Test Cricket Prediction and Discussion Thread [self - mod]

[synchronym]

England beat Australia by 49 in Australia vs England test match. But in the early stages of the game, it looked like Australia would easily reach their target of victory but suddenly due to the rain, their game became a bit of a problem due to which the match went out of their hands very easily. We can definitely praise England's bowling here because England team bowled very well especially Chris Woakes bowled 19 overs scoring 50 runs and taking four wickets. England batted and bowled well, due to which they were able to win this test series. Congratulations to the England team.

[noormcs5]

Wow! What a finale. Stuart Broad went out in style with both the bat and ball. England managed to win this one by 40+ runs when it looked like the Australians would end up cruising to victory.

Woakes was the game-changer! I thought Stokes dropped the match when he dropped Smith's catch, but he got out pretty quickly. Also, Bairstow took a stunner for a change behind the wicket.

Overall, Australia luckily retained the Ashes thanks to rain, but England came back brilliantly.

We witness one of the most interesting Ashes series and this final match was the best of the 5 match series. We never knew who will be the winner of this match until the last day. Australia fought hard but England once again proved a better team. England won this test match by 49 runs and the Ashes ended in a draw 2-2.

By the way, England was unlucky in the 4th test match, had it not rained, they would have easily won this test match and therefore the series too. Anyways it's part of history now. Officially it's 2-2.

[Litzki1990]

Wow! What a finale. Stuart Broad went out in style with both the bat and ball. England managed to win this one by 40+ runs when it looked like the Australians would end up cruising to victory.

Woakes was the game-changer! I thought Stokes dropped the match when he dropped Smith's catch, but he got out pretty quickly. Also, Bairstow took a stunner for a change behind the wicket.

Overall, Australia luckily retained the Ashes thanks to rain, but England came back brilliantly.

We witness one of the most interesting Ashes series and this final match was the best of the 5 match series. We never knew who will be the winner of this match until the last day. Australia fought hard but England once again proved a better team. England won this test match by 49 runs and the Ashes ended in a draw 2-2.

By the way, England was unlucky in the 4th test match, had it not rained, they would have easily won this test match and therefore the series too. Anyways it's part of history now. Officially it's 2-2.

The fifth match was a decider match as the outcome of the remaining 4 matches depended on the fifth match. When we play football or cricket in the area, if the result of the match is equal then another match is organized which is called as decide match  the team that wins that match will win three matches. The fourth match was England's but in the fifth match I didn't think England would win. England set a good target against Australia in the second innings and Australia batted quite successfully on that target but later Australia could not hold on to their wickets due to which Australia came very close to winning the fifth match and lost to England. The result of the completed series depended on the match being drawn or won.

[Texac]

Wow! What a finale. Stuart Broad went out in style with both the bat and ball. England managed to win this one by 40+ runs when it looked like the Australians would end up cruising to victory.

Woakes was the game-changer! I thought Stokes dropped the match when he dropped Smith's catch, but he got out pretty quickly. Also, Bairstow took a stunner for a change behind the wicket.

Overall, Australia luckily retained the Ashes thanks to rain, but England came back brilliantly.

We witness one of the most interesting Ashes series and this final match was the best of the 5 match series. We never knew who will be the winner of this match until the last day. Australia fought hard but England once again proved a better team. England won this test match by 49 runs and the Ashes ended in a draw 2-2.

By the way, England was unlucky in the 4th test match, had it not rained, they would have easily won this test match and therefore the series too. Anyways it's part of history now. Officially it's 2-2.

I don’t think anybody had given a chance to England after australia went ahead in this ashes series by 2-0. We thought australia was surely going to win, at least one of the three remaining matches. But in the end I think that is the exact mistake australia made. They thought that as well and took things lightly. And that was the chance for England to make a comeback. Of course I also agree that if there was no rain in the fourth test, England could have won the series.

[Haunebu]

Lastly even I’m baffled as to why Anderson didn’t announce his retirement because he could have retired on a high note and maybe he probably wants one last glory hence he’s holding out but only time will tell if he made the right choice or not.

He wouldn't have been able to retire on a high note though since his performance throughout this particular Ashes was mediocre even though the team performed well overall if you think about it. This is probably why he delayed his retirement plans.

