***Official*** Commonwealth Bank Tri-Series

[Son Of Coco]

You should get a job in the Australian commentary box. You'd fit right in...

It'd be difficult to commentate and ignore England, and there's not a lot of room for praise. Pietersen got some, but he earned it. Who else did?

 

[Fiery]

You should get a job in the Australian commentary box. You'd fit right in...

Nah, those guys don't know much about cricket

 

[_Ed_]

You beauty! Can't bear those little leaps of joy he does when he takes a wicket

The number of times he does those against us is what annoys me.

Worried about McCullum facing McGrath though, can see him going after one and edging it.

 

[SquidAU]

Should be a good game on Sunday. The Kiwis always play well against the Aussies.

 

[Prince EWS]

It'd be difficult to commentate and ignore England, and there's not a lot of room for praise. Pietersen got some, but he earned it. Who else did?

Collingwood for one. The importance of that partnership to let Flintoff (another who deserved praise btw) do his stuff at the end has been highly under-rated both on the commentary box and on this board. Not everything in one day cricket is about scoring at a run per ball - that partnership was a good one and all the commentators did the most part (until Pietersen started hitting sixes - which was only really possibly because of the platform set) was try to pick out the things they were doing wrong with it.

England's batting was fine. They set the platform well and then accelerated at the end of the innings to score what was a par chase for a decent attack to defend. They bowled pies and came up against a good batting lineup, but if they can improve their bowling, I think their batting has the structure and combination that it needs at this stage to develop into the makings of a good side.

 

[Prince EWS]

Nah, those guys don't know much about cricket

Exactly my point.

 

[Fiery]

Worried about McCullum facing McGrath though, can see him going after one and edging it.

That's ironic, the vision I had was of him whacking him over cover for 6

 

[_Ed_]

That's ironic, the vision I had was of him whacking him over cover for 6

I prefer that one.

 

[meatspx]

I have a sneaking suspicion that McCullum is going to be a star this series...
The pitches are tailor made for smashing the ball around

*Fingers crossed*

 

[Fiery]

Exactly my point.

Nice comeback.

Do you really think so? I've been playing and watching it religiously for 25 years so thought I might have picked up a few things by now

 

[wpdavid]

Collingwood for one. The importance of that partnership to let Flintoff (another who deserved praise btw) do his stuff at the end has been highly under-rated both on the commentary box and on this board. Not everything in one day cricket is about scoring at a run per ball - that partnership was a good one and all the commentators did the most part (until Pietersen started hitting sixes - which was only really possibly because of the platform set) was try to pick out the things they were doing wrong with it.

England's batting was fine. They set the platform well and then accelerated at the end of the innings to score what was a par chase for a decent attack to defend. They bowled pies and came up against a good batting lineup, but if they can improve their bowling, I think their batting has the structure and combination that it needs at this stage to develop into the makings of a good side.

Yeah, the batting wasn't the worst ever. Given the number of times we've been shot out for stupidly low scores, I could understand the approach, even if we overdid it at times. And the spinners did OK, especially coming on when the openers were well set. But the bowling from our 3 quicker guys was horrible and they deserve all the flack they're getting. Fred really is better at first change, and Anderson's happy enough opening, so I''ve no idea why that was reversed. Probably didn't affect the result one iota, but we might as well get these things right.

 

[_Ed_]

I have a sneaking suspicion that McCullum is going to be a star this series...
The pitches are tailor made for smashing the ball around

*Fingers crossed*

I really hope so, there are hardly any batsmen I'd rather watch than McCullum when he's firing.

 

[Prince EWS]

Nice comeback.

Do you really think so? I've been playing and watching it religiously for 25 years so thought I might have picked up a few things by now

Considering you just stated that three former Australian captains and various other former test cricketers didn't know much about cricket, I highly doubt your experience playing D Grade in Auckland would count for much either.

 

[Johnners]

Can't say i agree with Gilly getting motm. Bracken or Johnson set it up imo by restricting england early by taking important wickets & keeping it tight, then repeating it in their spells later in the innings.

 

[Matt79]

Bottom edged pull (I think) from McGrath into his right-hand ribs and job done.

"Bottom edged" might be a bit generous, from the replays i saw it looked like a complete fresh air shot...

 

[Son Of Coco]

Collingwood for one. The importance of that partnership to let Flintoff (another who deserved praise btw) do his stuff at the end has been highly under-rated both on the commentary box and on this board. Not everything in one day cricket is about scoring at a run per ball - that partnership was a good one and all the commentators did the most part (until Pietersen started hitting sixes - which was only really possibly because of the platform set) was try to pick out the things they were doing wrong with it.

England's batting was fine. They set the platform well and then accelerated at the end of the innings to score what was a par chase for a decent attack to defend. They bowled pies and came up against a good batting lineup, but if they can improve their bowling, I think their batting has the structure and combination that it needs at this stage to develop into the makings of a good side.

Did you listen to the ABC commentary? I heard some of it on the way home and they weren't exactly complimentary either. I think there'd only be a few people thinking England's attempt to set a decent total was 'satisfactory'. It's obviously easy to say in hindsight, because England lost. But at the halfway mark I think the general consensus on the ABC was that England would have to bowl exceptionally well as there wasn't a lot in the wicket and thus 240 wasn't enough. seeing Pietersen bat in tests, I don't think the platform was that necessary for him to start hitting sixes. More singles builds an innings around the attacking batsman. There didn't seem to be anything different in this match to any other during the summer - a couple of decent performances surrounded by an inevitability regarding the end result.

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

Considering you just stated that three former Australian captains and various other former test cricketers didn't know much about cricket, I highly doubt your experience playing D Grade in Auckland would count for much either.

Didn't you just make a big thread about how crap those commentators are? Merely playing test cricket doesn't really equip you with the understanding of the game and eloquence to commentate on it. Experience allows you comment on some things that others wouldn't know about of course, but I don't think anyone in their right mind could argue that Healy gives interesting or worthwhile insights into cricket. I could think of a dozen people on this forum who would make better commentators.

 

[Matt79]

Should be a good game on Sunday. The Kiwis always play well against the Aussies.

That would be why they've won so many matches against us??? One of the most repeated fallacies in world cricket, IMO.

 

[Prince EWS]

Didn't you just make a big thread about how crap those commentators are? Merely playing test cricket doesn't really equip you with the understanding of the game and eloquence to commentate on it. Experience allows you comment on some things that others wouldn't know about of course, but I don't think anyone in their right mind could argue that Healy gives interesting or worthwhile insights into cricket. I could think of a dozen people on this forum who would make better commentators.

Yeah, that's how the argument started in fact.

He said something similar to what the commentators said, so I suggested he join them. Then he claimed they didn't know much about cricket, and yet thought that his experience playing and watching the game proved that he did. Surely I'm not alone in seeing this irony.

 

[Son Of Coco]

Considering you just stated that three former Australian captains and various other former test cricketers didn't know much about cricket, I highly doubt your experience playing D Grade in Auckland would count for much either.

Have you ever considered that he might be like Richard and read a lot of books?