***Official*** Australia in England (The Ashes)

[vic_orthdox]

BTW what do we reckon about Ponting chirping at Vaughan when he came out to bat? He certainly had a lot to say for himself, so what's his problem today?

I'd say that he'd just be reminding Vaughan of how much his troops have had to say, and it's up to him to back up his mates' words at the moment...

That or he can leave it to his relatively inexperienced middle-order...

 

[Scaly piscine]

Funny how some commentators are questioning the quality of the pitch. You were saying, Scaly?

We'll see what it's like once the new ball is a bit older and somebody (hopefully) has gotten in on it. The low bounce was not good tho, albeit it's only happened twice so far that I recall.

 

[Top_Cat]

The Aussies batted poorly. Should have curtailed the rash shots in the first session of the test match. The pitch or England's batting or Australia's bowling does not discount that fact. Australia likes to play the shots but they went for too many shots too early even by their standards early on.

No dispute that they didn't bat as well as they can and didn't show England's bowlers respect, as I said. Still, what I meant was that a judgement on Australia's batting shouldn't be made until England batted because the pitch was a bit of an unknown quantity. Now England have struggled, maybe Australia's poor batting was, in part, caused by a less than great deck?

I'm not saying the pitch is a minefield - far from it. But it's not a road, either.

 

[Pratters]

Is it really such a bad deck? We all know McGrath can bowl magnificently on almost anything, and he's using the Lord's slop beautifully. And England have batted hopelessly against Aus all summer, so this isn't a huge surprise, and I don't see that it makes the pitch a big factor.

Yeah I really dont think the pitch is that big a factor in this match. There is so much time left in the match. It is more of a second inning match now. I think we will see some runs in the second innings. Kandy comes to mind but it wont obviously be that dramatic.

 

[wpdavid]

Maybe getting smacked in the head has something to do with it (Ponting's gobbiness towards Vaughan)?

Maybe, but it doesn't really explain it.

 

[vic_orthdox]

Now England have struggled, maybe Australia's poor batting was, in part, caused by a less than great deck?

Has anyone ever seen a Television company openly criticise a pitch before a ball has been bowled? Or even in between days?

 

[Adamc]

This really is incredible bowling. Forget the pitch - McGrath would get wickets on any deck in this form.

 

[aussie]

Hail King Pigeon, long live the bird

 

[Majin]

No dispute that they didn't bat as well as they can and didn't show England's bowlers respect, as I said. Still, what I meant was that a judgement on Australia's batting shouldn't be made until England batted because the pitch was a bit of an unknown quantity. Now England have struggled, maybe Australia's poor batting was, in part, caused by a less than great deck?

Why has there got to be an excuse? McGrath has bowled extremely well and the Aussie batsmen made poor shots and in some cases had a bit of bad luck (Clarke), There's nothing wrong with the pitch.

 

[Pratters]

Now England have struggled, maybe Australia's poor batting was, in part, caused by a less than great deck?

The thing was the poor shots were more of a factor than any thing else. If Australia had tried to play themselves in a bit, I would give the small turbulations in the pitch, if any, to be more of a factor. But I see what you mean.

 

[wpdavid]

19 for 4, and all England's worst nightmares coming true. You wouldn't bet on them reaching 50 now. All the bowlers' hard work undone in 45 minutes of brilliant bowling and quite spineless batting.

 

[King_Ponting]

bells gone!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

 

[NZTailender]

At least England won't have to follow on.

 

[Top_Cat]

Why has there got to be an excuse? McGrath has bowled extremely well and the Aussie batsmen made poor shots and in some cases had a bit of bad luck (Clarke), There's nothing wrong with the pitch.

AGAIN, I'm not saying the deck is a minefield and using it as an excuse, okay? I'm just saying it's less than ideal and England have two batsmen cleaned up by grubbers and two caught in the slips from balls seaming away bears this out. It's NOT a minefield but it's NOT a road either.

 

[NZTailender]

At least England won't have to follow on.

Can Pieterson have a brilliant debut and save England's first innings?

 

[King_Ponting]

At least England won't have to follow on.

Any takers for the aussies starting tommorow batting?

 

[Gloucefan]

I had a feeling something like this would happen.

I think we'll manage 50, stupid comment.

 

[Top_Cat]

Glenn McGrath is really bowling superbly too. Amazing, even.

 

[NZTailender]

It's a good all round wicket, IMHO. In the second innings I think we're going to see class batting...

Funny how low scoring=bad pitch. Give the bowlers some credit.

 

[Pratters]

I think we'll manage 50, stupid comment.

The ever optimistic English supporter