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

[maxpower]

I think I feel a 100 coming from Ponting in the 2nd innings, even a big innings from Gilly.

 

[marc71178]

Clarke: Not a great decision but still, was squared up to a full ball aimed at the stumps. Yet again. Glaring problem he'll need to figure out a way around or he'll lose his place.

I don't follow all the moaning about this - didn't Hawkeye have it as hitting?

 

[marc71178]

nah mate, that'd be a sign of weakness. Ponting did the courageos thing and kept on batting.

Even if it meant he got out fairly soon after...

 

[marc71178]

McGrath = INDISPUTABLE champion.

Meh, it was all luck

 

[marc71178]

18 for 3. Are we going to even reach 100 this time?

LOL

As soon as that happened, I cast my mind back to the Thorpe vs Pietersen thread - who would you rather see coming out at 20-3?!

 

[marc71178]

Yeah I really dont think the pitch is that big a factor in this match.

Erm, why not?

There's definitely uneven bounce going on, how is that not a big factor?

 

[marc71178]

I know it's early days, but on that showing Bell is not remotely in the same class as Thorpe.

Bell isn't, and never has been, competing with Thorpe (hence his selection alongside Thorpe)

 

[marc71178]

Clarke - shouldn't have been given out

Even though hawkeye said it was hitting and Richie said he thought it was plumb?

 

[marc71178]

Please dont comment on his FC record as even Warne scores centuries in England.

By hitting indiscriminately.

Rather than by batting properly.

 

[marc71178]

glenn mcgrath must be the "luckiest" human being in the world....

9 4 11 5 !!!

Following on from Harmo's 5fer it's an interesting day

 

[marc71178]

Now that Giles is out, there isn't really anyone to hold up one end while Pietersen does that, hence the advantage is significantly greater.

I expect we'll see Hoggard coming out at 9...

 

[marc71178]

So what kind of a wicket would be useful acording to you as a spin supporting pitch wouldnt be an answer most definitely from an English perspective!

Why not?

Warne is good no matter what conditions, Giles only really comes into play on a turner.

 

[marc71178]

On a turner Australia could bring in MacGill and he isnt as poor as is generally rated by many people.

He isn't?

So the fact that when he bowls behind less economical bowlers he's nowhere near as penetrative is coincidence then?

 

[marc71178]

Think the case now could be made for the extra batter at Giles's expense. On current form I don't think Fred is a test 6.

To be fair, there's no evidence from today to back or sack him.

 

[Anil]

Following on from Harmo's 5fer it's an interesting day

i was referring to richard's opinion of mcgrath...

 

[Scaly piscine]

But in fairness there was no sign at all of this in Australia's innings at all - the roller had a BIG effect.

Australia 190 all out was entirely their own fault - you play like they do, you take the consequences.

Yep, the roller certainly did have a big effect, if the pitch had behaved the same way for England's batsmen I think they'd have been something like 130-4 at the close of play.

 

[marc71178]

i was referring to richard's opinion of mcgrath...

And I'm referring to his view of Harmison!

 

[Top_Cat]

I don't follow all the moaning about this - didn't Hawkeye have it as hitting?

Indeed it did but it was literally hitting the very top of the stump and the outside half of it. And with the error deliberately introduced in Hawkeye, I'd say it would be missing.

Hey, aren't you the guy who always brings up the errors in Hawkeye?!?

 

[aussie]

Even though hawkeye said it was hitting and Richie said he thought it was plumb?

barely hitting the outside half of the top of the stump, Richie on the other hand got caught up in the moment

 

[Blaze]

barely hitting the outside half of the top of the stump, Richie on the other hand got caught up in the moment

You would feel hard done by as a batsman if you had been given out like Clarke was. Technically he was out but I wouldn't have given it, there was too much doubt and it was only just clipping the top of leg stump. I would have given the benefit of the doubt to the batter but at the end of the day you can't really argue that it was a bad decision. On another day he would have got the benefit of the doubt and been given not out.