Fifth and Final Test thread: 8-12 September at the Oval

avanutria · Post by **avanutria** » Wed Aug 31, 2005 8:00 am

Here ya go. Fifth test match is starting soon. Let's see, Australia won one, England two and there was one draw, right? Looking good for England...does this mean technically England can't lose, only tie?

Roger O'Keeffe · Post by **Roger O'Keeffe** » Wed Aug 31, 2005 8:04 am

Aargggh! Ava has been brainwashed!

It's time you headed back over to the green and musty isle for a spot of invigorating hurling - or camogie, if you want to get involved yourself.

The answer is yes. But then again, cricket seems to have an even greater capacity than soccer to produce drawn (= Merkin "tied"?) games.

GaryKelly · Post by **GaryKelly** » Wed Aug 31, 2005 8:21 am

Mwa-ha-ha!

It's a bit confusing. If Australia and England draw (tie) in the final Test, England wins the series.

Sadly, however, Australia win the final Test, the series is a draw (tie) but Australia get to keep the Ashes, which is kind of like England losing. So we don't want Australia to win.

If England win, well, we win. Huzzah!

Fingies crossed that both McGrath and Jones are fit enough to play.

Edited to add: Can't believe Martin slept through the final nailbiting overs on Sunday evening!

jbarter · Post by **jbarter** » Wed Aug 31, 2005 8:37 am

This is one match where "rain stops play" won't make feel too miserable.

jbarter · Post by **jbarter** » Wed Aug 31, 2005 8:40 am

GaryKelly wrote:Can't believe Martin slept through the final nailbiting overs on Sunday evening!

Confident or drunk? Didn't you tell him the celebrations are supposed to come after the victory?

GaryKelly · Post by **GaryKelly** » Wed Aug 31, 2005 8:50 am

Neither! He sparked out in the back of the car, with the commentary blaring on 198 longwave!

jbarter · Post by **jbarter** » Wed Aug 31, 2005 9:01 am

GaryKelly wrote:He sparked out in the back of the car

OK, everybody sing along - "Little man you've had a busy day".

Roger O'Keeffe · Post by **Roger O'Keeffe** » Wed Aug 31, 2005 10:42 am

GaryKelly wrote

Can't believe Martin slept through the final nailbiting overs on Sunday evening!

I can. Indeed, I'm amazed anyone was awake to notice that he did

avanutria · Post by **avanutria** » Wed Aug 31, 2005 10:55 am

I was glad someone was awake. Gary was driving at the time...

SteveShaw · Post by **SteveShaw** » Wed Aug 31, 2005 1:44 pm

GaryKelly wrote:Mwa-ha-ha!

It's a bit confusing. If Australia and England draw (tie) in the final Test, England wins the series.

Sadly, however, Australia win the final Test, the series is a draw (tie) but Australia get to keep the Ashes, which is kind of like England losing. So we don't want Australia to win.

You're just trying to confuse the Yanks here Gary aren't you with your deliberate juxtapositions of "draw" and "tie!" I LIKE it!

Steve

oscartherabbit · Post by **oscartherabbit** » Thu Sep 01, 2005 2:33 am

England have to win the series to take the Ashes because Australia are the current holders.

The laymans summary:

There are four possible results for the 5th and final game in the series:

1) England win. England win the series 3-1 and win the Ashes.
2) Game drawn. England win the series 2-1 and win the Ashes.
3) Game tied. England win the series 2-1 and win the Ashes.
4) Australia win. Series tied 2-2 and Australia keep the Ashes.

A draw is when the side batting last have not been bowled out by the end of play. A tie is an extremely rare occurence and happens when both side are bowled out on exactly the same number of runs.

Roger O'Keeffe · Post by **Roger O'Keeffe** » Thu Sep 01, 2005 7:47 am

oscartherabbit wrote:England have to win the series to take the Ashes because Australia are the current holders.

The laymans summary:

There are four possible results for the 5th and final game in the series:

1) England win. England win the series 3-1 and win the Ashes.
2) Game drawn. England win the series 2-1 and win the Ashes.
3) Game tied. England win the series 2-1 and win the Ashes.
4) Australia win. Series tied 2-2 and Australia keep the Ashes.

A draw is when the side batting last have not been bowled out by the end of play. A tie is an extremely rare occurence and happens when both side are bowled out on exactly the same number of runs.

I think I can claim the credit for having elicited that totally unexpected clarification of a distinction of which I was utterly unaware. But I think it proves my underlying point...

Wombat · Post by **Wombat** » Thu Sep 01, 2005 8:02 am

Nothing puzzling. The team that wins the toss decides whether to go in or put the other team in. Then the team that goes in stays in until they are all out. Then the team that was out goes in and they stay in until they too are all out. If the team that is all out have done really badly they go in again and stay in until they are all out. Otherwise the first team to go in goes in again and they stay in until they are all out. Then the second team follows them in and out again.

Here endeth the first lesson.

Tomorrow: scoring.

oscartherabbit · Post by **oscartherabbit** » Thu Sep 01, 2005 9:31 am

Couldn't have put it better meself. Well done sir!

Roger O'Keeffe · Post by **Roger O'Keeffe** » Thu Sep 01, 2005 10:20 am

Could we have a decision flow-chart please?

Then there's all that business about declaring, which I was brought up to believe depended on cricketers being gentlemen, but I find it hard to believe that that's still the way things happen.