*Official* Fifth Test at the SCG

[Pizzorno]

I really hope Collingwood puts in a good innings tonight. This is probably gonna be his last Test and i'd hate for one of my all time favourite cricketers to go out on a whimper. Come on Colly lad! Although tbf he won't be needed when Anderson and Cook get going.

 

[Woodster]

I'd also be sticking with Philip Hughes if I were an Australian selector. The kid has some technical deficiencies, but I wonder if his poor record against England is as much to do with England simply having the skill to consistently exploit that weakness. He has a good First Class record and has plenty of time between now and the series in Sri Lanka to play some more Shield and County cricket and work on his game.

I wouldn't disagree with this, whether he maintains his place in the side, or steps down but remains at first reserve for the openers spot, is a contentious one. You would expect Nielsen will want Katich back in for Sri Lanka, but Hughes' form between now and then might be the decisive factor.

 

[Woodster]

I really hope Collingwood puts in a good innings tonight. This is probably gonna be his last Test and i'd hate for one of my all time favourite cricketers to go out on a whimper. Come on Colly lad! Although tbf he won't be needed when Anderson and Cook get going.

Yes really hoping Colly produces an innings similar to the one he pulled out against SA when he was in Last Chance Saloon. I expect he'll be more positive than he normally is, he will realise this may be his last opportunity and I'm sure he won't die wondering and try and hit his way out of the slump. Think this is his usual M.O. when he's been in similar situations regarding his form.

 

[zaremba]

Yes, he bowls loads better.

matches batting first 30 56 1096.1 217 3499 129 8/61 11/159 27.12 3.19 50.9 5 2
matches fielding first 12 24 494.4 74 1753 50 5/69 8/208 35.06 3.54 59.3 2 0

It's a bit disturbing that (with a bit of effort) this list of apparently random and unexplained numbers actually makes sense to me

 

[kp4captain]

Does it start half an hour earlier today? Thanks

 

[Prince EWS]

Does it start half an hour earlier today? Thanks

You really need a username change.

 

[Bun]

You really need a username change.

Why I think Kerion Pollard stands a good chance of leading Mumbai Indians after Sachin steps down.

 

[Furball]

Agree to an extent but there's no way I'm leaving Katich out for him. I'd definitely persist with him over someone like Marsh but I don't have anywhere near enough faith in his immediate ability to leave out a proven player like Katich.

How he's been handled so far smacks of how badly England managed James Anderson for the first 5 years of his career. Either he's backed in the immediate future based on his FC record so far or he's told to go back to FC cricket and work on his game. Constantly shunting him in and out of the side benefits noone.

 

[Prince EWS]

Mumbai Indians

Saying that in an Ashes thread is a bannable offence. Consider this your one and only warning.

 

[Furball]

Does it start half an hour earlier today? Thanks

According to Sky Sports News play starts at 11pm Empire Time.

 

[Prince EWS]

How he's been handled so far smacks of how badly England managed James Anderson for the first 5 years of his career. Either he's backed in the immediate future based on his FC record so far or he's told to go back to FC cricket and work on his game. Constantly shunting him in and out of the side benefits noone.

He's in as an injury replacement. Someone has to do it and he's the best option available at the moment.

 

[Jono]

Saying that in an Ashes thread is a bannable offence. Consider this your one and only warning.

Haha whilst I agree, give credit to Bun, that was a decent post.

 

[Prince EWS]

Haha whilst I agree, give credit to Bun, that was a decent post.

Yeah it was the only comeback I had. He had me beat.

 

[kp4captain]

You really need a username change.

I would if I knew how!

 

[vicleggie]

I wouldn't disagree with this, whether he maintains his place in the side, or steps down but remains at first reserve for the openers spot, is a contentious one. You would expect Nielsen will want Katich back in for Sri Lanka, but Hughes' form between now and then might be the decisive factor.

(although he's had a poor first class season) IMO it would be harsh to get rid of hughes after a series agianst a brilliant fast bowling attack like England's. I'd like to see how he does over there against Sri Lanka- if he bashes them around, it could give him loads of confidence, and could turn him back into the player he was 2 years ago. I reckon most openers would've struggled against anderson, tremlett etc...katich included

 

[Bun]

Saying that in an Ashes thread is a bannable offence. Consider this your one and only warning.

