*Official* First Test at the Gabba

[Stapel]

I just saw the Johnson drop..... What a clown he has been today....

 

[tooextracool]

All this talk of pitches etc and all Ive been able to think all day is thank **** McGrath retired.
Often tracks are only as flat at the talents of the bowlers bowling on them.

Couldn't agree with this more and its something I alluded to earlier. Too often I've seen pitches that were about as lifeless as the Antarctic only for McGrath to come in and make it look like a minefield. Our last 2 visits to the Gabba for the Ashes serve as perfect examples.

Subcontinental pitches seem to be derided on this forum, but if you ask me they are also home to the least potent bowling attacks going around.

 

[Faisal1985]

Credit where its due, Strauss and Cook have really batted superbly. A couple of catches went down nevertheless, Australia has used up all of its reviews as well....the only likely outcome i see so far would be a draw unless England is really out of luck.

But yeah fielding was a bit of a let down today from Australia...they tried hard but just could hang on to the catches it would have made a huge difference....

 

[vcs]

Couldn't agree with this more and its something I alluded to earlier. Too often I've seen pitches that were about as lifeless as the Antarctic only for McGrath to come in and make it look like a minefield. Our last 2 visits to the Gabba for the Ashes serve as perfect examples.

Subcontinental pitches seem to be derided on this forum, but if you ask me they are also home to the least potent bowling attacks going around.

Also a plethora of batsmen who can smack most visiting attacks around, especially at the top of the order.

 

[Jono]

If you're not enjoying it, then post somewhere else Jono.

Yeah because tour threads are only for people to post positive things about the cricket match... definitely saw that in the recent India vs. NZ series.

I'll criticise the hypocrisy of comments regarding pitches all I like thanks.

 

[tooextracool]

Today? Or on Day 1?

On all 4 days especially given the quality of the bowling on show.

 

[pasag]

Credit where its due, Strauss and Cook have really batted superbly. A couple of catches went down nevertheless, Australia has used up all of its reviews as well....the only likely outcome i see so far would be a draw unless England is really out of luck.

But yeah fielding was a bit of a let down today from Australia...they tried hard but just could hang on to the catches it would have made a huge difference....

Even if we took a couple of the catches England would have done enough, you'd think. They're more insult to injury.

 

[Prince EWS]

Joni, I often agree with you about the pitches thing as you know, but I reckon you're exaggerating heaps in this match, as a result your posts have been dire. Seems like you were just waiting for a day with lots of runs and few wickets so you could do a **** in an Ashes thread, tbh.

 

[Son Of Coco]

It may be flat but the Aussies here have been very unprofessional in their attack. Running up and hoping for a wicket rather than executing plans. Its all so random.

Yeah I agree. At least keep it tight and bowl in the right areas if nothing much is going on. Spraying it around to a constantly changing field rarely works.

 

[GotSpin]

All this talk of pitches etc and all Ive been able to think all day is thank **** McGrath retired.
Often tracks are only as flat at the talents of the bowlers bowling on them.

While I agree with this somewhat, a lack of bowling talent at the moment should be matched by equivalent aid in the pitches. That's my issue with the state of pitches. There's nothing wrong with having batter friendly pitches if you have a bowling line up to the task.

 

[GotSpin]

Deus Ex must be happy Cook,Straus and Trott are chipping away from their quota of runs alloted to them.

Thank god for that

 

[Nate]

Yeah because tour threads are only for people to post positive things about the cricket match... definitely saw that in the recent India vs. NZ series.

I'll criticise the hypocrisy of comments regarding pitches all I like thanks.

YouTube - Calvin Harris - You Used to Hold Me *OFFICIAL VIDEO*

 

[vcs]

Australia needed a couple of wickets yesterday when they were on a high, and England were intent on surviving upto stumps. That mini-session cost the Aussies much more than anyone would have thought at the time, IMHO.

 

[Jono]

Joni, I often agree with you about the pitches thing as you know, but I reckon you're exaggerating heaps in this match, as a result your posts have been dire. Seems like you were just waiting for a day with lots of runs and few wickets so you could do a **** in an Ashes thread, tbh.

Well point out on what points you disagree with and I'll reply.

1/300 is laughable by any stretch, and its not 100% down to great batting or poor bowling. You can't just put it down to that at all.

 

[Pizzorno]

I can't help but feel incredibly smug. I just knew Cook would bat well today.

 

[Prince EWS]

Deus Ex must be happy Cook,Straus and Trott are chipping away from their quota of runs alloted to them.

Yep. Instead of declaring, England should send out all their batsmen one by one to kick over their stumps, as it'll make them more likely to score runs in their next innings.

 

[Prince EWS]

Well point out on what points you disagree with and I'll reply.

1/300 is laughable by any stretch, and its not 100% down to great batting or poor bowling. You can't just put it down to that at all.

Will make a post in another thread soonish.

 

[tooextracool]

Also a plethora of batsmen who can smack most visiting attacks around, especially at the top of the order.

Yes and those guys are good. However, what is especially worrying regarding the quality of bowling attacks if we look at the 2 most recent subcontinental series are 200s by McCullums, 300s by Gayles and 100s by Tim Mcintoshes.

 

[Prince EWS]

Yes and those guys are good. However, what is especially worrying regarding the quality of bowling attacks if we look at the 2 most recent subcontinental series are 200s by McCullums, 300s by Gayles and 100s by Tim Mcintoshes.

Back to back Harbhajan hundreds really took the piss.

 

[Faisal1985]

Even if we took a couple of the catches England would have done enough, you'd think. They're more insult to injury.

Yeah but Strauss's catch around 70 odd runs and then i think it was Trott the one Clarke couldn't hang on.....then 1 went towards Sid as well which was not an easy chance but still....i would say if Aussies would have pulled off 3 wickets today they would be still in the hunt to knock England out early enough to chase down lets say at its best 200-250 runs in 60 odd overs....