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

[Mister Wright]

can you really imagine Ponting taking an hour in the ninties

No. What's more likely is spending an hour in single figures.

 

[Mister Wright]

It was a pretty ordinary attack (Nel and Irani being the only ones averaging under 30, and Irani didn't bowl) and a very flat pitch. Essex scored 500 the previous day as well, so it's not as though Australia did anything particularly special.

The advantage of being captain.

 

[honestbharani]

Looking at the highlights just now, he looked to have sorted out his technique. I know the pitch was a road, but he has been playing away from his body in the tests, but from what I saw, he was waiting for the ball and getting in good position...We'll soon see.

But his front foot problems will still remain, whether he plays away from his body or not. I see him as a prime LBW candidate, and I won't think twice about giving the new ball to Jones ahead of Harmison, provided Jones can produce the outswing with the new ball, like Hoggard does.

 

[Isolator]

Essex scored 500 without Andre Adams

And what would he have done?

 

[simmy]

But his front foot problems will still remain, whether he plays away from his body or not. I see him as a prime LBW candidate, and I won't think twice about giving the new ball to Jones ahead of Harmison, provided Jones can produce the outswing with the new ball, like Hoggard does.

Well if Jones can... and sure enough in time he will be taking the new ball, then surely there is no need for Hoggard?

The last test aside... he had bowled the new ball spell and then just fielded all day! If Jones can do that then is it fair to say that Hoggard is surplus to requirements?

Collingwood coming in at 5,6 or 7 would mean that G.Jones comes in at 8... and that is seriously strong batting line up.

He can also share some of the bowling to give Jones and co a rest.

 

[simmy]

On a separate matter, can someone tell me what "flame bait" is?

 

[simmy]

OK cheers fella.

 

[Pedro Delgado]

Clark called up again by Aus. Didn't McGrath declare himself fit at the weekend? Whatever. This chap is a "similar style of bowler" to Glenn apparantly, so I'm expecting 6-53 come the Oval Test!!

 

[luckyeddie]

OK cheers fella.

You've just been given a lesson in 'advanced flaming' there too.

Note how I posted an extremely insulting message?
You responded, but you didn't quote me.
I then deleted the original extremely insulting message, thus if it had been a proper insult and you had responded in kind, it would have made you look like the instigator and I would have (as always) looked quite the innocent.

 

[howardj]

All this talk about Australia needing to play five bowlers, is a little uncalled for. I think Australia's problem has not been taking English wickets, but rather the number of runs we have conceded between taking the wickets. It's not as though Australia have been labouring in the field, struggling to knock the Poms over. In terms of overs, we are actually knocking England over fairly quickly. However, in between 'wicket balls' we're simply not landing enough deliveries in the same spot.

I've never seen Australia bowl two sides of the wicket so much. Of course, I'm not so dismissive of England as to overlook the possibility that their aggressive batsmanship has contributed to our waywardness (through pressure), but I think, even allowing for that, Australia have been too scatter-gun with their deliveries. It's this problem, rather than our inability to take wickets, that should occupy the mind of both the selectors and the bowlers themselves in the lead up to Thursday.

 

[reverseswing]

Clark called up again by Aus. Didn't McGrath declare himself fit at the weekend? Whatever. This chap is a "similar style of bowler" to Glenn apparantly, so I'm expecting 6-53 come the Oval Test!!

I hope he never plays for Aus ever.

 

[reverseswing]

I hope Watson gets a call up. He will play eventually so why not just throw him in there

Hayden has to go. And I reckon Martyn will retire at the end of the Aus summer

 

[marc71178]

The advantage of being captain.

Actually I think he's injured now so that bowling isn't an option any more.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Clark called up again by Aus. Didn't McGrath declare himself fit at the weekend? Whatever. This chap is a "similar style of bowler" to Glenn apparantly, so I'm expecting 6-53 come the Oval Test!!

From the mixed messages coming from the Oz camp I think Glenn is probably a bit more confident of his playing on Thursday than Alcott is. A report I read in the Guardian today said that McGrath bowled 6 overs in the nets on Sunday but was "shaking out his right arn after each delivery".

I don't doubt he'll be absolutely desperate to play (it'd certainly be his last test over here), but if he's less than 100% I think Alcott may hold him back after the way OT went.

 

[Pedro Delgado]

From the mixed messages coming from the Oz camp I think Glenn is probably a bit more confident of his playing on Thursday than Alcott is. A report I read in the Guardian today said that McGrath bowled 6 overs in the nets on Sunday but was "shaking out his right arn after each delivery".

I don't doubt he'll be absolutely desperate to play (it'd certainly be his last test over here), but if he's less than 100% I think Alcott may hold him back after the way OT went.

Yeah, sad for Pidgeon if that is the case. Might take a lorry load of pigs to stop him playing though. I wonder if the elbow injury arose because of over-compensating due to the foot injury? I know little of bowling so can only guess.

Anyhoo, with Clark being called up the management must be a little worried about Glenn.

I'm starting to think the Aussie tour bus must have run over a few black cats during the trip back from Lord's.

 

[age_master]

d) England have been far and away the better side over 3 consecutive test matches

definatley, but Australia is still in a position to draw the series, which says something about both teams

 

[Neil Pickup]

definatley, but Australia is still in a position to draw the series, which says something about both teams

Yep, it says that you've still got Warney.

 

[greg]

definatley, but Australia is still in a position to draw the series, which says something about both teams

It says little about both teams. It does however say that the laws of mathematics cannot be easily overcome.

 

[Mister Wright]

definatley, but Australia is still in a position to draw the series, which says something about both teams

It means Australia were lucky to get away with a draw in the second test.

 

[twctopcat]

Without wishing to tempt fate (touching wood as i type), Mcgrath won't be the difference between england drawing and reclaiming these ashes, but Warney. Which is pretty much the case for the whole series. What a player.