-
Welcome to the Cricket Web forums, one of the biggest forums in the world dedicated to cricket.
You are currently viewing our boards as a guest which gives you limited access to view most discussions and access our other features. By joining our free community you will have access to post topics, respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features. Registration is fast, simple and absolutely free so please, join the Cricket Web community today!
If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact us.
***Official*** Australia in England (The Ashes)
- Thread starter James
- Start date
Tom Halsey
International Coach
Seems from this that the umps are having a shocker!
Top_Cat
Request Your Custom Title Now!
I think what everone has to keep in mind today is that the pitch is a hard, flat belter with little seam movement and little swing, but with a bit of turn already. Vaughan was supreme (particularly in taking advantage of the gifts Gillespie offered him) but the margin for error wasn't great. Lee bowled really well, McGrath bowled WAY better than his figures suggest and due to Australia's fielding, they don't even deserve to have England at 5/341 and still be in with a chance. Atrocious in a word. Aside from the dropped catches, throws were flying over Gilchrist's head all day and the ground fielding was below-par.
Australia has to lift if they are to win. And they do need to win because to come back from 2-1 down will be tough because both of these sides don't play at a pace which results in draws.
Australia has to lift if they are to win. And they do need to win because to come back from 2-1 down will be tough because both of these sides don't play at a pace which results in draws.
Shane Warne
Banned
I already have. I've consistently said how they shouldn't drop a batsman for the spinner.marc71178 said:
Macgill plays instead of Gillespie, like I've said all along.
If Bell and Flintoff can just see off the new ball tommorow and still be at the crease an hour in, then I think we'll get a very sizeable total indeed. The goal tommorow should be 500+ by tea and, if necessary, have the Aussies three down by stumps. Of course, that is an absolutely perfect scenario.
Scaly piscine
Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
Oh come on, how ridiculously pessimistic can you get, England are basically 341 for 4 plus their worst tail-ender out, how the hell is that 'fairly even'? Even on a WI style road designed for Lara to inflate his average that would be a good score. But of course it isn't a WI style road and I'd expect England to get a lot of reverse swing, pretty early on as well - after 23 overs it was reversing for Lee (albeit only a little bit, was also a little orthodox swing).BoyBrumby said:
Shane Warne
Banned
Not only that, but the Aussie batsman choking when faced with a decent score will also be a factorScaly piscine said:
simmy
International Regular
Plus Harmison and Flintoff have both had the Oz batsmen rattled all series. May see a lot of dismissals from short bowling, on this quick bouncy pitch.
Looking forward to an Ian Bell ton... he looked excellent today I thought. A 23 year old against the Aussies is bound to look shaky but he was mentally strong enough to play his own game despite pressures from bowlers, fielders and media.
Looking forward to an Ian Bell ton... he looked excellent today I thought. A 23 year old against the Aussies is bound to look shaky but he was mentally strong enough to play his own game despite pressures from bowlers, fielders and media.
Top_Cat
Request Your Custom Title Now!
Exactly. People mention how convincing he DIDN'T look and whilst that's accurate, he's still there and set for a ton which is a big improvement already. He had his tough period but didn't seemed fazed by facing 37 balls without a run and other nervous periods, something I doubt any of the Aussie batsmen could claim right now. Having seen him bat a few times this series, he really does look the goods and I think England, even if they don't win the Ashes, have a batting lynchpin for the next decade here.
social
Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
Come on, T C.Top_Cat said:
Most occasions, you speak sense but just what was it about Bell yesterday that inspires such confidence?
The fact that he was repeatedly set up by Warne yesterday but escaped via good fortune rather than good play.
The fact that he still hasnt learnt that, if in doubt with a spinner, go forward. How many times did he almost repeat his Lords dismissal?
The fact that he still hasnt learnt that you dont need to play at Warne when he bowls around the wicket and that, if you do, you dont try to flick it through square leg.
The fact that he lobbed balls around and over fieldsmen.
The fact that he cant "pick" the spinners or seamers.
And, to top it off, he's totally unproven against real pace.
The guy obviously has talent but, for the most part, yesterday's innings was poor and it posed more questions than answers.
Im not convinced that he'll be a member of the team next year let alone a lynch-pin for the next decade.
I mean, just how many runs do you think he'll get in India playing like that?
Shane Warne
Banned
I'll be sure to look into it.marc71178 said:
Top_Cat
Request Your Custom Title Now!
I was more referring to how he's batted in the rest of the series but as I said, he's still there and you have to admit, once he got to 50, he looked far more comfortable. I think largely he's been plagued by self-doubt, playing the way people expect him to, etc. but if he gets a start today, I think a hundred isn't out of the question. I'm not saying he didn't struggle (far from it!) but he's still there. Big props must surely go to him for getting through a VERY tough period (good bowling and not-so-great play) and setting himself up.
Considering the insta-success of Pietersen, he probably felt before this match that his spot at number 4 was under pressure (it's a far more pressure-filled position than 5 dur to the extra responsibility involved) and this innings may well be a watershed for him. I dunno, he's just showing the signs.
Someone else showing the signs is Tresco - I predicted in my prognostications thread months ago that he and Giles would win the Ashes for England. He's looking good! Come on Ash; don't make me look bad.
Shane Warne
Banned
I made the comment based on Boycott's initial statement.marc71178 said:
He then went into detail about it being in preference to a batsman, which I disagree with.
social
Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
I felt all day yesterday that if Aus could get 2 new batsmen at the crease, there was a chance to run through England with Warne and one of Lee/McGrath bowling well.Scaly piscine said:
Unfortunately for Aus, England batted well and Aus fielded diabolically thereby negating the threat until the end of the last session.
First session tomorrow will be key as performances could dictate difference between 400 and 550.
age_master
Hall of Fame Member
considering the extremely poor fielding, and a couple of ill timed no balls from McGrath (who doesn't ever bowl too many) i would say the situation is pretty good for Australia, England didn't bat that well given the number of chances they gave. Lee made what i imagine will be a lasting impression on Strauss (i also noted that there were 7 or 8 Australian players around Strauss checking that he was ok even beofre Vaughan got down the pitch). The Challenge for England will again be not losing wickets early - If Australia get Flintoff early England will struggle to add another hundred runs to the total, which given the pitch, would have the match fairly evenly poised.
im also not surprised that Gillespie got hammered.... again.
im also not surprised that Gillespie got hammered.... again.
Top_Cat
Request Your Custom Title Now!
Yeah, 15 wickets in his last 10 Tests; I'm afraid they will have to consider someone else for the next Test, surely. Even when not taking wickets, Gillespie could be relied upon to be very economical. Now that he's not even doing that, there's not much to fall back on. I saw so many deliveries angled into leg-stump and flicked away and when he dropped short, he was right there for Vaughan's pull-shot. He's just not hitting seam with much regularity and without seam movement, he's fodder it would seem. An indicator of this is that McGrath, several k's slower than Gillespie, zips through to the 'keeper (case in point; the second ball of the innings in this match) whereas Gillespie's deliveries are barely making through to Gilly.