*Official* Ashes Series Thread

[Top_Cat]

Now, if only this had been the FIRST Test...

The same thing would have happened. If there's one characteristic of the English team which has been demonstrated time and time again (other than Ashes '97 in England) is that when the series is up for grabs, the pressure gets to them. Even the really good players like Alec Stewart, Nasser Hussain, Andrew Caddick, Michael Atherton etc. faltered when England was ever under the pump. I dunno why...............

 

[V Reddy]

Great Great Day for ENGLAND. Another 150 runs and the match is in their hands. There is uneven bounce in this pitch and AUS don't have a great record batting 4th. It may end up just like the last series 4-1.

 

[Neil Pickup]

The same thing would have happened. If there's one characteristic of the English team which has been demonstrated time and time again (other than Ashes '97 in England) is that when the series is up for grabs, the pressure gets to them. Even the really good players like Alec Stewart, Nasser Hussain, Andrew Caddick, Michael Atherton etc. faltered when England was ever under the pump. I dunno why...............

I reckon it could be something to do with an English impression that the Aussies are invincible (I can not remember seeing us win the Ashes, I know it happened in 1987, but I was only just two)- giving them too much respect and not believing that like everyone else, they can be beaten and do have weaknesses.

Vaughan has not done that this series and the results have been wonderful, now, if we can build on this for 2005...

 

[Rik]

Well... what a day, again.

I'd like to see us set 400+ and see if Hoggard (back to form at last, Chris!), Harmison and Caddick can get in there early. Australia are certain to chase it, I can see this being a fantastic finish to a fantastic Test match.

Now, if only this had been the FIRST Test...

Well we have to make do with the fact that it's the last but anyway what a Test! Both Spinners are proving innefective although MacGill did bowl a beuty to get Butcher. Vaughan pushes his average up to 50 and England to 218-2. England very much in the driving seat but it only takes another Gilly innings for Australia to win...

Special note for Hoggard and Harmison who bowled very well. Dawson however needs to get some Wickets in the 2nd innings, if he doesn't then he's going to have to do something amazing next year to get back into the team. He looks totally out of his depth at the moment.

 

[age_master]

yeah well england have had all the luck this test, but to their credit they have taken full advantage of it, anyways im going out to the game today :P so i am very much looking forward to the continued good contest (finally)

 

[marc71178]

Age, I'm afraid that looks like a spot of sour grapes there - Australia's perceived strength in depth here hasn't been shown to be that good in terms of bowlers in this game, and to blame it on luck seems a little bizarre.

Especially when you consider the amount of bad luck England have had in this tour.

 

[Rik]

yeah well england have had all the luck this test, but to their credit they have taken full advantage of it, anyways im going out to the game today :P so i am very much looking forward to the continued good contest (finally)

Seems quite fair that England have the luck this Test, Australia have had all the luck previously in every Test of the Series...

 

[Ringua]

Seems quite fair that England have the luck this Test, Australia have had all the luck previously in every Test of the Series...

Yeah, Aussies were indeed very lucky to have beaten England in the previous test matches!:O

 

[Rik]

Yeah, Aussies were indeed very lucky to have beaten England in the previous test matches!:O

No they just got all the luck with injuries and catches. I suppose if England win they will claim it was lucky but England have been slightly ahead several times this match, it's a superb match by 2 very evenly matched teams now.

 

[Eclipse]

I think one major blow in this game for Australia so far has been Gillespie bowling so badly I think he is really tierd and probably has an injury.

Lee has been Australias best bowler this game by far he worked very hard in the first innings conceding less than 3 an over most of that innings. and he came back well today after a disapointing second spell yesterday. I think the fact he has only taken 4 wickets for the match highlights Australias problems.

England still have to deal with a very strong batting line up and players like Hayden, Waugh, Gilchrist, Langer are very good players on pitches that are breaking up. Think england will need 400+ lead.

 

[anzac]

Age, I'm afraid that looks like a spot of sour grapes there - Australia's perceived strength in depth here hasn't been shown to be that good in terms of bowlers in this game, and to blame it on luck seems a little bizarre.

Especially when you consider the amount of bad luck England have had in this tour.

I think it's mainly a case of the newbies taking time to settle into the team - just as it has taken until now for the England team to gel in this series......The Aussies have a pretty good record of bringing replacement players thru, and the real test will be when they are without several players for an extended period.

