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

[biased indian]

So England only are in a position of winning because of no Pidgeon?

ya u just have to look back one test

 

[biased indian]

Yes, and how may good balls did he bowl for those 3 wickets? (hint, it's less than 1)

That has to be one of the worst post u have ever typed Marc.do u remember seeing some one getting bowled

 

[social]

does anybody else find this at all ironic?
amazing isnt it, no matter how good a ball the bowlers bowls, both of these 2 manage to come up with some way to blame their own batters for making a mistake.

Really? Well, heres a summary of Aus' batsmen in the second test

first innings

Hayden - horrible, airy drive to wide, first ball
Langer - good ball
Ponting- horrible sweep to innocuous delivery
Martyn - ran himself out
Clarke - bit unlucky, arm ball went reverse
Katich - good ball
Gilchrist - not out

second innings

Hayden - waft at widish delivery
Langer - didnt do much wrong, bit unlucky in the end
Ponting - good ball
Martyn - ugggh
Clarke - must have lost side of it but Ill put it down to good bowling
Katich - ball didnt spin out of rough, call it good bowling
Gilchrist - ugggh

By my calcs, that's 6/13 dismissals where the batsman brought about his own down-fall.

If that's good batting, then I'll give up.

Unfortunately, it's been the case all tour.

Take Martyn for example. Last year, he was as good as any player in the world, scoring 6 centuries and playing a no. of match-winning innings. He achieved this by adding discipline to his natural talent and, in effect, making the bowlers play to his strengths.

In the series to date, his ill-discipline has cost him his wicket on 3 out of 4 occasions. Further, he seems intent on playing shots at most deliveries and has even pulled the hook shot out of the closet for the first time in years.

What's so wrong with sticking to the plan that got him 6 centuries last year?

Aus have simply not afforded the English bowlers enough respect and are paying the price.

In my view, this series could turn out to be similar to India 2001.

After a crushing victory in the first test, the series was turned on its head in the second by great opposition play AND Aus' ill discipline.

Aus should remember that they crushed India (2-1 could have been 4-0) on the next tour through disciplined, hard test cricket.

It seems to me that Aus arrived in England thinking that the Poms didnt stand a chance and would simply wilt at the site of all-out attack.

Shame they forgot to let England in on their little secret.

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

Yes, and how may good balls did he bowl for those 3 wickets? (hint, it's less than 1)

Are you kidding? The ball he got Trescothick with wasn't great, but it wasn't bad either, the ball he got Vaughan with was brilliant, and the ball he got Jones with was simply unplayable.

 

[Dasa]

Are you kidding? The ball he got Trescothick with wasn't great, but it wasn't bad either, the ball he got Vaughan with was brilliant, and the ball he got Jones with was simply unplayable.

The Vaughan ball was hardly brilliant - Vaughan has a habit of making fairly innocuous deliveries look brilliant though. He wasn't back or forward and how he managed to miss that I do not know. I'll give you the Jones dismissal - that was a very good ball.

 

[social]

The Vaughan ball was hardly brilliant - Vaughan has a habit of making fairly innocuous deliveries look brilliant though. He wasn't back or forward and how he managed to miss that I do not know. I'll give you the Jones dismissal - that was a very good ball.

When are people going to understand that 90 mph in the right areas is difficult to play no matter who you are.

Brett Lee bowled beautifully yesterday (and needed to because he was abysmal in the first innings). He should have had at least 5 wickets and was unlucky not to pick Flintoff up on a number of occasions.

Vaughan is widely regarded as England's best batsman yet has had a weakness in his game exposed by first McGrath and now Lee.

 

[vic_orthdox]

Thoughts for mine:

Vaughan: Did anyone else see the side on view of his dismissal in the second innings? At Lee's point of release, Vaughan's feet were spread so wide that there is no way at all that he can commit forward properly, and as such has made deliveries seem a lot better than what they really are.

Lee: bowled much better, back of a length - it's a pity he couldn't think of doing that himself in the first innings, as opposed to having to reassess after two days of cricket. Don't understand how people can credit him with G. Jones' dismissal, though.

And did put the ball in the slot rather nicely when Flintoff was going. Even though Flintoff was taking a massive step back (when will Aus wake up to this tactic, and try to bowl on the full side of a yorker? KP and Freddie have both done it regularly), a low full toss is much harder to get under than anything on the shorter side of a yorker.

Flintoff: Genius knock. Paced himself so well, and actually took responsibilty for the side's total - something lacking in both sides top order thus far (except Eng in the first innings here). Australia's batting in particular has lacked accountability thus far. KP, and Freddie here, have been the antithesis to this.