Ben Stokes and Bairstow might be a potential guess as they play 2 formats so it's possible. Warner is going out soon. Khwaja is 36 and Smith also touching mid-30s.

I don't think Stokes and Smith will retire anytime soon since they are vital cogs of their respective teams and they have great ambitions. I could be completely wrong though.

By the way, England was unlucky in the 4th test match, had it not rained, they would have easily won this test match and therefore the series too. Anyways it's part of history now. Officially it's 2-2.

Agreed. Crazy thing is that Australia retained the Ashes 4 times in a row.

[n0ne]

Broad retired and Ali followed him too. Weird thing is that Anderson still hasn't retired which isn't smart at all considering the fact that he might not be selected for Ashes 2025 in my opinion.

All teams should adopt the epic Bazball approach in order to make tests way more interesting since England has proven that it's an effective strategy.

@Haunebu Broad and Ali are right to retire now because this is the perfect time to groom in other player’s and I also think that they were keen to avoid injuries too. Lastly even I’m baffled as to why Anderson didn’t announce his retirement because he could have retired on a high note and maybe he probably wants one last glory hence he’s holding out but only time will tell if he made the right choice or not.

Moeen Ali have already retired and he had comeback on request from Ben Stokes. This is the right time for him to retire and he had made a fun statement. Earlier Ben Stokes have requested to join the squad for Ashes Test Series through message and he had agreed. Now he had mentioned then onwards he will delete the message from Ben Stokes. Both Broad and Moeen Ali have got good wickets and this seems to be a gloryful end. For Anderson things didn't work, maybe if he had taken few wickets the retirement could've been announced.

[Sithara007]

Moeen Ali have already retired and he had comeback on request from Ben Stokes. This is the right time for him to retire and he had made a fun statement. Earlier Ben Stokes have requested to join the squad for Ashes Test Series through message and he had agreed. Now he had mentioned then onwards he will delete the message from Ben Stokes. Both Broad and Moeen Ali have got good wickets and this seems to be a gloryful end. For Anderson things didn't work, maybe if he had taken few wickets the retirement could've been announced.

Anderson is not going to retire without getting his 700th test wicket. But the problem is that the next test match for England is at least 6 months away. There are no more tests scheduled for this year. And the next one will be against India in 2024 January, and that too in the sub-continent. Anderson couldn't take wickets under helpful conditions in England. Do we expect him to pick wickets while playing on dustbowls in India? It maybe better for him to retire now. He has got 690 wickets to his name. And that's what he is going to end up with. 

[Gladitorcomeback]

I don’t think anybody had given a chance to England after australia went ahead in this ashes series by 2-0. We thought australia was surely going to win, at least one of the three remaining matches. But in the end I think that is the exact mistake australia made. They thought that as well and took things lightly. And that was the chance for England to make a comeback. Of course I also agree that if there was no rain in the fourth test, England could have won the series.

Australia disappointed their fans in the last match. No one was thinking, it would be happened before the start of 5th day. Warner and Khawaja was looking well set and England bowlers was at pressure. England enter in 5th day with better strategy. Chris woakes was the man who able to dismissed both well settled and danger openers very earlier in the fifth day and from here Australia bad times started. Steve Smith and  Trivis head partnership was also dangerous but couldn't last to win this match.

England will be happy for their last day bowling and not allowing Australia to win this series. infact England deserve to win series but as you said Rain played main role in the favor of Australia to withdraw 4th match.

[Sithara007]

England will be happy for their last day bowling and not allowing Australia to win this series. infact England deserve to win series but as you said Rain played main role in the favor of Australia to withdraw 4th match.

England made a great comeback during the last three matches, but that doesn't take away the fact that they played like shit during the first two tests. Only when Chris Woakes and Mark Wood were added to the squad, they looked competitive against Australia. And on the spin department, Moeen Ali was a failure. Joe Root was taking crucial wickets, but he got no support from the other end. Broad was volatile, while Anderson was a big disappointment. Overall, I would say that this series was a mixed bag for the Poms.

[GigaBit]

I don’t think anybody had given a chance to England after australia went ahead in this ashes series by 2-0. We thought australia was surely going to win, at least one of the three remaining matches. But in the end I think that is the exact mistake australia made. They thought that as well and took things lightly. And that was the chance for England to make a comeback. Of course I also agree that if there was no rain in the fourth test, England could have won the series.

