*Official* Fifth Test at the SCG

[sledger]

and have picked up more women than you

 

[Howe_zat]

Definitely over the Hillf.

 

[Spark]

Agreed.

The evidence is even more damning when you consider the number of overs he has bowled- we've had a real good look at him. You just can't continue to be unlucky for that length of time, that amount of work.

He's not been "unlucky" this series though. Unlucky implies you've beaten the bat and found the edge on many occasions, which he hasn't.

 

[howardj]

Agreed.

 

[Spark]

I mean, that first over with the second new ball... dross. Utter dross.

 

[sledger]

It's a strange turn, from my perspective at least, as when I first saw him play in England in 2009 he struck me as being pretty competent, not outstanding by any means, but reliable enough, better than he's shown himself to be in this current series in any case.

 

[Howe_zat]

I mean, that first over with the second new ball... dross. Utter dross.

Sounds like Cook was just playing him well tbh. (But overall he was poor).

80.1
Hilfenhaus to Cook, 2 runs, 82.0 mph, full to begin with, which is a good start but Cook steers wide of point for a couple to bring up 700 runs for the series. Incredible
80.2
Hilfenhaus to Cook, no run, 84.6 mph, Hilfenhaus finds some swing here back into Cook who stabs down a defence
80.3
Hilfenhaus to Cook, 2 runs, 85.9 mph, good shot to a good ball here, Hilfenhaus learning from the beginning of the innings and bowling much fuller, Cook placing a drive past mid-off for a couple
80.4
Hilfenhaus to Cook, FOUR, 86.7 mph, better full than short, but this is floated up to a half-volley length and Cook's form is far too good to miss out, creaming a square drive to the boundary
80.5
Hilfenhaus to Cook, no run, 87.6 mph, careful defence this time, the ball bending back in to Cook
80.6
Hilfenhaus to Cook, no run, 87.6 mph, left alone outside off to finish the over

And then he was taken off.

 

[Furball]

It's a strange turn, from my perspective at least, as when I first saw him play in England in 2009 he struck me as being pretty competent, not outstanding by any means, but reliable enough, better than he's shown himself to be in this current series in any case.

He's been competent in this series as well. England have just batted extremely well, and worked out that the majority of the time he'll bowl harmless away swingers that there's no real need to play at. A less disciplined batting line up would have fared a lot worse IMO.

 

[Tom 1972]

England must be privately laughing a little at how 'the hardest tour to undertake' has pretty much been a cakewalk, we have shown zero fight bar perth, and have just let england completely set the tone and play how they want to.

I have to agree with this. Except I think that everyone except the players themselves is quite publicly laughing.

Across the series, I cannot think of an aspect of the game where we have broken even, let along finished in front.

Preparation, selection, leadership, coaching, dealing with the media, batting, bowling, ground fielding, catching, 1%ers, yap/sledging on the field, body language, concentration, consistency, bowling and batting to a plan, impact/readiness of replacement players. I think you create your own luck so I can't really bitch about the rub of the green either.

Sadly, I'd extend this to technique and class. My confidence was delusional at the start of the series...

Actually, here's one thing we've won - the #5 batting position. Maybe broken even with wicket keeping (straws - grasping at them).

Will Australia degenerate into the basket case that is the Windies after their decade of dominance? Geez I hope not.

3-1 is a fair result all things considered.

 

[sledger]

He's been competent in this series as well. England have just batted extremely well, and worked out that the majority of the time he'll bowl harmless away swingers that there's no real need to play at. A less disciplined batting line up would have fared a lot worse IMO.

Indeed so, but even when that's taken into consideration there's no denying that he hasn't really stepped up to the plate. As others have alluded to, you can only infer so much from statistics, but there comes a point when they really ought not be ignored.

 

[grecian]

Apparently a lot of hugs and handshakes for Colly, could he announce his retirement after this match?

 

[sledger]

Apparently a lot of hugs and handshakes for Colly, could he announce his retirement after this match?

Just gives good hugs imo.

 

[grecian]

Just gives good hugs imo.

Always a possibility, doesn't say who he's hugging, may just be the Aussies with tears in their eyes at their drubbing.

Nice bloke Colly

 

[Jono]

SCG Test | Hughes's catch that wasn't sparks media outburst

Beefy

 

[Hurricane]

I was given out caught behind once when 1st slip clicked his fingers. Only the bowler and 1st slip appealed. Was told later by the keeper what happened. Hadn't got near one all innings, not sure what the umpire was thinking. Needless to say, the 1st slip was a ****.

Interesting. I was once in a game and first slip was clicking his fingers in between deliveries and I made him stop doing it because I knew that it was going to build up to him doing it when the ball passed the bat. Luckily he was cool about it and stopped.

Twice in my playing time I have heard a noise when the ball passed the bat and was given out. But I didn't hit it or at least I didn't feel anything off the bat. But the noise had to come from somewhere. So it remains a mystery to me. I don't think it was from people clicking though as the noise sounded like it came from around me.

 

[GIMH]

Yep, Colly has announced that this is it

 

[Furball]

Indeed so, but even when that's taken into consideration there's no denying that he hasn't really stepped up to the plate. As others have alluded to, you can only infer so much from statistics, but there comes a point when they really ought not be ignored.

Yeah, I'm not claiming he's bowled well and should retain his place or anything, but I was just thinking that I don't really remember him being smashed about at any point in the series; something which his series stats seem to back up, as he's only conceded 2.68 rpo for the series. The problem he's had is that England's batsmen have generally played really high percentage cricket, and the highest percentage shot against the majority of Hilfenhaus' stuff has been the leave.

He's larglely bowled outswingers in a decent area just outside off that could have caused problems if England's batsmen had been more impatient against. Partly because there's largely been a diet of buffet bowling coming from the other end, England haven't really felt the need to go after him and risk playing the sorts of shots that will get you into trouble against a bowler moving the ball away from you. That's what I'm getting at when I say that Hilf's been competent - however the fact that he hasn't looked remotely threatening all series is a major black mark.

 

[King Pietersen]

Colly's retired from Test cricket WAFG. Absolute hero.

 

[Furball]

While it's nice that Collingwood gets to call the shots about when he goes, and while I've advocated his dropping, given the inexperience of whoever will replace him in the line up, I'd prefer to have him lurking in the background as a reliable insurance policy should we need him this summer.

 

[Woodster]

COLLINGWOOD RETIRES. A fair decision by the man himself, regardless of how he's done this series with the bat, he has played some mightily significant innings when we've needed him most. A real fighter, and someone I've admired for a long time.

His fielding speaks for itself, and for a player that doesn't have half as much talent as a number of other players that have represented England, it is testament to his dedication and committment that he's hopefully finished with a career Test average over 40 with the bat. Superstar.