What's interesting to note is that Gilchrist always had a lot more trouble with Left-Arm Over pacers back towards 2000, when Vaas was sorting him out, and people have been going Right-Arm Around ever since fairly regularly - and the success of this tactic has been varied. The difference with Flintoff is that, when he heads Around the Wicket, his release point ends up being like a Left-Arm Over bowler as he leans over towards the umpire as he bowls, and this might have a lot to do with the hold he seems to have over Gilly at the moment.

 

[Zinzan]

Not bad for someone who was written off 10 days ago, eh Zinzan?

You really are a drama queen aren't you Marc......

Written Off?? A tad strong don't u think??

Unlike Lee and hayden knockers out there, I have no problem putting my hand up and acknowledging Flintoff's outstanding contributions in this 2nd test. I'm glad he stood up in this match.

The thread your referring to was simply a reflection of Lee and Flintoff's form from the 1ST test and if you remember Flintoff had an ordinary test at Lords.Whereas clearly he's outperformed Lee in this test.

As to my overall opinion of Flintoff....I course its changed after the last few days, however if he slips back down to his 1st test form for the rest of the series then my opinion will be altered again. Quite simple really. It will be interesting whether he will consistently perform thru-out the whole series. If he maintains his good form from this test for the rest of the series, then I'll be convinced he not "overated and overhyped in test level.

 

[King_Ponting]

Has the fact that Australia are playing at Edgbaston flown compelety over everyones heads? Australia is traditionally weak at Edgbaston whilst the English excel...... Wouldnt be writing australia off for any money

 

[Retox]

Has the fact that Australia are playing at Edgbaston flown compelety over everyones heads? Australia is traditionally weak at Edgbaston whilst the English excel...... Wouldnt be writing australia off for any money

If everyone starts playing it on where they play now I think I will cry (not the pitch but the god damm venue)


I give you thats the home crowd for England. But Australia have a great over-seas rep.


This might be hard to say but Australia... was...o u t p l a y e d.

 

[luckyeddie]

Yeah, Bell's better than Hayden, Katich and Gilchrist actually.

You are so much more rational than me.

I saw a black cat yesterday.

You must have seen a blacker one, I suppose.

 

[JASON]

I saw a black cap yesterday.

That will be in Harare , right ?

You must have seen a blacker one, I suppose.

An All Black ? That would be in Jo'berg then !!

 

[luckyeddie]

That will be in Harare , right ?



An All Black ? That would be in Jo'berg then !!

Ah, yes - wise words, Jason, wise words, you NZ-fixated fellow.

Going to help the missus put a sheet on the line in a bit.

(Hint: Baaaaaaaa)

 

[Demolition Man]

McGrath != Australia.

The only reason Kasper and Gillespie have looked poor this Test is because the play of England has MADE them look relatively ordinary. They haven't bowled that badly and against other sides, would have at least bowled reasonably well but England have played them very well. It's what good sides do, y'know?

Kasper is a hack. He bolws sliders. The reason he gets wickets is because the opposition go after him so much.

 

[Demolition Man]

I'd say that Martyn's was perhaps the only soft dismissal of the top-6 in the second innings.

I hope your not heading for the marto V SA 94 2nd innings angle there. I thought he looked very good and was trying to up the ante, he can only play one way.

Gillys was soft. to wheelie bin.

 

[Demolition Man]

I perhaps have an unhealthy obsession with player equipment but can someone tell me what is up with Hayden's new grill ???

 

[vic_orthdox]

I perhaps have an unhealthy obsession with player equipment but can someone tell me what is up with Hayden's new grill ???

Same as Lara's. I don't understand what's wrong with it though.

 

[Linda]

I hope your not heading for the marto V SA 94 2nd innings angle there. I thought he looked very good and was trying to up the ante, he can only play one way.

I really wish you hadnt mentioned that...

Ive loved this match, except for Harmey's ball to Clarke. I almost cried.

 

[Top_Cat]

I hope your not heading for the marto V SA 94 2nd innings angle there. I thought he looked very good and was trying to up the ante, he can only play one way.

What, drop Marto? No way. It wouldn't even be considered.

But I disagree with the assertion he can only play one way. That's rubbish. He had to change his tactics to play well in SL and India vs playing well on the WACA and he'll have to adapt against quality pace bowling in England. He was looking in fantastic touch in both innings here but his dismissals were very soft for a proven Test player.

 

[luckyeddie]

I really wish you hadnt mentioned that...

Ive loved this match, except for Harmey's ball to Clarke. I almost cried.

It'll never be used in a caption competition, though, because the only possible line is "Oops". The totally horrified "I've just been done big-time" look on Michael Clarke's face was a picture to behold.