*Official* Ashes Series Thread

[Eclipse]

Top Cat did you watch the game because I think some of your thoughts are a little off.

Same with you Rick you just say things as if you know when you really have no idea.

For a Start I was impressed with Lee's endevor and commitment in this match he bowled the bset spell of the series eraly on the first day and apart form a few occasions that really cost him he bowled good line and Length the whole game and really should have got more wickets. NO he did not bowl like a Moron like he has at times this match he bowled his hart out.

How can people question Ponting any way he has been performing soooo good up untill the last test and really can not be blamed for getting out cheeply I cant think of any batsman who would have done any better with the deliveries he got.

Martyn: I think he showed good singns in this match good to see him looking to pull agian I was annoyed that he got out doing so because that might make him put it away again witch would be a shame because he plays it better than most.

I agree about McGill though he is underdone and isent the bowler he was a few years ago.

 

[Blewy]

Lee did bowl a great spell on the 1st day, but after that he was very predictable...

The english batsman contributed to this, but when he is down he only has the 1 option and thats to bowl short and fast.....

 

[Top_Cat]

Top Cat did you watch the game because I think some of your thoughts are a little off

Why? Because you're a big fan of Brett Lee? Yes I did watch the game and I certainly watched Brett Lee bowl.

For a Start I was impressed with Lee's endevor and commitment in this match he bowled the bset spell of the series eraly on the first day and apart form a few occasions that really cost him he bowled good line and Length the whole game and really should have got more wickets. NO he did not bowl like a Moron like he has at times this match he bowled his hart out.

I completely disagree. Other than the first-day spell, Brett Lee's bowling was too lengths; too short or too full and Vaughan punished him for it, as did Mark Butcher. As I said, look at the bare facts; Michael Vaughan scored most of his runs square of the wicket of both Andy Bichel and Brett Lee because in striving to blast Michael Vaughan out, they bowled far too much short stuff and if a ball wasn't short, it was half-volley length. There was far too little of the in-between stuff in the style of Glenn McGrath. How many deliveries beat the bat in Vaughan's innings? I bet you could count them on one-hand.

The art of winning cricket matches is not just doing stuff well yourself but to prevent your opponent from doing well too. Vaughan's pet shots are short stuff to the leg-side and full stuff through mid-wicket or cover. Where did he score most runs? Through those exact areas. When Lee and Bichel put the ball on a length outside off-stump, they had Vaughan in trouble, as in the first-innings. So the fact that they abandoned what was a successful game-plan in favour of really short or really full stuff means they bowled like morons in the second innings, on a pitch which was actually helping the bowlers quite a bit. Conceding 450-odd on that deck was inexcusible.

Vaughan batted VERY well no doubt and the mark of a good player is one who can put away the loose stuff but he sure got an awful lot of it to put away.

 

[marc71178]

Well, that's possible but you gotta admit, Caddick got him with a beauty in the first-innings and an almost unplayable in the second.

How can that be, Caddick was just lucky all game?

 

[Rik]

How can that be, Caddick was just lucky all game?

I suppose he used a rubber ball to get that bounce too!

 

[Rik]

Same with you Rick you just say things as if you know when you really have no idea.

I have 1st hand experiance of Lee bowling, when he came to England. And he was bowling in exactly the same way this game. Don't try hiding that fact. You don't get 3-132 by doing well.

 

[Rik]

he was quality but also in line for his pension ticket...


i think they need to look to the future.. rather than back in the stoneage, guys like white and Hauritz need to be nurtured...

He's still fit and until Hauritz shows more form he should be the backup spinner. Australia got punished for putting in an out of form player. You need in form replacements, and some competition for the backup spinner place...or you will end up with Brad Hogg as your backup spinner who averages well over 40 in FC Cricket...that doesn't show strength in depth! England have the same problem, look at who we called on after Giles got injured...Dawson who did nothing worthwhile really.

 

[Eclipse]

Huritz is back He bowled really well today in the two practice matches.

With the Brett Lee think I Will agree to disagree on it but again Rick you cant say Lee is bowling the same as what he was in england BECAUSE you did not see the match. you can only go on Highlights, FIGURES and secondory sources.

And No I am not a Fan off Lee in test matches so im not being biased i would rather Nofikie took his place.

 

[Bazza]

Dawson didn't even turn the ball all series. We missed Giles big time, and it hurts to say that. I've never been a big Giles fan but this series showed how good he is (in relative terms - he ain't world class but looks it compared with Dawson).

