*Official* Third Test at the WACA

[Burgey]

?

I admit he's bowled well, and I've said it probably four or five times in the series so far.

His spells in Brisbane and Adelaide (though tbf I didn't see much of the latter) were excellent. He was not much more than serviceable yesterday IMO, but with good reason. And given the way he's bowled in other spells, especially Brisbane without luck, you can't say he didn't deserve wickets anyway.

As to whether he's a world class bowler like Steyn or whoever, well I'm still not convinced. But he's turned into a better bowler than anyone we currently have playing.

 

[Burgey]

Meh, he plays some of the best knocks of his career and I'm wrong for doubting him before he has played them. Jeez.

Prior is still the better bat imo.

Haha, yet you consider it some form of triumph that Anderson hasn't bowled the filth he dished up here last time.

I'll revise my last post to "Meh, he bowls some of the best spells of his career and I'm wrong for doubting him before he's bowled them".

It's going to be a long career, Marcuss.

 

[Jarquis]

Haha, yet consider it some form of triumph that Anderson hasn't bowled the filth je dished up here last time.

Yeah, considering I was rating the pair of them based on what they'd done recently and not 4 years ago.

 

[Burgey]

Yeah, considering I was rating the pair of them based on what they'd done recently and not 4 years ago.

So Haddin's average with the bat of 40 odd doesnt equate to Anderson's of 30 odd with the ball?

One a champ the other just a dud?

Honestly mate, you can't recall my saying Anderson has improved, before the series began? Well tbf, he's had two good years, but it might be one of those golden "when retards attack" times in his career before he reverts to mediocrity, a la Lee. You're talking like he's become a metrosexual Dennis Lillee. He isn't.

 

[HeathDavisSpeed]

Bloody hell, the last 10 pages or so of this thread have some considerable tripe being espoused.

Anyway, I was disappointed in Harris' first spell last night. Seemed unable to sustain a consistent line. Want to see the guy go well, so I'm hoping he steps it up for day 2. Certainly, I'd prefer Harris to go well than Johnson (who actually looked much better than at Brisbane)

As for Cook & Strauss, I don't think there's much room to criticise them for knowing their limitations and playing within them. Not everyone can be a Brian Lara, Mark Waugh or David Gower unfortunately and I think you have to appreciate the mental fortitude that it takes to resist playing those shots that have gotten you out time after time after time in the past.

Anyway, my $100 isn't looking too safe right now. Another reason to dislike Australia

 

[Jarquis]

So Haddin's average with the bat of 40 odd doesnt equate to Anderson's of 30 odd with the ball?

One a champ the other just a dud?

Honestly mate, you can't recall my saying Anderson has improved, before the series began? Well tbf, he's had two good years, but it might be one of those golden "when retards attack" times in his career before he reverts to mediocrity, a la Lee. You're talking like he's become a metrosexual Dennis Lillee. He isn't.

I never said Haddin was a bad player who would struggle with (read : incapable of) batting in Australia. I didn't think he was capable of an innings like the century he produced. I thought he was a decent enough keeper batsmen but was nowhere near as good as some (particularly Benchy and Julian) mad out. I still feel Prior is better, but if Haddin bats as he has in this series for a prolonged period of time then I might be forced to reconsider.

Though if you want to compare apples with apples.
Bowling records | Test matches | Cricinfo Statsguru | ESPN Cricinfo
There's Jimmy Anderson's bowling record since Brad Haddin's Test debut. Averaging a tick under 28 including an away series against South Africa and a home Ashes series.
He's **** obviously.

 

[Burgey]

Bloody hell, the last 10 pages or so of this thread have some considerable tripe being espoused.

Anyway, I was disappointed in Harris' first spell last night. Seemed unable to sustain a consistent line. Want to see the guy go well, so I'm hoping he steps it up for day 2. Certainly, I'd prefer Harris to go well than Johnson (who actually looked much better than at Brisbane)

As for Cook & Strauss, I don't think there's much room to criticise them for knowing their limitations and playing within them. Not everyone can be a Brian Lara, Mark Waugh or David Gower unfortunately and I think you have to appreciate the mental fortitude that it takes to resist playing those shots that have gotten you out time after time after time in the past.

Anyway, my $100 isn't looking too safe right now. Another reason to dislike Australia

Thought Harris went for the miracle ball instead of dropping onto a good length. Inexperience I suppose.

 

[Jarquis]

Haha, yet you consider it some form of triumph that Anderson hasn't bowled the filth he dished up here last time.

I'll revise my last post to "Meh, he bowls some of the best spells of his career and I'm wrong for doubting him before he's bowled them".

It's going to be a long career, Marcuss.

No, he's bowled some of the best spells of his career in the 12-18 months building up to this series which is why it was ****ing ridiculous to criticise him for tripe he dished up 4 years ago.

