*Official* First Test at Swalec Stadium, Cardiff

[Uppercut]

Sorry but North's technique is crap. If we get some seam friendly wickets in this series, Id be very surprised if he manages to last through the entire series.

Technique is nothing. Temperament is everything. North made a wonderful century on debut on a deck that was seaming all over the place.

 

[Uppercut]

Yes quite an interesting comparison with KP, his career to date, and Ponting's first 53 Tests. Ponting had 9 centuries in that period, compared to KP's 16. So if he continues to grow as a batsman, and learn from mistakes he has made, he could develop into one heck of a batsman.

What age was Ponting after 53 tests?

EDIT: Just checked- two years younger than KP is now. Worth mentioning.

 

[Hoggy31]

Technique is nothing. Temperament is everything. North made a wonderful century on debut on a deck that was seaming all over the place.

Yeah but he didn't watch that game, jeez.

 

[Woodster]

What age was Ponting after 53 tests?

EDIT: Just checked- two years younger than KP is now. Worth mentioning.

Think he was 28 mate, while KP is just 29.

 

[King Pietersen]

Was in December 2001, so yeh, 27.

 

[SirBloody Idiot]

Yes quite an interesting comparison with KP, his career to date, and Ponting's first 53 Tests. Ponting had 9 centuries in that period, compared to KP's 16. So if he continues to grow as a batsman, and learn from mistakes he has made, he could develop into one heck of a batsman.

Pietersen turns 30 next year, whilst Punter was still mid-20s when they had played the same amount of tests. Not sure he's god a whole lot of developing to come.

Technique is nothing. Temperament is everything. North made a wonderful century on debut on a deck that was seaming all over the place.

Thanks Sunny.

 

[Woodster]

Yes he was actually just 27.

 

[Woodster]

Pietersen turns 30 next year, whilst Punter was still mid-20s when they had played the same amount of tests. Not sure he's god a whole lot of developing to come

Tbf, KP turns 30 in nearly 12 months, so he is some way off. Ponting was mid-late 20's after 53 Tests.

 

[Burgey]

What age was Ponting after 53 tests?

EDIT: Just checked- two years younger than KP is now. Worth mentioning.

And how many coaches had he fallen out with or dressing rooms had his ego divided?

What were their first-chance averages?

Neither of them can ever be too good for a bowler. On any surface, ever. Even if the bowler usually keeps wicket for Bangladesh.

And Nasser Hussain's better than Hayden in Tests, obviously.

Sorry to bring all that up. Just a few novel and never-discussed points for the rain delay.

Why have a special on the two of them? The difference between them is encapsulated by the way they each approached their task on this pitch and in this match.

 

[Uppercut]

Thanks Sunny.

I thought it was an appriopriate time to bring that one up.

 

[SirBloody Idiot]

Tbf, KP turns 30 in nearly 12 months, so he is some way off. Ponting was mid-late 20's after 53 Tests.

It's probably worth considering that Punter was thrust into test cricket before he was probably ready. At 23 the guy had played 22 tests already for just two hundreds. Suggests he probably began to mature as a batsman well before the 50 test mark.

 

[Hoggy31]

5 minutes they reckon.

Can they only play half an hour extra here?

 

[Burgey]

Ha ha, they're talking on Fox to Mark Waugh about the Lord's Test in 93 - just showed Slater's maiden ton. What a knock that was!!

Will always remember the scoreline and the UK paper headline afterwards:

Taylor - 111
Slater - 150 odd
Boon - 164
M Waugh - bowled Tuffnell 99

Headline next day - 'Waugh Fails".

 

[Woodster]

Why have a special on the two of them? The difference between them is encapsulated by the way they each approached their task on this pitch and in this match.

Well I think that is the point. The difference in this Test is indeed the way Ponting applied himself for the long innings and KP got himself out. It has been a bit of an over-reaction on KP to be fair, it was a poor shot, no doubt, but his conversion rate is on the whole excellent.

However, Ponting batted patiently and exceptionally well and went on to make a big score, they are the countries two premier batsmen, but would Ponting have known enough, remained patient, known how to build this type of innings in these conditions at the same stage in his career that KP is at now.

 

[superkingdave]

5 minutes they reckon.

Can they only play half an hour extra here?

Covers back on...won't be back playing in 5 minutes now

The extra half hour is only to finish the overs if there are no interruptions. Theoretically if they lose an hour they can finish an hour later. i.e the end time would be 7:30 (hour lost + extra half hour)

 

[Jamee999]

5 minutes they reckon.

Can they only play half an hour extra here?

Floodlights in use this series.

 

[Woodster]

It's probably worth considering that Punter was thrust into test cricket before he was probably ready. At 23 the guy had played 22 tests already for just two hundreds. Suggests he probably began to mature as a batsman well before the 50 test mark.

Absolutely worth considering. I'm not suggesting that these are defining reasons why KP will be a much better batsman, just provoking one or two talking points during the break. Ponting was very much under-prepared for Test cricket it seemed, where as KP took to it like a duck to water, such was his self-belief and confidence.

 

[Burgey]

Well I think that is the point. The difference in this Test is indeed the way Ponting applied himself for the long innings and KP got himself out. It has been a bit of an over-reaction on KP to be fair, it was a poor shot, no doubt, but his conversion rate is on the whole excellent.

However, Ponting batted patiently and exceptionally well and went on to make a big score, they are the countries two premier batsmen, but would Ponting have known enough, remained patient, known how to build this type of innings in these conditions at the same stage in his career that KP is at now.

When Pietersen came out here (seems ages ago now) to play a season in grade cricket in Sydney, the talk around town about him soon got going - regarded as the hardest-hitting, most devastating batsman a lot of good judges had seen in donkey's years.

They were probably right. I don't doubt his ability at all, and frankly he's by so far the batsman we Aussies fear most in England's side. When you see someone score runs the way he can, it frustrates you to see him get out the way he does sometimes.

But then again, Mark Waugh was similar as an Aussie supporter. He'd play these sublime knocks, some of the more fluent and audacious shots you'd ever see. Then he'd bang a long hop to point, and it'd be the biggest disappointment ever - like cricketing coitus interruptus.

 

[Pup Clarke]

Didn't think Pietersen was 29 tbh.

 

[Manee]

Finally got the speed gun fixed. Broad bowling under 80mph.

Broad is a genuinely quick bowler, no disputing that whatsoever. His pace doesn't come by chance either, he has a very well organised action and has natural attributes for speed. He is tall and sprints in, the load up is near ideal and he minimises the time between back foot and front foot contact.

Oh dear, been defending Broad for months, hope he sorts himself out and saves me some face, and soon.

I can see him picking up a few in this series. He might average 35 or 40, but he won't embarass himself over the entire series; if you bowl 90mph and are not a total scattergun, the odd wicket here and there are always likely.

Flintoff seriously down on pace, barely reaching mid-80's now. Worn down by the Aussies with a little help from his own body, probably.

I wouldn't say that this indicates any worry for England, it just happens with Flintoff that he does not bowl many quick spells. He is quick medium for the slight majority of his spells and only cranks up to 150kph territory when he is pumped up, such as his first spells in this innings or a spell against his good friend Yuvraj in India.