Custom Bats Cricket Forum
General Cricket => Latest Matches => Ashes 2013/2014 => Topic started by: awp on December 10, 2013, 09:57:46 AM
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It's going to be hot, 38-41. Will Australia hold the Ashes on Sunday? Is resistance futile? Have the poms got anything to counter the Aussie Ambush?
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In short, we are going to get stuffed again, so yes the Aussies will hold the ashes by Monday, for the first time in my son's little lifetime. I find this most depressing.
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In short, we are going to get stuffed again, so yes the Aussies will hold the ashes by Monday, for the first time in my son's little lifetime. I find this most depressing.
You never know buzz your son just might be in one of the future ashes matches.
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Pieterson, Swann and Anderson expected to be rested............The Aussies to return the urn!!!!!
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i think it depends on which england turns up. if we pick the right side and dont play stupid shots then who says we cant win at perth. we dont ahve a great record there thats for sure but india went down 2 nil and won at perth. they arent exactly world beaters when it comes to the short ball are they?
kp swann and anderson to be rested for the onedayers and t20 not the tests. really cant see them resting all 3 when we still have chance in the series
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Pieterson, Swann and Anderson expected to be rested............The Aussies to return the urn!!!!!
Surely that would help England?
Get Tymal Mills and Boyd Rankin in and try and fight fire with fire.
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Pieterson, Swann and Anderson expected to be rested............The Aussies to return the urn!!!!!
Think you are getting confused with the ODI's/T20's mate
Agree on getting Tymal Mills in, said it from the start!
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i think it depends on which england turns up. if we pick the right side and dont play stupid shots then who says we cant win at perth. we dont ahve a great record there thats for sure but india went down 2 nil and won at perth. they arent exactly world beaters when it comes to the short ball are they?
kp swann and anderson to be rested for the onedayers and t20 not the tests. really cant see them resting all 3 when we still have chance in the series
Think that is wishful thinking. so many "ifs". could be all over inside 4 days. i dont think they will play swann and either tremlett or finn will come in. Australia will probably keep same 11 which i think is right if Watson is fully fit as a bowler. if AUS win in perth it will be a long summer for you guys and brilliant for me :)
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In short, we are going to get stuffed again, so yes the Aussies will hold the ashes by Monday, for the first time in my son's little lifetime. I find this most depressing.
If this is the start of the next aussie period of domination (and im not suggesting thats necessarily the case) your son may be a father the next time england get the urn back.....still, youve had em for 4 consecutive years, that's plenty.....
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Pieterson, Swann and Anderson expected to be rested............The Aussies to return the urn!!!!!
Rest KP? One of the best bats in the world, youre nuts. Swann, yep, with respect- I think eng would be better off with finn & bresnan coming in for swann/monty. You need a specialist batsman @6. Anderson is and looks shagged, and not digging too deep, done a lot of bowling to be fsir, perhaps hasn't got anything left to give. I think he's important for eng in perth and should swing it. So, anderson, broad, bresnan, finn, pretty solid attack no?
Touring teams often miss the trick in perth. You need to pitch it fuller to take advantsge of the bounce, not get carried away with short stuff. Batsmen need propper footwork in perth, if you get stuck on the creece to length balls youre out pretty quickly.
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If this is the start of the next aussie period of domination (and im not suggesting thats necessarily the case) your son may be a father the next time england get the urn back.....still, youve had em for 4 consecutive years, that's plenty.....
I think you're being extremely optimistic - A lot of the players who have contributed to the (and rightly so) success the Aussie's have had in the first two test aren't going to be around beyond 2-3 years - see Clarke, Harris, Rogers, Haddin, Johnson. You'll need to be looking at the 22-26 year olds to see if that's a possibility. Which I don't think so.
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Touring teams often miss the trick in perth. You need to pitch it fuller to take advantsge of the bounce, not get carried away with short stuff. Batsmen need propper footwork in perth, if you get stuck on the creece to length balls youre out pretty quickly.
Which is right up Bresnan's street. I'm not sure Broad is going to be able to resist bowling a barrage of bumpers though. Shame, as he's got the perfect attribute to get wickets off a fullish length = height
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Problem is Finn has been ordinary in the practise games leading up to the ashes and Rankin hasn't actually done anything to force himself into the side either and Bresnan hasn't played much recently either.... I'd keep the team the same except for Panesar. Not real sure who I'd bring in though
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Think that is wishful thinking. so many "ifs". could be all over inside 4 days. i dont think they will play swann and either tremlett or finn will come in. Australia will probably keep same 11 which i think is right if Watson is fully fit as a bowler. if AUS win in perth it will be a long summer for you guys and brilliant for me :)
I love how aussies are quiet and barely say a word when they are getting hammered but pipe up when they play better than a poorly playing england. dont get too carried away. things may be going your way atm but if you take out clarkes and haddins runs - who to be fair made the ashes games here closer, you're not doing a huge amount better. I agreed the aus bowling line up on paper is doing better but thats purely based on the fact the english batsman have played some ridiculous shots. How many batsman have been got out by the bowlers rather than hitting balls straight to the fielders. the england batsman are making the aus bowlers look world class. Yes MJ has bowled quickly and agressively and blown away the tail but he is only a couple of wide deliveries away from losing all that confidence and bowling all over the shop again. he didnt get many wickets in the second innings when we played him properly ( cook is obviously excused from this as he failed to play him properly)
Yes it sucks that we are 2-0 down but lets put it into context. we are 2-0 down due to the failings on the team and the fact the aussies have played better than us. they are not a better team, their frailties were highlighted here when our bowling line up ripped through them on numerous occasions. are they taking their catches and taking advantage of some pretty average shots? - yes. they are also benefitting from 80mph bowling which can be tucked into nicely on some batting friendly surfaces. the England bowlers have had the aus batting under some pressure in both tests. only to then drop catches and roll over. a few catches here and there and the batsman actually using their brains and it would be a hell of alot closer.
for me bresnan needs to come in. should bowl a good length at reasonable pace. Finn should also come in and be asked to bowl 5-6 over spells at full pace. get it full and get it quick. he will get bounce and movement naturally. the rest can take care of itself. Stokes also needs to be dropped in favour of a proper batsman. i was never sure why he was included in the first place
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I think it is very similar to the summer, a poor touring team getting beat by a better performing home team.
If you look at both teams, there is not much succession planning in place, or at least, there are no real performers that are banging on the door, because if there was, they'd be in already.
Look at the ages
Clarke - 32
Johnson - 32
Watson - 32
Rogers - 36
Haddin - 36
Bailey - 31
All are in their pomp, or beyond. Either way, I cannot see them improving much more, and all will tail off in the next 5 years.
Bell - 31
Carberry - 33
Pietersen - 33
Trott - 32
Prior - 31
Anderson - 31
Panesar - 31
Swann - 34
Same with England.
Got to remember that they only need to win two of the next three tests, and draw the other to retain the ashes.
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I don't understand why they don't get Tymal Mills in the XI. Clearly their attack is very one-dimensional in Aus where the ball doesn't swing like a banana. A left arm quick would definitely be a good addition to add some variety to the attack.
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Because he is not in the squad.
He is there as a net bowler.
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yes he's just there as left arm over practice(you could say that aint worked) :)
Flower has already said there will be changes, I think myself we need Bres in 100 per cent and either Finn or tremlett,neither have bowled great in the last 12 months thou so England are in a quandry.
Perth is a bad ground for us too so it's all going the Aussies way,and to be fair, they have played better cricket to go 2-0.
swann will be left out I think,if we play a spinner it should be Monty, I would keep stokes in too
England might deceide that to get bres and Finn/tremlett/Rankin in we have no spinners apart from kp and root.
Personally I think we should have Monty and make the bold decision of leaving out Swann and Anderson
that's my two pennys worth :)
end of the day we have to put runs on the board, Bres and Stokes in means our batting is deeper
we simply have to put a score on the board
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Hope the pitch is rapid and we see some quick bowling!
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So definites are,
1 Cook (because he is skipper),
2 Carbs,
3 Root,
4 KP,
5 Bell (all had a score in last test)
6 ?
7 Prior (had a score, kept ok, no real replacement)
8 Broad (has bowled alright)
9 ?
10 - Anderson (bowled ok, fairly consistent)
11 - ?
So Stokes, Swann and Panesar are questionable.
Bresnan in for Monty looks likely. Stokes, Tremlitt, Finn or Rankin to take one spot. They may go with Stokes and Bresnan to lengthen the lower-middle order.
Swann or a batsman?
Cook, Carbs, Root, KP, Bell, Stokes, Prior, Bresnan, Broad, Swann, Anderson
Seems to look better in the batting department. Could maybe do with a real quicky like Finn and I would drop Anderson or Swann for him.
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Mills took 6 wickets in FC games @ 66 in Div 2 last season, calm down. If England were stupid enough to rally the idea about, Topley took 48 @ 22.
Stokes had to play as the second spinner came in, that meant they were a seamer short. I'd like to see Bresnan back in, I think Eng really do miss him. Ballance or Bairstow to 6, ideally Ballance, not a fan of Bairstow at all.
Despite being loose at times, no one can argue the fact that Finn has taken his 90 test wickets at less than 30, far better than many other quality players (Anderson, dare I say) and they come at a strike rate of less than every 50 balls (Again, better than "all conquering" Anderson).
Cant really do any worse than the others at the moment...
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I think out bowling unit of Bresnan, Broad, Anderson and Swann will be just fine and more than good enough.
if they have 450+ to defend not 150+ as has been the norm. Tinkering with overworked bowlers means you could end up looking too hard at the wrong problem. It would be great if Finn could be in form and playing, but he isn't and won't. Tremlett is finished and Rankin isn't ready. Mills is Daily Mail journalism so should be totally ignored.
The question is who should take the number 6 slot. Stokes, Ballance or Bairstow.
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I would go for:
Cook
Carberry
Root
KP
Bell
Taylor (big gamble - not played out there this winter)
Prior
Broad
Finn
Mills (don't know what his batting is like, so could be #11)
Anderson
Big gamble, but desperate times desperate measures maybe.
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I think out bowling unit of Bresnan, Broad, Anderson and Swann will be just fine and more than good enough.
if they have 450+ to defend not 150+ as has been the norm. Tinkering with overworked bowlers means you could end up looking too hard at the wrong problem. It would be great if Finn could be in form and playing, but he isn't and won't. Tremlett is finished and Rankin isn't ready. Mills is Daily Mail journalism so should be totally ignored.
The question is who should take the number 6 slot. Stokes, Ballance or Bairstow.
3 seamers and a spinner in Perth? I'd suggest Stokes would get the nod. Played ok in the last test, had some fight about him. Gives that extra dimension.
Ballance and Bairstow hasn't really gone big in Aussie warm up games so much.
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I would go for:
Cook
Carberry
Root
KP
Bell
Taylor (big gamble - not played out there this winter)
Prior
Broad
Finn
Mills (don't know what his batting is like, so could be #11)
Anderson
Big gamble, but desperate times desperate measures maybe.
i would change mills for Bresnan ( obviously move him up the order) and Ballance in for taylor. Plenty of pace available. Root to provide the spinners option with KP as back up if needed. that would mean broad at 9 which gives us a reasonable long batting line up if they actually apply themselves and also a bowling attack where there isnt too much pressure on the quicks. if one has a bad game it doesnt leave 3 to cover and end up overworked.