Australia disappointed their fans in the last match. No one was thinking, it would be happened before the start of 5th day. Warner and Khawaja was looking well set and England bowlers was at pressure. England enter in 5th day with better strategy. Chris woakes was the man who able to dismissed both well settled and danger openers very earlier in the fifth day and from here Australia bad times started. Steve Smith and  Trivis head partnership was also dangerous but couldn't last to win this match.

Australia's downfall started after fall of Travis Head's wicket. But still at that moment Australia's winning percentage was high. In 75 over Smith went back. Then Australia fell by five wickets. But still the spectators predicted that Australia would win. When Mitchell Marsh lost his wicket in the 76th over, the Australian supporter were feeling uneasy. After Mitchell Starc's fall of wicket that threw the match completely behind. The England team got a great win at a time of need. Chris Woakes and Moeen Ali were of immense importance for England's victory.

[JSRAW]

Damn! Look at these over-rate penalties 10 and 19 in the 5 test match series.

I doubt if teams care about it much but maintaining over rate is becoming tough in SENA countries, where spinners hardly get the ball.

Maybe get rid of over-rate rules or start giving penalty runs to the opposition because atm match fees and point penalties are not working. 

[eaLiTy]

Broad retired and Ali followed him too. Weird thing is that Anderson still hasn't retired which isn't smart at all considering the fact that he might not be selected for Ashes 2025 in my opinion.

He might be looking to pick his 700th wicket and then announce the retirement or may be James Anderson is looking to hold any modern record to become the oldest player to play International match  .

All teams should adopt the epic Bazball approach in order to make tests way more interesting since England has proven that it's an effective strategy.

There is no doubt that BazBall is interesting but not every country will be able to follow the same path and expect to be successful. Now a days most of the Test matches are having results unlike a decade ago.

[Westinhome]

The fifth day belonged to England alone as they won the fifth Test to end the series in an inconclusive draw. When Australia scored 130 plus runs for no wicket on the fourth day, there was a time when it seemed that England might lose the match and besides losing the match, they might also lose the series, but from the start of the fifth day, England's bowlers bowled brilliantly against Australia, which led to the fifth Test of this Test.
Back in the day they made a great comeback. Had the fourth Test not been interrupted by rain, England might have won the Test series. After losing consecutively in the first two matches of this Test series, England came back in the next three matches. Big congratulations to England and Australia for delivering a great series.

England had won the fifth test and draw the most awaited ashes game.Most of the people thought fourth day end,the game only to the Australia will win the game.But it was totally changed on the fifth day of the fifth test match.The bowling of England bowlers changed the match totally,Chris had got the player of the match because of his entire bowling.Actually it's very close match and England only win by 49 runs.The first test was made by Australia with the win by 2 wickets and give good start to the Australia.This help them to top the test series and it also give the pressure on the England on the upcoming matches.The second test also win by the Australia and surprised the England by make 2-0 of the test series.The third and fifth test was win by the England to made the test draw.

[romero121]

Broad retired and Ali followed him too. Weird thing is that Anderson still hasn't retired which isn't smart at all considering the fact that he might not be selected for Ashes 2025 in my opinion.

He might be looking to pick his 700th wicket and then announce the retirement or may be James Anderson is looking to hold any modern record to become the oldest player to play International match  .

All teams should adopt the epic Bazball approach in order to make tests way more interesting since England has proven that it's an effective strategy.

There is no doubt that BazBall is interesting but not every country will be able to follow the same path and expect to be successful. Now a days most of the Test matches are having results unlike a decade ago.

England is successful in following Bazball approach. Long back itself the team had been following it, but it had reached the discussion once after Ben Stokes adopted it. From the very beginning of the Ashes series this is how England played and the same let the level the series. At times the same had made them lose the match. One example is the first match where the team announced early declaring of the innings and lost on a narrow margin. Those are decisions from England team in an unexpected moment.

[3kpk3]

Now a days most of the Test matches are having results unlike a decade ago.

I have to disagree with this part. More and more tests are getting screwed by rain as time passes thanks to global warming, climate change etc. I feel that this issue will continue getting worse sadly.

One example is the first match where the team announced early declaring of the innings and lost on a narrow margin. Those are decisions from England team in an unexpected moment.

Everyone makes mistakes. Stokes messed up, but some of his teammates didn't really help much either which is why they lost the first 2 tests.

