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***Official*** 1st Test at The Gabba
- Thread starter James
- Start date
BingLeeElectric
Banned
Everyone going wayyyyyyyy over the top with the Bell love.
One 50 on a road, in which he should have been given out plumb LBW on about 0, to go with his other duck and everyone's got a hard on for him.
Laughable.
One 50 on a road, in which he should have been given out plumb LBW on about 0, to go with his other duck and everyone's got a hard on for him.
Laughable.
Turbinator
Cricketer Of The Year
TBH even though this match was pretty one sided, I enjoyed it, and TBH the first Ashes match I actually watched and kept up with. Even as a neutral fan, I had fun watching it, mainly because of the hype and atmosphere.
Turbinator
Cricketer Of The Year
Yup, I agree now somewhat that this is the best series out there for neutral fans... however, personally, being Indian, I would obviously still rather watch an India/Pak series (unlike SS).Nnanden said:Good to hear. I`m glad your attitude changed somewhat, hopefully the series will be a bit more competitive.
Btw can't wait for the next game, however, I can wait for the next India/SA game.
Slow Love™
International Captain
Haven't really been able to get online much this weekend - so a few thoughts about the last few days' play:
* Good fighting innings from Pietersen - Simon O'Donnell's stupid sounding, badly delivered threat ended up having some validity, particularly looking at some of the interplay between KP and Warney. Kept himself in check for the most part, although there was a loss of concentration from around when Gilchrist missed that very difficult stumping chance. For the record I think Bucknor (who's really mounting a comeback of sorts) was exactly right on the bottom-edge appeal, I don't think KP hit it, and I don't think Warne thought he did either. Pity he went so early the following morning, but at 5 down overnight I don't think many of us expected the match to last long on the fifth day.
* Great stuff from the master, McGrath. Wouldn't say he's silenced the doubters completely, as there are still four tests to go and most qualms are about his fitness through the series, but he certainly offered a pretty direct response in that first innings - a bit worried about his ankle thingy though. Clark has been fantastic, and is a real asset in this attack. I hope we keep him.
* Bell managed to grind out another 50 in the first innings (didn't trouble the scorers in the second innings though). He was obviously more comfortable on the third morning than the second evening, even if every time I see him he looks like he's hanging on by the skin of his teeth. But although I still don't rate him that highly, I definitely respect his ability to not give up and keep his concentration when he survives a rough start. Still looks pretty dodgy outside off stump to the pacers for mine.
* I had to laugh at the commentators being so certain that Punter would enforce the follow-on, when the English were bowled out, 'cause I just knew he wouldn't. Still, not enforcing at 450 ahead, and citing as a reason that batting would get harder later on smacks of little faith in the players. It's amusing that people are trying so hard to justify the decision, but I just see it as unnecessary, and excessively defensive. I'm pretty used to it by now though so it wasn't too upsetting, and I don't imagine there will be any repercussions until it actually effects a result (or comes really close).
* Collingwood played really well in that second dig. IMO, he's got a bit of steel about him and is a bit underrated as a test cricketer. But that jump down the pitch to Warne was completely idiotic, and was akin to something a South African might do. Didn't invalidate his innings, but as captain, you would have been furious, in spite of the fact that he'd kept the Aussie bowlers out and counter-attacked so well up to that point. Unless of course you yourself were about to go out and play a suicidal pull shot like Flintoff did shortly after.
* Onya Langer. Great heart, and deserves more faith than he gets from sections of the Aussie press.
* How worried should we be about Gilly's batting? I really hope he manages to clock up some runs this series.
* Hard to say what the rest of the series offers - I still feel that unless Harmison clicks, England are really going to struggle to take 20 Australian wickets. England may walk away from this test feeling a little better about things in the end, but the truth is that if the follow-on had been enforced, it's likely they would have copped an innings defeat by the second session of the fourth day's play. In spite of some of the fight shown by England's bats as the match progressed, the gap between the teams at this stage looks immense at this stage. But anything can happen, it's just one test.
* Good fighting innings from Pietersen - Simon O'Donnell's stupid sounding, badly delivered threat ended up having some validity, particularly looking at some of the interplay between KP and Warney. Kept himself in check for the most part, although there was a loss of concentration from around when Gilchrist missed that very difficult stumping chance. For the record I think Bucknor (who's really mounting a comeback of sorts) was exactly right on the bottom-edge appeal, I don't think KP hit it, and I don't think Warne thought he did either. Pity he went so early the following morning, but at 5 down overnight I don't think many of us expected the match to last long on the fifth day.
* Great stuff from the master, McGrath. Wouldn't say he's silenced the doubters completely, as there are still four tests to go and most qualms are about his fitness through the series, but he certainly offered a pretty direct response in that first innings - a bit worried about his ankle thingy though. Clark has been fantastic, and is a real asset in this attack. I hope we keep him.
