He was only bowling high 70s in his first spell though; it really wasn't a big drop.
Aside from the second string getting smashed by Ramdin, there was a Friday in the Windies series where we had them 5 or 6 down and then couldn't take any more wickets.
So talk about his performance alone then. Why do you keep harping on about how meaningless his previous performances are when they are clearly NOT meaningless. Its test cricket against Australia ffs. And this minnow drew with SA 1-1 in SA!
I don't think we rely too much on him leading from the front in the way Smith does for SA and Ponting did for you (though you had a great side anyway so Ponting wasn't as vital but he usually did anyway) as we are used to him being inconsistant all the time. It is strange, he isn't a bat you think will step up on the big occasion and his captaincy is quite defensive but the team would run through a brick wall for him and it works (apart from in UAE) very well.
Crikey i'd forgotten about him. Then again we had so many bowlers that played a handful of games through the 90's it is easy to forget them. So glad those days of mediocre selection of crap bowlers is temporarily behind us. Won't be too long till it returns so we may as well enjoy this current side while we have it.
Yeah indeed. You'd think it could lead to the ship going down with the captain more often, but it just goes to show how self-assured and confident the rest of them are that they can so often hold it together. Reckon it's almost a good team quality as well...not sure I like it when there is too much pressure on the captain to come up with the goods. Pretty much what is going on with the Aus team atm.
Hard to see how he won't TBH, unless he's savaged by a killer sheep, or summat.
Yeah, barring a career threatening injury he will do. Should end up with amount of runs like Kallis, Ponting, Dravid and Tendulkar as you would think he will play for a long time yet.
I think the press and some fans made more of it than there was, we didn't really have another option and still don't as an opener. Trott would probably have to do it as Root isn't ready yet and I don't think they rate Carberry as he got dropped quickly.
No. Can't see him getting 50 tons, SRT had 30 after 100 tests and Cook has 20 in 81. You would presume he will drop off a bit in his mid to late 30's (there aren't many players like Gooch who improve as they reach that age) so unless he plays 250 tests i can't see him getting that many.