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For me its
Cook
Carberry
Root
KP
Bell
Stokes
Prior
Broad
Rankin
Anderson
Monty
I like to see Rankin have a go and told to see if he can get it down quicker than Mitch. Must have a spinner (bounce helps - ask any spinner) - and Monty is out bowling Swanny at the minute.
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The only thing in favour of playing Mills would be if they were to go with a five man attack (to cover his lack of experience) and to use him purely as a statement of intent, a battering ram. He might cause Clarke issues if nothing else, and Warner looks shaky against the lefties.
But it wouldn't be a great idea - better to bring Bresnan and Rankin in for the two spinners and Bairstow for Stokes. Or alternately keep Stokes and one spinner and drop Anderson, who is the wrong type of bowler for Perth.
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Bresnan surely doesnt make it to the XI as there should ideally be only one bowler who can bat a bit and thats Broad. Eng need to unleash their 'big guns'. Get Finn and Rankins in for Anderson and Swann. Not many options available in the batting department for Eng.
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Since it won't get to Day 4 we might as well pick 4 seamers. Anderson, Broad, Bresnan, Finn. Could pick Stokes but you might as well have a specialist seamer if you go with 4 seamers. Pick either Ballance or Bairstow for number 6 and get on with losing it :D
I think Bairstow has been hard done by. He wasn't a massive success during the summer but still got some decent scores.
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if we do go in with 4 seamers and no spinner at least it's the best possible batting side we can put out....
Bres will be number 10 or something :)
packing the side with batting is no guarantee of course we wont get rolled over again...
oddly enough we have the same discussions about batting/bowling balance down our club
quite often those at number 7 8 and 9 say they are batting so low they are just going to 'have a slog'
:)
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I'm not sure I can be bothered to stay up night after night to watch this load of idiots bat. Really feel it's a waste of time until either they show some fight or there are some big changes to freshen it all up (management/ECB and below).
I'm even considering getting rid of sky as I only keep it for cricket and if I ain't gonna watch it there is no point lining the pockets of said players (indirectly I know).
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I'm cancelling my Sky Sports Subscription and getting Disney instead. It's more believable than England scoring 400.
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Cricket is a game of confidence as that's not something they have at the moment!
So I would hire a hypnotherapist to get their heads sorted, then have...
Cook
Carbs
Root
KP
Bell
Stokes or Ballance
Prior
Bresnan
Broad
Finn
Anderson
All pace attack as its a pace wicket. Always have root or KP if need a bit of spin but can't see it being needed!
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If Finn is picked I would be surprised.
They will think long and hard about dropping Swann. At least he can catch!
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If it's going to be a pacet pitch why not go for:
Root (back as an opener as he did so well at 3 and offers a spin option)
Carberry (had more clue than Cook and can be the 2nd spinner with his tweakers)
Finn (averages 50 at 3 so there's the run machine)
Meaker
Mills
Broad (Captain - he does the T20s and the Aussies would love it)
Prior (WK)
Bresnan
Anderson
Rankin
Tremlett
Win the toss, bat first, get to 250-0 (or 0-250 if you'd prefer) and declare.
Let the 8 man pace attack roll through the Aussies, enforce the follow on and let the spinners run through the demoralised batting line up on a wearing day 3 pitch.
2-1 by the end of Sunday and the series alive once more! ;)
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Cameron, I like the cut of your jib. Do you have Frank Tyson's number? He might be up for it.
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If it's going to be a pacet pitch why not go for:
Root (back as an opener as he did so well at 3 and offers a spin option)
Carberry (had more clue than Cook and can be the 2nd spinner with his tweakers)
Finn (averages 50 at 3 so there's the run machine)
Meaker
Mills
Broad (Captain - he does the T20s and the Aussies would love it)
Prior (WK)
Bresnan
Anderson
Rankin
Tremlett
Win the toss, bat first, get to 250-0 (or 0-250 if you'd prefer) and declare.
Let the 8 man pace attack roll through the Aussies, enforce the follow on and let the spinners run through the demoralised batting line up on a wearing day 3 pitch.
2-1 by the end of Sunday and the series alive once more! ;)
Now that's being silly lol
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I don't think Perth is going to be as easy for the Aussies as people think... I think this wicket will suit the likes of Anderson and Broad with the extra bounce and swing and the swing is what the Aussie batsman struggled with in the last series
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Bresnan surely doesnt make it to the XI as there should ideally be only one bowler who can bat a bit and thats Broad. Eng need to unleash their 'big guns'. Get Finn and Rankins in for Anderson and Swann. Not many options available in the batting department for Eng.
Depends how you're looking at it. England clearly like having Bresnan around for his ability to bowl tight lines at a decent lick, mainly as a containing option with the old ball. He bats, which is useful, and is a good grabber in the slips, which they will need if Swann is left out.
I do think four seamers are needed - so if Stokes is not to be the fourth (which would allow them Swann or Panesar, possibly the latter given how well he bowls at Old Trafford, which is the nearest comparator for the level of bounce achievable) then Timmy plays. Either Anderson, Broad, Rankin, Bresnan or Rankin, Broad, Bresnan, Stokes for me.
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I'm not sure I can be bothered to stay up night after night to watch this load of idiots bat. Really feel it's a waste of time until either they show some fight or there are some big changes to freshen it all up (management/ECB and below).
I'm even considering getting rid of sky as I only keep it for cricket and if I ain't gonna watch it there is no point lining the pockets of said players (indirectly I know).
You're joking right?
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I agree with petehosks team apart from I have Stokes in for Ballance I think Stokes showed enough to deserve another go and the last time I saw ballance bat he joined the muscovy club in a one dayer against Ireland. Best keep Stokes away from the grog mind.
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I don't think Perth is going to be as easy for the Aussies as people think... I think this wicket will suit the likes of Anderson and Broad with the extra bounce and swing and the swing is what the Aussie batsman struggled with in the last series
But they must feeling confident now, that's half the battle.
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Should be after murdering us twice. Im the eternal optimist but even im starting to feel resigned, however sport is a funny thing and it tends to make fools of statistics at times.
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Pieterson, Swann and Anderson expected to be rested............The Aussies to return the urn!!!!!
Yeah just some badly worded news from cricket australia and cricinfo............But the Aussies will still return the urn ;)
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You're joking right?
No. This team hasn't played well for a while but others have played worse or we got saved by weather. I was turned off football as it just become the players didn't really give a crap and are only really there for the pay check. It seems this side for the last year or so is the same. No way should a pro. to be able to handle a still fairly erratic Johnson and they should have the disciplines to not play as many stupid shots when their brief should have been ' bat long and for the draw' .
It is sad ap it it's currently how I view this England set up. They are stale, they have egos that are now bigger than heir talent
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For me its
Cook
Carberry
Root
KP
Bell
Stokes
Prior
Broad
Rankin
Anderson
Monty
I like to see Rankin have a go and told to see if he can get it down quicker than Mitch. Must have a spinner (bounce helps - ask any spinner) - and Monty is out bowling Swanny at the minute.
All this talk about Mitch. You guys haven't seen coulter Nile , just as fast if not quicker and home ground too. Also can belt the ball a country mile
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Didn't he play in the 20-20 against England at Durham towards the end of the season?
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Got whacked if my memory serves me right. Certainly didn't take a wicket. I do remember him boshing 2 sixes in his short innings though
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Yeah, with Odi fields etc, not comparable, but with the handbrake off, watch out. I've watched him at the WACA in the most recent Sheffield shield matches, and he's bowling very quick and is always good lines. Definately quicker than Mitch this year. Moot point though as recent media suggests either an unchanged XI or Faulkner in for Lyon. I don't rate Faulkner for tests, although it is handy to have a medium pacer in Perth to bowl into the wind.
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They'll rest Harris. I can't see them pulling CN from the state side if they weren't going to play him
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Sounds like an unchanged team Lazza, guna be hot so seems like they'll want someone to get through some overs at one end and rotate the quicks at the other
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They might get Faulkner in for Harriis. Also looks like Lyon is set to play too cos of the hot weather conditions. England has an advantage with Root who can bowl decent off spin.
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PS pitch looked scary today, I assume they'll mow it tomorrow and Friday, she's pretty green. I imagine due to the heat that it will crack up by day 4, but that may be moot also.....
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They might get Faulkner in for Harriis. Also looks like Lyon is set to play too cos of the hot weather conditions. England has an advantage with Root who can bowl decent off spin.
roots off spin an advantage? please bowl him frequently, and from both ends....I've really enjoyed his batting though, showed a lot of ability and guts for a kid.
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Not sure Australia will change their side. Remember the old saying "never change a winning team"
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roots off spin an advantage? please bowl him frequently, and from both ends....I've really enjoyed his batting though, showed a lot of ability and guts for a kid.
He is surely better than a part-timer. Capable of keeping it tight at one end.
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Roots off spin > smiths leg spin.
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Roots off spin > smiths leg spin.
No, not close....a leg spinner is superior, even a part timer, which is why a part time leggie can get bell out, but (unless theres a slog going on) can you imagine root getting clarke out? Leggies have x factor, part time offies are just fence fodder really.
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Roots off spin > smiths leg spin.
Hardly.
Root's off breaks are pretty non threatening.
When Smith gets it right. He gets sharp turn and bounce.
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No, not close....a leg spinner is superior, even a part timer, which is why a part time leggie can get bell out, but (unless theres a slog going on) can you imagine root getting clarke out? Leggies have x factor, part time offies are just fence fodder really.
Root got Pup out in England. Caught at leg slip.
More batsman error rather than genius bowling though.
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No, not close....a leg spinner is superior, even a part timer, which is why a part time leggie can get bell out, but (unless theres a slog going on) can you imagine root getting clarke out? Leggies have x factor, part time offies are just fence fodder really.
I was hoping you'd say that.......
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bZwvJA70Nc&feature=youtube_gdata_player (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bZwvJA70Nc&feature=youtube_gdata_player)
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If the Aussies can put Swan away with ease. I don't think Root's off breaks will keep them up a night. Monty's the way to go. Turn the ball away from the right hander. Much more dangerous trying to use your feet with the ball turning away from you.
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I was hoping you'd say that.......
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bZwvJA70Nc&feature=youtube_gdata_player (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bZwvJA70Nc&feature=youtube_gdata_player)
I cant see that on my phone but I really, really, really home that is Michael Vaughan bowling Sachin Tendulkar through the gate...
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No, not close....a leg spinner is superior, even a part timer, which is why a part time leggie can get bell out, but (unless theres a slog going on) can you imagine root getting clarke out? Leggies have x factor, part time offies are just fence fodder really.
Bell got himself out. He came down the track to a big lollypop full toss and shanked it.
I could have bowled that ball and got Bell out. 100% batsman error.
In fact, he was quite lucky Johnson held on to it, he had to move quickly and get down low, I think the only reason he held on was long arms and big hands. Some others might not have caught it.
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If the Aussies can put Swan away with ease. I don't think Root's off breaks will keep them up a night. Monty's the way to go. Turn the ball away from the right hander. Much more dangerous trying to use your feet with the ball turning away from you.
