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

[wpdavid]

Vaughan on - got a feeling this is a good move.

It's certainly an imaginative one, with Clarke just in. I'd have thought that the new guy is happier facing Vaughan than one of our quicks.

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

50 overs to go now, basically. There's half an hour until tea, during which these two obviously need to survive, and then probably a bit over 40 overs to bat. Hopefully the very old ball will get soft and stop doing anything much, making batting a little bit easier until the new one is due with 28 overs to go.

Tipping Australia to last until the new ball, and then subside around when the final hour starts. I think the forecast has cloudy periods, so it might be a chance to get overcast dark and force Vaughan to use himself and Giles again a couple of hours after tea, or even get the light offered, if Australia can last that long.

 

[Slow Love™]

With two recognized batsmen in, I can't really see why we were running such a tight second like that...

 

[chaminda_00]

50 overs to go now, basically. There's half an hour until tea, during which these two obviously need to survive, and then probably a bit over 40 overs to bat. Hopefully the very old ball will get soft and stop doing anything much, making batting a little bit easier until the new one is due with 28 overs to go.

Tipping Australia to last until the new ball, and then subside around when the final hour starts. I think the forecast has cloudy periods, so it might be a chance to get overcast dark and force Vaughan to use himself and Giles again a couple of hours after tea, or even get the light offered, if Australia can last that long.

i give australia 20 to 30 overs, it really doesn't look like they want to do the hard yards and pull of a draw.

 

[Slow Love™]

Gilchrist has least runs of the Australian top 8 and Katich and Gilchrist both average less than Hayden for the series.

England's hold over Gilchrist has had a huge amount to do with how things have gone so far. It can't be under-estimated how often he has been able to cover for when our top-order (or even the bowling) have failed.

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

i give australia 20 to 30 overs, it really doesn't look like they want to do the hard yards and pull of a draw.

Don't think that's quite fair to be honest. Martyn got sawn off, Hayden and Katich were undone by brilliant bowling, and Gilchrist and Langer didn't really do all that much wrong either, and Ponting's application has been superb. Don't think you can criticise Australia's application much really, there's been some good bowling and some bad luck, but not stupid play.

 

[Mister Wright]

England's hold over Gilchrist has had a huge amount to do with how things have gone so far. It can't be under-estimated how often he has been able to cover for when our top-order (or even the bowling) have failed.

Oh, I agree. There is no doubt he has been the most important batsman in the Aussie side for the past 2 or 3 years. He either digs them out of trouble or pounds on the misery. He has been absolutely been done over by England (especially Flintoff) and it has affected his wicket keeping.

 

[SirBloody Idiot]

Katich played a stupid shot to a fairly average ball.

 

[Mister Wright]

Katich played a stupid shot to a fairly average ball.

That, and he was worked out. I think there were 3 balls in a row wher he flashed outside offstump and the first two he missed by a whisker and the third he edged.

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

Big test for Clarke this. He's had a few problems with going too hard and giving it away, and obviously he can't do that here. The assured way he has played the swing and seam in this series though has been very encouraging, so it will be good to see how he goes here after a nice start.

 

[Slow Love™]

Ten minutes to tea....

I'd have said 4 down at tea would have been a pretty good result, so 5's not that terrible. Providing another wicket doesn't fall before the break, we're at least still in this..

LOL, was Jones being attacked by a bee there?

 

[wpdavid]

50 overs to go now, basically. There's half an hour until tea, during which these two obviously need to survive, and then probably a bit over 40 overs to bat. Hopefully the very old ball will get soft and stop doing anything much, making batting a little bit easier until the new one is due with 28 overs to go.

Tipping Australia to last until the new ball, and then subside around when the final hour starts. I think the forecast has cloudy periods, so it might be a chance to get overcast dark and force Vaughan to use himself and Giles again a couple of hours after tea, or even get the light offered, if Australia can last that long.

I was wondering about the new ball too: if H & H can find their radar, we could be in for an interesting last session.

Once again, I'm wondering why Jones hasn't been used more. As I speak, Hoggard's been brought back, but he looks pretty innocuous with the old ball.

 

[Shane Warne]

Ten minutes to tea....

I'd have said 4 down at tea would have been a pretty good result, so 5's not that terrible. Providing another wicket doesn't fall before the break, we're at least still in this..

Their best batsman is still to come at least. Dizzy.

 

[chaminda_00]

IMO both katich and Gilly played stupid shots in the context of the match. They were done by good bowling, but the shots weren't required and should their lack of application to want to really combat high quialty bowling, like Ponting has.

 

[King_Ponting]

still in here with a chance....... the way punters been playing, like i said before "he looks in a good match saving mood today".

 

[social]

IMO both katich and Gilly played stupid shots in the context of the match. They were done by good bowling, but the shots weren't required and should their lack of application to want to really combat high quialty bowling, like Ponting has.

Both faced a number of excellent deliveries before their dismissals but were the undone by loose shots. The accumulation of pressure was really what did them in rather than the particular delivery.

Fair to say that the English bowl very well to left handers with the old ball and Katich/Gilly dont appear to have any answers at present.

Except for the last over before tea and a short period at the beginning, Ponting has batted beautifully.

Clarke looks in rare form but I get always get the feeling that a loose shot is not far away.

Aus can save this game if they all apply themselves like Ponting.

 

[Pedro Delgado]

Ponting and Clarke look good, though Harmy almost had the former LB just before tea.

Jones to bowl after the break I reckon, he's only had 7 overs. Harmy looked dangerous now and again, but Clarke looked iffy against Gilo at the end there so it's a toss up between the two who supports SJ.

This will go all the way I think, Fred with the new conker might just do it for us, maybe bad light will turn out to be the saviour for Aus.

Gripping stuff anyhoo.

 

[social]

Ponting and Clarke look good, though Harmy almost had the former LB just before tea.

Jones to bowl after the break I reckon, he's only had 7 overs. Harmy looked dangerous now and again, but Clarke looked iffy against Gilo at the end there so it's a toss up between the two who supports SJ.

This will go all the way I think, Fred with the new conker might just do it for us, maybe bad light will turn out to be the saviour for Aus.

Gripping stuff anyhoo.

Good point about Giles and Clarke.

Clarke got himself into trouble by trying to hit out of rough.

As Boycs said, why play at it when it pitches outside leg?

 

[chaminda_00]

Should Clarke play his natural game against Giles, or play to the situation of the game. I say he should be a bit more conservative.

 

[social]

Should Clarke play his natural game against Giles, or play to the situation of the game. I say he should be a bit more conservative.

Definitely.