*Official* First Test at Trent Bridge

[Burgey]

Hmm I dunno. I too thought he bowled very well, but we do have to somehow manage our bowlers the best we can though this series. I think Harris is about the closest like-for-like sub we could make for Patto anyway, so not sure we'd be losing much.

Australia has a more even attack than England when it comes to the quicks. Anderson is exceptional and Broad can be but is also hot and cold. Finn can bowl good spells but is some way behind each of them, while Bres and Tremlett are (apparently) either coming back from injury or aren't the same since they have come back.

If either of Harris or Bird were to come into the side, they are both economical and won't give much away. It's our area of advantage this series IMO.

I mean, the principal reason we are still a chance in this game is how well our attack bowled as a unit when the wicket was at its best to bat on. England racked up a substantial score but one that's possible to chase because of the discipline if the attack as a whole. There wasn't a pressure release save for a short spell with te second new rock. I'd say that's a fair effort given the conditions.

 

[Ruckus]

yeah agree burgey. While I don't think he was overly impressive, I was very pleasantly surprised especially by Starc's consistency. Easily the most consistent I've seen him in tests so far. and as you said, that gives me a fair bit of faith now that basically any combination of bowlers we play should be able to keep things fairly tight.

 

[Burgey]

Someone asked last night whether, if Australia is to lose this game it would be preferable as a fan to lose by a hundred or have to live through an Edgbaston type result and all the agony of that.

Edgbaston every day of the week. I hope, irrespective of who wins, that this match twists and turns until the last ball is bowled, even if it means we lose.

It would be the most fitting finale to a great match.

 

[Jarquis]

Should be an infractionable offence to say that Broad smashed it to slip

 

[Ruckus]

yeah that was me. Not sure if I could take another Edgbaston. It makes for great cricket, but it is pretty devastating, especially seeing as though I think we really need this to stay alive in this series. Aside from a fan pov though, given this is a team still finding it's feet, it could be a bit of a hammer blow to their morale if they get agonizingly close.

 

[ajdude]

i'm having doubts whether i'll last until the match is finished, got home from work and didn't have a snooze so i'm running off 4 hours of sleep. hopefully we chase this in half an hour

 

[Spikey]

ajdude is putting in a shane watson-esque effort. Good eyecatching start but not prepared to finish the job.

 

[Ruckus]

well you have 2 hours to snooze now, unless you're busy looking up porn again

 

[Goughy]

It won't necessarily be a choke. Depends how Australia goes about it, if they get there.

Agreed. Australia are very much still in this. A bit of luck and one guy plays well, another hangs around and they will be one up. You have to fancy England but I am sure Aus will have had a very positive team breakfast this morning.

 

[Prince EWS]

Aside from a fan pov though, given this is a team still finding it's feet, it could be a bit of a hammer blow to their morale if they get agonizingly close.

Don't really agree. Going into the first match of a five match series away from home as massive underdogs and only narrowly losing would be gutting but in terms of morale I think it could still be positive. Proving you can go the distance with the opposition and that it won't be the walkover some expected etc - you can take a lot from that in a series that still has a long way to go.

 

[Ruckus]

yeah could be true. It's all a matter of perspective really, and Clarke and Lehmann will have a big role to play in getting them back on their feet if they do lose. At some stage though they will need to get a win under their belt. A loss here will be, what, 5 in a row since India? It's pretty bad when losing becomes habitual...

 

[Spark]

The closer we get, the more the team will believe that they're capable of beating England, and that in itself is a huge plus. Nothing too complicated about this.

 

[adub]

I don't log in for a day and half to find 100 pages...

Cribbs?

 

[ajdude]

ajdude is putting in a shane watson-esque effort. Good eyecatching start but not prepared to finish the job.

well you have 2 hours to snooze now, unless you're busy looking up porn again

hey i'm definitely capable of finishing the job, already done it once today

 

[flibbertyjibber]

If Cowan is ill why did he bat at 3?

Surely they could have rejigged the order and he may have been able to bat today when he may be feeling a lot better and be more use to the team?

 

[Ruckus]

hey i'm definitely capable of finishing the job, already done it once today

That's impressive if you did it at work

 

[Uppercut]

Agreed. Australia are very much still in this. A bit of luck and one guy plays well, another hangs around and they will be one up. You have to fancy England but I am sure Aus will have had a very positive team breakfast this morning.

Yeah I agree too. Didn't England's last four wickets go down for more than Australia need now? And the Australian tail is a hell of a lot stronger than England's. England are comfortable favourites but it's definitely not over.

 

[Riggins]

hey ajd00d, what should i have for dinner tonight?

 

[Burgey]

Agreed. Australia are very much still in this. A bit of luck and one guy plays well, another hangs around and they will be one up. You have to fancy England but I am sure Aus will have had a very positive team breakfast this morning.

Yeah I agree too. Didn't England's last four wickets go down for more than Australia need now? And the Australian tail is a hell of a lot stronger than England's. England are comfortable favourites but it's definitely not over.

See, I like this. Lack of Gambhiring a bonus.

 

[wpdavid]

Yeah I agree too. Didn't England's last four wickets go down for more than Australia need now? And the Australian tail is a hell of a lot stronger than England's. England are comfortable favourites but it's definitely not over.

All true. I suppose the counter arguments are that the pitch is a day older and Swann is a superior spinner to Agar, but any Australian claiming this is all over is shamelessly Ghambiring.