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?
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.
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!
This is one match where “rain stops play” won’t make feel too miserable.
Confident or drunk? Didn’t you tell him the celebrations are supposed to come after the victory? 
Neither! He sparked out in the back of the car, with the commentary blaring on 198 longwave! 
OK, everybody sing along - “Little man you’ve had a busy day”.
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 
I was glad someone was awake. Gary was driving at the time…
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
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:
- England win. England win the series 3-1 and win the Ashes.
- Game drawn. England win the series 2-1 and win the Ashes.
- Game tied. England win the series 2-1 and win the Ashes.
- 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…
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.
Couldn’t have put it better meself. Well done sir!
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.
Aha, yes, we forgot declaring. Gary? 
Steve
Australia to field two spinners for the Oval? (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/england/4207222.stm). Intriguing…
Sounds like kidology to me. The Aussie batting lineup has struggled to cope with Englands attack for most of the series as it is, let alone dropping one to get MacGill on the park. Who would you leave out, I wonder?
All reports over here say MacGill will not get a run in the test…he’s not match fit, no practice, got taken in the latest tour match, blah, blah, blah. Never mind the fact that his last test figures were BETTER THAN WARNE. It’d be great to see them both bowling.
I want to see Jones and Freddie go at the aussie batsmen again, show them some of the reverse swing they’ve used to devastating effect so far.
Will we see a world cricket power shift?
1980’s - West Indies
1990’s - Australia
2005 - England?
Australia havent done themselves any favours by picking the same team for the last ten years. Three new guys in the squad in five years? Hardly a way to build for the future.
So did I. Sadly it won’t happen. Jones has failed a fitness test and won’t be playing in the Final Test.
Full sad story at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/england/4217830.stm
Nuts.
I had a bony growth once, right between my shoulders.
It was apparently quite normal for a man of my age, and the doctor would not recommend surgery to remove it. He told me it was called a head.