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Monty would mean one less quick in the line up..Big risk to take..
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No, not close....a leg spinner is superior, even a part timer, which is why a part time leggie can get bell out, but (unless theres a slog going on) can you imagine root getting clarke out? Leggies have x factor, part time offies are just fence fodder really.
Chip in with...
KP v Clarke at Adelaide in the last Ashes.
http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/534226.html (http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/534226.html) - Ruldolph, Smith, Amla.
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Faulkner out of contention with a broken thumb.
I think Harris will play his last test of the series if they win in Perth, resting him and playing another seamer, possibly Dougie or Nile.
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I've got a good feeling about tonight - I reckon the tables are about to turn and that Jimmy and Broady are going to bowl first and run through their top order - then one of our batters is going to grit it out and go way past their score, and we will hang on for a narrow victory. This will turn the tide of everything - KP and Bell-end to start scoring mountains. Confidence will rise and Alistair Cook will be a legend once more.
Mind you I'm off my tits on painkillers and out of my mind on antibiotics.
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Mind you I'm off my tits on painkillers and out of my mind on antibiotics.
No change there then.
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Not fair - it's normally cheap lager and the cat's worming tablets!
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Nice little stat from today's Spin email
In the last two years, James Anderson has delivered 7,256 balls in international cricket, more than anyone other than Ravi Ashwin. Among the quicks, next on the list is Stuart Broad, who has got through 6,344. Dale Steyn is third, with 5,549. Anderson has bowled 285 overs more than Steyn in that time. This year, again, the two quick bowlers with the heaviest workload worldwide have been Anderson and Broad. No wonder Anderson is flagging, or that Broad so often seems to bowl shy of the speed he is capable of.
http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2013/dec/12/the-spin-england-steady-decline (http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2013/dec/12/the-spin-england-steady-decline)
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Did someone say we have a bit of a shortage of high enough quality quicks?
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I was hoping you'd say that.......
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bZwvJA70Nc&feature=youtube_gdata_player (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bZwvJA70Nc&feature=youtube_gdata_player)
Ive tried, but I cant seem to convey tongue in cheek in written form.......
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I've got a good feeling about tonight - I reckon the tables are about to turn and that Jimmy and Broady are going to bowl first and run through their top order - then one of our batters is going to grit it out and go way past their score, and we will hang on for a narrow victory. This will turn the tide of everything - KP and Bell-end to start scoring mountains. Confidence will rise and Alistair Cook will be a legend once more.
Mind you I'm off my tits on painkillers and out of my mind on antibiotics.
I have a feeling despite all the talk being sbout Johnson thst harris will be the hero in this test.
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Excellent first days play... 1st England on top and then Aussies dominate the second half of the day.... Great batting display by Steve Smith and Brad Haddin.
Poor batting early on by the Aussies but then England lost the plot and bowled poorly at times
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Agree.
And Stuart broads poor attempt with the new ball was embarrassing. His tantrum at field placing even more.
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Superb knock from Steve Smith...just proves Dhoni's saying "What really matter is Temperament over Technique"...Eng have once again let Aus off the hook!
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Andy Flower says they're not afraid to shake things up....
They then drop monty for Bresnan. Big shake up there! *facepalm*
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A real shake up would have been to drop Swann and pick Rankins!..also dont understand Cook's thinking behind giving the most overs to Bresnan!! You do that when you need to do some damage control, not when you are right on top and need to get the opposition bowled out.
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Lot of complaints on the commentary that our fielding positions were somewhat negative and defensive - certainly didn't see many slips or a short leg on the bits I watched.
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As I said in the last test Cooks captaincy has been questionable
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I thought Stokes showed good sportsmanship when he nodded in appreciation of a well earned 100 to Smith even though he pulled him for 4 to bring it up
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Think England have made a real mess o this - their only change was to bring in Bresnan for Panesar which, whilst it improved the side, did not really address the needs of this test match - on a bouncy track they needed four front line pace men and at least one more big nasty lad amongst them. Rankin should have played, replacing Anderson (sacriledge, I know, but the ball has swung twice all series, both times for Harris, and as a holding bowler Bresnan is fresher and, lets face it, a far better bat) and there was an argument to replace Swann and Stokes with Bairstow/Balance and Tremlett. Instead, the mateyness that has characterised England in the last eighteen months saw them go for same old same old and...
As I've said before, this is a contest between two middling sides. Australia just seem more committed to winning and more willing to do the difficult jobs to get there.
Winning the toss every time has helped, my nephew wishes me to add!
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As I said in the last test Cooks captaincy has been questionable
I said that in the last ashes and got laughed at. Cook is not a great captain even though his stats say so. Just to prove that i'm not picking on the poms I never thought ponting was a good captain. He inherited a great side and his stats are some of the best ever. The best captain I have had the pleasure to watch was fleming. He had an average side and really took it to every side they played
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I said that in the last ashes and got laughed at. Cook is not a great captain even though his stats say so. Just to prove that i'm not picking on the poms I never thought ponting was a good captain. He inherited a great side and his stats are some of the best ever. The best captain I have had the pleasure to watch was fleming. He had an average side and really took it to every side they played
Agree with all of that 100%
Fleming was an excellent captain - Cook seems to be the epitome of stiff upper lip Britishness in his captaincy - very conservative and unwilling to take risks. In fact, even the selection feels like that.
I can't help but admire people like Clarke and McCullum - not afraid to try something different/outrageous
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Whilst we crtiticise Cook, he has a job to do, we are just armchair generals in effect.
I don't see why Swann wasn't dropped, Monty kepy, Anderson dropped (bowled awfully all series by his standards) and replaced by Bresnan or Rankin.
We have one hell of a lot of unproven players unfortunately: Rankin, Mills, Stokes, Woakes, Bairstow, Ballance etc...
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Stokes looks like he will be around for the long run. He has got the temperament and some mongrel about him. Tremlett is well.....poo I can't see him lasting to long in the international scene. Root has gained a lot of kudos here in aus. for his guttsy attitude.
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the disappointing thing for me was letting a pretty average player get 100 and allowing aus off the hook. 140-5 then added another 180 - 1. thats been the main difference in the series. we have let them off the hook and the aussies have pounded us when we have been in a similar position.
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Maybe he has uncovered an average attack... After all his 2 centuries are against England ;) :D
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Maybe he has uncovered an average attack... After all his 2 centuries are against England ;) :D
Currently, i wouldn't even say average......
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Steve Smith may look average but he certainly can punch above his weight and has the ability to assess the situation, adapt quickly. Besides who doesn't like a player who plays like a 1st team club player but can cut it in the Test level too ?.
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the disappointing thing for me was letting a pretty average player get 100 and allowing aus off the hook. 140-5 then added another 180 - 1. thats been the main difference in the series. we have let them off the hook and the aussies have pounded us when we have been in a similar position.
John don't be hard on your team. You know how damn hot it gets in perth. It was 38 degrees from 12.00 to 3.30 with no wind. They were just exhausted. You could physically see the pace drop
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Smith is becoming an excellent young player, his innings today was magnificent, once again redink, get off what ever drugs it is that you're on, you have no clue.
I still feel, long term he's going to be fantastic at 6. Not a fan of bailey, never have been, he's not test
Grade, never will be.
England bowled too short. In prior post I mentioned the key to success on the WACA is pitching 1m further up, I thought England's experienced attack fell for the Perth trap, too short.
I watched Anderson closely. While i still maintain he 'paces' himself if conditions/match situation aren't quite to his liking, my prior comments about him lacking guts are off the mark. The poor bugger is absolutely flat out exhausted. I'm convinced he's completely fatigued. This is dangerous for a quick bowler, he is vulnerable to injury. If he does get hurt, heads should roll in the team managemt, they've already sacrificed a good player who wasn't fit for duty.
Australia were fortunate, pretty clear they wanted to come hard at England but very poor shot selection rewarded some mediocre bowling.
I like Cook, but reality is that as a tactician, he's pretty 1 dimensional, he's a lead by example type, and he typically sets a fine example to his team, but in the field, he doesn't have control of that team, the team aren't buying in to the plan, and the plans no good in the first place. At times today, looked like there were 7 captains out there.
Getting pretty sick of England's pathetic over rate. Yes it was hot today, the over rate has been tardy in prior matches too.
The pitch will quicken up tomorrow, by lunch it should be really flying through......
As always, can't say whether it is a possible match winning position untill both teams have batted, but with 320 on the board, shouldn't loose.
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the disappointing thing for me was letting a pretty average player get 100 and allowing aus off the hook.
I think he's a very intelligent and way above average cricketer. He may not have the style of Bell or Clarke but who cares, it's not how it's how many. He looks hard to bowl at as well - he plays a lot of unorthodox shots and it's hard to set a field to him.
I think calling him an average player is a real disservice.
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His record suggests he's a pretty average player who's upped his game in the last 12 months, but he's still a very average batsman at test level. Very strong on the on side and a tired England attack bowled too strsight to him. Good knock nd a very important one but lets not get carried away.
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I need someone to explain to me why bailey is in the team. He is simply not test material as is shown in his sheffield shield record. 18 months ago I didn't even know his name, he is the only person in the team I would say is easily replaceable unlike watson unfortunately.
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England bowled too short. In prior post I mentioned the key to success on the WACA is pitching 1m further up, I thought England's experienced attack fell for the Perth trap, too short.
Tell me about it. I sat and watched half an hour of Stokes bowling at Smith on the train (thank you Sky Go!!!) and felt that the length of the bowling was idiotic. You could see the back of a length balls causing defensive strokes, so why bowl half way down the pitch? It's not like these guys are bowling at 90+mph, so the short balls are properly hard to play. They were topping out at 85-86, which Smith was dealing with easily.
And Anderson does indeed look exhausted. As mentioned previously, he's bowled 285+ more overs than any other fast bowler in world cricket over the last 12 months. To put it in context, that's nearly three full days of a test match, continuously, more. No wonder he is exhausted.
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I think he's a very intelligent and way above average cricketer. He may not have the style of Bell or Clarke but who cares, it's not how it's how many. He looks hard to bowl at as well - he plays a lot of unorthodox shots and it's hard to set a field to him.
I think calling him an average player is a real disservice.
Thing is, that's fine when he's in nick, which is now.
I bet when he is out of form he will struggle exponentially more than someone like Bell who has a technique to fall back on.
He'll be a good honest player for Australia, but if someone will a similar temperament and a technique turns up, then I'm sure he'll be ushered out of the team.
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I need someone to explain to me why bailey is in the team. He is simply not test material as is shown in his sheffield shield record. 18 months ago I didn't even know his name, he is the only person in the team I would say is easily replaceable unlike watson unfortunately.
