4th Test England v Australia Official Thread

Sadly I wasn't successful with the ballot, so this will be the first time in ages I have not been to any of the Ashes days.

If anyone has any spares for Friday, please let me know. 🤞🏼
 
Being Manchester it will no doubt be a rain affected game so I just hope it doesn’t scupper our chances of levelling the series which will make the last game an absolute cracker.
It will be interesting to see the team selection.
Root hasn’t really performed to his best, in fact his bowling has been better than his batting.
Bairstow has been average at best behind the stumps and pitiful with the bat. I really don’t understand his choice of shots at times. I personally wouldn’t pick him but what are the options.
Jimmy Anderson has been solid for England throughout this career but I hope sentimentality doesn’t come into and he is picked to play at Old Trafford for his swan song.
I think Stokes is a good captain and will know who he wants in his team.
 
I’ve only ever been to one day of Ashes cricket. It was at Old Trafford, cant remember the year, but I do remember being really bored. As I remember Aussies batted all day, I think only one or two wickets fell, the Waugh brothers were dominant. It was turgid at best.
 
I'm there on Saturday in the party stand though, due to train strikes, I'm having to drive so won't be on the beer which will be a new experience.

Any ideas on where to park near the ground?
 
DonCorleone said:
I'm there on Saturday in the party stand though, due to train strikes, I'm having to drive so won't be on the beer which will be a new experience.

Any ideas on where to park near the ground?
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There's a school on the left before you get to the ground. They did parking last time I went. It was cheap enough. 5 min walk.
 
Eternaloptimist said:
Bairstow has been average at best behind the stumps and pitiful with the bat. I really don’t understand his choice of shots at times. I personally wouldn’t pick him but what are the options.
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You kidding Eternal? We have the best wicketkeeper in the world (and he can bat a bit too) sat at home scratching his arse watching Ginger spill chance after chance. 😫
 
People asking for tickets? Is it a sell out?
Watchin on tv leeds and Birmingham seemed loads of empty seats which I found surprising… 🤷‍♂️
 
20togo said:
there on the saturday in Stand D which i think is the party stand. First time at a test match.
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I’ve been to County games 20’s but never a test match. Worlds top bowlers wizzing the ball at 95 mph, top batsmen hitting them for 6; what entertainment . Can’t understand how people find it boring.
Enjoy mate.
 
Killingmesoftly said:
People asking for tickets? Is it a sell out?
Watchin on tv leeds and Birmingham seemed loads of empty seats which I found surprising… 🤷‍♂️
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It’s like most major sporting events. Tickets handed out in Corporate by big companies.
Most of these are only interested in the food and booze.Notably Wembley opposite the cameras on centre line.
I was at Wimbledon last Tuesday and loads of empty seats reserved for hospitality guests. Meanwhile fans were queuing overnight just to get an entrance ticket to access minor Courts.
 
GrahamwantshisOates said:
It’s like most major sporting events. Tickets handed out in Corporate by big companies.
Most of these are only interested in the food and booze.Notably Wembley opposite the cameras on centre line.
I was at Wimbledon last Tuesday and loads of empty seats reserved for hospitality guests. Meanwhile fans were queuing overnight just to get an entrance ticket to access minor Courts.
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This aspect stinks. Hence ballot only for Oval and you can forget Lords.
 
This is Ska said:
I’ve only ever been to one day of Ashes cricket. It was at Old Trafford, cant remember the year, but I do remember being really bored. As I remember Aussies batted all day, I think only one or two wickets fell, the Waugh brothers were dominant. It was turgid at best.
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I was there that day. Day 1 on a Thursday- finished about 330/2 or 3
 
Only in England do test matches sell out!! All of you will have a great time. Old trafford is the best test match ground, at Lords where I sat once the ball disappears in the air because of the stand whereas at Old Trafford all spectators can see everything going on.
 
Eternaloptimist said:
I’ve been to County games 20’s but never a test match. Worlds top bowlers wizzing the ball at 95 mph, top batsmen hitting them for 6; what entertainment . Can’t understand how people find it boring.
Enjoy mate.
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Thing was though. When you were watching the likes of Walsh, Marshall and Holding, you couldn't see the ball and there weren't any TV screens. The batter told you what type of ball it was, or more often the stumps.
 
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Got tickets for me and my lad on friday front row of block B and cant blimmin wait!

Practical question - can you take a bag into the ground? Getting mixed reports via a google search
 
8 of us going tomorrow . . . TMS has the Edinburgh Seasiders flag so hopefully it will be flying high in the Party Stand 👍
 
This is Ska said:
I’ve only ever been to one day of Ashes cricket. It was at Old Trafford, cant remember the year, but I do remember being really bored. As I remember Aussies batted all day, I think only one or two wickets fell, the Waugh brothers were dominant. It was turgid at best.
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U meant it Wasa Tug of Waugh’s
 
Shall we just adopt this as the officail match thread? Seems to make sense as the title is good enough. I'll be there tomorrow, hopping around full of codeine three weeks after a knee replacement and hoping I'm not still more mobile than Mr Bairstow 🤞
 
Mark_GT said:
Shall we just adopt this as the officail match thread? Seems to make sense as the title is good enough. I'll be there tomorrow, hopping around full of codeine three weeks after a knee replacement and hoping I'm not still more mobile than Mr Bairstow 🤞
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Pretty sure you will be.

He can’t half bat though. Hope we get to see it this week!
 
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