Group A - India, England, Australia, West Indies

[Slow Love™]

Haha, thanks guys.

 

[Xuhaib]

Ponting continues his love affair with the Indian tracks.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

9 out of 10 of those innings were not out, though.

I. Did. Not. Know. That.

No, really, I didn't.

Actually, yea, I did.

 

[open365]

Bring back jon Lewis i say.

 

[Linda]

Happy Birthday DRM, you beautiful human being.
Getting home to this score is pretty much heaven, tbh.

 

[Langeveldt]

Bring back jon Lewis i say.

Agreed. Mahmood's gone up in my ratings since picking up Punter and Gilly (or was it Watson?) - but he's still woefully inadequate and has gone for the best part of 6 an over again..

Still, don't know what up with Harmison, why cant England come to South Africa for some games? The Aussies must be licking their lips for this winter

 

[Great Birtannia]

2 for Bowden.

This guy will ruin the ashes if he is given the chance. Keep him the **** away, please.

Johnson bowling well is bonus. I think he is the 3rd best seam option for the Ashes. Gillespie shouldn't even come into consideration after his county stint and start to the Aus summer. It's down to MacGill and Johnson for the 4th bowling slot for mine.

 

[TT Boy]

What the heck is GBH doing?

3 balls, 3 fours and he's overpitching on legstump.

BB bang on the money, 13 off the over.

You seemed suprised... Also what a ridiculous nickname, ****e is far more appropriate.

 

[sideshowtim]

Yes! Great win boys! Much improved performance with the ball with the youngens doing well for us. Punter captained well. The only let down in this game were those 3 quick wickets at the start, but Ponting and Gilchrist are quality batsmen when it most counts so nothing to worry about. Bring on India, goodbye England!

And a good psychological blow against Harmison before the Ashes.

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

Top knock from Martyn today. I don't really see a place for him in the ODI side any more, but obviously if he plays a few more innings like that he'll be undroppable again and may last through the World Cup. Certainly he'll still be there in the VB Series now.

Hussey was good too, as usual. I was pretty impressed with Saj Mahmood, who could be a very good bowler if he was a bit more accurate and had some more variations, which should come with experience. Anderson's still a good ODI bowler too.

It must be frustrating for an England fan, because with Trescothick, Collingwood, Pietersen, Flintoff and Anderson there's a solid foundation for a good ODI side. Bell and Mahmood have potential too. It's just that the other spots at the moment are filled with absolute crap, and inevitably once you get a couple of key batsmen out or see off a couple of good bowlers there's no support. Even if England had made 250+ today and taken early wickets, what is there after Mahmood and Anderson are bowled out?

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

You seemed suprised... Also what a ridiculous nickname, ****e is far more appropriate.

Yeah, that nickname is really annoying these days, given that he's been totally crap for a year or so now in both forms of the game, and not far off it for a bit longer. You don't do much harm with leg-stump half-volleys when the game is in the balance.

 

[PhoenixFire]

Harmison is bowling pretty terrible at the moment and should be dropped for the Ashes unless he sorts himself out.

 

[sideshowtim]

Feels really good to get one back on England. Reeeally good.

 

[pasag]

Great win by Australia. Wonderful stuff from Martyn and Hussey doing the job he set out to do very well. England made a bloody mess of that one, being 0/80 then all out for 169 is shocking and just when they got back in with 3 quick easy wickets, Harmison makes a mess of things.

Damien Martyn though, love the way he plays puts up an innings like this with his place in the side under pressure. Can't wait for India, will be the game of the tournament imo.

 

[TT Boy]

Harmison is bowling pretty terrible at the moment and should be dropped for the Ashes unless he sorts himself out.

Wouldn’t go that far but he should be left out of the West Indies game for sure. Can't bowl with the new ball and seemingly he can't bowl with the older one too. Still got a big fan in Scaly though.

 

[sideshowtim]

Martyn is just superb in India. Hope this win gets us on a roll for the other games. I'm a very happy Aussie tonight. Marvellous win over the Kiwis in the League and Anhiliating the Poms in the cricket. Does it get anymore sweet?

 

[sideshowtim]

Wouldn’t go that far but he should be left out of the West Indies game for sure. Can't bowl with the new ball and seemingly he can't bowl with the older one too. Still got a big fan in Scaly though.

The bloke can't bowl away from home. I'ts a bit embarassing really. Martyn hammered the **** out of him.

 

[superkingdave]

Just got back from football, expected result, good to see Saj and Jimmy give them a scare first up though. Did Jimmy bowl well? looks like he was decent from his figures, good to see him back.

Harmison needs to be dropped for Lewis

 

[sideshowtim]

Anderson bowled well in his first spell but was all over the place after that. Watson and Gilchrist were on fire until a stop in play because of the lights gave England momentum. Martyn took that right away from them by hammering Harmy everywhere.

 

[Laurrz]

great stuff by the Aussies...under immense pressure... Martyn is finally under the runs and that is pivotal to Australia winning as he is a matchwinner that goes unnoticed at times

very happy that it was the young guys Watson Johnson who really make Australias future not look that bad as ppl think..good stuff

Key moment of the match :

28.6 Symonds to Strauss, out Caught by Gilchrist!! delivery tossed up on the off, jets off the track, Strauss is caught on the crease, edges it straight to Gilchrist and this time he pouches it safely, no dropping that this time!!!

Play of the day

19.1 Johnson to Pietersen, no run, banged in short, that rose on Pietersen who was very late in playing it, he tries to fend it of his shoulder and the ball lobs safe on the off side

19.2 Johnson to Pietersen, OUT, and the second wicket goes! Johnson bowls the offcutter, it pitches around off stump and moves away from Pietersen who gets drawn into the drive and edges it tamely to Gilchrist