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[Buzz]

I know this may be slightly contraversial - but I think this will be a really good test for the Eng players ahead of the SA test series - they are going to face proper fast bowling, with a really decent fielding to back it up and the bowlers are really going to have to perform to. Plus we will see one of Bopara and Morgan back in the test side for the SA series - so it is a really good shoot out between them

In other words, no this is far from a duff series, this is a really good series at a really good time. Certainly a much stronger test that the West Indies provided.

[steyn92]

Totally agree buzz! Finn has looked quality today! Wouldn't be surprised if they went for Morgan at 6 looks like he's improved a lot

[The_Bird]

Ravi steps up at last but again it's impossible for him to finish the job, I've never known somebody get out so often when so close to the finishing line. 5-0 for No. 1 in all 3 formats? It's on!!!

[charlie15]

I think Mitchell Johnson is going to end up mentally scarred if the Aussie selectors continue with him!

[steyn92]

Apart from the extras he was much better than when I last saw him... 5-0 Eng!!. Surprised Pattinson hasn't played yet

[petehosk]

Swanny being rested as he has a little 'discomfort in his right elbow' 
Real issue or simply an excuse for rotation? Who knows!

http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/story/571117.html

[FvanN]

This is a great series for England seeing as SA have not played cricket for a while and I think they are going to catch SA cold come the first test.... 

I know this may be slightly contraversial - but I think this will be a really good test for the Eng players ahead of the SA test series - they are going to face proper fast bowling, with a really decent fielding to back it up and the bowlers are really going to have to perform to. Plus we will see one of Bopara and Morgan back in the test side for the SA series - so it is a really good shoot out between them

In other words, no this is far from a duff series, this is a really good series at a really good time. Certainly a much stronger test that the West Indies provided.

[Vic Nicholas]

Some random observations.

Australia will continue to get beatings for a few years yet until we can unearth some reasonable batsmen.

I would rather have picked Nic Maddinson to tour with one eye on teh future than to waste time on Bailey and Hussey who both don't have one.

Cummins has a top speed of about 93-95mph. Pattinson's top speed is about 90-91mph.

Neither of them got anywhere near those speeds on this tour. Pattinson didn't bowl any faster than a sedate 86mph.

Johnson is mentally finished.

Lee is physically finished.

Watson is starting to get injury prone again.

Wade is the best option to open with Warner in ODI's as they did so successfully this last summer. Absolutely bizarre how they have dropped him down #7 which is foriegn to him in the shorter formats.

I do not need a crystal ball to forsee that Australia will struggle to post big enough totals to trouble England in the next two Ashes series next year.

Pattinson, Cummins, Starc are a handy young trio, James Faulkner is a handy bowling allrounder, Lyon a capable spinner and Wade a competant wicket keeper batsman. As far as batting goes...gee wizz, much work needs to be done to develop the next generation of batsman, as apart from Maddinson and another even younger kid Patterson, the others like Hughes, Khawaja etc have technical or mental flaws that may or may not ever be rectified.

[Alvaro]

They're pretty succinct and to the point, Vic.

[Manormanic]

got to pick Vic up on one point though (he probably has no way to know this) - regarding the bowlers speeds.  Sky, as the host broadcasters, are using new speed gun technology this year which is supposed to be considerably more accurate than the stuff that has been used worldwide for the past decade, and in general bowlers speeds have fallen as a result.  England's bowlers are similar - Anderson regularly clocked 88 last season and has been solidly around 83 this year, Bresnan has gone from low nineties to mid eighties etc...

[Vic Nicholas]

got to pick Vic up on one point though (he probably has no way to know this) - regarding the bowlers speeds.  Sky, as the host broadcasters, are using new speed gun technology this year which is supposed to be considerably more accurate than the stuff that has been used worldwide for the past decade, and in general bowlers speeds have fallen as a result.  England's bowlers are similar - Anderson regularly clocked 88 last season and has been solidly around 83 this year, Bresnan has gone from low nineties to mid eighties etc...

This is rather interesting.

I always thought my memory was playing tricks on me, because the fast bowlers of the late 70's early 80's were frighteningly quick compared to now. There was more scientific measuring conducted in Australia in 1976 and again in 1979 and the speeds were recorded at the batsmans end rather than how they record speed now, which is out of the hand. The ball loses around 12-15kms per hour because of wind drag and hitting the pitch by the time it reaches the batsmans end and thus a delivery that is timed at 90mph with the speed gun is reaching the batsman at around 83mph.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GjkBNxKZOE8&feature=related

[The_Bird]

Slower pitches, Sticky Muggy humid atmospheres and pattinson and cummins were both coming off a injury lay off I think so that would have contributed to the slower speeds maybe. Finn has been bowling consistently for a couple of months so is in good rhythm. I don't think we should get carried away just yet as winning and performing well on our own soil is nothing new. The world cups will be a far greater test than playing a cold Aussie side on green seamers. Don't get me wrong it's still Great to watch tho haha.