 

[HeathDavisSpeed]

It brings a little tear to the eye. The 'mongrel' in him, the swearing, the anger... I do believe our own little Marcuss is becoming a man. I might even be able to buy him a shandy next time I'm in the UK

 

[Burgey]

I never said Haddin was a bad player who would struggle with (read : incapable of) batting in Australia. I didn't think he was capable of an innings like the century he produced. I thought he was a decent enough keeper batsmen but was nowhere near as good as some (particularly Benchy and Julian) mad out. I still feel Prior is better, but if Haddin bats as he has in this series for a prolonged period of time then I might be forced to reconsider.

Though if you want to compare apples with apples.
Bowling records | Test matches | Cricinfo Statsguru | ESPN Cricinfo
There's Jimmy Anderson's bowling record since Brad Haddin's Test debut. Averaging a tick under 28 including an away series against South Africa and a home Ashes series.
He's **** obviously.

He's not **** but he was **** here. That's right, that little bit of available evidence doesn't count. He's shown he can bowl here, and good on him for doing so, because he was an embarrassment last time out.

You're right though. 28 is decent. In fact, he's the new Tyson.

 

[Burgey]

No, he's bowled some of the best spells of his career in the 12-18 months building up to this series which is why it was ****ing ridiculous to criticise him for tripe he dished up 4 years ago.

Whereas Haddin in the same period has done what wrong with the bat?

 

[Burgey]

It brings a little tear to the eye. The 'mongrel' in him, the swearing, the anger... I do believe our own little Marcuss is becoming a man. I might even be able to buy him a shandy next time I'm in the UK

Lol. Goughy to comment.

 

[Jarquis]

He's not **** but he was **** here. That's right, that little bit of available evidence doesn't count. He's shown he can bowl here, and good on him for doing so, because he was an embarrassment last time out.

You're right though. 28 is decent. I'm fact, he's the new Tyson.

Yeah he was, but the fact is he never should've been given the opportunity to be an embarrassment and the fact he was should be taken with a pinch of salt. It was immediately after he'd spent almost the entire season out with stress fractures of the back and in the middle of Duncan Fletcher and co messing about with his action. There's also the fact he was bowling to one of the best batting lineups assembled in the history of the game.
None of which is at all relevant this time, he's fit, he's in form and your batting is all that.
Then take into account the success he's had in the last 2 years and it's all so much more relevant that a series 4 years ago where he was literally a shadow of the bowler he is today.

As for the Tyson comment, do one. I never set out to argue he's this or that, just that he's a much, much better bowler than you were giving him credit for in the build up to this series and I think he's shown that.

Whereas Haddin in the same period has done what wrong with the bat?

Nothing in particular, but nothing exceptional either. Which is why he'd be a decent enough player for you this series without ever producing anything spectacular.

 

[zaremba]

We're not talking about a new kid on the block here

The guy has got the same strengths and weaknesses that he's had for years and literally every coach and player in test cricket should know where to bowl to him

It's irrelevant as to whether he is showing greater levels of discipline - bowl the right areas for long enough and you'll not only dry up his scoring but he'll get out

I find it quite funny that whenever a promising batsman gets his technique well and truly unpicked it's usually the same genius plan: pitch it consistently on a good length just outside off-stump and you'll dry up their scoring and sooner or later get them out. Result? 563 Test wickets @ 21.64

 

[zaremba]

The pitch looks pretty decent to me, a bit of movement off the seam (as there should be) but a cracking pitch to bat on nonetheless, and as is often the case days 2 and 3 might be the best to bat on (hurray).

How is the pitch expected to behave on days 4 and 5? Uneven bounce? Turn? Do England need a decent lead in order to be ahead given that they'll be batting last?

 

[HeathDavisSpeed]

Hasn't the WACA been pretty flat for batting on days 4 & 5 in recent years. South Africa chased 400-odd to win 2 years back?

 

[zaremba]

Today's prize for the most fatuous bilge from Ian Botham:

"This pitch isn't as green as it looks. It's to do with the colour of the grass."

They pay him for this crap. They pay him for it, and now he's got a ****ing knighthood. The ****.

 

[howardj]

As a batsman it's always possible to be nipped out early, and really it's part of your lot. That said, geez you'd swear it was our first time batting at the WACA yesterday. Ponting and Clarke should know that you don't play with an angled blade, away from your body - especially early doors - at the WACA. And Phil Hughes, as Ian Healy said, 'it just wasn't good enough' to get beaten like that.

 

[GIMH]

How do you figure we'll be batting last?

 

[four_or_six]

How do you figure we'll be batting last?

I think he's just being cautious, because with Katich and North to supplement their front-line spinner they could be in with a shout if it spins.