*Official* First Test at the Gabba

[Bobisback]

Well played Cook. He should really have a go now, try to set a good score and declare mid way through the next session. We know Clarke, Ponting and North wont trouble the scorers so they really only have to take 7 wickets.

 

[NasserFan207]

The sofa is convinced England should just grind Australia all day.

I disagree. Making an attempt to win would send a powerful message, and at least would be somewhat exciting.

Strauss should declare after a 250-300 lead.

 

[Blocky]

He does though, 'cause he's Watto

Look, I'm not going to pretend this is anything but extremely frustrating, annoying and somewhat depressing. However I'd like to think of this as an abnormality, rather than "then norm" which is what you'd think it was given by the tone of posts in here.

I'm probably well in the minority in this POV, but meh, am just getting sick of all the pessimism from pretty much everyone about Australian cricket.

The abnormality here is that England haven't been throwing the wickets away to Mitchell Johnson and what ever spin bowler Australia have since Warne. All other sides have been doing that and they've stopped doing it this series.

You've got batsmen who aren't performing who stay in the side (never happened in the last 15 years for Aus) and a captain who has no idea on how to captain a side that doesn't have McGrath and Warne doing it all for him.

In my view, Australia are entirely freaking lucky to A: Reduce England to 260 in the first innings and B: Have a partnership between Hussey and Haddin which put them so far ahead.

Realistically, there aren't too many positives to take from this except Hussey, Haddin and Siddle. There are huge question marks around Doherty, North, Johnson and lingering concerns around Clarke, Ponting's captaincy and whether Hilfenhaus is good enough at this level.

When have Australia had so many doubts about their side? Their best hope is that they find a new age Allan Border to rebuild it.

 

[Spark]

Trott should go and shake Clarke's hand now

 

[LongHopCassidy]

Well done Trott.

FMD, I'm sick of starting posts with those two words.

 

[Jacknife]

That's another ,well done Trotty.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Get in Trott.Lovely innings.

 

[Son Of Coco]

I blame John Howard for this. 11 years of a conservative government has long-lasting effects on the Australian selectors. They need to unpucker and grow some balls now he's gone!





Seriously though, don't see this as an abnormality as Australia haven't put back-to-back bowling performances together consistently for quite a while. There's always a chance they'll come out and spray it around/ not exert enough pressure. You either have to just accept it's the way it's going to be post-Warne and McGrath etc, or do something about it. Looks like we'll be doing the former.

 

[TT Boy]

,Played.

 

[Spikey]

i blame john howard for this. 11 years of a conservative government has long-lasting effects on the australian selectors. They need to unpucker and grow some balls now he's gone!

we need revolution not greg chappell.

 

[Spark]

Well that concludes one of the most awful hours of cricket I've seen from eleven players wearing the baggy green.

 

[Redbacks]

Meh,

we will end in a draw most likely and in the end England only took 10 wickets, still haven't shown they can get 20 themselves as of yet.

 

[Jacknife]

I've never seen a score card like that in a Ashes, not even in the Aussies great years.

 

[LongHopCassidy]

I blame John Howard for this. 11 years of a conservative government has long-lasting effects on the Australian selectors. They need to unpucker and grow some balls now he's gone!

It's interesting that we've been noticeably ****tier since he left office.

[/inb4 howardj]

 

[Julian87]

Watch the calls for Warne to come back in the Australian media.

 

[Pothas]

That was a beautiful session of test match cricket.

 

[outbreak]

It is a pretty amazing scorecard. 2 6fers, a hattrick, 5 hundreds, almost 2 doubles.....

I say we drop the entire Aussie side, make Hodge captain and let him pick his own side and have his chance running the side :P

 

[Son Of Coco]

It's interesting that we've been noticeably ****tier since he left office.

[/inb4 howardj]

Yes, but if you swap 'The Australian Cricket Team' for 'The Economy', I think you'll get a similar result.

The John Howard years just put a mentality in place that doesn't translate to tougher times. Did nothing while times were good, gave us nothing for the tough times

Although I do believe the current results in Australian cricket are the recession we had to have.

 

[Spikey]

Watch the calls for Warne to come back in the Australian media.

Watch the calls for Hauritz to come back tbh

 

[Bun]

What a dreadful test match pitch.