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

[Adamc]

I'll say it again - with the exception of Flintoff, Eng's bowling has been ordinary, the pitch is fine, and our batting has been pathetic.

I agree. Even though the bowling has been weakened by the absence of McGrath, it has been a full-strength batting linuep which has let Australia down in this match. McGrath's performance in the first Test covered up, to some extent, the deficiencies in the batting, rather than those in the bowling department.

Mind you the bowling hasn't been great either, and Australia were very lucky to get away with conceding 'only' 407 in the first innings. The point is though that it's easy to say that McGrath's (eventual) return will fix up problems with the bowling, when it is actually the batting which needs more urgent improvement.

 

[BoyBrumby]

BTW, has Ch4 changed Fred's bowling style to "Right arm fast" yet? He's been over 90mph several times today, fastest I've seen was 92.8 & yet he was still down as "Fast medium".

 

[Shane Warne]

The problem is, it's unlikely Mcgrath will be back for this series.

 

[Pedro Delgado]

I thought Steve Waugh had eradicated the Aussie low-chase hoodoo?

 

[Shane Warne]

It wasn't a low chase.

 

[aussie]

The problem is, it's unlikely Mcgrath will be back for this series.

please now is not to time.....

 

[Adamc]

The problem is, it's unlikely Mcgrath will be back for this series.

The more obvious problem to my mind is the batting. This is also the problem which Australia can actually do something about.

 

[Pedro Delgado]

It wasn't a low chase.

282 in two and a half days? Pretty low on a good wicket.

 

[Adamc]

I thought Steve Waugh had eradicated the Aussie low-chase hoodoo?

Heh, I agree with Shane Warne (the forum member) on something after all. 280 is not a low chase.

 

[social]

Shane Warne sums up Aus' batting.

He has a partner in MIchael Clarke that has hit virtually every ball in the middle and is making batting look easy.

Shane is too busy trying to get himself out slogging to notice.

 

[aussie]

The more obvious problem to my mind is the batting. This is also the problem which Australia can actually do something about.

Buchanan needs to have a serious team meeting with the batsmen between now & the test match here, i want to see sensible batting from the aussies when they come here....

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

The more obvious problem to my mind is the batting. This is also the problem which Australia can actually do something about.

Yeah. I don't see how the bowling can be blamed for this, or the absence of McGrath. I suppose England wouldn't have made 407 if he'd been playing, but the fact is that Australia put in an absolutely inspired bowling performance on the third day and set themselves up with a gettable total after looking dead and buried overnight. The bowling set up a magnificent win, and the batting didn't even get close to a middle-of-the-road total on a third day pitch. Sure, Flintoff ripped out a few with some brilliant bowling, but the way Martyn and Gilchrist got themselves out was downright poor, and the batting is where the work needs to be done.

 

[Shane Warne]

The more obvious problem to my mind is the batting. This is also the problem which Australia can actually do something about.

The more obvious problem is the bowling if they stick with these unthreatening seamers, with Macgrath out.

Macgill should have played here, as I said after Lords and received criticism for saying so.

 

[chalky]

The top 4 of both sides have real problems with only really Langer looking consistent.

 

[BoyBrumby]

The more obvious problem to my mind is the batting. This is also the problem which Australia can actually do something about.

Very true. I think part of the trouble is that a lot of the Aussie batters' default style of play is "attack", so with some decent bowling (no more than that tho) & catching they've come unstuck. Hayden, Martyn & Gilchrist all got themselves out really.

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

Nice shot that, when you don't miss it and get bowled.

 

[Shane Warne]

Shane Warne sums up Aus' batting.

He has a partner in MIchael Clarke that has hit virtually every ball in the middle and is making batting look easy.

Shane is too busy trying to get himself out slogging to notice.

Warne may as well be doing this.

 

[aussie]

The more obvious problem is the bowling if they stick with these unthreatening seamers, with Macgrath out.

Macgill should have played here, as I said after Lords and received criticism for saying so.

i dont Macgill would have made much of a difference at all....

 

[Neil Pickup]

Heh, I agree with Shane Warne (the forum member) on something after all. 280 is not a low chase.

It wasn't a remotely focused effort at getting there either. No need for so many of the shots!

 

[Shane Warne]

i dont Macgill would have made much of a difference at all....

Compared to Gillespie?

I question your sanity.