[Sithara007]

I have to disagree with this part. More and more tests are getting screwed by rain as time passes thanks to global warming, climate change etc. I feel that this issue will continue getting worse sadly.

Agreed on this. Climate change is playing havoc in test cricket. A number of tests are ending up as draw and ultimately it impacts the popularity of this format. None of the fans like it, when they spend 5 consecutive days watching a single match and even after that it ends up as a draw. There needs to be a reserve day for test matches, in case there is rain interruption. Ashes would have been a lot more exciting in case the fourth test wasn't washed away. England was having an upper hand and they would have won the series 3-2 in case there was no interruption.

[Haunebu]

Ashes would have been a lot more exciting in case the fourth test wasn't washed away. England was having an upper hand and they would have won the series 3-2 in case there was no interruption.

True, but I don't really feel sad for them since this is karma for their messed up controversial 2019 ODI World Cup win against NZ who were in their position. Australia won and retained the Ashes 4 times in a row now.

England could break this streak in Ashes 2025 if they retain most of the players from this lineup and replace players like Jimmy etc with new blood.

[Sithara007]

Ashes would have been a lot more exciting in case the fourth test wasn't washed away. England was having an upper hand and they would have won the series 3-2 in case there was no interruption.

True, but I don't really feel sad for them since this is karma for their messed up controversial 2019 ODI World Cup win against NZ who were in their position. Australia won and retained the Ashes 4 times in a row now.

England could break this streak in Ashes 2025 if they retain most of the players from this lineup and replace players like Jimmy etc with new blood.

Next Ashes is two years away, and there is a good chance that the team will be rebuilt before that. In the bowling front, they need to do that anyway because Broad has retired and Anderson may follow suit very soon. But then the next tour is going to me much more challenging for the Poms because they need to tour Australia. Some of the younger England players have shown great promise, including Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett and Harry Brook. But at the same time, I don't foresee players like Jonny Bairstow and Moeen Ali included in the squad for the next Ashes series.

[JSRAW]

Ashes would have been a lot more exciting in case the fourth test wasn't washed away. England was having an upper hand and they would have won the series 3-2 in case there was no interruption.

True, but I don't really feel sad for them since this is karma for their messed up controversial 2019 ODI World Cup win against NZ who were in their position. Australia won and retained the Ashes 4 times in a row now.

England could break this streak in Ashes 2025 if they retain most of the players from this lineup and replace players like Jimmy etc with new blood.

Next Ashes is two years away, and there is a good chance that the team will be rebuilt before that. In the bowling front, they need to do that anyway because Broad has retired and Anderson may follow suit very soon. But then the next tour is going to me much more challenging for the Poms because they need to tour Australia. Some of the younger England players have shown great promise, including Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett and Harry Brook. But at the same time, I don't foresee players like Jonny Bairstow and Moeen Ali included in the squad for the next Ashes series.

Transition period or not, it would be a huge task for England. If i am not wrong then it's been a decade since they won a single match in Australia and most of their Australian tours ended with a clean sweep.

Moeen Ali already said no to test cricket and took an unofficial retirement for the second time.

[Ayers]

I have to disagree with this part. More and more tests are getting screwed by rain as time passes thanks to global warming, climate change etc. I feel that this issue will continue getting worse sadly.

Agreed on this. Climate change is playing havoc in test cricket. A number of tests are ending up as draw and ultimately it impacts the popularity of this format. None of the fans like it, when they spend 5 consecutive days watching a single match and even after that it ends up as a draw. There needs to be a reserve day for test matches, in case there is rain interruption. Ashes would have been a lot more exciting in case the fourth test wasn't washed away. England was having an upper hand and they would have won the series 3-2 in case there was no interruption.

Cricket already has a problem with rain interruption. It is not like football where we can keep on watching the players play even if it does rain. Unlike its counterpart, cricket's graceful play is inevitably halted when the heavens release their aqueous lamentations, I meant raining. That is already a big problem with one-day international cricket. And when it is a five-day test match, there is a big chance that the result of the match is going to be different when rain interrupts.  I think it is time for ICC to actually let go of test cricket. Instead of spending time and resources on test cricket, I think they really should spend those things for the t20 format. In this day and age, everyone wants to see the winning team have more skill compared to luck.