Oops they got some sponsor like "vodafone ashes" or something

 

[Woodster]

(although he's had a poor first class season) IMO it would be harsh to get rid of hughes after a series agianst a brilliant fast bowling attack like England's. I'd like to see how he does over there against Sri Lanka- if he bashes them around, it could give him loads of confidence, and could turn him back into the player he was 2 years ago. I reckon most openers would've struggled against anderson, tremlett etc...katich included

I think the timing of his inclusion for this series was not helpful. As you say, he's had a poor first-class season to date, and will not have returned to the Australian side with any great confidence. It's difficult, as we've seen with Ponting and Clarke, when an experienced player doesn't have any runs behind them how much of a struggle it can be, so for a young, inexperienced opening batsman to be thrust into an Ashes battle, it's a lot to ask of Hughes and so was probably a little unfair on him.

I suppose it depends how highly they rate Hughes and how confident they are of him succeeding in the long-term. Dropping Watson down the order is always an option to include all three of them, although probably not in Sri Lanka.

 

[GIMH]

No-one is disagreeing with your section in bold, I'm not sure why you keep repeating it.

Again, myself, and others who were also at the ground, will tell you he looked good in today's innings. I'm sorry if the TV highlights displayed otherwise, but it looks like you don't want to isolate his innings today from what you've seen from him in this series previously.

EDIT: Anyway, each to their own, you're entitled to your opinion. . England well ahead atm, can't wait for another day at the cricket.

This is an awful shout Nath, wtf

 

[wpdavid]

Could have been an excellent day for England, but for a completely irritating tail end partnership. Initially I wasn't too against Strauss' field for Johnson, if he's going to play his shots regardless of the field may aswell have some fielders posted out. But there was nowhere near enough fielders in the ring, yes keep the catchers in slips and gully, post a long-on out and perhaps someone in cow corner, but keep some catchers on the drive. We lost the plot for a while and Johnson will no doubt have grown in confidence thinking he was being treated like Brian Lara, rather than the very hit and miss number eight that he is.

The bowling during this period was none too hot either. Bres bowled some beauties but they were missing the ball by some distance. Some hostile and straight at the wicket bowling may have been more advisable, but at the end of the day, tail end partnerships do happen, they're exceptionally frustrating at the time, but it happens.

Any momentum Australia thought that might have given them, was lost very quickly with their poor use of the new ball, and the excellent positivity from Strauss, ably supported by a more watchful Cook.

Don't have any sympathy for a bowler who oversteps regardless of whether he takes a wicket. The ball was invalid the moment he crossed the line, what happens thereafter is tough. Cook will be considered fortunate, but I'm of the thinking it's more down to poor cricket from the spin bowler.

The KP wicket brought the advantage to England closer to parity, but England still hold a good advantage. Expect Collingwood to come out in a very positive nature tomorrow, will be interesting to see what happens.

Having left things at 205 for 8, I wasn't happy to find out they made 280. Shades of Perth revisited and, once again, Strauss's captaincy seems to have been weak.

Can't say I was thrilled with KP's preferred form of dismissal, especially just before close of play, and especially as Colly & Bell fell in exactly the same way in Melbourne. I wonder what his average for the series is apart from Adelaide.

This could easily go either way now, whereas we should be comfortably ahead. Like everyone else who's supporting England, I hope that Colly plays a blinder.

 

[Woodster]

Having left things at 205 for 8, I wasn't happy to find out they made 280. Shades of Perth revisited and, once again, Strauss's captaincy seems to have been weak.

Can't say I was thrilled with KP's preferred form of dismissal, especially just before close of play, and especially as Colly & Bell fell in exactly the same way in Melbourne. I wonder what his average for the series is apart from Adelaide.

This could easily go either way now, whereas we should be comfortably ahead. Like everyone else who's supporting England, I hope that Colly plays a blinder.

It probably wasn't a sensible shot from KP, Johnson was bowling quickly, and KP previously played a hook shot off him but didn't look comfortable, would in hindsight have been better putting that shot away off Johnson who obviously slants it across the right-hander. And as you say, he removed Bell and Colly in very similar fashion in Melbourne.

He's got a few starts KP but has not gone on anywhere near consistently as some of his team-mates, which is a shame, after Adelaide I thought he was really going to kick on.

It could go either way, just hoping the rest of our batting ensure we get a healthy enough lead.