* Bell managed to grind out another 50 in the first innings (didn't trouble the scorers in the second innings though). He was obviously more comfortable on the third morning than the second evening, even if every time I see him he looks like he's hanging on by the skin of his teeth. But although I still don't rate him that highly, I definitely respect his ability to not give up and keep his concentration when he survives a rough start. Still looks pretty dodgy outside off stump to the pacers for mine.
* I had to laugh at the commentators being so certain that Punter would enforce the follow-on, when the English were bowled out, 'cause I just knew he wouldn't. Still, not enforcing at 450 ahead, and citing as a reason that batting would get harder later on smacks of little faith in the players. It's amusing that people are trying so hard to justify the decision, but I just see it as unnecessary, and excessively defensive. I'm pretty used to it by now though so it wasn't too upsetting, and I don't imagine there will be any repercussions until it actually effects a result (or comes really close).
* Collingwood played really well in that second dig. IMO, he's got a bit of steel about him and is a bit underrated as a test cricketer. But that jump down the pitch to Warne was completely idiotic, and was akin to something a South African might do. Didn't invalidate his innings, but as captain, you would have been furious, in spite of the fact that he'd kept the Aussie bowlers out and counter-attacked so well up to that point. Unless of course you yourself were about to go out and play a suicidal pull shot like Flintoff did shortly after.
* Onya Langer. Great heart, and deserves more faith than he gets from sections of the Aussie press.
* How worried should we be about Gilly's batting? I really hope he manages to clock up some runs this series.
* Hard to say what the rest of the series offers - I still feel that unless Harmison clicks, England are really going to struggle to take 20 Australian wickets. England may walk away from this test feeling a little better about things in the end, but the truth is that if the follow-on had been enforced, it's likely they would have copped an innings defeat by the second session of the fourth day's play. In spite of some of the fight shown by England's bats as the match progressed, the gap between the teams at this stage looks immense at this stage. But anything can happen, it's just one test.
Slow Love™
International Captain
Haha, I suppose this is a bad time to mention that I previously argued they should keep him then... I can understand the disappointment and the fact that many English fans have lost faith in him, but I still believe he's the most likely bowler outside of Flintoff to take a bag of Aussie wickets, and I think that's gonna be critical if England are to have a chance of making this series a contest.wpdavid said:
Yes, he was terrible the first couple of days (though he has shown some small improvement as the match has progressed) - do I believe Mahmood would be worse? I suppose not in terms of the radar being so off, but I can certainly see Mahmood walking away with comparable figures. If he stays this miserable then so be it, you can only push so far (as we found last time with Dizzy), but I'd definitely give him another chance if I was an English selector. And if they want to play both spinners in Adelaide, yes, I'd probably drop Anderson.
Incidentally, amongst thoughts that his action needs serious work, Michael Holding thinks that England will struggle to bowl Australia out twice without Harmison at his best.
Slow Love™
International Captain
Yeah, but from what I remember Warne didn't really respond till Gilchrist got all excited. I could be wrong, though. Either way, I think the right call was made.Nnanden said:
Slow Love™
International Captain
No idea, I didn't think it was that conclusive. I was confused by the reactions, to be honest, I didn't even think it was that close. Dunno that I'd rely on the hotspot thingy, but to me, it showed nothing.Nnanden said:Fair enough.
Slow Love™
International Captain
That's what my nana used to say about Kim Hughes. Sounded filthier when she said it though.chris.hinton said:
Son Of Coco
Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
I think I'm the only one that thought it did...right on the bottom of the bat. It seems like nobody else saw it though so, maybe I was looking into the sun! haha Warney's reaction didn't look encouraging, however KP's reaction as soon as it hit Gilchrist's gloves suggested otherwise.Slow Love™ said:
FaaipDeOiad
Hall of Fame Member
I'm not sure if it hit the bat or not, but I'm inclined to believe it did based on Gilchrist's reaction. I can't see him jumping around and appealing that confidently and instinctively in unison with Hayden despite a complete lack of support from the bowler unless he heard or saw something, and he was far closer than the umpire.
Pietersen's not really the walking type, and those sort of edges can often escape the attention of someone at the other end of the pitch. Anyway, it was a difficult one to be sure about, so tough to give out, but there was certainly a noise.
Pietersen's not really the walking type, and those sort of edges can often escape the attention of someone at the other end of the pitch. Anyway, it was a difficult one to be sure about, so tough to give out, but there was certainly a noise.
Son Of Coco
Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
It seemed to me Pietersen said 'No' with a fairly pained expression on his face as soon as it went past too...maybe it was a hemorrhoid popping.FaaipDeOiad said:
