Print

[smilley792]

Agree.


And Stuart broads poor attempt with the new ball was embarrassing. His tantrum at field placing even more.

[mo_town]

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!

[MD2812]

Andy Flower says they're not afraid to shake things up....

They then drop monty for Bresnan. Big shake up there! *facepalm*

[mo_town]

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.

[FattusCattus]

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.

[Number4]

As I said in the last test Cooks captaincy has been questionable

[Number4]

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

[Manormanic]

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!

[lazza32]

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

[jamesisapayne]

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

[billyb]

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...

[lazza32]

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.

[Red Ink Cricket]

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.

[Number4]

Maybe he has uncovered an average attack... After all his 2 centuries are against England

[smilley792]

Maybe he has uncovered an average attack... After all his 2 centuries are against England

Currently, i wouldn't even say average......