100% lazza. And thats no slight on him personally, by all accounts he seems to be highly regarded and well respected. I agree, never been a fan of his cricket outside odi, his technique doesnt look like test grade to me. Trouble is, of those pressing for selection, who really has put their hand up and demanded selection through sheer weight of runs? No one (aside from phil hughes who is making a mountain of runs now he based in adelaide.....) at the same time bailey was slaughtering odi attacks on indian pitches thst were yielding 700 runs per game, which looked flattering, but to me atleast isnt overly compelling. Ive nearly given up hoping but its such a shame shaun marsh hasnt fulfilled his prodigious talent in longer form cricket as he is the second best batsman in australia full stop, but with 1 century in 4 shield games this year, hardly screams 'pick me'. If form is the ultimate criteria then marcus north would be the man who has most centuries (opening too) but has taken time off to deal with the death of his brother (understandable of course). Marcus may be too old now anyway? The team has improved, significsntly, you could see it emerging in england, despite the 3 zip belting received. However, the batting still looks capeable of a collapse if clarke goes cheaply and haddin doesnt do a rescue job. Reality is we were 2 dropped catches from being out cheaply in adelaide, game changing stuff at that elite level. I see out batting evolving in 2 potential ways, depending on who emerges. The hunt for another ponting to bat 3 is probably as futile as our search for another warne, but if a quality 3 emerges, I think we need to pick him and let watto bat lower, if hes expected to bowl. Dont mind watto at 3 though, in principal. If a good youngish player genuinely capable of a test place in the top 4 emerges then he csn bat at 5 and smith at 6, which is where I think he would have a fantastic career, which he may well have at 5 in any case. At 6 he could also further develop his leggies which I do hope he keeps up with. No nedd to worry about quicks, theres another 15 kids coming ghrough thst all bowl 150+.
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Thing is, that's fine when he's in nick, which is now.
I bet when he is out of form he will struggle exponentially more than someone like Bell who has a technique to fall back on.
He'll be a good honest player for Australia, but if someone will a similar temperament and a technique turns up, then I'm sure he'll be ushered out of the team.
Bell didnt always look the player he does these days......... check his record when he was the same age as smith.......theres actually little wrong withcsmiths technique, he looks like hes worked damn hard on improving, what people mostly confuse is his style, which is a little unconditional.
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And Anderson does indeed look exhausted. As mentioned previously, he's bowled 285+ more overs than any other fast bowler in world cricket over the last 12 months. To put it in context, that's nearly three full days of a test match, continuously, more. No wonder he is exhausted.
I didnt read that earlier, his exhaustion would seem understandable if that is correct. As said earlier, I love his skill at swinging the ball, so I watched him very closely, and in the field, hes completely knackered. I dont know what englands schedule is post ashes, but they need to rest this bloke or risk a serious long term injury.
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Smiths playing well at the moment but I agree his technique looks fragile. When you see him batting at 5 for Australia people like Stuart Law, jamie Cox, Lehman etc etc must be thinking I wish I could have my career again now. Mind you the same could be said for carberry. Very lucky to be playing test cricket imo.
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His record suggests he's a pretty average player who's upped his game in the last 12 months, but he's still a very average batsman at test level. Very strong on the on side and a tired England attack bowled too strsight to him. Good knock nd a very important one but lets not get carried away.
Isnt thst called being a kid in a test team and learning? Same for root. I think perhsps we need instant cricketers these days..... it took steve waugh a while to flourish in test matches, you blokes would have discarded him!
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Smiths playing well at the moment but I agree his technique looks fragile. When you see him batting at 5 for Australia people like Stuart Law, jamie Cox, Lehman etc etc must be thinking I wish I could have my career again now. Mind you the same could be said for carberry. Very lucky to be playing test cricket imo.
Yep, in the 90's and early '00's our second stringers were capeable of averaging 50 in tests....those guys would have walked into any other nations test team..timing is everything isnt it. Hussey couldnt get a game until he was 30........
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I'm personally not really liking the decisions Cook is making as a captain out there and feel a couple of other people could be better suited but perhaps at the moment there is other things to be worrying about!
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Rather moronic statements claiming Steven Smith is an 'average player'.
Since his return to the Test side, he's scored 600+ runs at 41. He's 136*, 104*, 92 and 89.
Players do improve over time. Smith looked ropey in his first few Tests, but that was when he was playing as a spinner.
Smith's FC batting average is a shade under 48.
He's only 24 and will get better and better.
He's a fine young batsman. Make no bones about it.
I'll give an example of another player who looked ropey in the infancy of his career, Hashim Amla. And look how great he is now.
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Killing me watching it over here with Channel 9 commentary, give me Nick Knight any day.
They are so biased towards the Aussies, and if you didn't know any better you'd be led to believe Michael Clarke and Dave Warner are the greatest cricketers to ever walk the planet.
Personal favourite yesterday came from Warne as Swann was brought into the attack at which Warne described was the wrong end, 2 balls later he picks up the wicket of 'Captain Courageous' Michael Clarke
They spout utter (No Swearing Please), just like me some of you may think :)
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Rather moronic statements claiming Steven Smith is an 'average player'.
Since his return to the Test side, he's scored 600+ runs at 41. He's 136*, 104*, 92 and 89.
Players do improve over time. Smith looked ropey in his first few Tests, but that was when he was playing as a spinner.
Smith's FC batting average is a shade under 48.
He's only 24 and will get better and better.
He's a fine young batsman. Make no bones about it.
I'll give an example of another player who looked ropey in the infancy of his career, Hashim Amla. And look how great he is now.
41 is not world beating, I'd say that is 'average'. You'd expect great players to average 45 -50 these days.
He is a decent player, who plays within his limits, as shown with 47 of his 50 on the leg side. He had one off aide scoring shot in that time.
He is young, and will most likely get better,but to class him in the same breath as Alma is being very presumptuous.
If you said, take any two players in the top 6 to bowl at who is most likely to get out, you'd probably pick Bailey and Smith.
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41 is not world beating, I'd say that is 'average'. You'd expect great players to average 45 -50 these days.
He is a decent player, who plays within his limits, as shown with 47 of his 50 on the leg side. He had one off aide scoring shot in that time.
He is young, and will most likely get better,but to class him in the same breath as Alma is being very presumptuous.
If you said, take any two players in the top 6 to bowl at who is most likely to get out, you'd probably pick Bailey and Smith.
An average of 40 is deemed a mark of a Test class batsman.
So no Steven Smith isn't average.
Average would be an average in the 30s.
The comparison to Amla is regarding technical issues in their early career.
Can Smith be as good as Amla? Yeah why not?
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Anyway enough about smith.
Let move onto haddin.
As much as Johnston has steam rolled England tail over and over again. If wade was the aussies keeper and obviously there number 7. Does anyone think the aussies would be 2-0 and on top in test 3?
I think it would be alother closer, haddins batting has saved the aussies every innings!
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41 is not world beating, I'd say that is 'average'. You'd expect great players to average 45 -50 these days.
He is a decent player, who plays within his limits, as shown with 47 of his 50 on the leg side. He had one off aide scoring shot in that time.
He is young, and will most likely get better,but to class him in the same breath as Alma is being very presumptuous.
If you said, take any two players in the top 6 to bowl at who is most likely to get out, you'd probably pick Bailey and Smith.
The reason he scored 47 of his 50 runs on the leg side is because England bowled so poorly and so short it was easy pickings.
Did you not see his beautiful cover drives? I clearly remember one off Swann which was sublime
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All this talk of a averages isn't too good until people retire. I mean is Warner a test batsmen?? Or is he just a player that plays pretty much the same way in tests as ODI's? Same with smith, bailey and Watson (just picking on aus here as you guys were on about smudger).
With cricket changing now, the classic 'test' batsmen are getting fewer and we are left with the smiths, war sons and Warner's (butler, Barstow, bopara etc). Guys who are basically runs ball merchants who happen to play test cricket too. Bowlers are like test bowlers of old anymore as they need all this 'variation' stuff drilled into them before they've mastered bowling top of off or in the corridor time after time after time.
Personally, given the small boundaries, bats, docile pitches and lack of bowling talent around the mark of a good player is higher than it's ever been before. 50 is regarded as 'great', however I reckon that 50 is now just your 'good' batsmen.. Aka test ones. Anything less is not really there. It's shown over time that once 35-40 was good, then 40-45, then 50.. It's just with the ever increasing demand for sloggers and smaller boundaries etc runs we flowing. Whether you think it's a better game for it is open to debate as the loss of the art of one way opens the door to the art of another.
As for smith.. That club cricketer we all love did good!! Hope for us all :). Well player sir (Now get out please so our famed classy batsmen can be out for less than you got :) ) smith played mostly!! The shots to what crap England bowled at him.. It's not his fault the muppets bowled short and straight to him.. Easy pickings..
Haddin - up most respect for rocking rod Stewart.. 12 months ago he was finished for cricket and personal reasons.. He's come back and is a big a reason for the Aussies winning currently as any other player in that side is.. He's on fire and is showing prior how it's done.
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An average of 40 is deemed a mark of a Test class batsman.
So no Steven Smith isn't average.
Average would be an average in the 30s.
And he averages 33. According to your rules, he is average.
To pull out stats of certain parts of their career, the need to be averaging 50+ to show quality.
Yes, he is youngish and has potential. I personally cannot see him improving enough to be in the same league as Amla.
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Rather moronic statements claiming Steven Smith is an 'average player'.
Since his return to the Test side, he's scored 600+ runs at 41. He's 136*, 104*, 92 and 89.
Players do improve over time. Smith looked ropey in his first few Tests, but that was when he was playing as a spinner.
Smith's FC batting average is a shade under 48.
He's only 24 and will get better and better.
He's a fine young batsman. Make no bones about it.
I'll give an example of another player who looked ropey in the infancy of his career, Hashim Amla. And look how great he is now.
3 of those 4 scores have been on slabs of concrete. When he scores runs in tough conditions you can call him a fine young bastman
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Bell didnt always look the player he does these days......... check his record when he was the same age as smith.......theres actually little wrong withcsmiths technique, he looks like hes worked damn hard on improving, what people mostly confuse is his style, which is a little unconditional.
I'm sorry, but that's rubbish. Unconditional?
I'd compare Smith with Collingwood. Bell has always looked good getting out. Now he has the temperament to match the technique, better than the other way round. And you can't argue with 20 Test hundreds.
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An average of 40 is deemed a mark of a Test class batsman.
So no Steven Smith isn't average.
Average would be an average in the 30s.
The comparison to Amla is regarding technical issues in their early career.
Can Smith be as good as Amla? Yeah why not?
If Smith were a rugby player he'd be Phil de Glanville, serviceable until a better option comes along
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If Smith were a rugby player he'd be Phil de Glanville, serviceable until a better option comes along
I'd have Steven Smith over Joe Root everyday of the week. And twice on a Sunday...
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3 of those 4 scores have been on slabs of concrete. When he scores runs in tough conditions you can call him a fine young bastman
These so called 'slabs of concrete' Australia premier batsman, Pup, didn't get any when Smith got 92 in Mohali. In fact Pup got a golden duck.
When Smith scored both his hundreds, again Pup didn't.
So he can score runs when Australia's premier batsman fails.
Hallmarks of a class batsman.
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I'd have Steven Smith over Joe Root everyday of the week. And twice on a Sunday...
Good for you. Why add other variables?
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The reason he scored 47 of his 50 runs on the leg side is because England bowled so poorly and so short it was easy pickings.
Did you not see his beautiful cover drives? I clearly remember one off Swann which was sublime
That.......and cooks 7 / 2 fields.......! I think theres a number of poms who are commenting on stats without actually watching.
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So many negative comments abt Smith...He may not be class, he may not have the technique, he might never be an Amla, but he is effective and has scored a century on the quick and bouncy WACA pitch. He might never be great but he is mighty effective!! Looks like the English fans are just frustrated..if anyone, they shud be angry with their world class bowling attack.
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Good for you. Why add other variables?
Friday feeling mate :D
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I think everyone is confusing looking good with being good here.. Are we forgetting about all the unconventional players who have been greats of the game... Their technique suited their style.. Not even unconventional but not 100% technically correct...
Bradman
I.V.A. Richards
Gilchrist
S.Waugh
Botham
Jayasuriya
Sehwag
Trescothick
Gibbs
Collingwood
Dilshan
G.Smith
I'm sure there are plenty more. All with unconventional techniques or not 100% technically correct but all great players in their own right.
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So many negative comments abt Smith...He may not be class, he may not have the technique, he might never be an Amla, but he is effective and has scored a century on the quick and bouncy WACA pitch. He might never be great but he is mighty effective!! Looks like the English fans are just frustrated..if anyone, they shud be angry with their world class bowling attack.
Fair play to him, you can't under estimate his achievement. I'd love a Test hundred, let alone two. But then Test cricket ain't what it used to be. Averaging 40 is no longer the benchmark.
But he's also benefitted from a knackered attack and a great pitch to bat on. He also obviously has the backing from the hierarchy. I return to my original point, if he can make contributions when out of form, then fair dos, yet to be convinced.
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Friday feeling mate :D
I'll buy you a crunchie.
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Killing me watching it over here with Channel 9 commentary, give me Nick Knight any day.
They are so biased towards the Aussies, and if you didn't know any better you'd be led to believe Michael Clarke and Dave Warner are the greatest cricketers to ever walk the planet.
Personal favourite yesterday came from Warne as Swann was brought into the attack at which Warne described was the wrong end, 2 balls later he picks up the wicket of 'Captain Courageous' Michael Clarke
They spout utter (No Swearing Please), just like me some of you may think :)
Hang on, we had to put up with your dopes during the winter, its almost like they are having a dickhead contest. I appreciate that most of them are ex England captains, of teams that routinely got flogged and humiliated by Australia so now armed with microphones they can talk tough despite not being g able to act it on the pitch. Anyone would have thought based on listening to the pom commentators, that England were anything more than a good side, occasionally a very good side, that play booring cricket and got to #1 for 6 months and have had the wood on Australia whilst in rebuilding stage. I visit England frequently for business and I know and understand the issues in the country and that theres not a lot to celebrate , but fair dinkum, come and talk to is when you've been #1 for 15 years, you might have some credibility.
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I think everyone is confusing looking good with being good here.. Are we forgetting about all the unconventional players who have been greats of the game... Their technique suited their style.. Not even unconventional but not 100% technically correct...
Bradman
I.V.A. Richards
Gilchrist
S.Waugh
Botham
Jayasuriya – great?
Sehwag great? Ask Vic N & Gerry...
Trescothick – never! Good certainly.
Gibbs
Collingwood – hahaha great team man!
Dilshan pfft
G.Smith – proves yourpt perfectly
I'm sure there are plenty more. All with unconventional techniques or not 100% technically correct but all great players in their own right.
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I'll buy you a crunchie.
Make said crunchie into an apple and we've got a deal! :D
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Hang on, we had to put up with your dopes during the winter, its almost like they are having a dickhead contest. I appreciate that most of them are ex englan captains, ofcteams that routinely got flogged and humiliated by australia so now armed with microphones they can talk tough despite not bei g able to act it on the pitch. Anyone would have thought based on listening to the pom commentators, that england were anything more than a good side, occassionally a very good side, that play booring cricket and got to #1 for 6 months and have had the wood on australia whilst in rebuilding stage. I visit england frequently for business and I know and understand the issues in the country and that theres not a lot to celebrate , but fair dinkum, come and talk to is when youve bern #1 for 15 years, you might have some credibility.
So true!! They often get on my nerves with their comments and 'suggestions'...rarely do you find them praising any Aus players.. I understand that its the Ashes but cricket should be above all...something i feel the Indian commentators do well..genuinely praise a good performance of an opposition player..national loyalties should be secondary
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When Brian Lara tweets that it's a great hundred I tend to be a believer.
I don't think Smith is a great player but I certainly believe he has earned his spot and doing a damn fine job and I'll watch him smash Swann down the ground for 6 or pull Broad, Stokes or Anderson for 4 all day every day ;) :D
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I'm sorry, but that's rubbish. Unconditional?
I'd compare Smith with Collingwood. Bell has always looked good getting out. Now he has the temperament to match the technique, better than the other way round. And you can't argue with 20 Test hundreds.
Unconventional.
Read my post again. Slowly if necessary.
Clearly was not comparing smith to bell now, but when bell was the same age as smith, ie 24. Bell did not have 20 test 100's when he was 24. He was, however, struggling.
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It was a top 100.
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Unconventional.
Read my post again. Slowly if necessary.
Clearly was not comparing smith to bell now, but when bell was the same age as smith, ie 24. Bell did not have 20 test 100's when he was 24. He was, however, struggling.
I was able to comprehend your post. You're hardly James Joyce. Bell took very well to Test cricket but had a stern Test from McGrath and Warne ... Not uncommon.
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So true!! They often get on my nerves with their comments and 'suggestions'...rarely do you find them praising any Aus players.. I understand that its the Ashes but cricket should be above all...something i feel the Indian commentators do well..genuinely praise a good performance of an opposition player..national loyalties should be secondary
The Pakistan players past and present can't praise any Indian performances though or the Taliban step in... :)
Did you guys get that report over there about Pakistan praising Tendulkar?
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Gota go, at the ground today too, in an aircon box fortunately.....
Pitch will be properly quick today. Looking forward to the aussies adding another 150 and then mitch letting loose. I think KP should do well on this surface. Batsman need to have a good look for 30 mins, play straight, then its the best place to bat on the planet.
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England will get smashed. Harris is the main bowler.
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Personal favourite yesterday came from Warne as Swann was brought into the attack at which Warne described was the wrong end, 2 balls later he picks up the wicket of 'Captain Courageous' Michael Clarke
They spout utter (No Swearing Please), just like me some of you may think :)
Yeah but that's cricket, things happen unexpectedly.........and I think Warney knows what he is talking about.
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Need to get the final four wickets quickly, one (or more) of the top 6/7 have to score a ton surely!!
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England will get smashed. Harris is the main bowler.
Don't prejudge. It's a belter of a batting wicket. I did say in earlier post that I suspect Harris will be the hero. This pitch will suit carberry, KP, bell, prior. Depends is Mitch softens EM up. I'd love to see KP bat well.
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These so called 'slabs of concrete' Australia premier batsman, Pup, didn't get any when Smith got 92 in Mohali. In fact Pup got a golden duck.
When Smith scored both his hundreds, again Pup didn't.
So he can score runs when Australia's premier batsman fails.
Hallmarks of a class batsman.
I was on about the other 3, Old Trafford, Oval and here.
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41 is not world beating, I'd say that is 'average'. You'd expect great players to average 45 -50 these days.
He is a decent player, who plays within his limits, as shown with 47 of his 50 on the leg side. He had one off aide scoring shot in that time.
He is young, and will most likely get better,but to class him in the same breath as Alma is being very presumptuous.
If you said, take any two players in the top 6 to bowl at who is most likely to get out, you'd probably pick Bailey and Smith.
Wow JJ '41' is an average,average(is that right?). Joe root is at that average and I wouldn't call him average. I recall bell having a bad 'Average' in his sherninator days. You sure your not confusing unorthodox technique (smith) with ability. Also Trott is a huge leg side player, is he 'average'. He certainly is not a great but I would rate him above average.
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Wow JJ '41' is an average,average(is that right?). Joe root is at that average and I wouldn't call him average. I recall bell having a bad 'Average' in his sherninator days. You sure your not confusing unorthodox technique (smith) with ability. Also Trott is a huge leg side player, is he 'average'. He certainly is not a great but I would rate him above average.
Smith averages 33, 41 in whatever section of time he classed as.
Trott, over his career, averages 46.
Root, averages 41ish. There is talk on here whether he is good enough at this time.
I have not said Smith does not have ability. I said heplays to his strengths and has potential. To class him as a world class batsman is jumping the gun.
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Smith averages 33, 41 in whatever section of time he classed as.
Trott, over his career, averages 46.
Root, averages 41ish. There is talk on here whether he is good enough at this time.
I have not said Smith does not have ability. I said heplays to his strengths and has potential. To class him as a world class batsman is jumping the gun.
I must have misread cricinfo stats. I agree that both root and smith have not cemented themselves in international cricket yet but my concern is that smith is being judged, rightly or wrongly, on his unorthordox approach to batting. Smith has an excellent record in first class cricket and although not the same as international it is still a very strong testing ground.
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What a dreadful decision there by the third umpire for Root... Nothing on hotspot and a tiny noise on snicko after the balls past the bat. Why have this tech if we don't use it?
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What a dreadful decision there by the third umpire for Root... Nothing on hotspot and a tiny noise on snicko after the balls past the bat. Why have this tech if we don't use it?
It's rediculous. I'm and aussie and I can't believe it ! Match fixing maybe??
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It's rediculous. I'm and aussie and I can't believe it ! Match fixing maybe??
Match fixing? That's big slanderous call.
Woke up to Eng being two down, so only seen replays. Botham's right that there was a conflicting noise/no nick so stays on field. I just hope it is the same when the Aussies bat.
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Match fixing? That's big slanderous call.
Woke up to Eng being two down, so only seen replays. Botham's right that there was a conflicting noise/no nick so stays on field. I just hope it is the same when the Aussies bat.
The ball was nearly 10 inches past the bat when the tiny noise that lookeed nothing like you'd usually see for an edge come up though.
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Match fixing? That's big slanderous call.
Woke up to Eng being two down, so only seen replays. Botham's right that there was a conflicting noise/no nick so stays on field. I just hope it is the same when the Aussies bat.
Tongue in cheek JJ. It already happened to the aussies remember Khawajas call. That was even worse.
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Tongue in cheek JJ. It already happened to the aussies remember Khawajas call. That was even worse.
Tongue in cheek, maybe,but after recent threads on here, I think people need to be very careful in what they say and how they say it.
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fairplay great catch from johnson but awful shot from pietersen
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It's always fine margins with Pieterson if that goes for four he's putting his stamp on the game but it went to hand. His match awareness has always been shocking, if Bell and KP were there tomorrow morning against a soft ball it's a different game.
Sadly those are ifs and buts. The Aussies are performing better collectively and that's what's required to win.
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Shocking from Pieterson. He should have just told himself to stay there tonight and then he can make hay tomorrow.
We're right in it now !
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Sad to see my decision to sack off the ashes is the correct one. I love my cricket now but these idiots are losing and losing badly to an average team (showing that England are indeed average now). Still not enough fight shown given they are basically batting to save the series so should be thinking time. Oh well.
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very disappointing day. no enterprise shown at all. cook fights like hell, he's so gutsy. carbs was looking good, root didn't hit it (criticizing the 3rd umpire above is not correct - the fault is with the onfield umpire) but England's 1 dimensional approach is rapidly becoming old.
