***Official*** 1st Test at The Gabba

[Son Of Coco]

I wasn't surprised to see Oz batting when I woke up this morning, but when I saw the score I was a bit. I don't think it's the worst decison ever, understandable even with an all-over 30 attack (we're great, us old blokes ), but Sky was talking about Punter batting on til near lunch tomorrow. Why? How many does he think he needs? It'd be nice to give Langer his ton, but the only issue now is time. We aren't going to score anywhere near 600. Realistically the chances of us batting 5+ sessions are as next to nothing as really makes no odds, but why leave yourself open as a slave to fortune anymore than you have to? It might rain or something....

Anyway, pretty awful stuff really. Depressing too, because we've rarely been involved in any clunkers (bar last year's Bangla floggings) since the last Ashes tour, regardless of winning or losing. I was disappointed to see us lose in Pakistan, but the first two tests were really top value. This is just no fun.

I'm not sure Sky really knows what they're talking about...although if Ponting does bat until lunch tomorrow then I guess they probably do.

It was interesting (read 'perplexing') to see the way the English bowlers bowled today after seeing the Aussie bowlers (namely McGrath and Clark) make it look like a minefield. Anderson was rubbish (again), and as much as I'd dearly like to see Harmison bowl well, he only improved slightly. As a test level cricketer is it really that difficult to bowl more than one ball in a good spot? (I'm taling about the English bowlers in general here, not just Harmy).

 

[Langeveldt]

Only got radio coverage, but Boycott immediately said "that's out"

The most worrying thing was how it looked plumb to pretty much everyone in the world (Except TEC), yet hawkeye showed it missed off stump..

Does that show how poor the human eye really is? Or how bad Hawkeye is? Or how mediocre TEC is as an individual?

 

[Woodster]

we dont need a captain who 'will continue to learn' while also being a stand in and is likely to be injured more often than others in the side. Strauss is captain of middlesex, he has the experience of captaining and generally knows what to do in most situations. Hes never been injured in his time with England and having him captain was just the logical choice. Flintoff has made elementary blunders, that really even a school child would have got right.

Don't ever remember saying I preferred Freddie to Strauss ?? But that decision was made by the management so get over it and move on!

Regards the injury situation, well thats all hypothetical, anyone can get injured, yes with his ankle its perhaps more likely to be Freddie, but you can't dismiss a captain just in case he gets injured! If Vaughan is back for the next series, do you think he'll be captain despite his knee problems ?
He's made blunders a school child would have got right ? OK, thanks for your time.

 

[Craig]

I wasn't surprised to see Oz batting when I woke up this morning, but when I saw the score I was a bit. I don't think it's the worst decison ever, understandable even with an all-over 30 attack (we're great, us old blokes ), but Sky was talking about Punter batting on til near lunch tomorrow. Why? How many does he think he needs? It'd be nice to give Langer his ton, but the only issue now is time. We aren't going to score anywhere near 600. Realistically the chances of us batting 5+ sessions are as next to nothing as really makes no odds, but why leave yourself open as a slave to fortune anymore than you have to? It might rain or something....

Anyway, pretty awful stuff really. Depressing too, because we've rarely been involved in any clunkers (bar last year's Bangla floggings) since the last Ashes tour, regardless of winning or losing. I was disappointed to see us lose in Pakistan, but the first two tests were really top value. This is just no fun.

Unless you know something we don't, the only hope of rain is a potential thunderstorm on Monday afternoon.

 

[UncleTheOne]

I'm not sure Sky really knows what they're talking about...although if Ponting does bat until lunch tomorrow then I guess they probably do.

It was interesting (read 'perplexing') to see the way the English bowlers bowled today after seeing the Aussie bowlers (namely McGrath and Clark) make it look like a minefield. Anderson was rubbish (again), and as much as I'd dearly like to see Harmison bowl well, he only improved slightly. As a test level cricketer is it really that difficult to bowl more than one ball in a good spot? (I'm taling about the English bowlers in general here, not just Harmy).[/QUOTE]

We've got an extremely accurate spinner in our squad. But we thought it would be a good idea to leave him out and go in with 4 bowlers who have struggled with injuries all year.

 

[nightprowler10]

He did raise his bat, though...

He hung his head after he got out, then walked off and raised his bat a couple of times, first as he reached the edge of the field and again as he walked up to the pavilion. Not that I'd care if he didn't, I'm just saying.

Anyway, he had every reason to be disappointed. Most batsmen don't exactly jump for joy when they get out in the 90s anyway, but it was the second time he's been dismissed in the 190s, and he'd clearly worked really hard to get through a tough period where he was stuck in the 170s for around an hour, and wanted the double.

pshh...he should learn from Yousuf the art of getting out in the 190s.

 

[pasag]

Yeah I don't know what the fuss is all about, it was mentioned like 3 times in this mornings paper.

Btw, CA just released on its website highlights from every days play. Haven't
checked it out, but it looks pretty cool.

www.cricket.com.au/tv

 

[Arrow]

It was amazing watching the contrast today between the teams, where the pitch looked like a minefield for England and a road for the aussies. Even the Aussie tailenders were flogging the english bowlers on it. Clear indication that the problem for england is their bowling. They only have one good bowler firing while last ashes they had 3.