Possibly the last time the bowling attack was so affected was when McDermott & Fleming broke down in the WI - then McGrath stepped up to the mark!!! For the batting lineup the last crises would have been the last Ashes Tour when Langer & Slater were dropped & Langer re-selected as a make shift opener. In both cases the rest is history as they say!!!



8D

 

[vandemataram]

England now has a lead of 386 runs with 3 wkts remaining!!! This match might be a close one, Austrlia will be chasing a target of 400+ runs and its not going to be easy for them.I think England will win it in the end, so far they have done well in this test match!

 

[age_master]

ARGH THE UMPIRING THIS MATCH HAS BEEN UTTER CRAP

Butcher should have got a golden 1st ball in the 1st innings and that started it!!!!!!



than Vaughn in the 2nd innings then langer and then one of hayden ad ponting (cant remember which) was bad too, and Harmison should have been out early as well (too lee) and lee got ripped off a few other times as well

and i cant even remember the rest


(and yes i am pissed of about vaughn cause i had $10 on him making it to 200)

 

[Eclipse]

Yeah the LBW decsions to Hayeden and Langer were shockers.

Haydens looked out but he was batting 2 feet out of his crease and the reaplys showed the ball would have gone over the top.

Pontings decision was deffinatly out tho.

Well played Bichel to 49* batting at 3!

 

[age_master]

yeah well im probably thinking of haydens yeah Bichel was awsome,the question i would ask though, who is better, bichel or lee or warne???? (batting)

 

[chris.hinton]

I am glad that Matt Hoggard is doing well, Perhaps he read my comments (:O

I hope that we can finish the Aussies of now, i felt that we have been the better side in this test match Strange we always seem to do well when it does not matter

 

[Neil Pickup]

All together now...

You're no good without McGrath and Warne!
You're no good without McGrath and Warne!
You're no good without McGrath and Warne!
You're no good without McGrath and Warne!

Age - never back Vaughan to make 200... he has been cursed by some tribal leader or something, he'll make loads of centuries but never 200 Actually, we've got Zimbabwe next. He ought to manage it then...

Well done to Bichel for that 49*, how much of it was dirty great slogging (I haven't seen the highlights yet)? He isn't a bad batsman (scored a ton for Worcester in 01) but I'd rate Warney above him. Now to get rid of him and then the rest tomorrow morning and beat the Aussies!

England 2/5
Draw 11/4
Australia 15/2

 

[Eclipse]

yeah well im probably thinking of haydens yeah Bichel was awsome,the question i would ask though, who is better, bichel or lee or warne???? (batting)

Bichel is probably the Best with Warne and Lee about the same.

However Lee would be the better batsman than both of them once he gets going but he seems a very nervy starter.

I would say Lee is the best hitter of all of them espcialy the lofted straigh, off and on drives. He plays them better than what some of the very best attacking batsman in the world can play.

His Figures may not suggest it infact the look pritty ordanary but I really though Lee bowled well for the most part he stuck to his guns and bowled good line and length he would have got Vaughan out with any luck he beat his bat alot today and that was with the old ball. It was a bit disapointing to see him go for runs in the last few overs he probably deserved better.

 

[Eclipse]

Neil we may be weekend but were better than most even with out McGrath and Warne.

For a start Gillespie only took 2 wickets for the match and looked to be struggeling with an injury all game . Usualy he would be much better.

Lee bowled well with no luck should have had Butcher First ball in the first innings and beat the bat stagering amount of times in the second innings.

Bichel Bowled allrigh got some good wickets with some good balls can bowl better.

McGilll Bowled allright had no luck at all should have got probably 3 more wickets this match.

Also just look at what our Australia A attack did plenty of good bowlers there.

overall im not disapointed at all we toild hard and had no luck at all. Also it really annoys me that people make judgements on players without actualy seeing the match and no Highlights does not count. I mean if you just look at highlights and actualy figures then you would think Lee bowled carp but he was the actual only bowler to really stand up.

 

[Neil Pickup]

Now you know how it feels like to support England, "The Worst Team in the World"

I'm just enjoying it whilst we're on top mate

I'm going to be interested to see how Vaughan and Hayden move in the PwC Rankings after Hayden failed twice and Vaughan hit 183 to increase his average to 50.93. I'd love to see Michael at number one!