I think ProCricketer calling Aust average is not right. From a pace bowling perspective, this attack is only bettered by McGrath / Gillespie / Lee.
Sure, the batting isn't of the same depth as the all conquering world champion teams of the 90's - early '00, but I now feel warner is not only capeable but more importantly wants to fulfill his potential at test level. Clarke is currently the best test batsman in the world, Smith is coming along (his performance in India won me - I still think his technique is fine - his style looks a bit different which is where people are getting confused and hes being subjected to unfair criticism). Rogers is a fine first class player, did a great job in England, obviously will not be around for to long.haddin is the second best keeper batsman ive seen.
we are 2 quality batters away from being where we no doubt will be in due course. whether watto can be all that his talent would suggest who knows - I hope so, hes a wonderful talent, at 32 theres deliver or not - no more potential, in any case - hes the best we've got. Baileys not the man, that's been discussed earlier.
don't forget 12 months ago, we came very close to rolling the saffers, and would have been #1 - and I'm not suggesting that would have been apt, but there you go.
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Sad to see my decision to sack off the ashes is the correct one. I love my cricket now but these idiots are losing and losing badly to an average team (showing that England are indeed average now). Still not enough fight shown given they are basically batting to save the series so should be thinking time. Oh well.
If you 'sacked it off' and didn't watch it then how do you know that they didn't show any fight?
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If you 'sacked it off' and didn't watch it then how do you know that they didn't show any fight?
I sacked off staying up. Doesn't mean I haven't asked the guy I netted with what he thought. Plus there are 'high' lights
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Plus there are 'high' lights
Unfortunately there's only been highlights for Australia so far this series :(
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Another house of cards performance by the England batting line up...
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Prior's gotta go. Theres 70 million of you, surely theres a better keeper somewhere. Warner and rogers should be in the shed.
Lets hope broad gets a good report at the hospital, england need him back as soon as hes able.
This is starting to feel 90's.....
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Prior's gotta go. Theres 70 million of you, surely theres a better keeper somewhere. Warner and rogers should be in the shed.
Lets hope broad gets a good report at the hospital, england need him back as soon as hes able.
This is starting to feel 90's.....
Roger's edge went to a wide 1st slip. Prior would have struggled to catch it. Not his fault.
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Roger's edge went to a wide 1st slip. Prior would have struggled to catch it. Not his fault.
Are you serious? Rogers edge went between keeper and 1st slip, keeper catch every time mate. Eng keepers are a bit scruffy at the best of times but this bloke is a backstop.
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Are you serious? Rogers edge went between keeper and 1st slip, keeper catch every time mate. Eng keepers are a bit scruffy at the best of times but this bloke is a backstop.
Yeah, went to Cooks right hand, not that far. Was a long way from Prior, would have been at full stretch. Cook missed it because he moved late, you shouldn't wait for the keeper, you should expect every catch to come to you.
This bloke, as you call him, is as good as Haddin, if not better. Just going through a questionable patch. In fact, this bloke is one of the best keepers in the world.
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Roger's edge went to a wide 1st slip. Prior would have struggled to catch it. Not his fault.
Hahaha you're joking aren't you. Keepers catch every day of the week and twice on sundays
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Hahaha you're joking aren't you. Keepers catch every day of the week and twice on sundays
Keeper would have had to dive to his weaker hand.
Cook wasn't at full stretch, if he had expected it and moved early, instead of waiting for the keeper, he probably could have got two hands to it.
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Prior has sunk to Akhmal levels...
Missing gimme catches, missing stumpings...
The pressure has got to him.
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Definately feeling the pressure. Hes been quite feeble.
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Warner
I started writing this before he got out.
5 centuries, all at home, needs to prove it overseas. However, seems to have got rid of the 'slog himself out' that he used to have. When he wasn't scoring at 5 an over, he's start slogging, not anymore really.
Obviously he did today, but at 100+ and 300+ for 1 technically, you can allow him that.
It seems his talent is catching up with his mouth of previous.
If he keeps improving, and performs overseas, he "could" become as good as Hayden.
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All these Aussie players starting to lay to their potential. Worrying times for an England supporter! Another 20 years without the urn.
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All these Aussie players starting to lay to their potential. Worrying times for an England supporter! Another 20 years without the urn.
Bit early to be drinking?
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All these Aussie players starting to lay to their potential. Worrying times for an England supporter! Another 20 years without the urn.
Definately getting results for the improvement, it has been coming since Lords.
War ers coming along nicely, give him a chance to play overseas first! I would like to see first innings centuries though.
I wouldn't be too pesimistic as an england supporter. It seems home country advantage is greater now. In years gone by, the aussies played heaps of county cricket and were familiar in english conditions. Similarly, a lot of english players played club cricket in australia. With international schedules being what they are and with other commercial tournaments such as ipl, perhaps theres not the same opportunity anymore. Perhaps batsmen arent as 'complete' as they once were but obviously excellent in home conditions?
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And it was 18...
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Looking at the quality and potential of the England batting, there is still a chance in this test match of it going into the fifth day.
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Looking at the quality and potential of the England batting, there is still a chance in this test match of it going into the fifth day.
provided Clarke delays his declaration until, say, ten overs to the close you mean? ;)
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provided Clarke delays his declaration until, say, ten overs to the close you mean? ;)
Well, he's unlikely to declare until just before lunch at the earliest, I think they can bat two and a bit sessions. I did say "in to" the fifth day, so doesn't have to be long into the fifth day.
However,I am confident it will be around lunch, early afternoon before the Aussies wrap it up.
I can see something special happening, like a batsman getting a ton, in a total of 300 all out.
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Currently watching the highlights and the first stumping miss was very poor.
Anyway, this whole series to date has been somewhat of a lesson. I will support the English boys to the bitter end but it's been a simple lesson of application. The Australians have applied themselves with both bat and ball. They have been far more disciplined and the results have not come as much of a surprise. It's a shame with all the good work Flower has put into the team that I believe he will step down after this series and take a well-earned break.
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Looking at the quality and potential of the England batting, there is still a chance in this test match of it going into the fifth day.
Only if he declares on stumps on day 5 !! Otherwise they will just collapse again
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Clarke always seems to declare earlier than expected. Assuming a lead of 470 by lunch, that should be plenty? So im expecting a declaration 1/2 hour either side of lunch. English top order is more than capable of batting well into day 5, but ive been saying that all series. One main difference this series is thst england have been 4 out all out and they havrnt been able to get a partnership going between the big guns cook, kp, bell. Whilst root has done ok at 3, and is a fine young player, by the time bell comes in, he gets left high and dry. He needs to bat 3 in melbourne.
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Clarke always seems to declare earlier than expected. Assuming a lead of 470 by lunch, that should be plenty? So im expecting a declaration 1/2 hour either side of lunch. English top order is more than capable of batting well into day 5, but ive been saying that all series. One main difference this series is thst england have been 4 out all out and they havrnt been able to get a partnership going between the big guns cook, kp, bell. Whilst root has done ok at 3, and is a fine young player, by the time bell comes in, he gets left high and dry. He needs to bat 3 in melbourne.
Nah sack it all off. Get rid of the old guard and play the youngsters. I'd rather loose like that than keep watching these muppets bat like village cricketers.
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England are poor, and the ashes are gone. Will we try something new and different in the next test? I hope so. But some how doubt it.
Root
Carberry
Bell
Pietersen
Cook
Ballance
Bairstow
Stokes
Bresnan
Mills
Panesar
I know people will say"why drop cook down" but I think a left/right opening combo will add something different.
Broads injured, so mills can be called up.
Bowlings probably light, but it's a decent top 9!
If they get hammered,then they'd have done just as well as the current lot!
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Nah sack it all off. Get rid of the old guard and play the youngsters. I'd rather loose like that than keep watching these muppets bat like village cricketers.
Dont jump off too quickly. It wasnt that long ago that many suggested englands series win was largely due to them winning the critical moments. Well this series, aus have done that. Had the rub of the green too. I do think aus have been significantly better in this series than eng were in their home series. Certainly more dominant. Dont underestimate how well aussies have bowled, its been clinical stuff.
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England are poor, and the ashes are gone. Will we try something new and different in the next test? I hope so. But some how doubt it.
Root
Carberry
Bell
Pietersen
Cook
Ballance
Bairstow
Stokes
Bresnan
Mills
Panesar
I know people will say"why drop cook down" but I think a left/right opening combo will add something different.
Broads injured, so mills can be called up.
Bowlings probably light, but it's a decent top 9!
If they get hammered,then they'd have done just as well as the current lot!
But cook/carbery are the top 2 run scorers for england and have done ok on occassions. In fact, carberry has been pretty damn good, looks the part - hasnt had much luck either
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Looks like we've written off this series then :(
Just watching the highlights last night and thought "has there been an earthquake?" the size of the cracks in that pitch are nearly the worst I've ever seen :o
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All this talk abt home conditions advantage for Australia... Sounds like loser's excuses to me...how different are conditions?? Isnt England supposed to have a world class attack too? Are the conditions in Aus so alien to the English batsmen??
Just accept it, this Aus team has shown the hunger to win and are coming hard to England..the Aus team was pretty good in Eng too...imo, the results were misleading..that series was a lot closer than the end result suggests..Aus had England on the mat a few times but Eng bounced back thanks to brilliant individual performances..this time around its a total annihilation!!
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But cook/carbery are the top 2 run scorers for england and have done ok on occassions. In fact, carberry has been pretty damn good, looks the part - hasnt had much luck either
I know, I'm just bored off seeing us get run through every night. Lol
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England are poor, and the ashes are gone. Will we try something new and different in the next test? I hope so. But some how doubt it.
Root
Carberry
Bell
Pietersen
Cook
Ballance
Bairstow
Stokes
Bresnan
Mills
Panesar
I know people will say"why drop cook down" but I think a left/right opening combo will add something different.
Broads injured, so mills can be called up.
Bowlings probably light, but it's a decent top 9!
If they get hammered,then they'd have done just as well as the current lot!
Cook, Carberry (cooks the skipper and carbs has done ok (ish))
Root at three
Bell at 4 - he's now our star player and the only man in some form really
Robson 5 - I'm eying him up as the future 1/2/3 so let's get him in and learning
Balance 6 - probably our future.. Get him in
Stokes - I think he's shown enough as all rounder to get some more game time
After that, I don't really have the bowling knowledge to know who is about but 3 more bowlers please (one spinner)
Home conditions is something I don't buy into and sounds like excuses to me. In England England got lucky, now aus have confidence and are playing well and England are still the same (if not worse) and have been thumped. Aus aren't a very good side, Johnson is still hit and miss, Harris is knackered and his knee is (No Swearing Please), sidle is a quality work horse bit England's batsmen have gifted him wickets (cough KP/Prior).
I can't blame Aussies for lauding it over England as they've lost recently but I don't think their team is that good.
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Johnson's toe buster to Broad was epic :D has to be my favourite way to get a batsman out.
