The Ashes: Fourth Test

Leo31291

Watched today's highlights on youtube

Saw this comment:
The Only way to stop Steve smith is to pause the video

Derek S-H

He's been simply incredible.

I still can't get my head round the fact that he's the leading run scorer in Test cricket this year in just FOUR innings! He only started batting in August! And he missed the Headingley Test completely!

Steve Smith Highest Run-scorer in Tests in 2019 After Just Four Innings

danwel

Not looking good for the final day and barring a wash out or some miracle with our batting line up this has Australia written all over it sadly.

Steve Smith has been outstanding every time he comes to the crease

richp007

Congrats Australia. Deserved.

If Steve Smith is playing in Australia, we may as well not bother going.

Derek S-H

Congratulations to Australia for winning the game convincingly and retaining The Ashes.

I've liked their attacking mindset though, as has been suggested here, their win is mostly down to one man. Only Ben Stokes on our side has come remotely close to that level of performance (though Archer bowled brilliantly at Lord's).

We have to show some pride and fight by winning at The Oval and at least drawing the Series. Overton looks short at this level, so Woakes or Curran back in. As for the batting, well, no one's showed any consistency, so take your pick!

Theseus

Congrats Australia, it’s been a great series to watch and a close contest. Good captaincy by Paine today, the quicks were very good, but that man Smith has indeed been the difference. Unbelievable that he’s the highest scoring test batsman this year despite only playing in the Ashes!

danwel

Our batting line up needs to take a long hard look at themselves because barring the odd exception we have failed miserably.

Smith...WOW !!!! he has been an absolute beast for the Aussies and pretty much single handedly won them the Ashes

faiz0

Unchanged squad for the 5th test. Bloody ridiculous.

gavinl1967

He has.  I was at Old Trafford last Thursday - the day he scored 211, and his batting was incredible.  Also, if you've only watched him on the TV, you don't really see the full extent of his on field 'mannerisms'.  It really is quite bizarre.

Derek S-H

I was going to ask you about your day.

He is very twitchy at the crease, isn't he? But once the ball is released from the bowler he is stock still. England basically don't know how to get him out as he stands outside the line of the off stump (so no LBW) and very rarely chases the ball (so no nicks behind). Plus his timing is impeccable so he is rarely caught in the field.

You can say you were there!