 

[Son Of Coco]

We've got an extremely accurate spinner in our squad. But we thought it would be a good idea to leave him out and go in with 4 bowlers who have struggled with injuries all year.

Yeah, I was hoping Monty would play too...I don't think he'll be a spectator for much of the rest of the series. It wasn't really that surprising to see England try to sure up their batting and then get rolled for not many, although who knows, with Read and Monty in the team they may have only got 152.

 

[Great Birtannia]

This evening was some of the easiest runs that Langer and Ponting will ever make. Fielders on the fence, singles and twos for the taking every ball, and utterly pedestrian bowling on a pitch that seemed like a minefield this morning.

It was like watching overs 20-35 in a one day game. Not enforcing the follow on gave the English bowlers a chance to bowl into form yet seemingly they were more worried about Australia scoring quick runs and sending them in with an hour to go which now seems like something Ponting never actually considered. I would have been sending them back in with that score but if we can't bowl them out in 5 sessions we don't deserve to win anyway.

 

[Matt79]

Has anyone got a link to a video of that Flintoff riser to Ponting from first session yesterday? - that was a brillant delivery.

 

[NZTailender]

Hmmm....interesting. Wonder if Ponting is just playing mind games...

Yes. The decision to bat again will mainly be psychological (but also possibly to give the bowlers a rest). If Aus bat for an hour tomorrow, and the English bowlers take no wickets, they will be further demoralized especially after Australia got so much out of the pitch.

It will be even better for Australia 9or worse for England) if Flintoff goes for a few runs.

Australia could have made England bat again and bowled them out again and won by an innings. By batting again it prolongs the agony of it all and gets them further down for the test match.

And it's different from the first match of the last series, because England could at least take away a good bowling performance from that match, and a psychological edge they got from roughing up Aussie batsmen.

 

[Johnners]

Lee bowled excellent today, and was unlucky to only nab the 1 wicket imo. He constantly beat the bat of Bell in both his spells, and probably should've had Pietersens' wicket if not for a dropped catch by Clark. McGrath & Clark will get the accolaides because they took the wickets, but Lee's bowling should not go unoticed. Quite often we've seen him get slaughtered when he's not taking wickets, instead today he bowled a great line & length and looked threatening all day. Keep it up Binga!!!

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Has anyone got a link to a video of that Flintoff riser to Ponting from first session yesterday? - that was a brillant delivery.

Check the highlights package on www.cricketaustralia.tv

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

I personally now hope England draw, if for nothing just to prove my point.

Anyway, if Ponting bats 'till lunch I'd say it's very possible providing a couple of batsmen get in.

Five or six sessions? It'll take a hell of a lot more than a couple of batsmen "getting in". Even if England managed a partnership of Dravid/Laxman proportions, they'd still have to have some really strong support to bat for tha tlone.

 

[pasag]

Just finished the first session. McGrath and Clark bowling brilliantly together. Clark's drop was pretty bad and Bowden getting hit was hilarious. Bell was impressive, especially the way he played Warne. Flintoff really unlucky there, but he looks a bit off, depressed almost. He needs to hand over the captaincy to Strauss, massive weight on his shoulders.

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

I wasn't surprised to see Oz batting when I woke up this morning, but when I saw the score I was a bit. I don't think it's the worst decison ever, understandable even with an all-over 30 attack (we're great, us old blokes ), but Sky was talking about Punter batting on til near lunch tomorrow. Why? How many does he think he needs? It'd be nice to give Langer his ton, but the only issue now is time. We aren't going to score anywhere near 600. Realistically the chances of us batting 5+ sessions are as next to nothing as really makes no odds, but why leave yourself open as a slave to fortune anymore than you have to? It might rain or something....

Not enforcing the follow-on required that Ponting batted until stumps, and for some period of time tomorrow to make sure the England bowlers have to get out there and bowl again, at least for half an hour or so. After that, the declaration could come at any time. Presumably Ponting will allow up until lunch for Langer (and perhaps himself) to reach centuries and rub it in a bit more, and then declare. My guess would be some time during the second hour of the first session, with a brief spell before lunch. Possible he could declare just after lunch though, or during the break.

Really, I don't think it makes a huge difference, but given that Australia will have to go out there and bat tomorrow morning for some period of time, I'd say Ponting will look for some quick runs to attempt to demoralise England further before he declares. As others have said, there are practical reasons for the refusal to enforce the follow-on other than Ponting's normal desire not to do so, but at this point it's mainly psychological. Australia already have enough runs.

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

Check the highlights package on www.cricketaustralia.tv

Just on this, sky also have online highlights each day.

http://home.skysports.com/

 

[Nate]

Didn`t know you could get Domestic Highlights for free. Awesome.

 

[Mister Wright]

A big thumbs down to Cricket Australia for not giving the Barmy Army block seats at the 'Gabba, it has really ruined what could have been a spectacular atmosphere. Having the 'Poms' spread out amongst the ground might be great for Ricky Ponting and his buddies to dominate without much cheering from opposition fans, but it really has ruined what could have been brilliant. I mean, it would have been great to have the Barmy Army and Fanatics beside each other in the stands, it would have been great IMO. While the atmosphere is always brilliant at a sold out 'Gabba event, it just could have been so, so, so much better.