I am sorry but I am not having Broad or his mate from Lancashire. Not at any price.

My take on them is this. Before the 13-14 Ashes series down under England had the best test team in cricket..
Mitchell Johnson was unplayable and Eng lost 5-0.
The team fell apart under pressure and for my money the men most responsible were Broad, Anderson, Swan and Pryor.
By all accounts this nasty little quartet ridiculed the Batsmen for failing while their own efforts couldnt keep up with the Aussies.
As a result Bell, Trott, KP I dont think ever played again. Cook was soon gone too, before his time. Michael Carberry put up some resistance as opening bat and never got another game too. He was one who criticised the dressing room friction and there could be no doubt where the blame lay.

The keys to the England team seemed to be thrown to B&A after that. Nicely prepared green, slow wickets so they could wreak havoc boosting their averages against sundry test playing nations who lacked motivation as test cricket lost all importance.
Its interesting that England have been nowhere near no 1 in the test rankings since and have not played in either test match world championships. Which have been played in this country.
Thats because when it has really mattered, down under in an ashes series the pair have been invisible.
Series defeats of 5-0, 4-0, 4-0 are damming testimony.

You know it says a lot about this country when we get hyperbolic journos declaring footballers like Rooney and Kane to be england's greatest ever, simply for breaking the national goals record. Neither would be fit to lace the boots of Bobby Charlton.
Similarly we get this daft talk coming out of the media that Anderson is Englands greatest bowler.
For me he is not worthy of mention alongside the likes of Larwood, Tyson, Trueman, Snow, Willis, Botham and quite a few others.
What would the bookies odds been in 1932 when Jardine and Larwood plotted the downfall of Bradman? That must be the greatest achievement by any England cricket side yet both men responsible were treated like pariahs back home and Larwood even emigrated down under where he got more respect.

I have little doubt that ENgland will get their pyrrhic victory in this dead rubber at the Oval, as the Aussies are playing as if they are already on Bondi Beach. Fair play they have done the hard yards and kept the Urn. No doubt the same deluded england fans who deify B&A will be claiming some sort of victory out of a home series draw..

ANd by the way Youvraj Singh did Broad for 6 sixes so he was never all that.

No,

I have some common currency with the Convicts on this.

Broad absolutely not an All Time Great for me. Certainly bowled great and exciting spells and not schooled in dealing with the meja or rather refusing to talk like a wet fish he was fun, fresh and human.

I am sure I saw him bowl a delivery at 94.5mph so feel he had bowled well within himself and remember with pain his “ Enforcer “ role ( humiliating ) and his bowling of 80mph wide of off stump filth ( embarrassing ) under instruction.

I like Broad, a really good guy just like Cook but similarly may not make my All Time England 3rd XL.

I agree with some of what he said! Having to apologise for dropping a catch!

They ganged up on people and harmony in the dressing room was badly affected. Swann just up sticks and left the Tour!

Also just want to say what a wonderful cricket ground The Oval is.

No queues for toilets, beer queue moved quickly, great choice of food. Such a difference from Old Trafford last week and I reiterate the Old Trafford “ ground / stadium “ is not fit to carry a Test Match.

Finally on behalf of the Nation I would like to apologise to our Antipodean friends for the serving of Champagne in plastic Carafe’s ffs!

This. Is. A. Disgrace!

Erm, looks like I had a bowl of brackets for breakfast, apologies

It’s funny but the crowd rose to Jimmy yesterday for his “ final “ test!

This isn't their back garden so what the F are they doing both turning down singles?

This is a momentous occasion, sure...but this match is not about them! And they're taking the p$$ there.

Anyone that doesn't understand it presumably knows nothing about cricket.

First time 'Bazball' entertainment has crossed a line, for me.

It's extraordinarily unlikely to matter (one run) but Jimmy has no right turning down a single for anyone/anything.

My guess is he wanted to have a go at hitting a boundary himself but Test matches are not their personal plaything.

Argument for bringing game into disrepute.

I don't know, am I getting carried away?

Broad could've smashed another couple and it becomes more significant.

Except for one, and one single reason only...

Not declaring with Graeme Hick on 98*

Ok, I've moved on.

Market's twitching already, could be fun...

apt' been on the red bull this morning...

glad your over Athers' declaring on Hick

slippy in clover...both batsman 11*

Think we're done with that dive

Wood absence becoming even more noteworthy...

Not been mentioned yet on Sky

Butch' possibly on to something...

Draw going nuts on this period of control (unless there's something weathery that I'm not appreciating)

some less severe showery stuff also approaching though could break or miss..