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Looks like we've written off this series then :(
Just watching the highlights last night and thought "has there been an earthquake?" the size of the cracks in that pitch are nearly the worst I've ever seen :o
Not much the curator can do when we have a heat wave. Perth has those once each december usually. It will be 40 for 3-5 days. If its any consolation, its will be significantly cooler after the test finishes........ when it is hot, the pitch cracks. There was a time when they left the grass on to counteract cracking, ball went sideways and test was over in 3 days...... the cracks dont seem to be in play yet in any case. As far as comfort is concerned, its obviously unpleasant, but perth is dry and 40 here isnt as bad as say 33 on the east coast.
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I can't blame Aussies for lauding it over England as they've lost recently but I don't think their team is that good.
I still think youre grossly underestimating this side.
Johnson has more wickets, at a better average than broad. Harris knee isnt stopping him from bowling. Siddle is a workhorse that appears to be gifted wickets, because batters havent scored for 4 overs then try to force the pace.
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I still think youre grossly underestimating this side.
Johnson has more wickets, at a better average than broad. Harris knee isnt stopping him from bowling. Siddle is a workhorse that appears to be gifted wickets, because batters havent scored for 4 overs then try to force the pace.
Johnson's avg against the top 6 is 65+ I think.. He's just being played terribly by the English tail. He's looked like old Mitch this game. You won't get me with broad jibes, I dislike the guy as when he bowls that length he's great but it's far to rare and he messes about being the 'enforcer' or throwing his teddies out the pram.
Harris is struggling, limping in the field. He'll not be around much longer. 12-18 months max. He's your best bowler by a mile, he's quality and fitness allowin would I reckon have been up there with the best.
Sidle is a top draw workhorse. You are right that he bored the batsmen into playing silly shots in the 4 an over chase as you say.
Aus bowling attack is good, no doubt about it.. It's just not as good as England are making it look!
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Johnson's avg against the top 6 is 65+ I think.. He's just being played terribly by the English tail. He's looked like old Mitch this game. You won't get me with broad jibes, I dislike the guy as when he bowls that length he's great but it's far to rare and he messes about being the 'enforcer' or throwing his teddies out the pram.
Harris is struggling, limping in the field. He'll not be around much longer. 12-18 months max. He's your best bowler by a mile, he's quality and fitness allowin would I reckon have been up there with the best.
Sidle is a top draw workhorse. You are right that he bored the batsmen into playing silly shots in the 4 an over chase as you say.
Aus bowling attack is good, no doubt about it.. It's just not as good as England are making it look!
Rather see an average team win then a good team lose.
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Johnson's avg against the top 6 is 65+ I think.. He's just being played terribly by the English tail. He's looked like old Mitch this game. You won't get me with broad jibes, I dislike the guy as when he bowls that length he's great but it's far to rare and he messes about being the 'enforcer' or throwing his teddies out the pram.
Harris is struggling, limping in the field. He'll not be around much longer. 12-18 months max. He's your best bowler by a mile, he's quality and fitness allowin would I reckon have been up there with the best.
Sidle is a top draw workhorse. You are right that he bored the batsmen into playing silly shots in the 4 an over chase as you say.
Aus bowling attack is good, no doubt about it.. It's just not as good as England are making it look!
No broad jibe at all, I recon he's a cracker, I dont get all the agro in his direction....because he didnt walk? Why the F should/would he? I like him as a cricketer, although obvious displays of dissatisfaction with your team mates arent to be encouraged. MJ has bowled very well in this match?
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No broad jibe at all, I recon he's a cracker, I dont get all the agro in his direction....because he didnt walk? Why the F should/would he?
I like him as a cricketer, although obvious displays of dissatisfaction with your team mates arent to be encouraged. MJ has bowled very well in this match?
Johnson hasn't bowled that well. He's no Mitch of old like but he's not bowled that well either. Harris has been the one really, along with sidle/Watto and Lyon as they've dryers up the runs and created,the pressure that's brought them wickets. It sounds like your spoiling for a aus vs eng disagreement but there isn't one. The team playing the better cricket is winning! And winning easily.
On a side note, it would be nice to be able to listen to stump mic all game rather than the commentators. Would be interesting to hear who 'sledges' and then can't take it back. If you sledge then you can't moan when you get it back, if you don't say anything then you shouldn't get any in return.
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Johnson may not be getting top order wickets but none have looked comfortable against him and he has effectively softened them up.. The Aus bowling has worked well as a unit...
The broad dismissal and the Warner celebration were the moments of the day for me!!! Epic!! :D gotta love Warner's fighting spirit after all he has had to go thru in Eng..
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All i know is i would rather be 2 up with a possibility of 3 nil than where we are.
Australia are simply playing better cricket
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No broad jibe at all, I recon he's a cracker, I dont get all the agro in his direction....because he didnt walk? Why the F should/would he? I like him as a cricketer, although obvious displays of dissatisfaction with your team mates arent to be encouraged. MJ has bowled very well in this match?
No AWP, according to a few on this forum MJ isn't bowling good the batsmen are playing bad. His line and length are just lucky, his aggression is just an aberration. The Australian fielding is a once off (for 3 tests) and the thug warner isn't a good batsmen he is ALLOWED to play that way by England. You see England have ALLOWED Australia to beat the crap out of them because Australia haven't improved since the last ashes, England have got worse.
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On a side note, it would be nice to be able to listen to stump mic all game rather than the commentators. Would be interesting to hear who 'sledges' and then can't take it back. If you sledge then you can't moan when you get it back, if you don't say anything then you shouldn't get any in return.
That would be interesting. Clearly prior and or bell said something to warner that was more than the usual. Or doing so when the bowler is running in, something went on, Perhaps our coach should hold a press conference and carry on like a sanctimonious git.
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That would be interesting. Clearly prior and or bell said something to warner that was more than the usual. Or doing so when the bowler is running in, something went on, Perhaps our coach should hold a press conference and carry on like a sanctimonious git.
Defensive aren't we?? Pretty sure I didn't name anyone. I suspect just like you bell said something inappropriate. Seriously shouldn't just believe that everyone English dislikes everything aus ever do!
If you want to believe aus are world beaters then be my guest. It was said by a low few in the summer England were in the decline but were foo foooood. They are playing worse this series and that always make players look Better than they are.. Think how good everyone looks vs Bangladesh for instance.. Or how good batting looks in India!
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Defensive aren't we?? Pretty sure I didn't name anyone. I suspect just like you bell said something inappropriate. Seriously shouldn't just believe that everyone English dislikes everything aus ever do!
If you want to believe aus are world beaters then be my guest. It was said by a low few in the summer England were in the decline but were foo foooood. They are playing worse this series and that always make players look Better than they are.. Think how good everyone looks vs Bangladesh for instance.. Or how good batting looks in India!
No, not meant to sound defensive. I recon stump mic feed as an option would be awesome. Warner can give it and take it, just struck me as odd that he seemed to react so strongly to something. But, you wont find aussies grizzling about it was my point. Im not suggesting this team are world beaters, definately not a complete team, but not as far away as you blokes seem to think, or let yourselves think. Time will tell.
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Is there any public support in england for including Mills in melbourne?
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Is there any public support in england for including Mills in melbourne?
Not really. He's thought of as a 'net' bowler. I don't think his stats are that great either. I'm actually watching last nights play. Barring the fact warner should have gone on 13 (England of 2009-11 would have taken it) I'm liking his innings. Utter distain for swan and his negative bowling and showing up Brennan for lack of pace. Anderson beat the bat a few times early on and again.. Rodgers should have been out too but they are the small margins between a good team and a poor team.
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I have a question was the writing on the wall though.
Last home series bar a few great innings and some indifferent Australia bowling the series hung on 2 incidents and could have gone either way.
Warner has certainly come of age he could go on to dominate in a kind of Hayden way
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I have a question was the writing on the wall though.
Last home series bar a few great innings and some indifferent Australia bowling the series hung on 2 incidents and could have gone either way.
Warner has certainly come of age he could go on to dominate in a kind of Hayden way
It would be interesting to go through the summer threads and see who was saying that England were poor and who was still bulling them up. Agree though that you could see in the summer this series would not be as straight forward as people were saying. Couldn't see a 5-0 white wash coming though.
I hope Warner doesn't become that good because he's a complete boorish thug but he's looking good currently. Although I think he still gives chances and IF they are taken it'd keep him quiet. When confidence is high with him he's dangerous though.
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... they are the small margins between a good team and a poor team.
Totally agree. Earlier in the summer it was England winning those crucial moments and coming out with a 3-0. In all three Australia 1st innings we have had a promising position and not been able to convert it.
What I think is interesting is how Australia have managed to turn it around so they have the small edge. I think a lot of credit to go to coach here. Really seems to have given them a 'spirit'. Maybe its not the England playing team we need to look at changing (although Anderson is look pretty ineffective) - but the coaching staff?
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Personally I like Warner. Think sometimes he doesn't think before he speaks but I'm sure he will learn. I admire his work ethic when it comes to training and his fitness. Btw I'm English.
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Not sure England need as many back room staff as they have and I'm sure they'll all find reasons why they are not to blame and protect their little jobs. Back room staff is the first area I'd look, if that's stale then it'll filter through the team.
Aus are taking their chances as they always used to until the last great generation moved on, it makes all the difference to confidence which as we all know is a massive factor in cricket
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England are poor, and the ashes are gone. Will we try something new and different in the next test? I hope so. But some how doubt it.
Root
Carberry
Bell
Pietersen
Cook
Ballance
Bairstow
Stokes
Bresnan
Mills
Panesar
I know people will say"why drop cook down" but I think a left/right opening combo will add something different.
Broads injured, so mills can be called up.
Bowlings probably light, but it's a decent top 9!
If they get hammered,then they'd have done just as well as the current lot!
You can't pick Mills, he's not part of the squad.
Oh, and he's coming back to the UK tonight.
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You can't pick Mills, he's not part of the squad.
Oh, and he's coming back to the UK tonight.
Read my entire post.
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Read my entire post.
Sorry, missed that. Don't think Broad is out for that long is he?
What's the point taking Finn and Rankin if they don't get the chance?
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Sorry, missed that. Don't think Broad is out for that long is he?
What's the point taking Finn and Rankin if they don't get the chance?
Learning experience :)
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Just saw the highlights and found it rather amusing when Prior's giving Warner some lip service.
Warner's averaging 91 in the series with 2 hundreds and 2 fifties.
Whereas Prior's been a walking wicket and barely hanging on to his international career...
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Just saw the highlights and found it rather amusing when Prior's giving Warner some lip service.
Warner's averaging 91 in the series with 2 hundreds and 2 fifties.
Whereas Prior's been a walking wicket and barely hanging on to his international career...
Neither should be gobbing off really
Prior shouldn't as he's in poo form and his team are getting spanked
Warner shouldn't as he's not got the brain and he's doing his talking via runs so there is no need. Leave sledging to the weak and feeble
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Just saw the highlights and found it rather amusing when Prior's giving Warner some lip service.
Warner's averaging 91 in the series with 2 hundreds and 2 fifties.
Whereas Prior's been a walking wicket and barely hanging on to his international career...
Amusing? Why amusing?
Sledging, possibly the most non-gentlemanly bit of cricket, is an attempt to get under the opposition skin and put them off their game. It is designed to be given by the team getting stuffed because the team on top don't need to do it.
Therefore you should expect it from Prior.
