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

[Pothas]

There must be a chance that mcgrath will break down during the match though which will leave Australia in all sorts of problems with Tait who i heard jonathan agnew say today was completly the wrong selection and lee having too bowl a hell of a lot of overs

 

[tooextracool]

Yeah. Kasprowicz is an ideal first change bowler anyway.

is kaspa actually a first change bowler anyways?
i dont like the way hes branded as 'an ideal first change bowler' because its not like he cant swing the ball or that he lacks control and if im right, hes probably been opening the bowling in both domestic as well as county cricket.

 

[PY]

It seems too be a total stalemate at the moment with liverpool as of yet not wiling too pay reals asking price for owen as it would be seen as a massive loss for a player they sold for just 8 million plus the large amount of money they have spent this year. There has been mention of cisse moving too raise the funds but who knows if benitez is prepared to do this while owen holds out for a liverpool move it is pretty obvious that he doesnt want too join newcaslte on a permanent basis. If liverpool dont come in for him it is all down too owen. does he want too stay at madrid in the risk of not playing or join a club he clearly doesnt wish too join. i suppose the loan is still possible

*slaps big red button*

Wrong thread.

 

[Pothas]

*slaps big red button*

Wrong thread.

 

[Pratters]

The more I think of it, the more I feel Australia should play 5 bowlers in the 4th test. Bowling wins test matches and to get 20 wickets a line up of McGrath, Gillespie(before he went out of form), Lee/Kasporwicz and Warne looks strong.

But a line up of a dicey McGrath, Lee, Warne and Tait does not.

Should Australia go with MacGill despite the curator saying it wont support the spinners or Kasporwicz as a 5th bowler? If the Aussies feel the pitch has some thing for the spinners, I would have chosen MacGill as the 5th bowler.

highly unlikely the Aussies will go with 5 bowlers though.

 

[superkingdave]

Warne, Lee, Tait, Mcgrath, Mcgill

loving that tail

 

[Pratters]

Warne, Lee, Tait, Mcgrath, Mcgill

loving that tail

I know the long tail becomes a problem. But equally big if not bigger is the problem of a high probability that Australia will not be able to take twenty wickets with an attack of McGrath (not fully fit), Tait (untested), Warne and Lee (unpredictable).

Really underlines the problem Australia is facing.

 

[Pedro Delgado]

With two legendary bowlers in the side one averaging well under 25 and the other as good as, they don't need five bowlers. They need to be able to bat better, which granted is not easy against this fabulous England attack (pause for effect; yes............carry on) but that is the kiddie for me, I think their bowling is the least of their problems.

Once again though, I have been on the pink gins, so I could be talking nonsense.

 

[vic_orthdox]

I know the long tail becomes a problem. But equally big if not bigger is the problem of a high probability that Australia will not be able to take twenty wickets with an attack of McGrath (not fully fit), Tait (untested), Warne and Lee (unpredictable).

Really underlines the problem Australia is facing.

England haven't made more than 450 yet in the series, I'm pretty sure. Against a good side, you've got to accept that sometimes they're going to get on top of you. The major problem has been the batting, and by implementing the 5 bowler strategy, it would only further weaken Australia.

If Aust. had been making 350+ scores regularly and struggling to bowl England out, then maybe you could toy with the idea, but as it is, Aus haven't really been struggling to bowl England out - only lasted over 100 overs once, IIRC - but they've been scoring far too quickly in between wickets.

 

[vic_orthdox]

There must be a chance that mcgrath will break down during the match though which will leave Australia in all sorts of problems with Tait who i heard jonathan agnew say today was completly the wrong selection and lee having too bowl a hell of a lot of overs

Sorry, is Aggers some sort of God over there, whatever he says goes? Listening to some English posters' discussion of his views on Tremlett and Hoggard, and now Tait, you'd think he's puppeteering opinion in the motherland.

I think if McGrath plays, the chances of an elbow injury resulting in him "breaking down" is very unlikely, it's just that it would hurt to bowl. What it all depends on is the amount of pain he's experiencing before the Test match. It may hurt more as it goes on, but nothing a few needles won't fix

 

[SpaceMonkey]

People seem to believe anything Aggers of Ian Botham say

As a Cricket fan im over the moon that Tait is gonna play, when you hear so much about a young cricketer you just cant wait to see him play and now we'll get the chance.

 

[Pedro Delgado]

Sorry, is Aggers some sort of God over there, whatever he says goes? Listening to some English posters' discussion of his views on Tremlett and Hoggard, and now Tait, you'd think he's puppeteering opinion in the motherland.

Aggers' is almost exclusively ignored as a columnist over here in the "motherland" (did you mean Ireland? I'm in England ) As a commentator he's okay.

The Gods know what's going on with Pidgeon, however I fully expect him to play.

 

[vic_orthdox]

Aggers' is almost exclusively ignored as a columnist over here in the "motherland" (did you mean Ireland? I'm in England ) As a commentator he's okay.

The Gods know what's going on with Pidgeon, however I fully expect him to play.

I've always thought that "motherland" referred to England...

 

[Pedro Delgado]

People seem to believe anything Aggers of Ian Botham say

As a Cricket fan im over the moon that Tait is gonna play, when you hear so much about a young cricketer you just cant wait to see him play and now we'll get the chance.

Me too. Saw him interviewed at the press conference today, seems a decent fellow if a little thick, suitable replacement for Dizzy then

 

[Pedro Delgado]

I've always thought that "motherland" referred to England...

Yeah it was a cryptic "you're all Irish sheep/bread stealers" joke.

Sorry.

 

[social]

With two legendary bowlers in the side one averaging well under 25 and the other as good as, they don't need five bowlers. They need to be able to bat better, which granted is not easy against this fabulous England attack (pause for effect; yes............carry on) but that is the kiddie for me, I think their bowling is the least of their problems.

Once again though, I have been on the pink gins, so I could be talking nonsense.

Correct.

If McGrath is declared fit, then you have to assume he is and Aus dont need 5 bowlers.

Our main concern is scoring runs not bowling Eng out with a fit McGrath.

 

[social]

is kaspa actually a first change bowler anyways?
i dont like the way hes branded as 'an ideal first change bowler' because its not like he cant swing the ball or that he lacks control and if im right, hes probably been opening the bowling in both domestic as well as county cricket.

Kaspa has always been an opening bowler except for tests (where he's never really been given an extended opportunity).

Unfortunately, he probably fits into the Darren Lehmann category of being given his main chance too late in his career.

 

[social]

People seem to believe anything Aggers of Ian Botham say

As a Cricket fan im over the moon that Tait is gonna play, when you hear so much about a young cricketer you just cant wait to see him play and now we'll get the chance.

I agree.

Tait has done everything that's required (an analysis of other bowlers' figures pre-debut confirms this) and deserves his chance.

BTW, having watched him bowl on a couple of occasions, Michael Holding called for Tait's debut last season and I'll take his view as being at least the equal of Agger's.

 

[vic_orthdox]

http://www.theage.com.au/news/cricket/mcgrath-at-better-than-evens/2005/08/25/1124562954732.html
Latest report on McGrath.

 

[howardj]

http://www.theage.com.au/news/cricket/mcgrath-at-better-than-evens/2005/08/25/1124562954732.html
Latest report on McGrath.

He's certainly changed his tune

Before the First Test it was 5-0, and now he seems to be saying that even if the series is drawn, Australia will be happy.