I hope Dawson is cast on the scrapheap until he sorts out his game. The commentators reckoned one day at the academy would sort him out. If that's the case why didn't he go there after the second test when it was obvious he was completely ineffective?

The future doesn't look bright for England in the spin department (no change there then!).

 

[Rik]

Huritz is back He bowled really well today in the two practice matches.

With the Brett Lee think I Will agree to disagree on it but again Rick you cant say Lee is bowling the same as what he was in england BECAUSE you did not see the match. you can only go on Highlights, FIGURES and secondory sources.

And No I am not a Fan off Lee in test matches so im not being biased i would rather Nofikie took his place.

Hahahaha, I did not see the Test no...but I have 3 30 minute videos of Lee being smacked around in this Test. Ok they do not tell the true story, of course they don't, but the fact is he should not have bowled that many bad balls either. Therefore I think I can comment.

 

[Rik]

Dawson didn't even turn the ball all series. We missed Giles big time, and it hurts to say that. I've never been a big Giles fan but this series showed how good he is (in relative terms - he ain't world class but looks it compared with Dawson).

I hope Dawson is cast on the scrapheap until he sorts out his game. The commentators reckoned one day at the academy would sort him out. If that's the case why didn't he go there after the second test when it was obvious he was completely ineffective?

The future doesn't look bright for England in the spin department (no change there then!).

I think we were just picking a spinner for the sake of it! Anyway I saw him spin the ball for the 1st time ever really, but that was on the 5th day and the pitch was very worn.

 

[Bazza]

I know he turned a few on the last day, including a vicious one to get Martyn, but that was the pitch.

I can understand the need for a spinner (variety, tie down one end, give the fast guys a rest, etc), but Dawson just doesn't cut it to say the least.

 

[Rik]

I know he turned a few on the last day, including a vicious one to get Martyn, but that was the pitch.

I can understand the need for a spinner (variety, tie down one end, give the fast guys a rest, etc), but Dawson just doesn't cut it to say the least.

And your telling me! :rolleyes: I know there are better bowlers out there. I just don't know why they arn't picked. You don't get picked after 2 seasons of high 30 averaging in CC Cricket...

Ok so he shows fight, but Cricket is won by taking Wickets, he doesn't do that.

 

[Eclipse]

Hahahaha, I did not see the Test no...but I have 3 30 minute videos of Lee being smacked around in this Test. Ok they do not tell the true story, of course they don't, but the fact is he should not have bowled that many bad balls either. Therefore I think I can comment.

I agree that he still bowled to many bad balls thats the thing I hate but in honesty most of them came in two specific spells his second in the first innings and his last spell of the match.

I am sure If you asked M Vaughan he would tell you Lee bowled well after all he did beat Vaughan outside off stump many times in the second innings.

And on Dawson he really gets no spinn on the ball what so ever I saw Gillchrist turn the ball more in a PM X1 match a few years ago lol.

 

[Rik]

I agree that he still bowled to many bad balls thats the thing I hate but in honesty most of them came in two specific spells his second in the first innings and his last spell of the match.

I am sure If you asked M Vaughan he would tell you Lee bowled well after all he did beat Vaughan outside off stump many times in the second innings.

And on Dawson he really gets no spinn on the ball what so ever I saw Gillchrist turn the ball more in a PM X1 match a few years ago lol.

T_C already said he didn't beat Vaughan that many times then went back to bowling short again.

As for Dawson I don't know why the selectors have so much trust in him...he's got the character but from the beginning it was obvious that his game wasn't anywhere near Test Standard.

 

[PY]

Haha i dont care that you completely caned us for the basically the whole series!!!!!!!!!!we won a test match against the aussies (if your clever enough to realise, which i doubt, thats a fairly high compliment). Get in.............accpet it we were better than you.

 

[Rik]

Haha i dont care that you completely caned us for the basically the whole series!!!!!!!!!!we won a test match against the aussies (if your clever enough to realise, which i doubt, thats a fairly high compliment). Get in.............accpet it we were better than you.

Errrm mate...tone it down, we've already said that stuff but more subtly...

 

[marc71178]

Oh my God, it's someone less subtle than Rik!

 

[Rik]

Oh my God, it's someone less subtle than Rik!

No, I never come out with your ****, I explain why they are **** which is a way of being subtle...not that you would know of course

 

[vandemataram]

Haha i dont care that you completely caned us for the basically the whole series!!!!!!!!!!we won a test match against the aussies (if your clever enough to realise, which i doubt, thats a fairly high compliment). Get in.............accpet it we were better than you.

Wow!!! Yes the English team is indeed a great one! I suspect England would make an example of Aussies in the triangular cup final