[PedalsMcgrew]

This is rather interesting.

I always thought my memory was playing tricks on me, because the fast bowlers of the late 70's early 80's were frighteningly quick compared to now. There was more scientific measuring conducted in Australia in 1976 and again in 1979 and the speeds were recorded at the batsmans end rather than how they record speed now, which is out of the hand. The ball loses around 12-15kms per hour because of wind drag and hitting the pitch by the time it reaches the batsmans end and thus a delivery that is timed at 90mph with the speed gun is reaching the batsman at around 83mph.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GjkBNxKZOE8&feature=related

The ball Thompson bowls at 4.21 in the youtube video is properly scary.....thanks for the link Vic...I've never seen a stump get knocked back as hard as that before..

On the subject of bowling speeds I think it's fair to say that the Aussie bowlers are a bit quicker than their English counterparts but seeing as how most of these Aussie speedsters can't play two games in a row because of injury is it really worth bowling that quick? I've long felt that the English attack purposely try to bowl within themselves a little bit and their admirable fitness record is testament to this. Maybe if the Aussie attack thought like this they might start moving forward a little more...pace on it's own isn't enough anymore and for the Aussie bowlers to learn about swing, seam etc they need to be playing consistently, which they're not because they're always injured.

Oh, and drop Mitchell Johnson immediately! And Steve Smith and Xavier Doherty. Australia have improved significantly whilst Johnson has been out of the side. Bringing him back in is a step backwards. Steve Smith is absolutely NOT international class. He's Australia's Luke Wright only less talented. and Xavier Doherty..........well, I don't want to be unkind so I'm not going to say anything!

For me it's too early to criticise the new Aussie batsmen, they played against an awesome attack in helpful conditions. More worrying for Australia should be the relative failures of guys like Watson, Hussey and Clarke. They've been here before, all carry around big (but possibly undeserved) reputations and yet none of them seem any closer to dealing with the moving ball..I like Clarke as a captain though...seems a good guy.

[Manormanic]

I always thought my memory was playing tricks on me, because the fast bowlers of the late 70's early 80's were frighteningly quick compared to now. There was more scientific measuring conducted in Australia in 1976 and again in 1979 and the speeds were recorded at the batsmans end rather than how they record speed now, which is out of the hand. The ball loses around 12-15kms per hour because of wind drag and hitting the pitch by the time it reaches the batsmans end and thus a delivery that is timed at 90mph with the speed gun is reaching the batsman at around 83mph.

My understanding is that they've gone back to the method used in the 90s of capturing the speed into and out of impact with the pitch - but using more accurate cameras which can cover the entire wicket, so you don't get that freakish problemn that they used to have whereby bouncers slipped under the proverbial radar and were listed as being of almost impossible pace.

One of the reasons, inceidentally, why bowlers used to look a lot quicker is down to the wqaality of the camera stock used in TV footage.  Though this only makes a minor differnece, I guess.

[Vic Nicholas]

The ball Thompson bowls at 4.21 in the youtube video is properly scary.....thanks for the link Vic...I've never seen a stump get knocked back as hard as that before..

On the subject of bowling speeds I think it's fair to say that the Aussie bowlers are a bit quicker than their English counterparts but seeing as how most of these Aussie speedsters can't play two games in a row because of injury is it really worth bowling that quick? I've long felt that the English attack purposely try to bowl within themselves a little bit and their admirable fitness record is testament to this. Maybe if the Aussie attack thought like this they might start moving forward a little more...pace on it's own isn't enough anymore and for the Aussie bowlers to learn about swing, seam etc they need to be playing consistently, which they're not because they're always injured.

Oh, and drop Mitchell Johnson immediately! And Steve Smith and Xavier Doherty. Australia have improved significantly whilst Johnson has been out of the side. Bringing him back in is a step backwards. Steve Smith is absolutely NOT international class. He's Australia's Luke Wright only less talented. and Xavier Doherty..........well, I don't want to be unkind so I'm not going to say anything!

For me it's too early to criticise the new Aussie batsmen, they played against an awesome attack in helpful conditions. More worrying for Australia should be the relative failures of guys like Watson, Hussey and Clarke. They've been here before, all carry around big (but possibly undeserved) reputations and yet none of them seem any closer to dealing with the moving ball..I like Clarke as a captain though...seems a good guy.

Both Cummins and Pattinson get good seam movement, though neither are swingers.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUvHvXQF_m8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5Y6T8aS7_M&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&v=0raYUs70rsg&NR=1

I think the injuries are more hereditary problems than trying to bowl too fast. Also, I think the English lads play more first class cricket and are thus more "match fit" - I mean, Steven Finn has played more FC cricket than Mitch Johnson for crying out loud!!