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Warner gives his fair share so should expect it back if you ask me. Obviously Prior looks a bit of a prat when we misses a stumping off of him
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Just remember what happened after that 2007 series. ;)
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Just saw the highlights and found it rather amusing when Prior's giving Warner some lip service.
Warner's averaging 91 in the series with 2 hundreds and 2 fifties.
Whereas Prior's been a walking wicket and barely hanging on to his international career...
Na, it's the keepers job to give batters little bits n pieces of info! (It's also their job to stump batters who are halfway down to wicket)
I think Warner has grown up a bit, we all make mistakes, it's not repeating them that's the key.
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IIRC Prior once threw jellybeans on the pitch when Zaheer Khan was batting, implying Khan was fat.
Khan took 9 wickets in the match and Prior looked like an even bigger prat.
Prior's gotten so far up his own ass it's incredible. Average glove man and slogger with the bat. Pick Davies, a nice lad from Surrey...
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Thats an unfair comment..as said, its something that you would expect from a keeper...but yes, his personal form is poor and Eng shud look at a replacement..give a new keeper a chance...anyways, the big question now is, will Aus declare or will they continue the mayhem!!
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Clarke will declare 1/2 hr either side of lunch is my tip, but I never guess correctly about Clarkes declarations...... Prob why he's out there and I'm watching from the stand...
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Looking at that pitch, the batters better be careful running between the wickets else they could easily fall through one of those cracks!!!
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Watto's in the zone today......
Love the way he goes thru with his shots and the carry he gets
Swann!!!
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Disappointed with swann, he's given up and just bowling lolly pops
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Those 6's were HUGE!!! I want a bat like that!!! The sound it made was so sweeeeettt!!
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Those 6's were HUGE!!! I want a bat like that!!! The sound it made was so sweeeeettt!!
That's the WACA, the ball sounds different off the bat, comes off harder.
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That's why I love Watto, can only say wow
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28 off an Anderson over, bring 'em in Michael, time to have a bowl.
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Oh dear oh dear oh dear..... COOK gone first ball.... Can the mental disintegration disintegrate any more.
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Opening the batting is unreal, but you do get the occasional unplayable ball, cooks copped a couple this series.
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Watto can only get a score when he has free reign to play a 20-20 knock. His dismissal sums him up as a test cricketer...
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Watto can only get a score when he has free reign to play a 20-20 knock. His dismissal sums him up as a test cricketer...
Oh dear.......
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Not much pressure on either Watson or Warner allowing them to just tee off.
No answer from the English, no heart and seemed a real lack of desire. 3 series losses in a row will have hurt the Aussies and it shows with the quality cricket they have played.
Just a matter of time now, can not see any way in which England will save this test with a day to go.
Only benefit is now England can maybe blood Ballance, Finn and Rankin in Melbourne now the series is lost
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Might as well give Monty a game too - swann and Anderson have been underwhelming for me so far.
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Yep neither have been up to their usual standards. Monty didn't do a terrible job in Adelaide, got through plenty of overs
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Might as well give Monty a game too - swann and Anderson have been underwhelming for me so far.
Anderson is knackered mate, needs a rest.
Its concerning, I would think, that a few players have 'gone' mentally.swann is one of them.
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Clarke taking too long to bring Smith on. Bell hates leggies no matter who it is...
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Clarke taking too long to bring Smith on. Bell hates leggies no matter who it is...
Agreed, I think we'll see him shortly
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Changed my mind. Stokes looks a real prospect. Didnt think he looked much chop with bat or ball in adelaide. I do think aussies are bowling poorly to him. Pitch it up.
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Good period from Stokes & Bell this.
Stokes almost makes New Balance gear look good.
Almost.
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Good period from Stokes & Bell this.
Stokes almost makes New Balance gear look good.
Almost.
Na, ginger is ginger.......doesnt makemanything look any good.....ever...
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Na, ginger is ginger.......doesnt makemanything look any good.....ever...
Fast Eddie will have you !! :). (If he's still about?)
At least it's a bit of fight shown for once
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Stokes looking good, that's a plus for England, yayyy
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We're gonna win this now - only 250 to get!
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We're gonna win this now - only 250 to get!
Why not?
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Definitely possible...Just need to go in with a positive attacking attitude!
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It won't be a draw. If they bat all day, then they'll reach 250 I would have thought
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Stokes and Prior put on another 140, Prior and Bresnan grind out a painful 60, Bresnan and Swanny squeak out 15 before Prior is stumped. Broad edges 8 through the slips before running away from another yorker, then Swanny and Jimmy slap and giggle a quick 30 (mainly over the slips) and we're home and dry!
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I would hope they would rather go down swinging than spend a day trying to eke out a draw. Swann isn't a defensive batsman and neither are Prior and Broad. Stokes could do a job, but he looks more of a dasher than a blocker. I say go down in a blaze of glory!
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I admire you lads optimism but i reckon we'll be blown away by the new ball within the first 20 overs. Was nice to finally win a session again though.
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Was nice to finally win a session again though.
I wouldnt go that far!
Well played stokes though, good to see a lad step up.
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Whatever you blokes are on, I'll take two.
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Bresnan and Swanny squeak out 15 before Prior is stumped.
3 batsmen at the wicket? That might work!
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I admire you lads optimism but i reckon we'll be blown away by the new ball within the first 20 overs. Was nice to finally win a session again though.
agree, I think this is mostly likely!
However, still 13 overs until the new ball and that gives the batsman some time to get in. Once you are in it does look pretty flat. No doubt England have enough batting to chase down another 250 on their day and Australia looked flat in that last session. Would make a very interesting day!
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Yeah, wicket inside the first session and we're done.
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I am 99% sure that we will be telling the Aussies, "Well played and well done for claiming the Ashes back again!"
I can't imagine that our lower order batsmen will suddenly click and score hundreds!
Aussies batting - 11 x 50's and 7 x 100's! Batting average for top 7 batsmen = 48.9
England batting - 9 x 50's and 0 x 100's! Batting average for top 7 batsmen = 27.7
IMO, the bowlers seem off because they are in the field most of the time! Why? Because the batting is failing!!
One of the commentators said that there is only one day in the Ashes so far, that the Engalnd team have not had to field and bowl!
I suggest that unless England get some grit and balls, and bat better, then it'll be 5-0! We will have to start calling the Aussie team Liverpool and the English team Tottenham!!
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The tail has also been much worse than the bat than the aussies, which was a big factor in the first two tests, if less so here.
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Yeah, wicket inside the first session and we're done.
These two could bat till tea, and England still could be able to be bowled out.
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These two could bat till tea, and England still could be able to be bowled out.
If those 2 bat until tea we would of won. It's a fast scoring ground and we won't be far off the remaining 250. I would be amazed if we made remotely close to tea.
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If those 2 bat until tea we would of won. It's a fast scoring ground and we won't be far off the remaining 250. I would be amazed if we made remotely close to tea.
I would be amazed if we make it past the first hour!!!
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Blown away by luchtime. All out for under 300.
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I'd like to see Ben Stokes get a ton. Small consolation, I know.
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I'd like to see Ben Stokes get a ton. Small consolation, I know.
That'd be good, someone who is showing a bit of fight.
I'd also like Prior to get another half-decent score at least.
Just watching the highlights now. Did Carberry not review? It looked close enough to review. Think he needs a big score to cement his place, he is getting good starts but just not quite going on. I think one big score might just bring him a few more.
Roots edge was an odd one, I presume the only reason he thought he might not have hit it was because he hit the floor at the same time.
On the back of the Prior/Cook drop yesterday. Have a look at that catch by Haddin. You would have seen Prior doing the same (but going to weaker hand). Watch first slip off Root's edge, in position to take that which is where Cook should have been, not waiting for the keeper.
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I would be happy for stokes to get a ton.....as long as he doesn't hang around too long and drag out the day...
The replay with tracking and pitch map showed carberry was out, but I was suprised he didn't review it.
Root did hit the ground at same time, I think Warner had one the same in the England series, poor buggers, does make them look silly in retrospect, being so adamant that they didn't hit it.....
Prior wouldn't have got a glove on the catch Haddin took, he would have watched it. Was between 1st and 2nd slip not between keeper and first. Prior is a decent bat, but serviceable at best as a gloveman.
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Just watching the highlights now. Did Carberry not review? It looked close enough to review.
Would've been umpires call and still out.
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Well done that lad. now be a good ginger and nick one off, ive got meetings this afternoon and dont need to be stressed about the cricket....
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The Ashes are coming home!!!
Amazing scenes at the WACA!!!
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Well done to the Aussies. They've been by far the better team. I have to say England have impressed in the last 2-3 sessions and Ben Stokes showed the rest of the batsmen how it's done.
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Have deliberately been quiet waiting for this moment, all those late nights earlier in the year and years waiting for it....CONGRATS Australia the urn has returned!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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What is people's take on Prior? Lots of talk that he's got to go, but it got me thinking that that's all a bit harsh. He's in a trough (the first since he became a real fixture in the team) and it happens to every player. Do you really think cutting him loose is the answer? Bairstow is really a batsman who can keep a bit, so does that really answer the question? Interested to read some thoughts.
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Congratulations to Australia. Absolutely dominated the series after day 1 at Brisbane.
Career defining victory for Pup and all the other Australian cricketers, who had never tasted Ashes victory before.
The Lehmann/Clarke combo has given Australia the belief again, which has been lacking for the last few years.
Australia's fast bowlers are simply a class apart from England attack. Johnson, Harris and Siddle have broken the English batsmens will.
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Alastair Cook's stock beginning to crumble.
The myth surrounding Alastair Cook's good record against Australia getting shattered to pieces.
Cook has played 5 Ashes series.
2006/07 - averaged 27.60
2009 - averaged 24.66
2010/11 - 127.66
2013 - 27.70
2013/14 - so far averaging 25.66
So aside from 2010/11, where Cook dipped his bread against average bowlers like Bollinger, Hilfenhaus, Doherty and Beer.
Cook'a been exposed against high class fast bowling.
Cook's 2010/11 series seems more like a flash in the pan.
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Would've been umpires call and still out.
Technically, yes, but they would have asked Billy Bowden how he gave him out. If he had said caught, then it would have been not out. Same as the summer with one that the same thing happened.
Either Carbs thought he had hit it or thought it was closer than it was.
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What is people's take on Prior? Lots of talk that he's got to go, but it got me thinking that that's all a bit harsh. He's in a trough (the first since he became a real fixture in the team) and it happens to every player. Do you really think cutting him loose is the answer? Bairstow is really a batsman who can keep a bit, so does that really answer the question? Interested to read some thoughts.
Very good keeper, one of the best in the world.
Going through a lull with the bat and seems his concentration is dipping when fielding.
A good rest will do him good.
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Congratulations to Australia. (though it pains me to say it)
They have won every day of the series so far. Has been very disappointing to wake up every morning to 5 live sports extra charting another terrible night for English cricket.
Australia have played some great cricket and it has been very entertaining to watch Warner / Watto / Haddin smashing it to all parts or Mitch letting fly (bouncers and verbals!).
Let's hope that this is the low point for this tour and that the England side can give the travelling support at Melbourne / Sydney something to cheer about.
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Roots edge was an odd one, I presume the only reason he thought he might not have hit it was because he hit the floor at the same time.
suspect he thought that he had squeezed the ball into the turf