much too much is made of historical chases IMHO, I bet England would rather be none down overnight rather than 5 or 6

I think they should have tried to bowl at them for an hour before stumps. I would sooner they lose this game and have a crack then draw

Originally Posted by SBD4

Why Didn't Broad Walk? - YouTube

I liked that one

Originally Posted by Rohan

I still go with the theory that they should have been bowling a lot earlier. What are Australia? 170/7? Imagine if they'd declared with 270 on the board and had us 7 down!!!
If we'd chased it? Boo hoo, at least he'd have had a crack.
Much too much is made of historical chases IMHO, I bet England would rather be none down overnight rather than 5 or 6

I agree that too much is made of historical chases, but the captain has to at least bear in mind what has previously been possible at a venue. He should focus much more on what is in front of them though. If it had been me, I would have wanted a 360 lead before declaring, so probably only another 5 overs or so from where they were. That would have left a reasonable battle - assuming that 90 out of the remaining overs were playable would have been 4 an over for England to win. Achievable but not unrealistic on a day 4/5 pitch.

However, that's all conjecture now as that point has passed. We'll see what the game brings in a couple of hours.